The Persephane Pendrake Chronicles_One_the Cimaruta

by Lady Ellen

  “Oy, Perse,” whispered Benson into her ear, “this up and down show is starting to look like the ‘Whack-A-Mole’ game at the Rockmanor Fall Fair,” he chortled.

  Persy gave Benson a very cranky sideways scowl and muttered under her breath to him, “Benson, stifle.” Benson sniggered anyway, as he settled down on her shoulder.

  Lord Lyall continued to call on each member of the table and they in turn stood and made their offerings to Persy and Thaddeus. Except for Laurel, whose help was boundless and would be involved at every turn of this dangerous mission.

  From Magus Siphon:

  “The Source Magic is originally Atlantean on this planet, and concerned primarily with energy of the highest order. We study and govern the Universal Magic and the connection between all Magic. I present you with this Sapphire of Truth. Through it, you will be able to see “The Big Picture”, as you like to call it in your time. It will disclose the meaning and effects of what is before you. Use it with discretion; its magic diminishes after each use. Each Sapphire is different, so I cannot forewarn you about how many uses it has.”

  Lord Lyall was next:

  “The Master of the Magic I follow is none other than the great Merlin. One of his prized skills was that of transmogrification, the ability to make someone appear as they are not. Be it to change them into another person or animal. This enchanted Moonstone I give you need only be held by the person wishing to change. Tap it with your wand, saying “Transmutus” and concentrate very hard on that which you wish to become.” He handed Thaddeus a small purple silken pouch.

  The Egyptian, Imhotep stepped up to the kids and slightly bowed his head. They returned the courtesy.

  “My work as designer and overseer of the building of the Pyramids of Giza has allowed me the opportunity to collect a few of the magical stones used in their construction. I am pleased to be able to offer one to you for your quest.” He stretched out his hand and placed a small stone, about the size of a walnut, in Persy’s hand. On it was etched a hieroglyphic.

  “The word on the stone is ‘wall’,” said Imhotep. “When you tap it with your wand, and use the word you know for protection, ‘Muniosum’, it will cause a high stone wall to appear around you and anyone you’re touching at the time. May it be of great value to you.” He bowed again and sat down.

  Persy and Thaddeus stood and returned the bow. Persy thanked Imhotep and they too, sat down.

  Randy and Delecta had already given them their treasured Magical Crystal Seeds and so the next donor was Lady Elena Dragetti.

  “This small book,” she started, looking down at a small black leather bound book in her left hand, “was written by the ancient witches of the Stregheri. It’s called the ‘Secrets of Stregherian Spells’ and contains some of the strongest, most powerful spells and counter-spells known to the Magical Folk. Be prudent how you use them as magic this powerful always comes with a price. The price is your strength and ability.” With that, Lady Elena handed the book to Persy, and returned to her chair.

  Lord Lyall spoke. “Persephane and Thaddeus, you’ve been given a wealth of help here today. We all wish we could stand at your side through this whole quest, but of course are forbidden to do so. May the spirits of White Magic guide and guard you.”

  Although Laurel tried not to show it, her fear for her granddaughter and Thaddeus was ebbing up from where she’d been keeping it suppressed. Tears edged their way up to meet her eyelids, but she was determined to prevent their spillage. Persy and Thaddeus warmly thanked the Council members for their gifts of support.

  The meeting adjourned, all well-wishing done and Laurel, Persy, Thaddeus and P-C walked out to the front deck of the Council House with Delecta and Randy.

  “I believe we’ll should stay with Grandmother for a few days and then make our attempt to reclaim the Cimaruta,” said Persy, answering Delecta’s question about what their next plans were.

  “We’ll stop by Zeemeld’s house for the extra remedies she has for Persy and then it’s back to the manor to fine tune spells and charms,” Thaddeus added.

  “Oy, Perse...I can take a buzz into Melanthios’ and have a snoop at what she’s up to,” said Benson who was all excited to be so close to attacking Melanthios. He still hadn’t forgiven her for just about frightening him to death with that abominable shape-shifter of hers.

  Persy, Thaddeus, Laurel and the two familiars left Delecta and Randy and walked down the main street of Rose Arbour, accompanied by Sandi. Delecta asked Sandi to make sure their guests found their way back to the meadow outside the entrance to Rose Arbour, once they finished with Zeemeld.

