by Alane Adams
He touched his cheeks. “What mark?”
“The touch of darkness I feel. It clings to your skin like a bad odor.”
“Rubicus nicked my arm with my sword after I cut him,” Robert said.
Baba Nana shuddered. “Then your blood is now shared, a very dangerous thing for you, I’m afraid.”
“Why is that?” Abigail asked.
“Rubicus is no fool. The boy is a descendant of Odin who now carries the blood of Rubicus as well.” Her eyes grew wide. “Odin’s blood. It couldn’t be.”
“What?” Abigail asked. “Tell us.”
“I think I know what Melistra intends with Odin’s Stone.” She began pacing. “I can’t be sure. No witch alive has ever had the power to restore life. But with a boost of magic from Odin … if it could be done … the boy might be the key …”
“Wait, you think she wants to bring Rubicus back?” Hugo asked. “That would be horrible. He nearly destroyed this place.”
Baba Nana paused her pacing to rub her chin. “She would need a powerful alchemist. There aren’t any left alive with that kind of knowledge.”
“Verty!” Abigail said. “Vertulious was an alchemist who died a long time ago. He put all of his magic into that spellbook. He’s the voice I hear when the spellbook talks to me. There must be a spell in there that Rubicus needs. When I spoke to him, he said he would rise again. This must be what they’re planning.”
Baba Nana’s wrinkled face drew into a frown as she paced. “I searched every spell in that spellbook to get Calla her magic. I never saw anything like that. Of course, he could have kept it secret.” She stopped, shaking her head. “It seems an impossible task. The elixir would be a very complicated formula, and Melistra would have to find the list of elements.”
“I think I know what they are,” Hugo said excitedly. He dug in his book bag and pulled out a torn sheet of paper. “My history teacher showed me this drawing from a journal in Rubicus’s library. He said Melistra and Abigail’s mother were mad about it. I couldn’t make sense of the letters scattered on his robe, but maybe it’s a list of elements.”
“Elements?” Abigail took the sheet and studied it. “I don’t think so. I don’t recognize half of them.”
Baba Nana rummaged around her table and uncovered a cloudy magnifying glass. She held it up to her eye, scanning the sheet. “Look. There’s a hidden one. In the corner.” She passed the glass to Abigail.
Abigail leaned in close, focusing on the spot. “What is T-u?”
Even Baba Nana looked perplexed. “My old memory is faint when it comes to the elements. But I think the boy is right. They don’t teach all the elements anymore because we lost so many when Odin brought us into Asgard. Wait here.” She rummaged in the back room, tossing things about, and emerged with a heavy book she dumped on the table. “My old Awful Alchemy textbook.”
Abigail waved the dust away and flipped through the pages. “This has a lot more elements than mine. It could take me hours to find all these. May I borrow this?”
“Yes. I suggest you learn everything you can. Melistra has been waiting a long time for this day. She won’t wait much longer.”
“Baba Nana, do you have any idea where she might be hiding Odin’s Stone?” Hugo asked.
She shook her head. “I’ll ask around. I still have some old friends I keep in touch with.”
Calla gave her a firm hug. “Be careful, Baba Nana. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
The old witch pinched her cheek. “You as well, my dear.”
Chapter 20
Endera knew how to get other people to do her dirty work, and Abigail’s little pet firstling was perfect. Not only did Safina have it coming for using magic against Endera, but she was another orphan, so if something went wrong, a senior witch wouldn’t be offended.
As the unsuspecting girl hurried to her next class, Endera stepped in front of her. “Why, there you are. Safina, am I right?” She smiled, an unfamiliar experience, forcing the corners of her lips to tilt up. Glorian and Nelly pushed in on either side of the girl.
The witchling looked like a rabbit caught in a snare. “Endera. What do you want?”
“Why, Safina, I feel like we got off on the wrong foot.” She hooked arms with the girl and began marching her down the corridor. “Abigail is always so jealous of me. I worry she’s set you against me.”
Safina looked puzzled. “Jealous … of you?”
