The Magical Match

by E. D. Baker

  Macks tapped on the bubble and pointed. Laudine opened the bottle again and held up the stick. When she held it against the bubble, the shimmering colors disappeared back into the bottle and Cory could hear everything again.

  “We’re almost there, ladies!” Macks announced from the front seat.

  Cory glanced out the window. They were approaching a big, windowless building with a double front door. “I don’t know how long we’ll be inside, Macks,” said Cory. “Did you bring your mazes?”

  “I sure did,” Macks replied. “I’m working on the last one in the book and I’m making it extra tough.”

  When Laudine raised an eyebrow, Cory explained, “Macks creates mazes. He’s really very talented.”

  “That’s wonderful!” said Laudine. “I’ve never been very good at solving mazes. Most witches aren’t. I suppose it comes from relying on magic to find our way.”

  Macks pulled up to the front entrance and jumped out to open the solar-car door for them. Witches were thronging to the event, but no one bothered to look at them until Laudine stepped out. Seeing the president of Witches United, the witches who were closest stepped aside to let her pass. A few called out to her, while others waved or nudged their friends and pointed.

  Cory felt like she was with a celebrity as she followed Laudine into the building. Although she hadn’t given it much thought, now that she was inside she couldn’t help but be excited. Rows of stalls filled the building, some no more than one table wide, while others were five or six times bigger. Every stall offered something related to magic. Cory could feel the air around her quivering with magic and power. She reminded herself of a gawking tourist on her first trip to New Town.

  “Where should we start?” she asked Laudine.

  “If Darkin Flay is selling ingredients for magic, we should start there,” said Laudine. “I believe that’s usually in the back corner on the right.”

  “Is this show always this crowded?” Cory asked as they tried to make their way through the milling people. Although Laudine had been recognized outside, there were so many people in the building that it was hard to spot one individual unless you were right next to her.

  “I’m afraid so, although the last night is the worst,” Laudine told her. “Merchants drop their prices then so they don’t have as much to haul away. But you can’t count on getting something you really want on the last night because everything is so picked over. Stay close to me. We don’t want to get separated.”

  Cory tried to keep up with Laudine, but people were pushing and shoving in every direction, and there was so much to see that it was easy to get distracted. Even the people themselves were interesting. Although most were dressed in ordinary clothes, some wore outfits that made them stand out. She saw a few people wearing long, flowing capes that glittered when the wearers moved; Cory was impressed until she saw them for sale at one of the stands. There were shirts and dresses that lit up and others that seemed to pull light into them, making everything around them look gray and lifeless. When Cory ran into a group of people walking together who wore long, ancient-looking robes, they spoke to her in a language she couldn’t understand before moving on.

  “Cory, this way,” Laudine said, leading her around a group that had stopped to haggle with a stall owner selling potted plants used in spells and potions.

  Cory slowed to read the labels on angelica, dill, garlic, clover, gardenias, heliotrope, fennel, mugwort, nettle, forget-me-nots, and lemon verbena. There were even yew and crab apple saplings for sale. The most interesting plants she saw, though, were labeled “Dead Men’s Fingers,” and actually looked like real fingers sticking out of the soil.

  When they were finally past the table, they came to some of the bigger stalls where witches and wizards were selling magic carpets. Some of the carpets had floral designs, some designs were abstract, and a few were simply blocks of color. “They’re beautiful!” Cory said as they passed the stall labeled “Hocus-Pocus Magic Carpets.”

  “If you think these are beautiful, wait until you see the next two stalls,” said Laudine. “Hocus-Pocus sells low-end carpets. Zippity-Doo-Dah sells the mid-range carpets. See, there they are. I’ve been reading about their new line that they’re calling ‘Air to Spare Deluxe.’ I think they hope to compete with the high-end carpets that Arabian Dreams sells. One of these days I might look into them. Their ads make them sound very nice.”

