Magician's Mayhem

by R.S. Mollison-Read

CHAPTER 2

  There was simply no way to un-crack the mirror. Maven Thomson had looked horrified when Tobin had suggested it.

  “Surely there must be a spell, or an enchantment that can put the mirror back together!” Tobin said desperately.

  “The mirror cannot be repaired so easily! It’s Elven-made, which means it cannot be repaired by anyone except a certified member of the Elven Mirror Guild. Don’t you know anything?!”

  Maven Thomson was clearly hysterical. When a nervous page shuffled into the room, and whispered something in his ear he became positively apoplectic.

  “What do you mean they’ve all shattered?!” he shouted, his face turning a mottled purple.

  The page was sweating profusely. “That’s correct sir, I’ve just been informed that every Travelling Mirror on the castle grounds has shattered. They all appear to have broken at the same moment. We’re also starting to get reports that other Travelling Mirrors throughout Elden have been likewise affected.”

  Maven Thom was thunderous. “Call Maven Elvira immediately!” he ordered.

  The nervous page needed no urging, and ran quickly, as Maven Thom began to pace the length of the room. Back and forth he moved, muttering to himself all the while.

  “Who is Maven Elvira?” Tobin whispered to Elbert.

  “The Principal Magician,” Elbert whispered back worriedly. His pale lips barely moved, and his face was clammy. Elbert was obviously in complete awe of the magicians. The unexpected shattering of the mirrors, as well as Maven Thomson’s towering rage, seemed to have seriously unnerved him.

  Tobin was feeling a little unnerved himself. This day had been one surprise after another, and so far none of them had been particularly pleasant surprises. He also had a sickening suspicion that he was somehow responsible for the destruction of the Travelling Mirrors. It was he who had most recently travelled through the mirror, and it had been such an unusual and alarming trip. Tobin couldn’t help but wonder if this entire mess was his fault. He dreaded to think of the repercussions if he did turn out to be the responsible party.

  The Principal Magician, Maven Elvira, was a tall, stately woman who managed the news of the destroyed Travelling Mirrors with a good deal more grace than Maven Thomson. Upon entering the room, her quick green eyes darted from the wreckage of the mirror, to Tobin and Murphy. Her dark eyebrow twitched, in what might have been surprise, at the tattered package in Murphy’s hand, which had strangely stopped glowing after the Travelling Mirror had shattered. Maven Thom received a stern glance from her and a slight compression of her lips. Her calm and controlled demeanor was a welcome change from Maven Thomson’s histrionics.

  Maven Elvira had brought several assistants with her. They immediately began setting up instruments, working industriously. Tobin could not fathom what they were doing. No one appeared to be cleaning the jagged pieces of glass up off of the floor. Instead, they had strange instruments in their hands, and larger instruments in various locations, making strange whirring, chirping, and pinging sounds, all the while flashing different coloured lights. Evidently these sounds and lights meant something to them, because after careful consideration, they would scribble furiously on notepads. Tobin found it utterly baffling.

  “What are they doing?” he asked Elbert.

  “They’re conducting different tests, to determine exactly what happened here,” Elbert replied. His eyes flicked nervously from the assistants conducting tests, to Maven Elvira, and back again. “I really ought to go and help them,” he said, and scurried off.

  “Well then, let us leave them to their work,” Maven Elvira said briskly, as she came to meet Tobin and Murphy who were awkwardly standing in the middle of the room, while everyone else worked industriously behind them. “Why don’t you both come with me to my study, and we’ll go through the events of today. Thom, if you would please stay and supervise the tests?”

  Maven Thomson nodded brusquely. He appeared much calmer now that Maven Elvira had taken control of the situation.

  Tobin and Murphy followed Maven Elvira through the corridors of the castle. The only sound as they moved through the castle was the brisk swish of Maven Elvira’s long skirts, and the click of her heel. Despite his long legs, Tobin found it difficult to match her energetic pace.

  Keeping track of where exactly they were going was a challenge, as the castle layout was confusing. Tobin decided to focus his attention on Maven Elvira. So intently did he focus, that he almost didn’t notice when she stopped abruptly in front of a polished wooden door.

  As Maven Elvira searched her pocket for a key, Murphy caught up to them, huffing and puffing. Maven Elvira appeared not to notice, as she turned the key in the lock, and opened the door.

