Royal Institute of Magic

by Victor Kloss

  “This is our best chance of evading the Wardens, unless you want to risk charging onto the train before they can stop us,” Natalie replied.

  With the crowd in the station to hide amongst, Ben would have given that option a go, but not with Charlie and Natalie. Thankfully, Charlie didn’t seem keen on this option either, tapping his little belly subconsciously.

  “What will the Wardens do if they catch us?” Charlie asked.

  “Let’s not worry about that,” Natalie said.

  Ben slapped his hand down on the table. “I agree. Let’s go and get some spells cast. I want to get out of here.”

  — Chapter Twenty-One —

  Sognar’s Spell Services

  “Is that horse manure?” Charlie asked.

  “Not just horse,” Natalie said. “There are some disgusting animals around here.”

  “Just what I need after a big lunch,” Charlie mumbled.

  They had left Taecia Square some time ago and travelled east, keeping an eye out for anyone following them. The further they went, the worse the place became. The streets were narrow and felt cramped. Many of the houses were in disrepair, some with broken windows, others missing doors. The pavement had turned to dirt and Ben was constantly watching his step to avoid walking in crap. The people seemed to reflect their environment; they looked run-down and some eyed him suspiciously.

  “Where are we?” Ben asked.

  “It's called the East End,” Natalie said. “We’re almost there.”

  The road split and they took a right turn.

  “Oh wow.”

  Ben raised a hand to block the glare. Every house was painted in bright colours. Many of them looked like a child had attempted his first work of art, doused in every colour of the rainbow. The vibrancy was in stark contrast to the dereliction they had walked through just moments before. Colour didn’t seem to be the only subject of competition; size also seemed to matter, though not in the traditional sense. It was all about who could best defy gravity. The houses were misshapen, with extensions sprouting out at all angles. Ben saw one that resembled a mushroom, a sprawling upper level built on a tiny ground floor. Other houses sprouted upwards like a tree, constantly twisting and turning to catch the sunlight.

  “Clearly they are in need of some decent architects here.”

  There were plenty of people about, but the more Ben looked, the more he realised the three of them stood out like a sore thumb. They were the only humans.

  “Ben, look,” Charlie said.

  He was pointing at a dirty road sign, partially covered by green moss. The sign read “Goblin Avenue”.

  It was like stepping into a fairytale; there were goblins everywhere. It hadn’t been immediately obvious because they wore normal clothes – shirts and trousers, some even in jeans. They had green skin, large ears and a pointy nose. Most of them were wiry and no taller than Ben’s shoulder. Ben spotted a few carrying their shopping, with small goblin children running by their sides.

  “I’ve always wanted to come here, but the Institute discourages it,” Natalie said, staring in delight at the houses.

  Ben masked his surprise; the old Natalie would never have dreamed of going against the Institute’s wishes.

  “Why do they discourage it?” Charlie asked.

  “Goblins are great thieves. I know someone who came here during the winter markets. It wasn’t until he felt the cold that he realised they had stolen everything but his underpants.”

  Charlie gave a furtive glance left and right and patted his pockets.

  “Don’t worry, they normally prey on individuals. As long as we stick together, we’ll be fine. Follow me. It’s not far from here.”

  They had been walking only a few minutes when Ben pointed at

  one of the more ordinary-looking houses. It was painted in red and green stripes, and there was a big wooden sign out front that read “Precious Spell Services Inc.”.

  “No, that one is too expensive,” Natalie said.

  They kept walking and Ben soon realised every second building, big or small, offered some form of spell services. Some specialised in a certain element (Blazing Spell Services, For all your fiery needs) while others were family run (Grynchek’s High Quality Spell Services).

  They passed several that looked promising, but Natalie kept walking. The shops were becoming less frequent, when Natalie finally stopped.

  “You’re joking,” Charlie said, giving Natalie a disbelieving look.

  Ben had to agree. They had passed some strange stores, but this topped the lot. It was a red circus tent complete with stakes in the ground and a flag at the top that read “Sognar’s Spell Services”.

  “This one was recommended, which is important when you’ve heard as many stories as I have.”

  They approached the tent flap, but Natalie stopped just before they entered. There was an unmistakable look of excitement on her pretty face, which caught Ben by surprise. Was she actually enjoying herself?

  “Goblins like to bargain,” she said softly. “In fact, they love it and they tend to be quite good.”

  “I’ll keep my mouth shut then. I’m hopeless at negotiating,” Charlie said.

  Ben said nothing, but there was a little smile on his lips as they pushed the flap aside and walked through.

  He wasn’t sure what to expect upon entering, but he had certainly not expected an office. There was a large desk in the centre piled high with papers and several empty bottles.

