“What does it all mean?”
“I don’t know what it means. If your Nana was in it and she left you a note, you might need to do something for her. Maybe the magic can tell you.”
“Fine, for Nana.” She reluctantly accepted the book and opened it. “I’m gonna need to see a therapist when this is over.”
“When you need to talk, I know a guy.”
“You talked to a therapist about this stuff and they didn’t lock you up and throw away the key?”
“He’s on this side.”
“They have therapists over here?”
“Not in any official sense. It was nice to have someone to talk to. It helped me reconcile things.”
“I’ll be glad to meet him.”
“You already have. You’re scratching his head.”
“Like Trevor told you. I was a disaster, but I’ve learned to understand how the magic works and to appreciate the gift that’s been offered.”
“Why couldn’t the gift be a new MacBook?” she whined.
“I would have preferred a new gas stove for the restaurant, but this is my,” he corrected himself, “our
inheritance.”
Amanda cracked open the book and the song became clear like seeing the bottom of a wavy pool when the water becomes calm “It’s a spell book then?”
“Not exactly. The magic of Tarsinia is more like a sentient guardian that chooses who wields its power. When you need the magic, the book can present an incantation or image that will help you to focus your thoughts. Once the Grim has shown you a spell, it’s yours forever. You don’t even need the same words. Usually, just the memory of a past incantation is enough for the magic to understand what’s being requested of it. But as you’ve discovered, once the Grimoire has chosen you, much of the magic is already at your disposal. Unfortunately, as you’ve also discovered, she can be a bit raw.”
Amanda looked at the book and opened it. The pages were blank. She felt a tingle, like being too high on a swing again. She looked up from the book. Except for Uncle Everett, everything in the tiny clearing was frozen in time. Even the flames of the fire were motionless as though she were looking a photograph. The sound of whale song soared in her mind as she caressed its pages and opened herself to receive it. She felt sadness, the deep sadness of the sick world and she surrendered herself. The book shared the stories of sickness being played out across the land, to Amanda they reminded her of TV commercials that paraded images of helpless creatures coated in thick black goo. It angered her and, in her mind, she vowed to help.
She watched as Everett studied her reactions. She
wondered if it had been the same sensation for him when the Grimoire had bonded him to the magic. He touched her arm; in a glance they shared their mutual understanding of their connection to Tarsinia.
“Now about that tea,” he said.
“No, something else,” she said.
The camp came back to life and an image of Igoss lying
near death appeared on one page and some words appeared on
the other.
“That can’t be a spell,” she said.
“I can’t see what you’re looking at. Those words are yours and yours alone. If you want, try them.”
“Loyal friend sleeping still,
When you wake,
You will be well.
She felt contentment as she said the words. A warm glow spread out from her finger tips and bathed the sleeping g’noll in light. Igoss stirred and she could hear his breathing become stronger.
Ribesal came forward with the others.
Everett rose to his feet defensively.
“Relax uncle,” said Amanda.
“But their g’blinken.”
“That’s racial profiling. Stop being so prejudiced.”
“But they fought against the crown.”
“Maybe if there weren’t g’blinken slaves working the mines of Halla, they wouldn’t have been so keen for a change in management.”
“Uh,” said Uncle Everett.
Amanda looked a Ribesal and motioned for him to speak.
“Your Eminences. I would like to thank you again for your assistance in freeing us. But we would have escaped on our own and while your intervention was timely, it was not necessary.”
“Of course, Ribesal,” said Amanda with a smirk.
“Now that we have that straightened out, and we agree that we have no obligation to you. We would like to extend to you by our own decision, mind you, our gratitude and our loyalty.”
“Very well,” said Amanda.
“Very well.” replied the g’blinken.
“But Ribesal. That’s two you owe me.”
The g’blinken scowled. “We’ll be off now.”
“Where are you headed?”
“Down the road to where ever chance takes us,” said the
“Down the road to where ever chance takes us,” said the g’blinken.
“Good luck!” said Amanda.
“G’blinken,” said the wizard.
“Your Eminence.”
“As compensation for your care of my niece, take the wagon and the horse.”
“As nice an offer as that might be your Eminence, three g’blinken caught joyriding around in a carriage that says “Royal Bard” in big orange letters along the side would be hung from the closest tree before they knew it. So, while we thank you for the offer. If it’s alright with you, we’ll walk.”
Silently, like thieves in the night, the g’blinken trio slipped away into the darkness.
Amanda and Everett sat quietly by the fire sharing their stories. Uncle Everett shared what the eye had shown him about Sarah. Amanda, nodded. Percy had been right. They both worried that El must be going mad with worry and agreed that they should make communicating with her a priority. It was late, almost morning when they decided it was time to sleep. Amanda curled up on the ground and Trevor protectively tucked in beside her.
Onward
The light of predawn gave the feeling of being trapped in the middle in a black and white photograph. Though color hadn’t yet woken up, the minstrel’s camp was already a flurry of activity. Everett was sorting through piles of the minstrel’s things trying to decide if there was anything worth the trouble of carrying. Amanda was quietly tending a low smoky fire, crackling beneath a pot of simmering grain, when a horse and rider appeared.
