Ferryl Shayde - Book 2 - A Student Body

by Vance Huxley

  He sighed. “Melanie is now a fervent Tavern player, though as yet it’s only at home with me so I’ve steered her away from the meditation part. Now she’ll get to talk to other Taverners. One of them will mention the warding mark, stroking it and the meditation, and imagining making a leaf float so she’ll pester me to play properly. Samantha is eighteen so she’ll chat up the older boys and probably get too much information, or hints there’s more to it than dice. If my mum and dad get on the wrong topic with Abel’s mum or yours? Worse, the Taverners will want to talk about magic. How do we stop Melanie from joining in before they realise who she is?” Rob threw a growth glyph at a clump of grass, but only half sprouted which looked really odd.

  Kelis sent a little glyph at it. The grass turned brown and drooped. “Curses. I tried to reverse the growth glyph to stunt it again, to get the two sides even, but it doesn’t work that way.” She sighed. “We need Ferryl back here and as often as possible.” Her eyes moved to Abel. “So stop trying to wriggle out of it and be a boyfriend.”

  “I’m not wriggling.” Abel looked from one to the other, baffled.

  “She kisses you, so you could at least try kissing her back and put your arm around her when she hugs you. She’s not exactly ugly, and you’d have jumped at the chance before… Well, before.” Kelis scowled at the dead grass, avoiding Abel’s eyes. “You were supposed to try kissing other girls before we tested the binding.”

  “You don’t kiss any boys.”

  A little smile played over Kelis’ lips. “Is that your excuse? Just remember this is my birthday party as well, buster. I’ll be sweet sixteen and only kissed by one boy. He’s fairly cute, in the right light, but I’ll be able to compare just how cute after the party.” Her smile grew as she turned towards Abel. “The boy is an idiot, because he’s got himself a girlfriend before his party so he won’t be able to do the same. Though at least he doesn’t have to worry about his girlfriend discovering magic.” At least that got them all laughing. Ferryl knew more about magic than everyone else they knew, combined.

  “Maybe she can use that mazzlement thing on my family, so they don’t notice anything.” A calculating look came into Rob’s eyes. “I could do with that glyph for when Samantha or Melanie get nosy.”

  ∼∼

  The three of them chewed it all over, and agreed they’d just have to be on their guard. At least they could keep in touch if Ferryl brought spooky-phone. Rob wanted to see where Abel fought Henry so they left through the back gate, into the wood. A harsh creaky voice greeted them. “You should check more often.”

  “Hello dryad.” Abel lifted a hand in greeting to the gnarled twiggy shape standing by its tree. “Check what?”

  “For trespassers. There have been attempts to get to the gate. They were not strong enough to even get through this wood, but something is testing.” The two light brown eyes switched from one to the other. “Have you checked the other boundaries?”

  “We don’t know how to. The sorceress will be here tomorrow, so she can do it. I hope.” Abel looked around helplessly. “I’ve no idea if something has been near. I know the protection for this woodland is weaker than the barrier around the main garden, but I’ve no idea what might get in.”

  “A small blood-sack tried, much smaller than the one you destroyed. It came in a badger and crossed over the boundary but I could smell it and crushed it under a falling branch.” The dryad looked back at the Sycamore tree it lived in. “That is wasteful but my new tree and I are still learning about each other. In time we can strangle something that small with roots.”

  “What else came, please? I have no honey for answers, but I can bring some tomorrow.” Abel glanced at Kelis. “If there’s some left?”

  “A couple of jars. I’ve stopped trying to get the dryads in my garden to talk.” Kelis nodded towards the dryad and sniggered. “If they find out this one got some, they might change their minds.”

  “I will trust you. Despite you rescuing me, it is hard to trust magic wielders.” The dryad pointed a stumpy limb and the bunch of twigs on the end to a small clearing nearby. “There is something buried there that is being very secretive. It burrowed in very slowly and stops for long periods, but tree roots are very sensitive.” The limb and twigs pointed along the edge of the wood. “Skurrits tried to enter there, and something smaller further along, but the repulsion spell stopped them reaching the trees. The Skurrits must have been compelled or terrified. They tried too hard, until the magic damaged one.”

