Behind the Sorcerer's Cloak

by Andrea Spalding

  His eyelids fluttered then half opened. He lay, thick with sleep, trying to think properly. “I was dreaming,” he muttered. “Dreaming about flying like Ava.”

  Something tickled his chin.

  He moved his hand from under his cheek. A feather, a soft piece of down, lay in his palm. “Ava?” he muttered. Memory stirred. He remembered flying, flying through mist, but as a boy on the end of a cloak, not as a bird. He stared at the feather again. It puzzled him. Where did it come from? It reminded him of a down-lined duck nest he’d once found. A wave of homesickness swept over him. He didn’t know where he was, but it wasn’t Earth. He’d give anything to be safely back there. He sniffed.

  The feather flew up and tickled his nose. Adam gave a tiny grin and pulled it away. Could it be Ava’s? He held it up in the grayness and it shimmered. He was still too sleepy to figure it out, but the words, “Keep the light in your heart,” ran through his mind. Feeling comforted, he tucked the feather into his pocket and drifted off into another doze.

  Mr. Cubbon emerged from the Castleview Inn, brushing cellar dust from his sweater. Puffing with exhaustion, he plumped down on the bench outside to catch his breath. Exciting things were happening. Magical things. Experiences he had not known since childhood were happening again. He was thrilled to be able to help the youngsters, and gleefully waiting to share some information with Owen. The museum people had discovered the passage ran to a smugglers cave on Pheric’s Isle, but the raven had told him the real secret. All this was tiring though. He needed a little rest.

  Mr. Cubbon leaned back, his chin drooped over his chest and his eyes closed.

  Two Shades closed in on him.

  “Magic, magic, I ssensse magic,” hissed one Shade as it hovered behind the dozing fisherman.

  “Not sso much, not sso much,” sighed the other.

  “Enough, enough. Sshall I meld? Sshall I? He knowss the nassty young humanss. Take uss to them he could, he could.”

  “They wouldn’t ssensse uss, wouldn’t ssensse uss?”

  “They’d ssensse him, only him.”

  “Yess, yess. Sspy, sspy we will. Yess. Pleassed, the Dark One will be. Sso pleassed.”

  The first Shade pooled again at Mr. Cubbon’s feet and melded into his body. The second Shade hovered nearby as his shadow.

  A door banged shut. Mr. Cubbon woke with a jerk. He watched sleepily as Myrddin and the children made their way through the fog. They hadn’t noticed him.

  He rubbed his forehead. He’d been waiting for the children, but he couldn’t remember why. He wasn’t feeling well.

  He eased himself up with difficulty. His body was shivering and shaking. He’d never felt so cold. He was chilled to the bone as though coming down with a flu. “Better get myself home,” he muttered.

  But it was hard to move. Hard to make himself walk up the hill to his cottage.

  His feet wouldn’t turn.

  He felt compelled to follow the children.

  The bang of a door made him jump again. He watched as Mr. Smythe left the inn, crossed the road to the museum and disappeared inside. He felt no compulsion to follow him.

  Mr. Cubbon rubbed his head again. Strange things were happening.

  Everyone he knew was getting angry; that was why he’d left the cellar. People were raising voices and yelling for no real reason. Arguing about who was in charge and who should take credit for the discoveries.

  Something was going on. Yes, that was why he had to follow the children! He couldn’t remember what it was, but, they were up to something. A wave of anger swept over him. Those kids were up to something. He must find out what it was.

  Mr. Cubbon walked through the fog like a robot, words pounding through his head, driving him on.

  Follow the children.

  Follow the children.

  His mind rationalized his actions. Children were pesky critters. He needed to keep an eye on them, watch them. Those children were up to no good!

  “Myrddin, please wait. You’re walking too fast. We can’t keep up with you,” shouted Owen as Myrddin disappeared in the fog ahead.

  “My apologies. Of course you can’t. I was deep in thought.” Myrddin paused and waved irritably at the billowing mist. “Manannan is overreacting with this cloak of mist, though I suspect he thinks something nasty might be following Equus.”

  “That’s what I want to tell you,” said Owen as he and the two girls caught up. He put his hand on Myrddin’s arm and stood on tiptoe to whisper into Myrddin’s ear. “Don’t leave us behind. I think the ‘something nasty’ is following us.”