“Yes, you heard how she sent me and my friends to the netherworld?”
“Yes, but—”
“We nearly died,” Nelly said.
“Giant witch-eating spiders,” Glorian added with a shudder.
Endera tsked. “But did Abigail apologize? No, instead she let a wild animal into the Tarkana Fortress that could have killed any one of us. If my mother hadn’t sent it away …”
“But I thought Abigail—”
Endera stopped, putting her hands on the girl’s shoulders.
“Look, Safina. I like you. I’ll let you in on a secret. Abigail is not who you think she is. Her mother was a traitor to the coven. Abigail’s no different. She used dark magic against a fellow witchling. That’s unforgivable.”
Safina blinked, thinking it over, and then hung her head. “I’m no better for using witchfire on you.”
“Did she do that?” Nelly raised her eyebrows.
“I didn’t see nothing,” Glorian said.
“See? Already forgotten,” Endera said cheerily. “Such a shame you don’t have a mother witch to look out for you,” she added, tugging the girl along. “I could, you know, speak to my mother. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind giving you some tips.”
Safina choked with surprise. “Are you joking? Don’t joke about that. Your mother is … well … everyone knows she’s—”
“The most powerful witch in the coven?” Endera supplied.
Safina nodded.
“Then how fortunate that I ran into you. My mother has tasked me with going down into the catacombs to fetch something, but I have sooo much homework for Awful Alchemy—Madame Malaria really is the worst—that I was wondering—”
“I’ll do it for you!” the girl burst out. “Please, let me do this. It would be such an honor.”
“Well, if you’re sure …”
They stopped outside a heavy wooden door inlaid with metal bars. Glorian threw the dead bolt back, and Nelly pushed it open with a loud creak.
“It’s … it’s dark in there,” Safina said nervously.
“You have your witchfire, don’t you?” Endera asked.
The girl nodded, biting her lip. She looked as if she wanted to flee.
Endera looped an arm around her shoulder, urging her forward. “Call it up to light your way. There’s nothing to be frightened of. A few rathos, that’s all.”
Safina stopped, her knees locking as she looked up at Endera. “What is it you want me to fetch?”
“Find the biggest tomb all the way in the back and say, ‘Greetings, I am my father’s joy,’ then bring him back to me.”
Safina frowned. “Is this a joke?”
“No.” Endera gave her a little push over the threshold. “Say the words exactly as I said and bring me the jar with his head.”
“Head?” Her frown deepened. “Whose tomb am I looking for?”
“Oh, it belongs to Rubicus. Didn’t I mention that? And don’t come back without it, or you’ll be sleeping with the rathos.”
Endera slammed the door before the girl could complain. Glorian leaned against it as the girl pounded on the wood to be let out.
The three girls waited, smiling. After a few moments the pounding subsided, and it grew quiet.
Chapter 21
Hugo hoped to wake up early enough to talk to Emenor about what was going on at school and how to avoid being drafted into the Boy’s Brigade, but when he pried open his eyes, the other bunk in their shared room was empty, the blanket neatly folded in place. There was a time Emenor would have laughed at the idea of maki
ng his bed every day, but a mantle of responsibly had settled on the young teen’s shoulders.
Hugo dressed himself in his new uniform and kissed his mother goodbye, slinging his lunch pail over his shoulder as he made his way toward the stone buildings of the Balfin School for Boys. Black flags flapped and fluttered in the breeze as he pushed through the crowds of boys out front.
“Hey, look, it’s Hugo Suppermill.” Oskar appeared, grabbing his arm hard enough to leave a bruise. His face lit up with a sneering smile as he said, “I guess you belong to me now you’re in uniform. I think it’s time to initiate you into the Balfin Boys’ Brigade. Whaddaya say, boys?”
Oskar’s pack of brutish boy’s pressed in around Hugo with eager grins on their faces.
Hugo backpedaled away, but the thugs dragged him around the side of the school toward the kitchen rubbish heap. Two boys lifted his ankles as Oskar wrapped his arms around his chest, about to toss him in, when a cloaked figure appeared. He wasn’t tall, but his sword had a sharp enough point, and he poked it into Oskar’s side.