  “I’m sorry, we promised this place would be safe for you.” Abel looked up and round. “I can’t take you inside the main barrier.”

  The creaking sound that signalled dryad humour, or preparation for an attack, sounded briefly. “I have an adult Sycamore crammed full of the magic it has collected since being a sapling. It is safer than any other tree I know of because your hexes stop all but the strongest, most persistent creatures coming in here, and those are not interested in a mere dryad.” The twigs pointed to the clearing again. “Will you need the sorceress to deal with that? It is small, with little magic.”

  Abel glanced at the other two, and they nodded. “We’ll try, just so it doesn’t get any further.”

  “From three directions?” Rob pointed. “If it heads for one of us, the other two get a clear shot from behind.”

  “Can you see where it is?” Abel scanned the clearing.

  “There.” Kelis pointed. “The grass and those few nettles are a little bit sickly. I might be wrong?”

  “It’s worth a try. How do we dig it out?” Rob picked up a piece of old branch and tossed it down. “We need a spade.”

  “Or not. Remember what happened to the plant roots?” Kelis pointed again and flexed her fingers. “I reckon nettle roots wriggling down around it will startle the whatever at least. I’ve been practicing.”

  “So have I, but one thing first.” Abel went to a nearby tree and cut the draining glyph deep into the bark. “Sorry tree, but I might need a boost in a hurry.” He turned to the others. “I ran out of magic fighting Henry and nearly didn’t get to a tree in time. Now I’ll only have to slap my hand on the glyph to top up.”

  “You mentioned it. Good thinking.” The other two prepared a tree each. Kelis raised a hand. “Three, two, grow!” Her glyph arrowed into the wilting nettles. There wasn’t much reaction at first except the plants straightened and looked a bit greener, but then they began to sprout upwards. Almost immediately they went over as earth flew up and something like a giant grey-brown worm shot out of the ground! Not really a worm, more like half of a fat one sat on the cut segment, but swirly like a tall thin dollop of cream on a bun. The point at the top, nearly shoulder height on Abel, swept in a circle as if looking before the worm tried to head between Kelis and Abel. All three of them hammered it with wind glyphs, but although it fell over twice it wasn’t taking damage.

  “Abel, use fire. I’m not good enough inside the wood.” None of them wanted to use fire in the wood but Rob was right, they had to try. Abel’s tight, hot fire glyphs blackened areas of the creature’s hide but didn’t really penetrate, though the creature felt them. It swerved and either squealed or screamed, a high noise more like a vibration than a sound. All three winced and the glyph-storm faltered as they tried to protect their ears.

  “Look out!” The creature turned towards Kelis, away from Abel’s fire. It squashed down to half the height, then sprang up and over her, out from between them. All three gaped as it flew up and away like a giant spring, until a branch stretched out from a tree and smashed it back! The creature rolled as it landed back in the clearing but came upright, apparently unhurt, before lunging at Kelis. She abandoned caution to blast it with flame until it swerved away, smashing a sapling to splinters. That gave them all a definite warning about how strong it was.

  Rob threw a fireball, setting some weeds on fire, and then a dead branch. That bounced off but gave Abel an idea or rather it sparked his memory. He threw a thick stick in the air be
fore catching it in air glyphs and driving it towards the half-worm. The high vibration rang out as the crude spear finally penetrated its skin. “Physical attack, using magic as power!” A variety of pieces of branch arrowed in or logs bounced off the creature, more penetrated and the vibration intensified. Even so, only the glyphs in the trees gave the trio enough magic to keep fighting.

  The creature made one last attempt to escape, falling flat and rolling to crush the sticks now impaling it before trying to burrow. Kelis finally finished the fight. She took a moment to aim, then blew a thick length of wood deep into a hole already made by an earlier branch. The noise stopped, leaving an almost shocking silence before the creature began to bubble and dissolve. For once a magical creature didn’t disappear, or not completely. A low mound of dirt and small rocks remained, though when Rob poked it with a stick there were no signs of life.

  “What on earth was that?” Kelis and Abel looked at each other, then shook their heads at Rob. There’d never been a hint of anything like this in what Ferryl had told them.

  “I do not know.” Dryad stood wide-eyed by its Sycamore, one limb firmly connected. “We are ripened with some memory from our forebear, but nothing like that. Though I am a young dryad, compared to some.”

