by T S Paul
“Exactly. Good job. It’s impossible to teach someone a lifetime of skills in a month or two, let alone overnight. But we would like to say we’ve laid the foundation. Command is hard. Whether it’s a military unit or FBI, the basics are the same,” Sergeant Adams explained.
I stared at the sand table still playing out the scenario in my head. “Is this one based on anything?”
The Lieutenant shook his head. “Pure fantasy, but it makes a good sample game. The infiltrator is the key. In the original, he breaks free and organizes the outside force while taking out key elements inside. They see through your idea of replacing the hostages and your group is killed. When you get to where you are going I would suggest keeping up this practice and gaming your conflicts. It might save your life one day.”
“It was hard,” I replied. “Is this it? Do I go home now?”
“Not quite. Owl has sent for you. It is he that will give you the last bit to help you survive. Know that if you need help, you may call upon the Legion and we will answer.” Sergeant Adams and all the other men in the room saluted me. “Now go. Don’t keep him waiting for long.”
Chapter Ten
As I walked toward the library, I tried to figure out just how long I’d been here amongst the Legion of the Damned. Time moved really differently here in this pocket universe. I really hoped that grandmother wasn’t too worried about me and that I still had a job!
I found Mack and Owl at the very end of the library, studying what looked like a scroll. “Did you want to see me?”
Mack looked up, “Agatha. Excellent to see you. Please have a seat with us.”
Owl did a sort of flapping hop and moved to the other side of the table. There were piles of books and things scattered everywhere across the surface.
Clicking his beak a few times the very large Owl settled onto a scarred and worn wooden high-backed chair. “Your time with us is almost at an end. But we cannot allow you to leave without a history lesson.”
“This whole place is a history lesson!” I exclaimed.
Mack smiled and stroked the table. “The Goddess provides.”
“Yes she does, and that brings us to you and those bracelets of yours,” Owl stated with a click of his beak.
“My bracelets?” I ran my right hand over the newest one.
“They are very special. Once upon a time there existed a group of Magick users call Guardians,” Owl started to explain.
I interrupted him. “My grandmother once told me that when Verity worked for the European Council they called their enforcers that.”
Mack snorted. Owl turned and began to glare at me. His eyes actually changed their color as he flapped his wings.
“They are not the same,” Owl snapped.
Mack made calming motions with his hands. “Calmly, now.”
“As I was saying,” Owl shot me a glare that made me bow my head. “Guardians. The very first of them were appointed by the Gods to protect the paths to the otherworld that separated the faithful from the profane. They were the first and last barrier on Earth. But empires rise and fall with time. The true reason for having a watcher at the door became lost as the power of Paranormals went underground.”
“Groups, such as the Councils, made the position ceremonial and lost true control over the paths. The Gods took a back seat to politics and the hunger for power on Earth. Much was forgotten in the interim. Bracelets such as you wear were signs of office and the tools of the original Guardians,” Owl explained.
I held up my hand. “Wait. My bracelets, Verity’s bracelets, belonged to Guardians?”
“Yes. They were originally gifted by Khonsu himself. Only a God can imbue a mortal device with knowledge and power. They each have a soul wrapped up inside of them. It just takes the correct person to awaken them. Verity was a Witch of the ages. She paved the way for so many of her kith and kin that it’s sad she is barely remembered by history. She had the power but not the will to use them the way they are supposed to be used. You, Agatha Blackmore, are who they have been waiting for. And it is you who will assume the position of Guardian for your realm,” Owl instructed.
“Realms. The Guardians protected the Portals, is that what you mean by paths to the otherworld?” I asked.
Mack shifted in his chair and replied, “In simplified terms, yes. There is a great deal more history and tradition wrapped up in those bracelets, but essentially you are correct. Once the original purpose was lost, the bloodlines were scattered across your world. Bracelets were passed from one generation to another with many not knowing their true purpose. The Witches Councils suborned the name and used similar bracelets as signs of office among their appointed agents. It was either by accident or divinity that Verity received true Guardian ones.”
“A God made these?” I lightly stroked the golden symbols on my arms.
“Correct. The Goddess Athena is who directs us, and she has foretold your coming amongst us. Zee and her companion were a surprise but have their own task to fill. Just as you do. In her case, she is attempting to revive her people and bring them back into the light. A weighty task, and a dangerous one. There are those who would oppose such an attempt. You on the other hand have an even greater task,” Mack said.