  They both swung around, peering into the fog on every side. Neither saw anything other than the vague shape of Mr. Cubbon in the distance.

  Owen raised a hand, but Mr. Cubbon didn’t respond.

  Myrddin dropped his voice. “Explain.”

  “I feel eyes watching me, but there’s never anyone there. It started when Mr. Cubbon and I were in the basement. It wasn’t just me. Mr. Cubbon felt it too. He said something’s been watching him ever since we arrived.” Owen shivered. “It’s really creepy. The feeling left when I went upstairs to the holiday flat.” Owen glanced behind him. “It started again just now. As soon as I stepped outside the inn.”

  “Does anyone else sense this?”

  Both girls shivered and nodded. “I thought I was imagining it because the mist was getting to me,” murmured Holly.

  “Me too,” whispered Chantel.

  “Then I will give you directions in mindspeak.”

  The children stood still and listened.

  We will hasten to Fenella Beach, on the far side of the causeway. There we can talk without fear of being overheard. It is a place with its own magic and will offer us protection. It is the cove below the castle, Holly, so it is on your way as well as ours. Follow me.

  Unnoticed, Mr. Cubbon also followed.

  If I remember rightly, the steps to the beach should be around here somewhere…Muttering to himself in mindspeak, Myrddin cast about at the end of the causeway.

  More fog blew in from the sea, and the children had difficulty seeing him again.

  This way. Myrddin paused. He scattered something on the ground, muttered over it and began to vanish into the mist again.

  Owen ran and grabbed the corner of Myrddin’s cloak. He thrust out his other hand to grab Chantel. Hang on too. Who knows where we’re off to?

  Holly hung on to Chantel.

  The children broke into a trot as they descended a boat ramp sloping toward the water.

  Slow down, Myrddin. We’ll fall! pleaded Chantel.

  Apologies. Myrddin paused again. I am driven by a feeling of urgency. I forget your stride is shorter than mine. He helped them off the boat ramp, onto the sand.

  Crossing Fenella Beach was terrifying.

  The fog billowed in from the sea, hiding all but an arm’s length in front of them. They had no sense of direction, or of their surroundings. They lurched and stumbled, sinking into wet sand or tripping over rocks or drifts of seaweed. Hidden waves hissed angrily on one side, and an invisible raven croaked a warning from above.

  “Myrddin,” whispered Holly. “This is horrible. How much farther? Can’t we stop above the high tide line? Oops. Is it safe to talk?”

  “We are safe. What is following will not enter the cove. I scattered stardust at the entrance, and the cove itself is still protected by Fenella’s magic, though sadly, she may have faded away long ago.”

  A cliff loomed ahead, a scatter of rocks at its base. Myrddin chose one and seated himself.

  “What the heck was watching me?” burst out Owen as he squatted beside Myrddin. “It felt horrid.” He scrubbed the back of his neck with his hand.

  “I fear some of the Dark Being’s minions have found a way to slip into Man,” Myrddin said. “She calls them Shades.” He sighed. “They are the shadows of lives she destroyed on other planets. They couldn’t find the courage to fade into the Mists of Time, choosing to serve her instead. Individua
lly they have little power, but they can watch and spy. Like wraiths they emit negative feelings. Occasionally they can meld with someone, though usually not for long. When massed together, they become lethal.

  “You all stepped into my stardust as you passed through the entrance to this beach. That will offer some protection, and here’s a little more.” Myrddin threw a handful of stardust over each child.

  “A Shade will not be able to approach you to meld or to follow in your footsteps. However, I cannot prevent them spying from a distance, and their presence will affect your thoughts.”

  “Can you zap them, Myrddin?” Holly asked.

  “You mean kill them?” Myrddin raised his eyebrows.

  Holly looked shocked and shook her head.

  “The Shades deserve your pity. They were living beings whose planet was ‘zapped’ as you say. I could help them face the Mists if they chose, but I would have to reveal my staff. The Dark Being must not know I have it yet.”

  “That’s your real staff? It doesn’t look like it,” said Owen.

  Myrddin waved his hand, and the staff gave Owen a glimpse of its full glory.

