The High Place of Truth

How impressive, thought Goober - treated to a hot spring spa - the Underworld really was proving to be a first class destination. Free robes too! What a great day.

They did not linger in the bathroom. Puck was keen to get back, and once again the three assembled in front of the palatial golden doors, waiting to be allowed inside. Looking up there was a sign above the mantle that read "That which is, IS".

"Methinks your tunic suits you well" Goober jibed Nervina, who was not sharing the mood at all.

Their costumes were quite plain - a simple robe such as spirit beings usually don, in comfortable folds, with a soft weave, all white, with fine belts of silver.

"I feel like I'm going to a wedding", said Goober cheerfully.

"You look like you're the ugly bride", said Nervina snakily.

"Will you two shut up,” said Puck a little tersely even for himself - he never snapped, but the air down there seemed to exaggerate the emotions terribly.

The usher returned and was satisfied. He permitted the huge doors to slowly yawn open. Goober gave the golden dog a farewell pat on its head when surprisingly the statue started to move, just as though it were a real dog waking from a sleep. He stood upright on the pillar, shook himself all over, stretched one little foot followed by another, and then leapt down, to follow them in.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

The Great Hall

Goober kept looking over his shoulder as they approached the Great Hall. Soon after they found themselves held up in the antechamber, blocked from getting any further.

"What is the hold-up do you think?" Nervina asked.

"Well they have their ways,” replied Puck, patiently.

It was rather large for a portico, and whilst the doors remained shut to them, they took their time viewing the artworks there, of which there were a many. Goober kept returning to a statue in gold of a small dog; it lay on a pillar facing out, and looked like a miniature greyhound - with pointed ears and sharpish snout.

"I hope we are not missing anything - they might have started without us" he said to Puck, leaning on the dog pillar.

Finally an usher arrived carrying a large bundle of clothing. His voice had the quality of treacle, Nervina thought to himself, in fact he smelt of treacle too. He had a strange way of speaking, for he chose not to look directly at any one of them whilst doing so. This made for awkward conversation.

"I have brought you more suitable garments" he said, looking sideways.

What were they thinking? They had forgotten themselves, and how earlier they had all dressed down to go out to the shelter ... jeans and sweaters were not worn in a place like this. He had a point.

"You must also get clean before being permitted to come in. I will now show you to the hot springs where you may enjoy the energising spa there. We suggest however, that you do not remain longer than thirty minutes as it begins to overtire the senses and you will find the vitality of it wearing."

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Infernal Affairs

There was a small dirt path that made its way to the gate that led to a car parking lot and a public garden.

In these grounds was a choir assembled at practice. It comprised of homeless men who were rehearsing their carols, preparing for the up and coming spiritual festivities.

Barnabus had grouped the choir together at a time when the local nursing home had wanted an act to replace the opera singer who had passed away. They also did gigs in shopping malls.

Beyond the fence "O Little town of Bethlehem" could be heard. The elves stood in the sunlight waiting, feeling melancholy listening to the words of that song.

They had not had a proper lunch, and the tea and biscuits just weren't enough to satisfy them at such a time. Puck tossed a milk crate into the air upside down, and then sat on it.

Goober tried to peer over the gate at the singers....

It was a full hour before Barnabus came out, alone, with a bag of sandwiches and three tins of cola.

"They've finally gone,” he said cheerfully. "Have you thought any more about the Tribunal?" he addressed this question to Puck.

"Well, now as it turns out we have the heart, it is all that we need to bring him to court. I just booked a session with Infernal Affairs. We have to be there by two."

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

The Tribunal of Horus

"You want us to pray?" Nervina quizzed, becoming more uncomfortable again.

"Well, er, I have been praying whilst we were drinking our tea together - and then it came to me ... the answer is simple when you know it” he leaned forward further, knocking over the milk jug, banging his fist on the table.

"The Tribunal of Horus.”

"Horus?" asked Goober.

"Horus?" echoed Nervina looking at Puck, with his best 'let’s get out of here fast' sideways expression.

Puck reflected back to the epoch just after the great continent's fall. There had been a period of the Earth's history where the darker wizards had been expelled. They were held accountable for the travails of the Earth and exiled from the realm and its neighbouring spheres. Outcast through the power of the demi-gods who were more ancient and powerful than even they.

He had taken part in the original court as one of the chief notetakers, but had not been called back into that higher world since.

The one prerequisite for this was a heart that had been used by the Demon, to be examined, as to the true substance of his nature. It was then that Puck realized that they had exactly what was needed to summon a judgement on Forsythe and be rid of him once and for all.

"You boys better take the back door,” said Barnabus "while I delay them."

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

On the Run

He moved the biscuit plate closer to them, saying cunningly:
"We don't have long." It was as though he thought someone might be listening in.

"Forsythe and his men are walking this street right now coming to get you."

"How do you know this?" asked Nervina, who was convinced that it was Barnabus who had probably tipped him off about their being back in London.

Barnabus tapped his earpiece - they had all assumed it was an ordinary hearing aid, but it was not.

"Just got word" he said.

"Oh" said Nervina, perplexed as to why the old man was wearing a transmitter and wondering also who it could be that was informing him of these things.

"They are trying to trap you" he went on. "I've seen it before. It's a nasty business with them capturing spirit beings." He paused to fine tune his earpiece.

Goober would have liked to correct him about them not being spirits exactly, but it seemed pointless in the light of what was to come.

"I would offer to hide you but they would find you soon enough" he added.

"Then what is it you suggest ... that we retreat back into the Woods as we have always done?”

"No, we must call upon those who have the powers to help" the old man replied earnestly.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

There is always Hope

Goober was absorbed in watching a young man at the far end working on a mural that read "There is always Hope". His technique was classical and the painting of a virginal muse was strikingly beautiful for a tearoom.

Puck ordered for them, “three teas would be very nice thank you,” he said taking a fiver out from his pocket. Daisy hesitated and then took it - she wasn't used to anyone paying any money in there.

Barnabus arrived with their teas. He looked very pleased to see them - almost as though they were old friends.

"Here's to the gentle souls,” he said inexplicably, picking up a glass of water with dramatis. Puck glimpsed an air of regality about the man.

Dressed in his corduroys and a yarn challenged sweater, he looked more like the crowd that he ran with, than the millionaire that he was. Puck had his security do some research and it revealed that Barnabus had begun his philanthropy over forty years ago.

"You can't bring that in here" he said pointing to Nervina's satchel. Nervina stuck his hand inside and placed it over the steel box holding the heart, protectively.

"This is a holy place you see - and we don't abide that kind of thing. Negative influence and all that - brings the place down."

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

The Christian Mission Tearoom

The Christian Mission tearoom was crowded with elderly men, comforted with scones and bingo and the societal warmth that the meeting place did bring.

No sooner had Puck walked in was he greeted by an older woman with a generous smile. Her name-badge identified her as one of the volunteers, and she had embellished it with a daisy drawn with a smiley face, coloured with a yellow felt tip pen.

Nervina and Goober both looked suitably shabby - even Puck himself had dressed down, wearing just jeans and a hoody (which, as he had pointed out many a time, never really went out of fashion).

They searched the room for Barnabus but could not see him amongst the sea of hats and bald heads.

"Barnabus is out spruiking for the tearoom - we have a few places left for lunch today, which you men might have just filled. I'll call him on the mobile for you. He shouldn't be long" said Daisy, whose name just happened to be Daisy as well as wearing a picture of one on her name tag.

"What would you boys like?"

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series