“Percy!” shrieked Amanda like a girl in the front row of a boy band concert. “You came back!”
“Of course, I did.”
“Where did you come from?” asked Amanda. “Uncle Everett said you were on your way back to the castle with the g’nolls.”
“Oh that,” he glared at Everett, “I had to promise their chief a small fortune in gold and a word in the Queen’s ear before he’d let me go,” said Percy.
She scowled suspiciously at her uncle. “Did you ride all night?”
The clearly exhausted boy could only nod and he practically fell out of his saddle.
“How did you find us?”
“I almost missed you, but that cloud of smoke you’re sending up is visible for leagues.” He pulled out some of the bigger smoky chunks of woods from the fire and replaced them with smaller bits. The air immediately cleared. Wiping the grime off his hands, he turned to her.
“You didn’t have to come back.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“But why, why did you come back?”
“Because I wanted to be with you.”
His words made her heart flutter. Though she didn’t
realize it at the moment, “Because I wanted to be with you,” would forever be her “you had me at hello.”
Uncle Everett frowned. Trevor laughed.
“Here let me get you something to eat,” said Amanda. She found the tin cup and muttered the words that the book had shown her.
“Here, have some tea.” She guided him gently towards the mistral’s table and he sat.
She scooped out some boiled grains onto a tin plate and placed it in front of him.
Smiling, she left him to eat. After giving a gentle caress across his shoulders, she went to unsaddle his horse.
By the time the yellow glow of the sun peeked out over the horizon bringing the days colors with it, they were preparing to leave.
“Your horse looks a bit done-in,” said Everett. “Take the mare.”
“Lightning and I have bonded,” he replied. So, the painted horse was set loose. After they finished ransacking the coach for food and needed equipment, Amanda insisted that they burn it.
“Isn’t that Merrick’s caravan?” asked Percy.
Uncle Everett touched Percy on the shoulder and shook his head to forestall any further questions. They overheard her muttering about windowless vans as she glared into the blaze.
Igoss stood next to her. He reached up and took her hand and she smiled back.
“I go back to my people. You be, okay?” he said. Amanda wasn’t certain if it was a statement or a question.
“I don’t really know if I’ll be okay,” she said with a shrug, “Thank you though, for all that you’ve done for me.”
“Is we who owe Amanda thanks. We always serve.”
As the fire burned, Amanda couldn’t resist the urge to scratch the g’noll’s furry head. He didn’t seem to mind and
together, they watched the cart turn to charcoal. Finally, after it
collapsed violently into a pile and with the last of the flames finally dying, Amanda turned to join the other while Igoss slipped away into the woods.
To the disappointment of the wizard, Amanda chose to ride with Percy.
“Thank you for pulling me out of the cave,” said the soldier.
“Thank you for coming to get me in the cave.”
“I wish I could have done more,” he replied.
“You’ve done more than you know,” she leaned in and held him close.
As they rode onward towards the mountains, they chittered on like excited squirrels and the morning passed uneventfully.
“I’ve been a bit self-absorbed. I don’t know anything about you,” said Amanda.
“You’ve got a lot on your mind. Besides I’m not really worthy of the attention of a wizard, I’m just member of the Queen’s Guard.”
Amanda placed her cheek against his back. After all he’d been through, he still carried the pleasant scent of herbs and wildflowers. “Why did you join the Queen’s Guard?”
“I didn’t really have much of a choice.” replied Percy.
“Why’s that?”
“I’m the youngest of three boys. There’s Ignatius, Amirgo and then me. My father is Lord Ignatius Garamode. Our family owns some estates along the coast of the Great Sea. When father dies, Ignatius will inherit the lands and become Lord Garamode. Mother’s father purchased a small brig for Amirgo and set him up in a trading company. He’s doing quite well for himself. Me though, I’m a bit of a spare; it was the army or the clergy for me. I wanted to earn my own way, so I joined the army.”
“That’s not fair.” said Amanda.
“What does fair have to do with it? It’s the way of things,” replied Percy.
“You sell yourself short Percy,” interrupted Everett. “You’re in the Queen’s Guard. You must have earned that somehow.”
“It wasn’t much of anything. It’s only just happened. You see, one of Rufus’ cronies came around looking to purchase services from some of the troops. After I found out about it, I sent him off with a bloody tunic. Word got around and they asked me to join the Guard.”
“A bloody tunic?” asked Amanda.
“It’s the polite way of saying that Percy stabbed him during a duel,” said Everett.
“A duel, really?” asked Amanda.
Percy blushed. He suspected that his dueling days might be going on hiatus for a while.
“No wonder the Queen entrusted you to deliver the message to the farm,” said Everett.
Percy shrugged. “It’s not so bad. The guard is a better posting than the regular army. I’m not in the barracks with forty other men. I have a small room in the castle with only three others and a pension if stay on. That is, unless mother marries me off first.”