  “Zeemeld cured my mother of a slowly evolving blindness. Something to do with pressure in her eyeballs. Physostigma. I’ll never forget that remedy. She’s just amazing,” declared Sandi “We wouldn’t know what to do without her.”

  Persy smiled, she could see how grateful Sandi was. “I’m looking forward to the remedies she’s going to give us, and I can’t wait to have time to study with her.”

  Zeemeld was again working when they approached her front garden. “Oh, hello there,” she said, getting up from between the herbs where she’d been kneeling. “Come, sit on the porch. I have your remedies all ready, Persephane.”

  They sat around a long but narrow wooden table on Zeemeld’s porch. She went into her house and came back, holding a small, rough linen sack. Zeemeld placed it on the table, sat down and opened its drawstrings. She extracted a number of tiny brown bottles with cork stoppers. Each had a label stuck to its belly with Latin names that completely foxed Benson.

  “What’s this muck on the labels?” he questioned as he lit on the table, snooping at each bottle in turn. “Reads like it was written by a bunch of monks or sumpfink. How you supposed to figure these out Perse?”

  “They’re homeopathic remedies, Benson,” Persy said, grinning at him. “They’re the Latin names for the substance the remedies are made from.”

  “Most of these, I’m sure you’ve heard of, Persephane,” said Zeemeld. “But I want to make sure you have them with you and to tell you a few things to keep in mind. Black Magic is associated with spiders, serpents, things which bite. Remember Ledum, for all puncture wounds, and Hypericum for the pain, and here are some specifics; Lachesis, Crotalus Horridus, Belladonna and Vipera for snake bites, as this is something I’m concerned about, in particular when it comes to Melanthios. I’ve Time-Linxed to the late 19th century to study with some of the best homeopaths to learn about these remedies. There are other special remedies in the bag and here is a list of their uses.” Zeemeld handed Persy a small parchment scroll which Persy put in her pocket, along with the bag of remedies.

  “I so look forward to spending dedicated time with you, Zeemeld. I can’t tell you how I appreciate all you’ve done for us. Thank you so much.”

  “Just you and your bunch concentrate on knocking Melanthios off her petard. Anything else I can do, you let me know,” responded Zeemeld.

  Sandi took them out of Rose Arbour, she too wishing them the best of luck. They crossed the meadow and descended the wall of vines. But as they were walking back to the Manor, Laurel suddenly stopped, holding her index finger over her lips and softly hissed, “Shhhhh.” Everyone wordlessly came to a halt and look expectantly at Laurel. At this point, they were behind some trees in front of the manor. Carefully and without sound, they crept up behind two large oaks right in front of Laurel’s front garden.

  The voices of two or three men could be heard coming from different areas around the manor. One man walked around to the front of the house--Laurel stared at him intently, her jaw set firmly.

  “They’re part of a Witch Hunt,” she whispered. “You can see the ropes hanging from his belt and the club in his hand. They try to quietly sneak up, knock you out and tie you up. Then you vanish, often never to be heard from again.” Thaddeus, Persy, Laurel and P-C crouched down further behind the trees.

  A second later, another voice was heard which Thaddeus recognized r
ight away. He whipped his head around to follow it to its source and there, leaning against the fence, his arms crossed over his chest, was Wolfgang Kerdling.

  Battle At Bodesnoir

  “He ratted us out. That slime-bucket.” growled Persy, quietly.

  Laurel glowered at Wolfgang. “I always knew he was a problem child...but I never...” she didn’t, couldn’t, finish. Shock was still running through her. “We have no choice. We’ll Time-Linx back to your time, Persy and prepare you and Thaddeus and your new defences with Angelica’s help. It’s probably a good idea anyway. That daughter of mine is pretty tricky in her own right.”

  En masse, they crept back through the trees to the meadow and the Time-Linx portal. Laurel popped them back to the Munz realm while Benson hopped into Persy’s pocket as the inevitable “Totus Temporis” chants started once again. P-C had already scampered to the other side of the meadow to hide, until he was energetically alerted they were coming back. “Won’t be for long,” Thaddeus promised him. “We’ll be back in a day or two.”

  They exited from under the waterfalls and Angelica and Robert arrived to meet them.

  Laurel, Persy and Thaddeus got Robert and Angelica caught up with the Council news and the traitorous Wolfgang.