  A wizard stepped out of the stall area, zeroing in on Laudine as if he’d overheard her. “Hello! I see you’ve noticed our top-of-the-line model. It just came out and is already our bestseller. Come in! Take a seat! You’ll never find a more comfortable ride than on our ‘Air to Spare Deluxe’ model! Confidentially, I used to work for Arabian Dreams and this model is much better than anything they carry. Here you go! This pattern is one of my particular favorites. I have one just like it at home.”

  Cory watched as the salesman made the carpet rise and glide behind Laudine. The witch was about to protest when the carpet pushed against the back of her legs, forcing her to sit down. She looked startled as the salesman continued to talk about the carpet.

  Cory began to look around, admiring the different patterns as she waited for Laudine. She had found one with a mix of colors that she really liked, when another salesman approached. “Would you like to sign up for our raffle? We’re giving away a free carpet every day of the show. You might be the lucky winner of today’s prize!”

  “I really don’t think—” Cory began.

  “It’s free and there’s absolutely no obligation on your part. Just fill out your name and address and you’ll have a chance to win that beautiful carpet,” he said, pointing vaguely in the direction of the Air to Spare Deluxe models.

  “All right,” Cory said. Thinking that Blue might really enjoy a flying carpet, she wrote down his name and address. After handing the salesman the card, she turned to look for Laudine. Her friend was standing at the side of the stall, talking to another witch.

  Cory was smiling as she walked over to join them, but her smile vanished when she heard what the other witch was saying. “You’ve already been at this too long, Laudine. We’ve all noticed that you don’t attend to matters like you once did. You should have relinquished the title years ago. Give some new blood with a fresh outlook a chance to lead the group.”

  “New blood, Hagatha? Don’t you mean that I should let you take over? You’re my age! I doubt very much that your outlook is any fresher than mine. I’m not stepping aside for you or any of your cronies.” Laudine spotted Cory then and sounded almost relieved when she said, “Ah, there you are, Cory. Ready to go?”

  “I sure am,” Cory replied, and started back to the main aisle.

  Hagatha’s eyes narrowed when she heard Cory’s name. “You aren’t Cory Feathering, are you?”

  “Yes,” Cory said. “Have we ever met?”

  “No, but I’ve been wanting to meet you,” Hagatha told her. “You aren’t a witch. What are you doing here?”

  “She’s my guest,” said Laudine. “If you have an issue with that, you can take it up at the next meeting.”

  “Thank you for the suggestion, Laudine,” Hagatha said, but she was looking at Cory when she said it.

  “Did you buy a magic carpet?” Cory asked her friend as they walked down the aisle.

  Laudine laughed. “No, but it was a close call. That salesman wouldn’t listen when I said ‘no.’ ”

  “He wasn’t the only pushy salesman there,” Cory said. “I talked to one who made me fill out a raffle ticket.”

  “Don’t count on winning anything,” said Laudine. “The chance that you will is very slim.”

  “Or none,” Cory said with a laugh. “I did it only so he’d leave me alone.”

  They passed stalls selling brooms next. Cory thought the names of the companies selling them were more interesting than the brooms themselves. “Sweep Stakes,” “Brooms R Us,” and “The Broom Factory” all made sense, but her favorite was the stall marke
d “Broom Ha-Ha.”

  “I bought my first magic wand at a trade show like this,” Laudine told her as they passed a stall selling wands. “Back then they were good, sensible wands that could handle real magic. Today they sell all sorts of add-ons. Look at that—you can get lights, flashing or constant. You can also make your wand sparkle every time you use it or have sound effects ranging from chimes to booms to pings. From what I hear, the more you add on, the less reliable the wand. Give me a good old-fashioned wand any day.”

  “I’ve seen you do magic without a wand. Do you use one very often?” asked Cory.

  Laudine shook her head. “Hardly ever anymore, and then mostly because people seem to expect it. A good witch doesn’t need a wand, but it takes years of practice to do without one. Ah, here we are,” she said, stopping in front of a stall called “Magic Ingredients.” “And if I’m not mistaken, that young man is Darkin Flay.”

  Cory studied the young man talking to some customers. “That’s him all right,” she said. “Now we just have to find Zarinda Scard.”