  Her study was quite spacious and very pleasant. Large windows overlooked one of the castle gardens, and morning sunlight filtered through, highlighting the paneled wood walls. Tobin immediately felt more relaxed.

  There were a number of cushy brown armchairs in front of the small stone fireplace. Tobin sank into one gratefully, and looked around the room. Over the small fireplace hung a portrait of an elderly gentleman; possibly Maven Elvira’s father. The entire room was lined with bookshelves, and they were all filled with brightly covered tomes, and unique trinkets. A small table by the window held a tea set with a gaudy purple floral pattern. Tobin blinked in surprise. He would not have guessed that Maven Elvira’s taste would be so flowery.

  Offering them both a cup of tea, Maven Elvira settled herself into one of the brown armchairs.

  “Now, we had spoken to a Mister Gibbons with the Magic Mole Mail Delivery Service about a representative from the Crisis Response unit, but unfortunately that representative did not arrive before the Travelling Mirror shattered,” she told them both.

  Murphy’s forehead creased in worry.

  “However, we have been in contact with your headquarters, and they have agreed that you must stay at the castle for the time being, to help brief us on the situation. You may return to your Headquarters when the situation has been resolved,” she continued.

  Murphy nodded his assent.

  “It appears that the Travelling Mirror Network has been completely compromised. Thankfully, none of the Communication Networks have been affected. It might seem trivial in light of the devastation of the Travelling Mirror Network, but I’m thankful that at the very least, our communication system is still in place.”

  Tobin nodded dully. It was hard to believe that the entire Travelling Mirror Network had been destroyed, and it was even more difficult for him not to feel somehow responsible.

  Elvira smiled reassuringly at Tobin, seemingly sensing his guilt.

  “Nobody, of course, is blaming you, Tobin, or you, Murphy. It would take something of extreme power to disable the entire network like this. So you needn’t worry about that,” she said comfortingly.

  Tobin breathed easier, and looked over at Murphy to find the same expression on the mole’s face.

  “Now, I would like both of you to take me through the events of this morning. Start at the beginning, and try to remember everything you can. Even the smallest detail might give us a clue as to what happened here today,” Maven Elvira instructed.

  They related the entire story to her, first Murphy, who started his story when he arrived at the Magic Mole Mail Delivery Service Headquarters. Tobin took great pains to remember all of the details of the morning. On several occasions he had to go back in his story when he remembered something he thought might be important. He had just finished recounting his awful experience transiting through the Travelling Mirror when the door opened with a soft click, and Maven Thomson quietly entered the room. Sinking into a chair, he looked deeply troubled.

  “Thank you, Tobin,” Maven Elvira said, when Tobin had finished speaking. She turned to Maven Thomson, awaiting his report.

  “There’s no doubt about it,” he began, looking tired and worn. “The entire Travelling Mirror Network has been utterly devastated. We’ve had repo
rts about all but twelve mirrors, and every single one of them has been destroyed. The last twelve are almost certainly destroyed, but they’re in more remote locations, and we have not yet received confirmation. Teams have been sent to assess the damage,” Maven Thomson reported, rubbing his forehead as he finished.

  Maven Elvira nodded. “Did any of the tests we conducted ascertain the cause of the destruction?”

  “No,” Maven Thom replied, “We’ll need to have the orb present, to begin those tests.”

  “We’ll also need to send a team to Tobin’s home to conduct the same tests there.”

  “Wait a minute!” Tobin interjected. “Are you suggesting that the explosion on my front lawn and the destruction of the Travelling Mirror network are related events?”

  “That’s exactly what we’re proposing,” Maven Elvira replied.

  They all sat in silence for a moment. Tobin wondered how he could have missed making such a connection. Of course the two events were related. At the very least, it appeared that none of the magicians thought that Tobin had anything to do with the explosion, or the destruction of the network.

  Maven Thom spoke, suddenly. “I wish Celeste were still here. She would know what to do.”

  Elvira nodded in agreement. “I do too, Thom. Still, there’s no use wishing for what cannot happen,” she sipped quietly from her cup of tea, and then looked up suddenly, her face determined. “We do know what to do. We just don’t want to do it. Darcie will have to be recalled immediately.”

  Maven Thom frowned. “Is that really necessary? She won’t be pleased to be disturbed from her search.”

  “I know, but none of us will be able to figure it out as quickly as she will.”

  Maven Thom sighed heavily, and then nodded finally.