  “Unbelievable,” Angelica cried, saddened because she knew the complications this was going to have on Persy’s quest. “Trouble is, he’s lived with Willow and Melanthios for such a long time, but none of us paid him much attention. Who’d have thought him this treacherous? That he’d actually be one of the Magicals who are on the Hunt’s payroll.

  “Yeah,” agreed Thaddeus. “He was pretty miserable when we were young, but I just never gave him much thought. I simply avoided him. What a puke he is.”

  Laurel said “No use worrying about what’s been done. We’ll work here a couple of days and when I go back, I’m sure the hunters will have gone. They’re not going to wait forever at the Manor. They’ll try coming back from time to time to catch us. I’ll just place a solid energy veil around the house. It won’t be around me personally, so I won’t fatigue, but I will have to stay out of sight when I am there. Actually, now that I think of it, I may Time-Linx to Vadoma and watch our warriors through her scrying.” she smiled at Persy and Thaddeus.

  Laurel’s plans were loosely formed, but the main thrust of the next two days was in reviewing and training Persy and Thaddeus. Angelica and Laurel worked them from dawn to dusk while Robert took care of meals and nosy neighbours. Explosions of coloured auras, smoke and sprays of white light were put down to Persy’s cousin Thaddeus’ new interest in becoming the next Criss Angel. Chalking it up to “child’s play”, even Biddy Mayfair stopped perching herself in the hedges.

  On the third day, it was time. Together they decided the plan of action and it began to unfold, very early in the morning. Persy, Thaddeus and Benson would Time-Linx back to Laurel’s meadow and were to head straight for the Forest of Depravation. Laurel, would join them to the meadow, but then was going to check on the Manor, put a Veil around it, and Time-Linx back to Vadoma’s to watch the reclamation of the Cimaruta.

  Persy, Thaddeus and Laurel left an enormously worried Angelica and Robert at the waterfalls.

  “She knows so much,” stated Angelica, “but, I’ll never know if it’s enough.”

  Robert was more confident. “I know you’re worried, but Persy’s a very talented and quick-witted witch. Thaddeus is no slouch, either. I don’t think Melanthios knows what she’s up against, Angelica. I really feel good about the kids’ preparation; they’re ready.” He put his arm around her and gave her a loving squeeze.

  At the other end of the Linx, Laurel did an inventory recount, making sure Persy and Thaddeus had all they were supposed to have for the final thrust of this mission.

  “Yes, Grandmother,” sighed Persy, getting a little chippy at having gone over everything, ad nauseam, both now and for the past few days. “We have it all, we’re ready, really.”

  Laurel looked down at both of them and their two familiars. “Fine, if you’re sure then I guess saying ‘take care’ is redundant at this point. I’ll be watching, every step and I love you both.” She hugged them and Persy and a shocked Thaddeus turned into the Forest of Depravation followed by P-C and an airborne Benson.

  Thaddeus and Persy looked at each other sideways, their backs to Laurel and grinned knowingly. As terrifying as this adventure promised to be, they were finally on their own to do it. Prove to everyone that they’re not only capable, but determined to be successful without any more adult input. Enough already.

  They weren’t in the Forest more than five minutes when both Persy and Thaddeus detected the drastic temperature drop and the mists developing along either side of them from the Forest floor.

  “Uh-oh,” stated Thaddeus grimly. “Guess who.”

  “Hey, Julius, look what blows in when you don’t wall the forest up,” said Marc chuckling, slowly solidifying.

  “Very funny, Marc,” said Persy. “Bet you slayed them at ‘Saturday Night Live at the Coliseum’.”

  “As a matter of fact, Yappicus Muchicus, I held my own,” Marc retorted, looking down his nose at Persy. “I held my own.”

  “Is it puzzle time?” P-C asked obliviously, looking expectantly at Julius.

  “You bet, you pink precious,” Cleo chimed in from behind P-C. The lady spectres manifested simultaneously.

  Benson, not to be ignored, “Right, then...let’s ‘ave it.”

  This time Nefertiti questioned them. Very excited, she began, “After having eaten their lunch in a park, a couple of twentieth century dwarf children were playing with a plastic ball, when it accidentally rolled into a hole, not much bigger in diameter than the ball itself and about four feet deep. They looked down at the ball in horror. It was a gift from the girl’s grandfather, and she knew there’ll be a lot of static for her if she lost it. Now, as you know, dwarves tend to have thick fingers and short arms, so try as both of the children do, they couldn’t get the ball out. What do they do?” she paused.