“Unhand him, or the next thing you feel will be the tip of my blade in your gut.” His face was shadowed, but Hugo grinned as he recognized Robert’s voice.
The boys all had swords at their sides, but none seemed to know how to use them. Two tried to draw them out and ended up getting entangled and tripping over the sheaths.
As Robert pressed harder, Oskar yowled, dropping Hugo to the ground as the other boys ran.
“He’ll get his!” Oskar snarled, shaking his fist. “You watch, when he least expects it!”
Robert danced closer, jabbing his sword at him, and the boy ran.
He sheathed his sword and lowered his hood. “Friends of yours?” he asked, sticking his hand out to tug Hugo to his feet.
“Not anymore. Thanks for saving me. That was fine sword work.”
Robert shrugged off the compliment. “I should be off. Lots to do.”
“When are you leaving? Has your father said?”
“He has another meeting with Hestera this afternoon. We’re to set sail tomorrow. If we don’t find the Stone by then, that’s it for me. My life will be over.”
“Uh, and we’ll be in the middle of a new war!” Honestly, the boy thought this was all about him! “I could help you look around for clues.”
“You? What use is a scientist?” he scoffed. “You couldn’t even fend off those useless boys.”
Hugo gritted his teeth. “Science explains lots of things. And I know a place we can start.” He sifted through his notebook and tapped a page, before raising his eyes to Robert’s. “Unless you’d rather go it alone?”
Robert’s mouth scrunched side to side as he thought it over, then he threw his arm forward and gave a deep bow. “After you.”
Hugo made a beeline for a little-used side gate to the Tarkana gardens. The rusted hinges protested as he pried the gate open. The path was overgrown with brambles and briars, which pulled at their clothes as they waded through.
“Where are we going?” Robert demanded.
“My professor mentioned that Rubicus is buried under the Great Hall in the catacombs.”
Robert stumbled in shock. “Rubicus? That crazy he-witch is here?”
“That’s what Professor Oakes said. Even his head. I’m going to check it out. If Baba Nana is right and Melistra is planning to bring him back, it’s a logical place to start. I can go alone if you’re too scared.”
Robert straightened, tugging on his tunic. “Course I’m not scared. I’m almost twelve. Do you know a way in?”
Hugo led him to a metal grate in the side of the building. He twisted the screws holding it in place, lowered it to the ground, and ducked inside, pausing in the entrance. “Coming?”
“This is not your first time breaking in, is it?” Robert asked as he followed.
Hugo flushed, pulling the grate back in place. “I listen in on classes occasionally. See what I can learn.”
“I thought you were more of a scientist, not into all the hocus pocus witch stuff.”
“I am a scientist first, but one who appreciates magic.”
They crawled along the shaft until it reached a T intersection.
“Which way?” Robert asked.
“The classrooms are to the left.”
“So right it is.” Robert turned and scrambled along.
The only sound was the dripping of water and occasional screech of rathos that ducked out of sight at the first sign of activity. After a series of left and right turns, Robert halted, looking worriedly over his shoulder.
“How are we going to find our way out of here?” he asked, panting.
Hugo held up his pencil. “I’ve been marking our turns.”
Robert’s brow went up. “You’re not half bad for a scientist.”
“Not so useless, am I?”
“Sorry about that. I say the dumbest things. I don’t mean them. I just … sometimes my mouth runs.”
They continued on through the semidarkness. The air was cool and dank, but shuffling along on hands and knees was hard work.
“Your dad seems nice,” Hugo said.
Robert looked back over his shoulder. “Yeah, he’s okay. Everything’s different since …” He stopped, and his head drooped.
“Since what?”
“Since my mother died. She got sick. It was … no one’s fault. I blamed my father though for a long time.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’d do without my mother. She’s like my rock, besides Abigail. And my brother Emenor.”
Robert continued his slow crawl. “Yeah, well, my rock is in the hands of those witches.”
