by Mary Swift
Finnegan didn’t say anything. By now most of the prisoners, other than the dead ones, had gathered around them.
“You had better stand back.” the man told them. Killian, Finnegan and the others backed up against the opposite wall. The enchanter took a deep breath and began to make a humming noise. Several minutes passed. Finally the man opened his eyes and threw the watch into the smelliest latrine. “That one is always backed up. We don’t want it falling through.”
“This is so disgusting.” Finnegan muttered.
“Shut up.” Killian told him. “How long will it take?” he asked the enchanter.
“About ten minutes.”
Killian’s stomach was in knots. He didn’t have much of a plan beyond getting out. He turned to Finnegan. “Do you know how to swim?”
“Of course, don’t you?”
“Marginally. I’ll just hold onto you, all right Finn?”
Chapter 63
Dante’s followers showed Nora into a bedroom with red painted walls. As soon as they left she locked the door, although she doubted that would keep anyone from Firesea out. There were nightgowns and other clothes laid out on the four poster bed. She threw them on the floor and sat in the middle of the bed clutching a candlestick that she found on the bedside table.
She heard footsteps in the hall. She held her breath as someone paused at her door and then walked away. Eventually the lack of sleep overtook her and she shut her eyes. When she woke sunlight was streaming in the windows, she was still holding the candlestick. She got up and looked out of the window, Firesea spread out before her. In the center of the circle was the cathedral and the council hall. Beyond the wall she could see a small rocky island offshore, several stone buildings were built on top.
She turned away from the window and began gingerly opening doors in the far wall. One was for a small closet filled with clothes and the other, much to her surprise and relief, opened to a modern bathroom.
Suddenly there was a tap on the door. “Nora?” It was Dante.
She grabbed the candlestick. “What?”
“May I come in?”
“If you must.” She held tight to the candlestick and braced herself. She wasn’t going down without one hell of a fight.
Dante stepped inside. He was in his long red robe. His dark wavy hair fell over one eye. “How did you sleep?”
“How do you think?” Nora glared at him.
He smirked. “Nora there’s nothing to fear. I admit I was a bit aggressive last night. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you; you’ll come to me when you’re ready.”
“No I won’t.”
Dante laughed. “Nora, I’m the love of your life. You can’t stay away from me for long.”
“That time is over, I hate you.”
“We’ll see how long that lasts.” He looked her over, she was still in yesterday’s clothes. “Take a bath and put on a dress. We’re going out.”
“I’m not doing what you say.” she said defiantly.
“If you love Tom you will. I can make his life very miserable or very pleasant in the workhouse. It’s up to you Nora.”
“How do I know you’re not lying?”
Dante sat on the end of the bed. “Nora I’m the Master Enchanter of Firesea. I can do anything I want.”
“But you’re not from Firesea.”
“Firesea is powerful but not invincible. An enchanter with skill can accomplish much, such as becoming the Master Enchanter.”
“You’ve insinuated yourself here, just like you did with me. I never thought you were so manipulative.”
“You never did think much Nora. You were so anxious to fall in love with a romantic poet and have a fairy tale life that you never saw what was in front of your eyes.”
She didn’t answer right away, he was probably right. “I’m under no illusions now.”
“The redhead, what does he mean to you?”
“He’s my friend.”
“Take a bath and get dressed. I have breakfast waiting for you downstairs.” Dante stood up and walked out of the room.
Nora threw the candlestick on the floor. She felt nothing but hatred, hatred for Dante, hatred for herself for falling for him. She had been a romantic fool, a stupid girl who could be convinced of anything. That wasn’t going to happen again. No one was going to use her ever again, those days were over. It was time for her to take control of her life.
She took a bath in the claw foot tub in the bathroom. The clothes in the closet were nothing short of absurd. She put on a red woolen dress and a pair of red and grey striped socks and gray wool clogs. She looked ridiculous.