  “Give her a minute,” said Laudine. “I put a little spell on the ticket I sent to her so she’d show up at this booth when we did. Why don’t you look around? I’ll know when she gets here.”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?” asked Cory. “I can keep watch while you explore.”

  “I’ve seen stalls like this a hundred times and they all sell the same kinds of things. Go ahead,” Laudine said. “I’ll be right here.”

  The merchandise at the stall was interesting, although not as interesting as some. Cory found boxes filled with sandalwood, bowls filled with different-colored crystals, jars of soot, and little bags of slippery-elm bark, dried rattlesnake, dried skunk, and starfish. She was examining the crystals when Laudine called to her in a soft voice, “I see her.”

  Cory turned around. A smartly dressed young woman with bouncing black curls was walking toward the stall. It was Zarinda Scard. Darkin Flay was talking to another customer when Cory held out her hands and thought, Bow!

  Time stood still when the bow appeared in one hand and the quiver in the other. Pulling the first arrow out of the quiver, Cory read the name “Zarinda Zenobia Scard.” With her eye on the young woman who had frozen midstep, Cory set the arrow and took aim. The arrow hit with a soft plunk and a puff of sparkles.

  Turning to Darkin, Cory took out the second arrow. “Darkin Randall Flay” was written on the shaft. When the arrow hit its mark, the puff of sparkles lit up the corner of the stall where the young man was standing.

  Cory dropped her hands as the bow and quiver vanished. She watched as Darkin turned toward the aisle and faced Zarinda. The young woman walked another pace, then stopped as if she’d hit a stone wall. When she turned toward Darkin, their eyes met. Seconds later, they were in each other’s arms.

  “You’re fast,” Laudine said, coming up behind Cory.

  “I am when I have help like that!” Cory told her. “That was so easy, and it was all because of you. Thank you!”

  Laudine shrugged. “I’m glad I was able to be part of it. True love!” she said with a sigh. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

  “Don’t look now, but is that Hagatha Smerch watching us from behind the magic wand display stand?” asked Cory.

  “I noticed her following us,” said Laudine. “I’m sure she saw new love blossom just then. I can’t imagine what she made of it. Now tell me, do you want to go home, or do you want to see more of the trade show?”

  “I would like to stay a little while longer,” Cory replied. “We didn’t see anything on the other side.”

  “Good!” Laudine declared. “There’s a candle maker who comes to every show and she always has her stand there. She makes the most wonderful candles that can put you to sleep in minutes. I’m going to buy a half dozen if she still has that many. She always sells out early.”

  “Maybe I can find something for Blue,” Cory said as she fell into step beside Laudine. “He’s been concerned about my safety when he should be putting all his energy into studying for his test. Do you think she has candles that can help someone worry less?”

  CHAPTER

  15

  “I’m coming in with you this time,” Macks said as he drove Cory and Laudine to the Little Match Girl’s house the next day. “I didn’t like that you went into that trade show without me. Blue would never forgive me if anything happened to you and neither would I.”

  “You’re welcome to come if you want to, Macks,” said Cory. “But I doubt it’s necessary. We’re just going in to meet the girl.”

  “I know, but … What the heck? What’s going on here?” Macks asked as they turned onto the street where the Match Girl lived.

  The street was lined with little bungalows, not at all the kind of place that normally drew a crowd, but a large group of people was gathered in front of one house, shouting and shaking placards.

  “That’s her house, isn’t it?” Cory said.

  Laudine nodded. “It’s the right address. Look at the signs those people are waving. I don’t think they’re happy with her work.”

  Cory peered out the window to read the signs.

  LITTLE MATCH GIRL IS BURNED OUT!

  OUR LOVE WENT UP IN SMOKE!

  “I’m definitely going in with you,” Macks said as he parked the car.

  After opening the car doors for Cory and Laudine, Macks led the way through the crowd. People glared at him as he pushed past, but no one seemed eager to confront an ogre.