  “When I went around asking all the dryads for help, I looked up some stuff about trees. A Sycamore can live four hundred years. Though dryad’s old tree, the one the wind blew over, didn’t look really ancient so maybe it isn’t that old.” Rob looked at the ridge of earth. “Maybe that thing is new, or is supposed to be extinct.”

  “Ferryl told me the Aryadne’s Hound we chased should be extinct, so who knows?” Abel looked up at the tree above the dryad, at the splintered wood along one branch. “Thank you for your help, dryad Sycamore. Does that injury hurt?”

  “No, not as you think of it. The tree feels it as a wrongness, but I will direct magic and we will heal it. There is some other damage because trees should not move like that, but we will recover quickly.” The dryad’s eyes moved to the dirt, and the trampled clearing. “That was very strong even without magic. Can you strengthen the barrier glyphs to stop any other burrowing creature? The effect is weaker underground.”

  “I’ll ask the sorceress. If you are all right, we’ll heal the glyphs in these trees and leave you for now.” Abel smiled and made a small half-bow. “Though I will bring you honey tomorrow or the day after.”

  “A rare treat. I thank you, polite magic wielder. Remember to check all the boundaries.” Dryad blended back into the tree. The three of them topped up on magic from the trees, healed the cut glyphs, and walked slowly home. Despite going over the whole thing several times they only came up with one solution, one they already knew. They needed a real sorceress, Ferryl Shayde!

  ∼∼

  All Saturday morning the tension grew. A text at two p.m. saying Ferryl/Jenny had left home came as a big relief, to Abel at least. He wanted spooky-phone before the Taverners arrived at the party. According to the text her dad would deliver Ferryl/Jenny to Kelis’ house so Abel had better get there sharpish to meet her.

  Apart from a quick check to see he’d shone his shoes and tease him about combing his hair for a girl, Abel’s mum didn’t mind him setting off early. She still found the whole thing funny because after never showing any interest in girls, Abel had found two within weeks. While inspecting his birthday present, a T-shirt with a picture of Bonny’s Tavern printed on the front, she commented that his coat seemed a bit tight. Abel daren’t tell her Ferryl insisted he spent hours running and lifting small logs, to build up his muscles for magical feedback. He didn’t mind practicing running away, because the Bound Shade really had scared him.

  At least Kelis’ big posh house seemed to reassure Jenny’s dad, though when she got out of the car a surprise followed her. “Hello Abel. Can I come to your party? Lots of kids are coming from school, those who play the game. I could get some really good tips.” Diane did her best to look innocent, but her giggle didn’t help. “You’ll want to keep on the right side of your girlfriend’s little sister, in case I read her diary.” A glance behind her told Abel exactly who thought this was a good idea, Jenny’s dad.

  Ferryl/Jenny hugged Abel, and kissed him quickly on the cheek. “Wow, is this where Kelis lives? It’s huge.” “Don’t object or dad will wonder why and might stay. We’d never get a chance to talk in private. I’ll mazzle Diane if she hears anything about magic.”

  “Wait until the Taverners arrive, it will soon fill up. Come on then, Diane, I’m sure we can find you cake or a teacher.” A real smile broke on Abel’s face. “How about Rob?” Rob would go crackers if he had both Diane and his own little sister, Melanie, pestering him about the Tavern. After confirming the party would end at nine, Jenny’s dad left and the three of them went in. Sure enough Rob already had Melanie following him around, and Diane made a beeline towards them.

  Ferryl/Jenny held firmly onto Abel’s hand. “We need a private place for spooky-phone.”

  “We’ll need Kelis as well.” Abel wanted her there so she could get her own spooky-phone.

  “No we won’t. You cannot teach this to anyone. I know how but I have never done it because harnessing the result needs a very unusual vessel.” Ferryl/Jenny stood very close, speaking quietly and very seriously instead of using skin contact.

  “Kelis will ask.” Abel knew he wouldn’t refuse if Kelis pushed him.

  “You won’t know enough to repeat it, and you must tell her I did it all. Swear, or I will not give you a spooky-phone.” Abel gave up and promised, on his true-name. “Good, now kiss me. Several people are watching and this is the first time you have got me alone, away from dad or school. It is expected.” Abel complied, careful to keep it friend rather than boyfriend. “That’s a start.”