She took a deep breath and walked downstairs. Dante was waiting for her. “I thought you would never come.”
“Where’s breakfast?” Her stomach was growling. She hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday morning.
She followed him down a hallway to a small room at the back of the house. A round table with a red tablecloth was in the center, three followers stood nearby. “I’ve had them prepare all of your favorites.” Dante said as he pulled out her chair.
“I’m surprised you could remember.” She sat down.
He sat opposite her. The followers began lifting the covers off of the dishes. Nora was pleased to see her favorite foods in front of her, including baked salmon, something she loved having for breakfast.
“Why bother pleasing me?” she asked. She started to serve herself but the followers stepped in and filled her plate.
“I need your help Nora. As I told you I want the redhead’s pen. I need you to collect it for me. I need someone with immunity to Firesea.”
“Get it yourself, you’re the Master Enchanter.” She began to eat.
“You will do this Nora.”
She swallowed some orange juice. “How are you going to explain me? Are you going to tell them that I’m your long lost wife?”
Dante licked his lips. “The Master Enchanter is not above an act of charity now and then. Why not take pity on a poor mortal woman trapped in Firesea? Or perhaps it was love at first sight for the both of us.”
Nora laughed out loud. “You expect me to tell people that I fell in love with you the minute I laid eyes on you?”
“You did.”
“That was a long time ago Dante. Things are different now.”
“Why? Because you’ve thrown yourself at that redhead?”
“I never thrown myself at anyone, not even you.”
Dante didn’t look convinced. “Are you done with breakfast?”
Nora hadn’t eaten much but she wasn’t going to sit around all morning making conversation with him. “Yes.”
He looked at his followers and nodded. “Then let’s go. I want to get to the island right away.”
Dante left the dining room. Nora followed him. The front door opened and they stepped outside. His followers lined up behind them. “Remember, not a word to anyone.”
He offered his hand and she took it. They began to stroll regally across the circle. People stopped to bow at him and stare at her. Dante held his head high and nodded like a monarch acknowledging his subjects. It wasn’t until they were in front of the cathedral that someone asked who Nora was.
A man dressed in a gold silk robe stepped out from the church courtyard. Dante stopped and gave a curt bow. “Monsignor.”
The man returned the bow and then looked at Nora. “Who is this Master?”
Dante attempted a loving smile. “I haven’t had a chance to introduce my wife.”
The Monsignor raised an eyebrow. “Your wife? I hadn’t realized-”
“The doings of the Master Enchanter should be of no concern to the church.” Dante said haughtily.
An angry expression crossed the Monsignor’s face. He turned to Nora and offered his hand. “I’m Monsignor Ivan Cramer.”
“Cramer?”
Dante cleared his throat. “My dear we have many things to do this morning. If you don’t mind Monsignor?”
The Monsignor bowed again. “
Not at all Master, I have many things to do as well.”
“I’m sure you do.” Dante said yanking Nora’s hand. As soon as they were out of earshot Dante glared at her. “I told you to keep your mouth shut.”
“His name is Cramer, I thought-”
Dante squeezed her fingers. “I won’t warn you again Nora. All it will take is one word from me and Tom’s life will become unbearable.”
They continued past the council hall and through a small door in the circle wall. There was a narrow patch of sand surrounded by thickets of wild roses. Several boats were tied to a dock. A young man not more than twelve years old directed two younger boys to ready the boats. Dante’s followers filled one while Nora and Dante occupied the other. The boy climbed in with them and began to row. They headed towards the island that Nora had seen from her bedroom window.
“How goes it?” Dante asked the boy.
“All quiet.”
“Good. I don’t have time for problems today.”
“No sir you don’t.” the boy agreed. He rowed a few more minutes before expertly maneuvering the boat next to a wooden dock. The followers’ boat was already there. Dante got up and helped Nora out while his followers collected around them.
“Keep watch.” he told them. “Make sure no one gets inside.”
