by A E M
Charlotte raced to Zorach, who looked like he might consider stepping on her. “Dane-weaver, now is not the time for apologies to clear your conscience.”
Charlotte continued anyway. “Zorach, I heard Ekos out there commanding others to follow him.”
Zorach rubbed his beard. “Ekos.” He dashed out of the room followed by Lodestar.
The next hour was a blur as Sebastian rushed to try to save Raven and Ebby. Charlotte and the others were ushered out of the room. The Maguard arrived and quickly set up base in the castle. The Maguard was made up of dwarves, who were small powerhouses of muscle. They carried a shield and a mattock, a weapon with a head made of a combination of an axe blade and an adze. Charlotte was allowed to travel back to her family’s tower with Beau’s family. While Charlotte’s mother was missing and her father wasn’t in any shape to parent, Wilder and Wynn immediately filled in the gap. She and Beau, young adults that they were, stood shoulder to should in front of Wilder. It was definitely not the first time the two of them had been in trouble with either set of parents, but it had been a few years since their last major infraction. Wynn scolded them first, and then Wilder wrapped things up.
“If either of you dares to pull something like that again, whatever Zorach decides to do with you will be the least of your worries.” Wynn added as she and Wilder left the room.
“We did the right thing.” Charlotte insisted once she and Beau were alone. “I would do it again. Forget Zorach.”
“Lottie.” Beau laughed. “I’d do it again, too.” He shrugged. “Sometimes doing the right thing still comes with consequences.”
Charlotte headed to the bathroom to take a hot shower. It wasn’t right that everybody else sat around and did nothing and then turned around and got onto them for taking action. How did people do that? How could they look in the mirror everyday knowing that they sat back when somebody was hurting? She scowled at her own reflection in the mirror. She pulled and tugged and ripped off the remains of the beautiful dress while the shower heated. The hot water felt good and she turned the heat up as high as she could tolerate it. Suddenly a mixture of frustration and grief and exhaustion and worry smashed her at once and she cried out. She covered her mouth and sobbed, her other hand pressed into the tiled wall as hard as she could.
“You okay in there?”
“What do you think?” She snapped back at him.
He stepped into the bathroom. “I’m not looking.”
“Good, I don’t feel like making your father any madder than he is right now.”
Beau sighed. “Lottie, he is furious; that is true. But he’s also proud of us. You have to look a little deeper in his eyes to see it.”
“I think I may faint if I look any deeper in his eyes.”
“You obviously didn’t get in trouble with him as much as I did as a kid.”
“You obviously got in a lot more trouble without me than with me.”
Beau laughed loudly and left the bathroom. Charlotte wished she could somehow wash all the hurt that had been the last several hours away in the shower. She peeked out of the shower when she heard Beau rummaging through drawers. He tossed one of her swimsuits into the shower.
“Put it on.”
“Ugh. This is an old one.”
“You’re such a clothing snob, Charlotte.”
“Looks who’s talking.”
He knocked on the shower door. “Got it on?”
“Yeah, I’m good.” She opened the shower door, or her soul. She wasn’t sure which. She was sure her eyes were red and puffy, for she hadn’t been able to stop crying in between the words of their conversation.
He stepped in and tugged a strand of her hair. “So what was all that commotion earlier? Girly feelings?”
She tapped her foot against the floor tiles. “So what, you’re fine after all we went through?”
“Well, yeah. I mean, I may have smashed a few things in your room to get fine, but I’m good now. Maybe you should try it.”
“Beau, be serious.” She chided him.
“Do you want replacements or cash for the damaged property?”
“Beau!”
“Lottie.” He responded softly. He tucked her head under his and wrapped his arms around her.
“Just don’t leave me.” She said quietly into his shoulder. “Everybody else is leaving me.”
He held her until the water went cold.
6
Keep Me Safe
Bliss lifted her chin. “My Mommy says I have to play with you.”
“Well, I would rather play with your brother.” Charlotte countered.
“Good, keep him out of my hair.”
Charlotte shrugged. “I won’t tell on you if you do something else.”