Owl flapped his wings and clicked his beak at me. “Before you ask, contemplate what it means. A seer’s vision is very private. It is to be shared with the subject very carefully, lest they be tempted to change or alter what is to come. For some, the impulse to tamper with things is too great and the lords of Karma come calling. Your grandmother, Marcella, had such a person in her Coven for many years. Ask her to clarify what we mean before seeking out your own vision. But know that the bracelets are a part of what is to come.”
It was all I could do but stare at the two librarians. “Does it mean my death?”
Mack smiled, “would you believe that everyone asks that? A person’s fate was set down at birth by the Gods. Hide in a hole if you like, but nothing will change in the end.”
“But you just said that things can be changed, didn’t you?” I asked the ancient human.
Owl squawked, “Ignore him. I do. Trust in the Gods and talk to the bracelets. They can be an excellent guide for new Witches, as well as pointing you in the proper direction.”
“Is that direction the way home?” I asked. My team and my family had to be missing me by now.
“Of course,” Mack answered. “The town circle will activate the moment you step into the middle of it. Be sure to tell Marcella that she needs to visit us more often and let Minerva know we have more cookbooks for her to copy.”
“Time flows differently here as you may have noticed. Three months here is like three days on Earth. They will have barely missed you,” Owl said with a squawk.
Home! I ran from the library and collected a few souvenirs and Fergus from my room. Getting to know the Legion and having them pass on so much knowledge had empowered me to make my team the best. This may not have been a proper summer vacation, but it was a useful one.
“Do you want to dance?” The Mummer asked.
“Not this time. I just want to go home,” I replied. The square looked as it always did. People, mummers, and the circle. No matter how many times I stepped into the middle of it, I had never gone anywhere before.
The fancily dressed man bowed and waved towards the circle. “Your chariot awaits then. Merry meet and merry part. We will await your return.”
Stepping into the circle, I could feel a sudden surge of energy as it came alive with all the colors of the rainbow. For just a moment before the Mystical Library faded from my sight, I thought I heard a woman's voice wishing me well.
The Garden gate appeared Magically in front of me. I could see the house and the yard and I knew that we were home. Grasping the rough metal of the gate, I pushed it open and stepped forward. You don’t miss home until you leave it.
“And how are Mack and Owl doing?” Minerva asked. Grandmother’s oldest friend and the only cook I’ve ever k
nown was sitting in a lawn chair in the middle of the Gnome village.
“You knew where I was this whole time?” I asked her.
Minerva smiled and let out a laugh. “How much time do you think it has been? They didn’t tell you, did they?”
“Umm they may have. I wasn’t really listening very well at that point. I just wanted to come home,” I explained.
“Three days. You’ve been gone for less than three days. Your team has called multiple times and Marcella has informed them you were on a sort of vision quest for the Coven. Your friend Catherine is rather persistent, but I’ve always been partial to cats. No worries,” Minerva smiled. “Was it worth it?”
Remembering all the lessons, I nodded my head. “Yes. It was worth it.”
“Then it wasn’t wasted effort. Get along now. I’ve got a pot roast cooking and your grandmomma is anxious to see you. We have so much to talk about.” Minerva pointed toward the kitchen door.
I turned back to look at the simple looking garden gate and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Would you have believed us? There is a time and a place for everything, Agatha. And right now, getting inside is your time and your place,” Minerva replied.
Shaking my head, I absentmindedly patted my shirt pocket. Fergus was inside and asleep as usual. After dinner we were going to have a long talk about secrets and just what a familiar really is. Whether he liked it or not!
Otherwhere Author Notes
Agatha’s vacation was a long time coming. There are many reasons for the delay and I’m only going to say it was a result of poor timing on my part. This story fills the gap between Witness Enchantment and Night of the Unicorn, explaining some of Agatha’s new skills. While she did have a handle on being a leader, she was missing something. She needed to go through a sort of “Officers’ training course” that the FBI didn’t have time to put her through. Too many bad guys or monsters to hunt down.