“Yes sir.” they all said at once.
“Come on Nora.” Dante dragged her up a gravel path towards the largest building on the island. He pressed his finger on a heavy wooden door and it swung open. The smell of mildew filled the air as they stepped inside.
“Is this a prison?” Nora asked.
Dante brought her down a dim corridor to another door. Once again he pressed his finger on it and it opened to an empty cell. “Get it.” Dante pointed to the floor.
Nora squinted, she couldn’t see a thing. “Get what?”
Dante grabbed the back of her neck and shoved her face towards the floor. “Right there! Pick it up.”
It was Killian’s pen. Nora picked it up.
“That’s it Nora, now-” An earsplitting boom filled the air. “What is that?” Dante asked. The ground beneath them shook, from outside there was shouting. Dante looked at the pen. “Hold on to that.” He ran out of the cell and began calling for his followers. Nora put the pen in her pocket, she had an idea.
Chapter 64
Finnegan and the rest of the prisoners watched the toilet. He had his doubts that his brother’s hair brained scheme was going to work. Whatever the outcome his watch was ruined and he didn’t care about getting out of prison at all.
At least ten minutes passed and nothing happened. “Are you sure you did it right?” Killian asked the enchanter who had cast the spell on the watch.
“Of course I did. I haven’t forgotten.” he said defensively. “Sometimes it just takes a while. What’s the hurry?”
“I have to get out of here.” Killian said.
“It’s probably not going to work.” Finnegan said hopefully.
Killian glared at him. “It has to.”
“What kind of spell makes things bigger anyway?” Finnegan grumbled.
The enchanter crossed his arms. “What’s wrong with it? I grew up hungry, my spell allowed me to take a loaf of bread and feed my family for a week.”
“That’s very clever.” Killian said.
“What do you know about it?” Finnegan muttered. “You’ve never been hungry.”
Killian opened his mouth to speak. Suddenly there was a loud crack from deep within the toilet.
“It’s working.” the enchanter said. “Stay back.”
The men pressed against the wall and waited. A second later came another groan. All of a sudden there was an ear splitting boom and then the toilet, the wall and the entire corner of the room fell away. Finnegan squinted as sunlight poured in.
Killian rushed to the edge of the floor and looked down. Finnegan instinctively ran after him and grabbed his arm. “Careful.”
“Now you suddenly care?” Killian pulled away. “Look.” Finnegan looked in time to see his watch, now as big as a man, fall to the rocky beach below. “We’ve got to make a run for it.”
It was now crystal clear that there was no tank for the toilet waste. It simply piled up on the ground below. From the water marks on the rocks it looked like the high tide swept some of it out to sea, while a healthy amount clung to the stones.
“I’m not going down there.” Finnegan said.
“Oh yes you are. If they can do it so can you.” Killian said. Some of the prisoners were already jumping onto the rocks below. They were slipping and sliding and they struggled to get to the water.
“I’m going to get dirty.” Finnegan whined.
“That’s the price you pay for kidnapping. We’ve got to be careful though. We could break our legs.” Killian pointed to a prisoner struggling to get up, his leg was sticking out at an unnatural angle.
Finnegan sighed. He supposed there was nothing he could say that would stop Killian from dragging him along. “There’s a fairly clear spot over there.” He pointed to a patch of gravel. Behind them he heard the door open. Finnegan looked over his shoulder, a hoard of protectors poured in followed by the Master Enchanter. Finnegan recognized the robe right away, and the robe recognized him, he could feel a strong pull of energy in his direction.
He also recognized who was wearing the robe, it was Dante Gavrashelli the supposedly dead poet he used to represent back in Chilton. Despite the circumstances Finnegan laughed out loud. “This must be some kind of cosmic joke.”
“Stop now!” Dante cried while stretching his arms out and waving his hands at them. There was no time to ponder how Dante had suddenly returned from the dead or why he was in Firesea posing as the Master Enchanter. Finnegan jumped and landed on the ground, he scraped his hands on the sharp rocks as he pitched forward.