“Is that likely?” enquired Amanda with a slight look of concern on her face.
“They’ve tried it more than once. Father says that I’m a bit of a skittish colt but I’m only just seventeen and I’ve not seen enough of the world to want to get married. Lest not to someone I’m not even sure I like. What about you? Is there someone special? A betrothal perhaps?” asked Percy.
“I don’t know how things work around here, but I can tell you for sure that there are NO marriage plans in my immediate future,” declared Amanda.
“There has to a be someone interested in you. You’re so smart, and pretty and brave.”
Amanda blushed. “There’s one boy named Devon who
might like me. I don’t think it’s really likely, though, I’m not in his league. He’s a bit of big deal,” confessed Amanda.
“How could you not be in his league? Whatever that means,” said Percy.
“Oh, he’s possibly the best hockey player to come on the scene in a generation. They expect he’ll even be drafted first overall into the OHL this summer.”
“So, what does that have to do with anything? Even if you weren’t a wizard, you’d be good enough for anybody,” said Percy.
Amanda soaked up the sweetness of his remark like a dry flower soaks up the first bit of rain. Everett frowned and changed the subject.
“Maybe you should become more familiar with the Grimoire,” he said as he passed her the book. After struggling about awkwardly to open the book without falling off the back of the horse, Percy came up with a solution.
“Here, sit up front. You can rest the book on Lightning’s saddle horn.”
She curled up in front of the soldier and he placed one hand protectively around her waist while he held the reigns in the other. Everett glared.
“Now, open your mind to the magic,” instructed Everett. “The sound of the whale song may seem incoherent at first but with practice you’ll begin to recognize many of its patterns.”
Amanda heard to the music in her mind as she glanced about, thinking of little things she might do with the magic. As each idea appeared in her mind an image and words appeared in the book. She noticed that the sharper her thoughts were, the more vivid and detailed were the pictures in the Grim. She tried to levitate a rock like the hero in one of her favorite science fiction movies but instead of it floating, it rocketed into the sky and disappeared in the distance. After a several more tries
her uncle suggested that she rest.
“You need to be careful not to overdo it. Each time you channel the magic of this world it consumes some of your life
force. The land will eventually restore you, but be cautious, it’s possible to let the magic overwhelm you,” warned Everett
They rode on in contemplative silence, stopping at midday to rest the horse and eat some lunch by a stream. They inspected it carefully; the oily water was worse here. Amanda passed him the book as he looked at the shimmering water. The wizard muttered an incantation and the water cleared. After scooping some water into a pot and filling the flask, they let the horse drink. Before long the horse shook its head and stopped drinking. Amanda inspected the water.
“Is it bad?” asked Everett.
“It is. Unless there’s another explanation, we’ve somehow managed to pollute this world from ours.”
“And the lake district is probably the most affected. If this has been going on for months, I can see why the dragons started to hunt beyond their borders.”
“I read that they’re complaining in Sweetwater that the fracking is starting to cause earthquakes now too,” said Amanda.
“If that’s true, then it must be getting worse,” replied Everett.
“Do you think this is all somehow connected;
the quakes, our cell phones, and the pollution?”
“It’s an awful big coincident if it’s not. The boundary seems to be breaking down, and I think the earthquakes are part of it,” explained the wizard.
“How is that possible?”
“I don’t understand yet, but we’ll figure it out and stop it,” said the wizard.
It was late in the afternoon when they reached a wide stone bridge that crossed a fast-moving river. They hadn’t reached the midpoint of the bridge when a tall, lanky figure with rough gray skin resembling tree bark stepped out before them. It had fierce looking claws and long sharp crooked teeth in its terrible mouth.
“You’re on our bridge and must pay a toll,” said the creature.
“This is the Queen’s bridge,” said Percy. “Now step aside troll.”
“The Queen isn’t here. And even if she were, I’d demand a toll from her as well,” growled the monster.
“Uncle Everett?” asked Amanda.
“Do you recognize me?” asked the wizard.
“You’re the pinkling interloper that’s risen above his place,” answered the troll. “This badge is from the rightful king and I serve him not you.” He held forth a shiny medallion.
“Step aside,” said the wizard. He spoke an incantation and a bright bolt of light streaked towards the troll.
The blast struck the troll in the chest, blasting him apart and leaving nothing left but a pair of stumps. Within moment’s though, the stumps grew together and the troll was completely healed.
Undeterred the wizard chanted another spell. Dragon fire burst forth from his hands engulfing the troll. After a moment the troll stepped through the flames that were having no more effect on him than summer rain shower.
“We should turn back and find another way across,” said Everett. “I’m not sure I understand what’s going on here.”
As they turned, there were two more trolls moving up from behind them. Everett spoke firmly, “Move aside,” he said and lashed out towards the pair with whip of electricity. The trolls were severed in half. Unphased, they pulled their tops up onto their bottoms and healed almost immediately.
Amanda Applewood and the Return of the False King: An Everworld Book Page 20