  “Wow! Where did it come from? How did you get it back?” Owen could hardly contain himself.

  Chantel grinned proudly.

  Myrddin smiled. “The Myrddin is whole again, thanks to Chantel.”

  “Chantel?” Owen’s eyes held real respect. “How on earth did you do that?”

  Chantel grinned. “You used magic in the cellar. I used it in the bedroom. Manannan helped me.”

  Owen held out his palm. They exchanged high fives.

  “Now children, tell me what Earth Magic is calling to you,” said Myrddin.

  “To rescue Adam, and there’s white horses…”

  “I must find Breesha’s grave, but Adam…”

  “We’ve gotta get Adam, but something’s wrong with Ava…”

  Everyone talked at once.

  Myrddin banged his staff on a rock. “One at a time. One at a time.”

  Chantel tugged at his sleeve. “Rescue Adam. Please hurry and rescue Adam.”

  Holly linked her arm through Chantel’s. “We might be able to help now that we can all mind read and mindspeak together. How far does our mindspeak go?” Holly hesitated. “Could we reach Adam?”

  Myrddin looked thoughtful. “Interesting. Humans mindspeak a different way, on a different frequency, from Wise Ones.

  “Equus, Ava and I had to learn to mindspeak with you. The Dark Being hears my usual mindspeak, but she might not catch yours. She won’t expect you to have that skill.”

  “But what if she does? I don’t want to talk to her.” Holly sounded distressed.

  Myrddin patted her shoulder. “Events have gone too far to worry about that. The Dark Being will be here soon. We will all face her. Follow your heart, Holly. It has served you well.”

  “Then I think we should try to contact Adam with mindspeak. And I think we should try it now.”

  The others nodded.

  “I can help protect you,” said Myrddin. “Which of you is going to speak?”

  “Holly,” said Chantel. “She’s better at it than me.” Her voice dropped. “And Adam will listen to her. He never believes me.” Her lip trembled.

  Holly gave her a sqeeze.

  “Stand here, Holly.” Myrddin used the base of his staff to draw a circle around her in the pebbly sand. He strengthened the circle with another scatter of stardust. “The thickening of the Mists of Time makes mindspeak harder. Do your best, Holly. Shout! We will all listen in.”

  Holly flashed a grin and closed her eyes.

  Adam roused again. He still lay in grayness but his mind was a little clearer. He relaxed, letting the events of the previous night return to him.

  He’d been hurt. His arms and shoulders had been sore because he’d hung on so long to Zorianna’s cloak. His body stiffened as he remembered the journey through the mist and the tumble from the staff.

  Adam shifted his shoulders and flexed his back muscles. He didn’t hurt now. Why? Another memory surfaced: the vague image of the beautiful woman bending over him. That was it. He’d been rescued by the Lady.

  Weak with relief, Adam relaxed under the comfort of the wrap she’d dropped over him. He couldn’t believe how lucky he’d been. He’d actually entered that terrifying dark before the Lady had pulled him away. It was a pity he couldn’t remember much about her. He’d been so terrified, exhausted and in such agony that everything was a blur. But she’d made the pain go away. Then he’d slept.

  So where was he? In her house? In the stars?

  His surroundings were still and gray. An amazing stillness, an eerie grayness. The stillness had been a welcome change when he arrived: a haven after the nightmare ride through the mist. But now it felt uneasy. This stillness around him wasn’t a peaceful stillness. It was the stillness of emptiness. The Lady wasn’t there. No one was.

  He began to panic. Where the heck was he?

  Adam…mindspeak…safe?

  Fractured sentences floated into his mind.

  He was dreaming? No…He was hearing Holly mindspeak!

  He replied, giddy with relief.

  Holly? Holly…I can hear you. I’m safe…But I don’t know where I am. Everything’s gray. The Lady rescued me. She is beautiful and kind, like you said.

  He waited a long time for Holly’s reply. Again the message was indistinct, like a bad telephone line.

  Lady?…Myrddin rescue…Don’t…

  I can’t hear you, Holly. I’m only getting a few words. Tell Myrddin I’m okay. I’m with the Lady. But I don’t know where we are.

  Not…Not…Holly’s voice cut off.