“I won’t tell, either.” The two girls smiled.
Charlotte rolled over and pushed the off button on the alarm. Bliss mumbled something incoherent and stretched her wings out across the bed. Charlotte wiggled out from underneath Bliss’s left wing and hurried into her closet to slip into jeans and a sweater. She was pulling on her socks and shoes when Bliss cracked an eye open and yawned. She was still dressed in her gown from the ball. It was a beaded two-piece gown of blue and green. The long skirt hung low on her hips. The top tied in two places on her back between her wings. Bliss sashayed over to the couch and sat down. Charlotte admired Bliss, who was younger than she was, but much more confidant. Bliss was curvy with wide shoulders and hips. She was taller than both Beau and Charlotte. She made clothes look better than they would on another woman.
“I’ve forgotten how frightening you look in the mornings.” Charlotte teased.
“I only look frightening in the mornings?” Bliss crossed her legs and reclined. “I’ll have to work on that.”
Charlotte crossed her arms over her knees. “I’m sorry we argued yesterday.”
“I’m not.” Bliss tossed a pillow at Charlotte. Charlotte pulled off one of her shoes and tossed it at Bliss. Soon the room was covered with stray pillows and shoes and wadded up dirty clothes. They finally ended up laughing in a heap on the floor.
“You know, usually I get into more trouble than you and Beau combined.” Bliss said as she stretched her long legs out. “I was surprised that you two left last night.”
“I couldn’t leave them out there, no matter who they were.”
“Beau is the same way.”
Charlotte flipped over onto her stomach. “I guess Beau and I have always run off and left you behind.”
Bliss waved her hand in the air. “I’m old enough now that it doesn’t bother me. You two have this weird bond anyway, and I’m certainly not about to be a third wheel.” She sat up. “What I was trying to say was that I think what you two did was brave.” She rolled her eyes. “Stupid, but brave.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t give you more credit last night. You were right about Raven.”
“That’s more like it.” Bliss smiled. “And my offer stands. Come stay with me in my homelands someday. We’ll talk.”
There was a knock at the door before Wynn and Wilder and Beau stepped in the room. They all looked around the room, but none of them said a word. It was far from the first time the two had wrecked the bedroom.
Charlotte jumped up from the floor. “What’s happened since I’ve been asleep? How are Raven and Ebby?”
Wilder wrapped her in a hug. “Good morning, little Lottie.”
“It’s been a long time since you’ve called me little Lottie.” Charlotte smiled. She snuck a glance at Beau. Did he tell his father about what she had said last night? Beau smiled back.
“I’ve missed you these last few years.” Wilder kissed her forehead. “We all have.”
“I’ve missed you all, too.” She smiled at Wynn and Wilder with their matching heads of short white hair and their matching eyes of gold. Beau and Bliss both had dark brown heads of hair and dark brown eyes.
Wilder cleared his throat. “The Maguard interviewed everybody and inspected every i
nch of the castle and grounds. They all escaped. We don’t have much to go on right now.”
“Raven is in a magical coma right now as she heals.” Wynn added. “We all feel so responsible for bringing her here. We had no idea she was a spy.”
Wilder hugged her closer. “Lottie, We don’t think Ebby is going to make it. I’m afraid she’s declined considerably and is refusing medical treatment. You should probably see her now. Your father, on the other hand, is about in the same state as when you saw him yesterday.”
Charlotte’s heart dropped. She returned the hug that Wynn offered her next, and then headed down to her parents’ room. Sebastian, red-eyed and shoulders stooped, sat on the end of the bed. He took her hand and patted it. “There’s nothing I can really do for him right now. He’s in and out. You can try to speak with him, but keep your expectations low.”
“I should have been here sooner.” Charlotte sat down on her parents’ bed and held her father’s hand.
“No, you needed to sleep. I’ve taken good care of him medically.”
“I know you have, Sebastian.” She reached over and patted his shoulder. “You need rest, too.”
“I’ll sleep soon.”
“How are Spindle and Chime?” Charlotte asked hesitantly.