  “Oh, oh...I know,” cried P-C. “They get a very thin stick, shove it down the hole at the side of the ball and kind of flick it out.”

  “Nope, not enough room,” said Julius.

  “Got it,” exclaimed Benson. “They got sumpfink sticky like gum or pine resin...fix it on the end of a stick and then poke it down the hole and bring up the ball which gets stuck to the goo.”

  Nefertiti whirled in delight at another wrong answer, “Nope, the ball, even though plastic is too heavy for that.”

  Persy and Thaddeus were standing close to one another, muttering some ideas back and forth.

  “One has to figure a way to get the ball out on its own,” Persy quietly suggested to Thaddeus.

  “Yeah,” he agreed, “but what can grab it and bring it out?”

  “No, I mean, really, on its...own,” Persy repeated.

  “Okay, how ‘bout this?” P-C suggested, “what if you pay a squirrel a few nuts to go get it? They’re small enough...or...maybe a chipmunk?”

  Persy responded by rolling her eyes; Thaddeus chortled. P-C turned and scowled at both of them, crossing his hands over his chest and giving out a loud “Humph.”

  “Can’t be done,” Benson said flatly.

  Persy’s eyes all of a sudden widen and glint knowingly. She remembered that no information in these puzzles is given without reason. The kids have their lunch at this park. What significance does that have? What could they have because of that?

  She got it.

  “Plastic floats,” she cried out. “If they have water bottles with their lunch they can use the water, or get more at a park fountain, pour it into the hole and the ball will float to the top.”

  “Nuts!” screeched Marc. “That’s right.” He’s not amused that Persy, of all people, figured it out first.

  “Good one, Persy,” said Thaddeus. “Right, gang, we’re off.” They started down the pathway again, while the ghosts slowly faded away.
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br />   “Next time, Smarticus Butticus,” they heard Marc grumble in a fading voice.

  The rest of the walk through the Forest was uneventful. They noticed the odd gnome or brownie scurry along the side of the pathway, watching them out of curiosity.

  At the edge of the Forest, they stood in the shadows of the trees, staring at looming Bodesnoir, knowing that their next move would commit them to a skirmish with Melanthios. Both Persy and Thaddeus, although no less confident in their chances, were nevertheless not foolish enough to expect they’d annihilate Melanthios on this first encounter. The goal here was simply three-fold. Get in, get the Cimaruta and get out--alive.

  “Ok. Let’s make this quick, One Energy Veil coming up,” Persy said, taking out her wand.

  “Wait, Persy,” said Thaddeus, “when you cast the spell, each of us should hold the Red Crystal Seed for strength, hopefully that will slow the exhaustion. Last time we only just made it into the castle.” Thaddeus took it out of its sac and held it in his hand as Persy tapped him and said, ‘Tegos’.

  “Ah, so you’re not just another pretty face,” she grinned and repeated the process on herself and P-C.

  They made their way as quickly as possible to the steps and up to the doors, Persy’s hand and P-C’s paw over Thaddeus’ and the Red Seed, fearing the usual energy loss, but in fact were pleasantly surprised that they arrived feeling not too drained at all. Thaddeus’s idea worked.

  The trolls on guard today were no more Einsteinian than their predecessors, which of course played into Persy’s and Thaddeus’s plans perfectly. The knuckle-draggers were dozing against the walls on either side of the doors. Thaddeus was able to quietly unlatch one door and they all slipped inside the castle.

  A very quick ‘Lexos!’ on each of them, reversed the Veil. The three looked around the entrance hall for Benson, who sat on a bureau against the wall to the left of the door. Voices were suddenly heard from beyond the balcony in front of them. Thaddeus noticed a small alcove before the bureau on the left, tugged on Persy’s arm and signalled to P-C. They tucked themselves in just before Melanthios appeared at the top of the right staircase. She walked down the stairs, talking to someone over her shoulder that Persy and Thaddeus couldn’t see. All they could hear is ‘clomp, clomp, clomp--shuffle’ over and over again. That pattern, thought Benson, that wasn’t new to him.