  No more words came through but feelings did. Strong feelings. Holly was scared, distressed and angry. Scared and distressed he understood, but why was she angry?

  Adam mulled over the last message. Not…Not…Not what? But everything was such an effort. Trying to mindspeak had wiped him out again.

  He wished things would make sense.

  Maybe Holly was mad because he was with the Lady, not her. That must be it! Well, tough luck! Win some, lose some.

  Adam gave a tiny yawn and drifted into yet another doze.

  Holly’s eyes were filled with horror. “Did you hear?”

  “Yes,” whispered Owen and Chantel. The same shock was mirrored in their faces.

  “How could he mistake the Dark Being for the Lady?” ranted Holly. “How could he?”

  “He said she was kind and beautiful.” Chantel shuddered.

  “She is most beautiful,” rumbled Myrddin as he swept away the magic circle with his foot.

  The children’s eyes widened.

  “The Dark can be as beautiful as the Light.”

  The children were silent.

  “Holly, you did well warning Adam,” said Myrddin.

  “But he didn’t understand. He thinks she’s the Lady. What if he helps her?” Holly was shaking.

  Myrddin touched Holly’s shoulder. “It is a shock, but trust both in Adam and Old Magic. This has happened for a reason.”

  Holly nodded and breathed deeply, allowing Myrddin’s magical strength to flow through her.

  “Time presses. I must join Manannan, Ava and Equus now. Rest assured I will share this new development with them, and we will find a way to rescue Adam. You have done your utmost to warn him. You must put it behind you, Holly, for now you have other tasks.”

  Holly took several more steadying breaths and met Myrddin’s eyes. “I’m fine. It was just a shock.”

  Myrddin squeezed her shoulder gently and removed his hand. “Follow your heart and find Breesha’s grave, Holly. Listen to the Earth Magic. Have faith that Adam will also listen to what’s in his heart.”

  He pointed with his staff to some well-concealed steps cut into the rock cliff behind them. “Go. These steps lead to the castle gate. Taking them will outwit the Shade.”

  “Are you going to meet Ava and Equus?” Owen asked.


  Myrddin nodded. “Of course. Do you wish to accompany me?”

  Owen hesitated. “Yes and no. I want to help Ava and I want to rescue Adam, but I don’t have those powers, and we’re running out of time.”

  “Go on, boy.”

  “I’ve been thinking about the castle.”

  “Yes?”

  Holly swung around from examining the steep steps up the cliff. She looked eagerly at Owen.

  “We’re heading for a big bust-up with the Dark Being, aren’t we?” Owen asked Myrddin.

  Myrddin nodded.

  “Then the castle is the best place for it. You said it was the most magical place on Gaia.”

  “I did.”

  “So I should explore it. Find places to hide and to fight. None of us knows the castle. Scoping it out would give us a better chance.”

  “Ahh. The young warrior wishes to hone his skills. The confrontation with the Dark may not be a fight of arms, Owen.”

  “I know, I know. But when we were with the dragon in the first adventure and with Zorianna in the Tor, it wasn’t just magic that worked, it was us being human and doing things they didn’t expect. If I explore the castle, I might be able to come up with some unexpected things that would help.”

  Myrddin laughed. “You are correct, young warrior. Your tactics are sound. Go to the castle with Holly, and may you find many unexpected things.”

  “Brilliant, Owen,” said Holly. “I’d love some company. These steps look pretty creepy in the fog.”

  “What about me?” Chantel’s voice was wistful.

  Myrddin smiled. “You are not forgotten, Chantel. Come, it is time for you to call the Cabbyl Ushtey.”

  Chantel’s voice was a squeak. “Call who?”

  “The Cabbyl Ushtey, the white horses you saw in the waves. They will appear at your request, for you are the Magic Child called by Equus. Use mindspeak, though there is no one around to see or overhear.”

  “You are wrong, Myrddin. I hear.”

  Myrddin swung around, his face full of joy. “Fenella, you remain! So few on Gaia remember Old Magic. I didn’t dare hope.”

  A woman in white hovered beside them. She was as transparent as a ghost. “I am always here, until there is no one left who remembers me. One human sees me still. His visits keep me from fading away into the mist.”