“They are awake and healing well. I expect a full recovery for both.”
Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief. She handed the throw on the end of the bed to Sebastian. “You sleep right now. That’s a direct order, hob.”
Sebastian smiled fondly and nodded. “What would we do without your family, Charlotte?”
Charlotte smiled back at him. “What would we do with our hobs?”
She turned back to her father after Sebastian popped out of sight. “Papa?” There was no response. She held his hand, brushed his hair back from his face, and talked to him. She sang one of the songs he would sing to her at bedtime. She read to him out of his favorite book. He didn’t stir. Finally, she began to pace the room in frustration.
“Is that you, Charlotte?” A strong voice asked from the doorway.
“Yes.” Charlotte recognized the dwarf’s face from many of her father’s photo albums, but she couldn’t recall who the man was. He had a warm, fatherly face with mischievous eyes. His hair and beard were grey and braided with bits of leather woven through them. He crossed the room and bowed before her.
“My name is Barnabas. I was one of your father’s traveling companions many years ago.”
“I recognize your face from pictures.” Charlotte said. “And your voice is familiar.”
“It’s been several years since I saw you last.” He admitted. “In fact, you were my height the last time I saw you.”
Charlotte looked down at his pressed uniform and shiny buttons. A knife hung from his belt. “Are you part of the Maguard?”
“I am. I’ve heard that you are eager for information.” He handed her a disc made of moonstone. “Here are the reports of what happened from everybody who was there. Do you have a device to read it?”
“You know my father.” She pressed the disc into her palm. What truths did it hold? What secrets would be left unanswered? “I have a rudimentary magical computer in the attic that mother and I used from time to time. One of our hobs is good with technology. He turned one of our mirrors into a computer of sorts.”
“Magical technology has changed a lot recently.” Barnabas said. He laid his hand on Isaac’s foot. “I side with your father on it.”
“So you don’t know how to used it, either, then?”
Barnabas snorted and sat down on the other side of the bed. “My son helps me.”
They sat together in silence. Charlotte wished she knew how exactly her father knew Barnabas. She was confident that if she pressed him for information, then he would clam up like Basil and Josef did. What adventures did those men go on, and why were they such important secrets?
Charlotte rose. “I should see Ebby now.”
Barnabas rose and bowed. “I’ll see you later at the Alliance meeting.”
“The what?”
“Many of us feel that we should make an Alliance amongst the magical community in order to gather useful information and devise a plan to defeat this unknown enemy. The Maguard will do its job well, but it has its own limitations. We need all magani to work together and share information.”
Isaac sat up and screamed. He was sweaty, pale, and alert. “Oh, Audrey! My Audrey!” His voice was scratchy and panicked.
“Get Zorach and Wilder!” Barnabas barked toward the door where another member of the Maguard stood.
“Papa, are you okay?”
Isaac reached for her hand. “Oh, Lottie. I am so sorry.” He kissed her hand, and then looked over at Barnabas. “Oh, I’m so relieved you are here!” He sat up straighter.
Barnabas bowed slightly from his sitting position. “Me, too, old friend. You’ve been out of touch for many hours, you know.”
Isaac rubbed his face and looked around the room. “It’s Audrey. I’ve completely lost the link.”
Charlotte handed him his glasses from the nightstand and propped him up with pillows.
“What broke the link?”
“I must get my wife back, Barnabas.”
“I know, my friend. Try to focus on why and where the link broke.”
Wilder stepped in the room. “Charlotte, Ebby is worse. You should see her immediately.”
Isaac’s face paled. “What has happened to her?”
“She fought for Audrey. She was close to death when Beau and Charlotte found her, and she has refused further medical treatment.” Wilder sat in a chair next to the bed. “Sebastian did what he could, but he has had a hard time getting anything done at all.”
“He won’t be able to help her.” Isaac whispered. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and stumbled into the bathroom. “Charlotte, come here.”
Charlotte followed him into the bathroom where he had taken a picture off of the bathroom wall and revealed a safe. Isaac handed her a small, red vial. He wrapped his hands around hers.