They were silent awhile, and then Robert suddenly halted, causing Hugo to bump into him. “Dead end. Unless you can open that.” He pointed at a solid wall.
“Let me see.” Hugo squeezed past Robert and ran his fingers over the wall. “It’s solid, but I think I can get us through it.”
Robert eyed him skeptically. “How are you going to go through a solid wall?”
“You’ll see.” Hugo tugged out his medallion and held it in front of him, whispering, “Fein kinter, terminus.” A bright green light shot out, bouncing across the stone. After a moment, the stone shimmered, shifting left, then right, and then vanished, letting in a rush of musty damp air.
“What the … how did you …”
Hugo tucked the medallion away. “That’s what listening in at vents gets you. Come on, it won’t stay open long.”
They scrambled through the opening and dropped to the stone floor a few feet below. Behind them, the wall sealed closed.
“Are you going to be able to reopen that?” Robert asked.
“Probably not. I’m a little low on magic.” Hugo scrawled an X on the wall anyway. “Come on, let’s explore. There’s bound to be other exits.”
Their way was lit by widely-spaced crystals in the ceiling that gave off a faint greenish glow. Row after row of sarcophagi filled a vast room.
“What is this place?” Robert asked.
“The Tarkana crypts.” Hugo let out a low whistle. “Look how many tombs there are.”
Robert brushed at a cobweb. “Where do you think this crazy he-witch is buried?”
“No idea. This could take days.” Hugo scanned the names etched into the stone as they wandered down an aisle.
Robert froze, cocking his head. “Did you hear that?”
Hugo listened. “Probably a rathos.”
“No. It was voices.”
Hugo held his breath. There. Robert was right. Voices. A deep baritone and a higher-pitched voice, like a witchling.
What was a witchling doing down here?
Then there was a scream.
“Come on.” Robert grabbed his arm. “Someone’s in trouble.”
Chapter 22
As they left Horrible Hexes, Abigail’s head was crammed full of all the spells Madame Arisa expected them to memorize by their first exam.
“It’s really not fa
ir,” she said to Calla. “We barely have time to learn how to cast a Level I Spite Spell before we’re on to Level II.”
“She just wants to prepare us in case something happens,” Calla said with a shrug. “You know, for when we go to war.”
Abigail groaned. “Calla, not you too.”
The girl glanced worriedly at Abigail. “Yes, me too. If we don’t find a way to stop Melistra, you know what will happen.”
Abigail hated that Calla was right, but she couldn’t argue. “We’ll go to war,” she said with a heavy sigh, “and this time we might win.”
“Which would be bad for Orkney but good for us, I suppose.” Calla squeezed her arm. “Any luck with that old alchemy book?”
“Yes. It took hours, but I found all the missing names. One of them was venadium.”
“Like Robert’s sword.”
Abigail nodded. “Another was so rare it says only an amount the size of a pea was ever found.” Before she could go on, someone tugged on her arm.
A young witchling in pigtails looked up at her. “Have you seen Safina?”
“No, er, Imelda, right?” Abigail recognized the girl from the Creche.
The witchling looked up at her with wide eyes. “Yes. I’m a firstling with Safina. She was supposed to be my partner in Positively Potent Potions, but she didn’t show, and Madame Radisha was hopping mad. I can’t find her anywhere. One of the girls saw her walking with Endera.”
“Endera?” Fear skittered down Abigail’s spine. She gripped the witchling’s arm tight enough to make her wince. “Where? Where did they see her?”
“They were heading toward the Great Hall. Endera said something about visiting the catacombs, but we’re not allowed down there. It’s one of Madame Vex’s rules.”
“There goes lunch,” Calla said quietly.
Abigail ignored her and forced a bright smile for the firstling. “Thank you for letting us know, Imelda. Calla and I will go sort it out. You run along to class.”
They waited until the firstling disappeared and then Abigail grabbed Calla’s arm. “Come on. There’s no telling what Endera is up to. We have to help Safina.”
