by Jamie Ott
~~~
The next morning, things went just as planned. Students came in, fell to the floor, and remembered for the third time. Only this time, they were sluggish and hung over by magic. Lin did her best to help them into the Great Hall where they handed out cups of orange juice that had been modified to give them a lift. Unfortunately, it did little good, and even the most obstinate students from the first day they received their memories were too exhausted to protest.
Eventually, the students realized the importance of the situation. Despite looking as if they’d just run a marathon, they gathered the little strength they had left and headed for town.
They split up and went to every door of every house, every business, and to the schools where they convinced them of a town meeting that everyone had to attend that evening at 7 pm. When they asked why, they said it was to review school policies, to have dinner, or to vote on town measures. Some, of course, didn’t buy it, and those people were enchanted.
To Lin’s surprise, there were no attacks, as she was thinking surely they were being closely watched. The others didn’t say it, but she knew they thought the same.
Where were the Wackens, anyway? And, Golshem? It was strange that they brought the town over and then disappeared. The only explanation was they were working on another plot they had for them, like taking over Avalon.
After hours of knocking on doors, Lin was tired. She decided to return to the castle and rest.
Back in her office, she conjured a cot and took a nap.
Several hours later, she woke and saw that it was nearly 7 p.m. On her way down to the Great Hall, where the meeting was to be, she stepped into the ladies room. Carelessly, she opened the door but stopped when she heard whispering in the stall.
She stopped and listened curiously. Quietly, she shut the bathroom door and tip toed closer to the stall to hear what the girl was saying.
“...they know we’re in Avalon. They say the fairies have given us two days to leave…”the girl said, and there was a pause. “Hold on.”
The stall door swung open. Out came Blair.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “Where’s Mara?”
In her hand, Blair held a small gold bowl. Lin recognized it as a communication device known as the bowl of Amphitrite. There was one just like it at the Historical Society. One fills it with water and says the incantation etched around the bowl, and then can communicate across worlds. It was infamous in the days of the gods.
“I don’t care what you’re doing. Just tell me where Mara is?”
But she never got her answer because something stabbed her in the back. Pain shot down to her feet and all the way up to her neck. Lin did everything she could not to scream out, for the pain was terrible. How could she have forgotten to call her protection shield?