  “If you’re looking for love, don’t ask her for help,” a woman called to Cory. “She conned us and won’t give our money back!”

  “We want our money!” another woman screamed at the house. “You’re a crook! The love didn’t last!”

  Macks stepped onto the porch and knocked. When no one answered, he began to pound on the door so hard that it looked as if he was about to break it down.

  The door opened a crack and a young woman peeked out. “I’m not giving any refunds. It said so in the contract. And the guarantee only said that you’d fall in love, not that you’d stay in love.”

  “I don’t want a refund,” Laudine said, stepping onto the porch. “I just want to talk to you. Please let me in.”

  “Why should I?” the girl said, but her eyes grew wide when she saw Laudine. “Miss Kundry! Yes, of course!”

  Laudine stepped inside when the girl opened the door wide. Before she could close it, Cory and Macks followed the president of Witches United into the house. Some of the protesters tried to come in as well, but Macks growled and shut the door in their faces.

  “This is an honor, Miss Kundry!” said the girl.

  Cory recognized her right away. Although she was wearing her hair differently, it was definitely the girl with the braids who had worked for the caterer at Delphinium’s wedding. She had seemed confident and slightly cocky then; now she looked like a student who had just been called into the principal’s office.

  “What is your name, girl?” Laudine said in an authoritative voice. “Not this ‘Match Girl’ nonsense, but your real name.”

  “Janiss Hartsthorne,” the girl said in a near whisper.

  Laudine took a pad of leaves from her purse and flipped through it until she found the name. “I see. You’re a grade-two witch, so you’re little more than a beginner. You’ve been specializing in incantations and food preparation spells, yet now you claim to have the ability to make matches. How is that possible?”

  Janiss looked around as if trying to find an escape route, but her gaze fell on Cory and her eyes lit up. “It’s her fault!” she cried. “It was her music that did it!”

  “What are you talking about?” asked Cory.

  “I work for a caterer who handles weddings, funerals, and birthday parties. When I heard at the last minute that Zephyr was going to be playing at the goblin wedding, I grabbed a device that I’d just bought from Abracadabra Music. I recorded all the songs Zephyr played at the wedding, but the best
one was the last one. When I saw what it did to people, I knew I could make money off it. Incantation classes aren’t cheap and I needed help paying my bills. I thought if I called myself a matchmaker, people would come to me and I could play that song. They’d fall in love just like the people did when they heard Zephyr play. I helped my first few customers for free and they told all their friends about me. After that, I had more people than I could handle.”

  “Did you write the song she’s talking about?” Laudine asked Cory.

  “Yes, but it’s just a song!” said Cory. “My mother asked me to write one for her wedding. It was never meant to make people fall in love. And I certainly didn’t mean for it to be used this way!”

  “You’re lying!” cried Janiss. “No one can put that much power into a song without meaning to! If you came here to accuse me of using unlicensed magic, Miss Kundry, I’m not the one you should go after. She is! She’s the one who wrote it!”

  “Perhaps,” said Laudine. “But intent is everything in a case like this. Hold out your right hand.”

  Janiss raised her hand and hesitated. Laudine gestured and Janiss’s hand shot out, palm up. The girl gasped and tried to pull her hand back, but all she could do was make it quiver. Laudine reached into her purse and took out a round object with her seal printed on one side. Pressing the seal to the girl’s palm, she left a glowing imprint that quickly faded.

  “What did you just do?” Cory asked.

  “I placed a warrant on her,” Laudine replied. “Now she has to appear at the next meeting of the Witches United board for judgment and sentencing. She’ll go whether she wants to or not—she won’t be able to help it.”

  “What about all those people outside my house?” asked Janiss.

  “That’s a problem that you created and will have to deal with yourself,” Laudine told her. “Perhaps next time you’ll think before you try another business venture like this.”

  Macks led the way out of the house. As soon as Cory and Laudine followed him through the door, Janiss slammed it behind them. They had almost reached the solar car when Cory had a vision. She froze in place while Macks opened the car door. When she didn’t get in, Laudine asked, “Is something wrong?”