“Go quickly to Ebby. Alone.”
“Okay.”
“Alone, you hear me?” He demanded before she even finished her word. “Please trust me on this. She may already be gone, but please pour this oil on her head. Massage it gently into her scalp.”
She raised her eyebrows, but Isaac did not fill the silence between them with words. He went to work closing the safe and placing the picture back over it. Charlotte stepped back into the bedroom. She looked between Wilder and Barnabas, but neither of them said a word, either.
“Barnabas, send one of your own to ensure her privacy.” Isaac said as he got back in bed. “Then get me Zorach and ask him why it’s taken so long to report. It’s time to find my wife.”
Barnabas walked with Charlotte into the hallway. He stopped in front of a younger version of himself with pressed suit and a knife at the belt under a head of hair that had yet to gray from brown. “This is my son, Alcott. He will assure your privacy.”
Alcott bowed. “It is my honor to meet you, Charlotte. Please, follow me.”
Alcott posted himself outside of Ebby’s door. “I will be here when you are done. Call out if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Alcott.” Charlotte shut the door and hurried over to the thick curtains to let a little light and warmth in the room.
“Charlotte?” A voice croaked out from the bed. Charlotte hurried over and kneeled next to the woman who was white and as cold as an ice cube.
“Ebby!” She scolded and covered her with a blanket. “What’s wrong with you? Why won’t you let anybody treat you?”
“Not so loud, child. Not so loud.” Ebby’s voice was rough and low.
“Ebby, where are your blankets? Let’s get you warmed up. I’ll get Sebastian and I’ll sit with you while he takes care of you.” She giggled nervously. “Do you hear that? I’ll take care of you!”
Ebby’s head fell to the side and she offered
a smile. “Listen, child. I don’t have much longer to live.”
“No, Ebby!” Charlotte cried out and tucked the blanket around her tighter.
“Hush, child! You are going to need to learn more self-discipline than you have right now. Scolding you is only making me weaker; now listen.” Ebby paused and closed her eyes.
Charlotte sniffled. “Ebby, mother is gone and father is acting weird. He woke up and sent me with this vial.”
Ebby’s eyes flashed open and some color came back. “Then there is a chance! I thought all was lost!” She wailed and tears spilled out of her eyes.
Charlotte’s eyes widened. She inched closer and kissed Ebby’s tear streaked face. “Will this heal you?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes, it will.” She wrapped her hands around Charlotte’s hands. “Now you must keep my secret. You must protect me, Charlotte. It is your turn to take care of me.” A smile crossed her lips. “Your parents have been so good to me. I’m the one who was supposed to guard your mother, you know? I failed. Your father told you what to do? You must wait until I say so. It will be easier to manage if I choose to die rather than you having to guess how close to death I am.”
Charlotte felt the warm tears sliding down her face. “What are you talking about?”
Ebby frowned. “Charlotte, I need you. I am dying in this form, but I can live if I transform into my other form. Please, take care of me until I am ready to be reborn. Do not even tell your father I am safe. Tell him the oil failed. Nobody but you and I must know until later.” She placed a gold necklace into Charlotte’s hands before starting to twitch and groan. “Charlotte, use the oil now! Take care of me! Keep me safe!”
Charlotte fumbled with the vial. She poured the oily contents on Ebby’s head and massaged it into her scalp. Ebby’s eyes closed and her breathing was intermittent. Charlotte cried into the oil as she gently rubbed it into Ebby’s scalp. Ebby no longer took a breath. Slowly, the necklace and Ebby started to glow. There was a flash of light, and Ebby was gone. Charlotte sobbed into her hands.
Why, why had her father always pressed honesty and knowledge? Why did she now find herself with barely a hint of what was happening? Zorach was right. Nobody had prepared her for this. Lost in grief, she screamed and tore through Ebby’s room. She searched in vain for a book, a picture, a journal, or a secret something. There was nothing, and she still couldn’t get into the closet or bathroom. She finally picked up the necklace Ebby had given her. It was warm and an opal now hung from a chain. She fell on her knees and pressed the necklace to her lips.