  “Good,” Maven Elvria said. “Send word to King Gerald. We require an urgent meeting with him.”

  Tobin felt utterly overwhelmed. The day had started at ‘odd’, morphed into ‘strange’, and had now arrived at ‘baffling’. Quite purposely, Tobin had led a quiet and simple life, without any sort of adventure or disturbance in it. Now, in the course of a few hours, his front garden had been blown up, he’d witnessed the destruction of the Travelling Mirror network, met the Principal Magician of Elden Forest and had now been directed to present information to the King of Elden Forest.

  “I can’t possibly report to the King dressed like this,” Tobin protested to Elbert, gesturing to his worn blue tunic, plain breeches and slightly scuffed boots, he had donned after the detonation that had woken him. That explosion in his front garden seemed so very long ago.

  “Like what?” Elbert said distractedly, as he fussed with his own collar in the reflective surface of a vase on display in the hallway outside the throne room.

  Maven Elvria had assigned Elbert to assist Tobin with whatever he needed during his time at the castle. She seemed to know how uncomfortable and untethered Tobin felt in the midst of the unusual events. Despite Elbert’s bumbling nature, Tobin was extremely grateful for a friend in the castle.

  “Never mind,” Tobin muttered. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. His foot stopped tapping the hard marble floors, but his hands still shook.

  “Just remember that you’re only telling them what happened to you today,” Elbert said, placing a reassuring hand on Tobin’s shoulder. “Maven Elvira is in there right now, telling them the worst of it. You did nothing wrong, you’re not on trial here. There is nothing to fear,” Tobin smiled nervously, but the tight band of nerves across his chest loosened somewhat at Elbert’s kind words.

  Maven Thom appeared at the intricately carved doors, and indicated that they were to follow him.

  Tobin had to try very hard not to stare at the beauty of the throne room. Sunlight poured through coloured window panes, creating intriguing patterns on the marble floor. Large stone pillars supported the high vaulted ceiling. Tobin’s footsteps echoed loudly in the immense hall as he followed Maven Thom, to stand in front of the throne.

  King Gerald Dannett was an impressive man. He was tall, with a muscular build, and a mane of golden hair. Gentle grey eyes and a smiling mouth, partially hidden behind a thick beard, bespoke a quiet intelligence. Radiating calm confidence, he had a commanding presence.

  Seated directly behind him, in precise rows, were his advisors, and other court officials. Their somber expressions created an intimidating wall. Tobin chose to focus his attention on King Gerald.

  “Maven Elvira has just finished recounting the more technical aspects of the destruction of the Travelling Mirror,” King Gerald said. His voice was deep, and resonant. “I know that you’ve related your experience several times today, but please share it once again with the court.”

  Tobin took another deep breath and began recounting the events of that morning. He had told this story so many times, he felt as though he were reciting lines in a play.

  When he finished there was silence in the hall, broken only by the slight shifting in seats, and a nervous cough, or sniff, as the court waited for King Gerald’s decision.

  “Yes, Elvira, you’re right. Call her home,” the king said wearily. “She won’t be at all pleased, but this has quite rapidly turned into a crisis.” Elvira nodded, and turned to Maven Thom, issuing instructions.

  Elbert poked Tobin in the ribs, and gestured towards the exit. Their audience was at an end, and with the King’s pronouncement, everyone seemed to have leapt into action.

  “I don’t really understand what they’ve just decided,” Tobin whispered to Elbert, as they walked briskly out of the hall and into the corridor. “Who is this she everyone keeps referring to?”

  “The King has just decided to recall the court doctor,” Elbert replied in a hushed tone, conscious of the considerable echo in the room.

  “But why on earth would we need a doctor for this?” Tobin asked curiously.

  “The court doctor is not a physician,” Elbert explained patiently. “She’s a doctor of magic.”

  “Why isn’t she here in the castle, if she’s the court doctor?” Tobin asked.

  “Well, Dr. Dannett has been searching abroad for Celeste, one of our most prominent magicians, who disappeared suddenly, almost a year ago.”

  “Wait, Dr. Dannett? That’s the King’s last name,” Tobin said, startled.

  “Yes,” Elbert replied, “In fact, Dr. Dannett is also, Her Highness Darcie Dannett, the crown princess of Elden Forest. And Celeste, the magician she has been searching for, is her grandmother.”