  “I’m not keen.” At least Abel could whisper in her ear now. “Jenny might not like the idea when she wakes up.”

  “She won’t know.” When Abel frowned, Ferryl/Jenny tutted in frustration. “We will talk when we have privacy. Now show me the gardens, please.”

  “Bonny’s Tavern would be more private.”

  “But no good for making a spooky-phone.” Ferryl/Jenny tugged his arm, raising her voice. “Come on, show me the gardens, Abel. Please?” As they made for the rear door, Kelis started to follow but Abel shook his head, just enough to let her know. She frowned, but stayed inside. Once in the garden Ferryl/Jenny headed to the far end among the trees and shrubs.

  “Remember the security cameras.” Abel glanced up to remind her, but Ferryl/Jenny nudged him gently. When he looked at her, her hand moved and glyphs floated gently up towards the nearest cameras.

  “They can’t see anything now, not with black lenses. I’ll reverse it when we’ve done.” Ferryl/Jenny looked around. “This is private enough. Sit here, side by side so the dryads in those trees can’t see. They won’t understand the magic flows, but might gossip about the result.” Ferryl/Jenny sat and patted the grass beside her. “Take off your coat and put it round us both. It’ll make a good shield and in any case, we need my tattoo bared.” She sighed. “Your tattoo, not mine. I had a lot of fun in there.”

  Abel wondered why she sounded so sad, but he had something more urgent to worry about right now. Once he draped his coat around them and rolled up his sleeve Ferryl took his left hand, suddenly becoming all business. “No speaking aloud because dryads can almost hear shadows. Imagine the wind glyph and create a small whirlwind here, this high.” She indicated with her other hand. “When I tell you, stop pushing the glyph but keep spilling magic into the actual wind. I’ll tell you when to stop.” Ferryl/Jenny hesitated for a moment. “This is not a binding. I know you won’t accept those. This is servitude in return for life, and at some time you can set it free.”

  “Nothing dies.” Abel had to speak. Any talk of bindings always made him nervous, but the number of times it included death made it worse.

  “Nothing dies. Make the whirlwind. Some call them dust devils, but
it is not.” Ferryl sounded nervous, not something calculated to give Abel peace of mind. He took a deep breath, imagined the wind glyph but only twirling one way, and extended the magic down towards the grass. The result looked really neat. A coil of dust rose from the grass and wobbled there, a miniature twister. Abel concentrated on keeping it stable until suddenly Ferryl reached out, slid her hand under it, and lifted the lot off the ground!

  “Steady!” Abel realised his concentration had wavered. He could see Ferryl/Jenny’s lips moving but she’d let go of his hand again so he’d no idea what was said, if anything. At least he could tell Kelis the truth, he didn’t know what Ferryl had done. The drain on Abel’s magic wasn’t much, but it continued until he began to wonder if he’d have enough. Eventually Ferryl/Jenny took his hand. “Forget the glyph. Push magic without any form, without intent or shape.” Ferryl/Jenny let go again and her lips moved, barely, so she might not be actually talking. Abel did as he was told but it wasn’t easy. He remembered someone saying that if you try not to imagine an elephant, all you’d think of was elephant. At least that helped now, taking his mind off the little shape still spinning on Ferryl/Jenny’s hand.

  She took his left hand again. “Stop now, it is done. I will put her into your tattoo. Her tattoo now. I have explained spooky-phone, English, something of the world and you, and about glyphs and magic. Also how to animate the tattoo, so she can have some fun as well.”

  “Her?”

  “Yes. Your new talking tattoo. I hope she is as happy as I was in there. Hurry up. As soon as she is inside, introduce yourself.” Ferryl/Jenny lifted the little swirl of wind, now almost invisible as it had shed the dust, and put it near the cat-woman tattoo. The swirl collapsed, briefly became a small shimmering, and then Abel felt her flow into his arm. Not quite the same feeling as when Ferryl used to, much smaller, or maybe more like Ferryl when she first arrived. The zing, a small shock that tickled rather than hurt, surprised him but then it was gone. He subvocalized, just as he’d practiced.