Several of the characters in the Mystical Library Universe are ones that I’ve either created or have been kicking around for a while. Callimachus was a real person in our world. There are historical records to prove it. Sergeant Adams is a fictional name, but his unit and circumstances are not. History shows that his unit was wiped out as told. The same goes for the members of the Hole in the Wall Gang, Butch and Sundance. Yes there was a most excellent movie with the same name but like most things from Hollywood the details were blurred. The Bolivian army killed a couple of Americans but were they Butch and Sundance? That is one of history’s mysteries that I’m taking advantage of. Lieutenant Grant is or was a real member of Rogers Rangers and he did serve during those specific years. Was he a tactical genius? Only history knows.
The battle scene at the end with the sand table is a sort of in joke if you are paying attention. Instead of Agatha inside the building with the hostages pretend it’s Hans Gruber. Just my way of having a bit of fun.
As with all my books, you can expect to possibly see one or two of the characters again in another work. After I created the Legion of the Damned, I dropped hints as to how some of them would fit into future stories. You may or may not see them again.
There are unanswered questions about some things. Fergus is always a mystery, but you can expect to see him in many things including his own, non-canon meaning they won’t fit into any of the current stories, short story series. He has become the most popular character, surpassing even Wilson and his robot CATT friends. The Library is a mystery but its story ties into the greater picture and all will be revealed someday. I usually do explain.
This is but one chapter of so much more to come in the Federal Witch Universe. Verity will soon have a series, as will the Mer sisters. The bracelets will be explained, and Mongo may finally get his series. So much to do and so little time.
Stay in touch! Check out my Facebook page and join the Fans of the Federal Witch group as well. You can find Fergus on Twitter @ Allaboutthehorn. So if you like tweets from a snarky Unicorn, that is where to go.
Until the next time, enjoy.
TS Paul
Also by T S Paul
Federal Witch
Conjuring Quantico - Now Available in Audio!
Magical Probi - Now Available in Audio!
Special Agent in Charge - Now Available in Audio!
Witness Enchantment
Night of the Unicorn
Invisible Elder
Blood on the Moon
Child of Darkness
A Draft of Dragons - TBD
Cat’s Night Out, Tails from the Federal Witch - Audio Available
Serpent Con
Darkness Revealed
Cookbooks From the Federal Witch Universe
Marcella’s Garden Cookbook
Fergus Favorites Cookbook
Marcella’s Summer Bounty Cookbook
Marcella’s Autumn Harvest
Standard of Honor
Shade of Honor
Familiar Trials - Fledgling
Coven Codex
Familiar Magic
Familiar Shadows
Familiar Trials - Fledgling
Familiar Travels
The Fairy Locket
Witching Hour
The Wild Hunt
Monster Hunter
Jack Dalton Book 1
Jack Dalton Book 2
Jack Dalton Book 3
Jack Dalton Book 4
Jack Dalton Book 5
Jack Dalton Book 6
Athena Lee Chronicles
The Forgotten Engineer
Engineering Murder
Ghost Ships of Terra
Revolutionary
Insurrection
Imperial Subversion
The Martian Inheritance - Audio Now Available
Infiltration
Prelude to War
War to the Knife
Ghosts of Noodlemass Past
Athena Lee Universe
Space Cadets - Coming Soon
Smuggle Life
Double Cross
Politics Equals Death
Cut and Run
A Grand Affair
Short Story Collections
Wilson’s War
A Colony of CATT
Unicorns are Short
Borscht is Boring
Box Sets
The Federal Witch: The Collected Works, Book 1
Chronicles of Athena Lee Book 1-3
Chronicles of Athena Lee Book 4-6
Chronicles of Athena Lee Book 7-9 plus the prequel
Athena Lee Chronicles (10 Book Series)
Standalones or Tie-Ins
The Lost Pilot
Uncommon Life
Kutherian Gambit
Alpha Class. The Etheric Academy book 1
Alpha Class - Engineering. The Etheric Academy Book 2
The Etheric Academy (2 Book Series)
Anthologies
Phoenix Galactic
The Expanding Universe Book 2
Cupid’s Bow
Mysterious Hearts
Journal with a View: July - August - September
Prime Peek I
Snapshots of Life I
Nonfiction
Get That Sh@t Off Your Cover!: The So-Called Miracle Man Speaks Out
Study Guide and Timeline: The Athena Lee Chronicles