He looked up at Killian. “Jump!” Finnegan called up to him. Killian looked over his shoulder and then jumped. He landed near Finnegan, falling forward and cutting his chin on a rock.
Suddenly Dante was at the edge of the floor with the protectors surrounding him, his face was red with rage. Finnegan wasn’t sure how much power he had, if any, and he wasn’t going to wait to find out. He helped Killian to his feet. “Let’s go.” They ran for the water. Just as their feet became wet a huge wave pushed them back onshore.
“They’re coming!” Killian shouted. They looked up and saw the protectors starting to jump. Dante was standing above them, his dark hair blowing spectacularly in the wind.
Another wave, taller than the first, crashed onto the shore. “Hold on to me.” Finnegan said as he ran at the water. The waves were unbelievably strong. They were tossing the other men back like driftwood. But Finnegan was a strong swimmer; he had lived and worked on a fishing boat as a teenager. He dove into the water and kicked his legs until he felt the two of them get underneath the waves. He had no idea if Killian could manage to hold his breath for that long. When he felt they were a safe distance offshore he rose to the surface dragging his brother with him.
Killian gasped for air. “Were you trying to kill me down there?”
Finnegan bobbed in the water. On the shore the other prisoners were still struggling to get past the waves. He wasn’t sure if Dante had noticed them escape.
“I thought you said you could swim a little.”
“Well I can’t.” Killian started to sink in the water.
Finnegan grabbed his shirt and held him up. “You’ve really had it easy, do you know that?”
“I have not, thanks to you.”
“So you’re going to blame me for everything that has ever happened to you?”
“Yes.”
Finnegan looked at the island. Dante was on the shore pointing at them. “Don’t let go of me and hold your breath for Pete’s sake.”
“Who’s Pete?” Killian asked as Finnegan dove under the water and swam further away from the island. When he saw his brother’s eyes wide open in panic he brought
them to the surface.
“You are trying to kill me!” Killian shouted.
Back at the prison the protectors were bringing boats from the other side of the island. If they hurried he and Killian could make it to the opposite shore and into the woods before the boats launched. “Can you manage one more time?” he asked his brother.
“I think so.”
Finnegan slipped under the water taking Killian with him once again. He swam another few minutes until they could stand up in the water. Killian fell onto the sand gasping, Finnegan tugged at his arm. Back on the island Dante was climbing into a boat. “Come on, we’ve got to keep moving.”
“I think I swallowed a gallon of water.” Killian coughed.
“Maybe you should climb down from your ivory tower once in a while and exercise.” Finnegan dragged Killian to his feet.
“Shut up.”
“Listen, you were the one who wanted to escape. I thought you wanted to rescue Lucy.”
“I do, but you were right, we’ll never make it. The Master Enchanter, he’s coming.”
“That’s why we need to move. You got us into this mess, the least you can do is see it through to the end. And he’s not that powerful, believe me, if he was we would be dead already.”
The last sentence seemed to revive Killian. “All right, let’s get going.”
They ran over scrubby bushes and driftwood that littered the ground. The forest was a mix of deciduous and conifers. Pioneer trees like birches and aspens grew on the edges, allowing only slim shafts of sunlight to penetrate into the thicker growth.
Finnegan had always been told as a boy that the forest contained trolls but he had never seen one. They tripped over twigs and felled logs as they made their way further in. He hoped they would find a cave or some other type of shelter to hide in.
Killian lagged behind, he was looking up at the trees. “Finn, what if we climb up?”
Finnegan stopped. It wasn’t a bad idea. “All right, let’s see you climb.”
“I thought you could go first. You’re so rugged.”
“Don’t try and flatter me.” Finnegan looked up into the tree next to him. It had a dense canopy of leaves hiding many of its high branches. If they were still and quiet it might work. “Go on, up you go.”