  A goblin wearing a suit several sizes too big slept in a reclining leather chair, his feet up on the desk next to the empty bottles. He was snoring so loudly the tent walls rippled.

  “It’s not too late to sneak out,” Charlie whispered, staring at the little goblin like he was rabid.

  “Mr. Sognar,” Natalie said in a firm voice.

  The little goblin jumped, his backside getting a good few inches of air. The chair, already unbalanced, promptly fell backwards, but the goblin displayed remarkable dexterity in landing, rolling and jumping up in one smooth motion.

  “I paid me bills! Whaddya want?” the goblin asked. His eyes had a dazed look and his voice was croaky with sleep.

  Charlie took an involuntary step back and even Ben felt startled.

  “We require your services, Mr. Sognar,” Natalie said with a smile.

  Sognar blinked and rubbed his bald, green head. He seemed to see the three of them for the first time and gave a little sigh of relief.

  “Just a bad dream,” he muttered. “Must cut down on the chocolate.”

  The goblin gave Natalie a salesman’s welcome, flashing his uneven, yellow teeth.

  “Certainly!” he said, surprising Ben with his sudden enthusiasm.

  Sognar sat back down at the desk and attempted to tidy it up by sweeping folders and bottles onto the floor. There were no chairs for them to sit down on, but he beckoned them forward with a spidery finger.

  “What can I help you with? I have a very good deal on grade Three Levitation this week – cheapest in Goblin Avenue, guaranteed.”

  “No, thank you,” Natalie said. “We need a grade Three Shroud.”

  “A Shroud, eh?” Sognar said, rubbing his hands. “Not the easiest, nor the cheapest spell. Is this for all three of you?”

  “Yes.”

  Sognar opened a drawer, pulled out a pencil and paper and started scribbling down some figures.

  “I have some good news,” the goblin said. “Ordinarily a grade Three Shroud retails at £149.99, but I can offer you a bulk discount and give it to you for £99.99.”

  Natalie was clearly a little taken aback by the price, but Charlie dug his hand into his pocket, a triumphant smile on his face. Charlie had money, Ben realised, and he was planning to come to Natalie’s aid to make up the difference. Sognar had noticed it and he licked his lips, sensing the sale.

  Ben cleared his throat and in a loud, clear voice said, “We’ll give you £25, no more.”

  Sognar turned towards Ben, noticing him f
or the first time.

  “£25? Are you trying to insult me?”

  Charlie’s hand froze in his pocket.

  “You came recommended,” Ben said, “and we would like to use you, but we have already had several offers below yours.”

  Sognar narrowed his eyes and Ben thought he saw a flicker of a smile. “£85,” he said.

  “Oh please,” Ben replied, rolling his eyes theatrically. “Let’s get out of here.”

  He turned to leave. Charlie followed, as did Natalie a moment later. They were almost at the tent flap when the goblin called to them.

  “£65,” he said, with the slightest trace of desperation in his voice. “You will not get a better offer than that.”

  Ben paused, counted to five and then turned around.

  “I’ll give you £40,” he said. “Not a penny more.”

  Sognar’s eyes were glittering. “£60,” he said, leaning forward.

  “£45.”

  “£50.” Sognar was practically salivating.

  Ben clapped his hands. “Done!”

  Natalie produced the money and Sognar leapt off his chair to grab and count it, before pocketing it in one of his saggy jacket pockets. He was so eager Ben wondered if he should have held out longer.

  Sognar rubbed his green hands together. “Good, good. Do you want the spell now? Remember, it will only last one hour.”

  “Yes, please,” Natalie said.

  Sognar took a deep breath and instructed them to stand together. His green eyes, which had been wild with glee moments earlier, suddenly focused on a spot on the floor. A green glow materialised and started swirling round him, accompanied by a faint humming noise. The glow intensified until it was difficult to see the goblin.

  “Don’t move,” Natalie said, stopping Charlie from shuffling backwards.

  The green glow expanded and Ben watched with a mixture of fascination and alarm as it enveloped them. Soon it was circling the whole room, slowly at first and then faster, with Sognar at the centre of the storm. The mist felt cold against Ben’s skin. Streaks of green energy like forks of lightning flashed within the mist and some struck Ben, though he felt nothing. It became so intense Ben found it hard to keep his eyes open.

  “Ben, look at you!”

  Ben could just make out Charlie’s astonished eyes through the swirling mist. He looked down and gasped.

  A white glow was surrounding his body as if he were radioactive. Every time the sparks hit the glow they would sizzle. Before Ben could ask what was happening, there was a loud bang and the green mist receded into Sognar’s open mouth, sucked up like a vacuum cleaner. As soon as the mist went, so did Ben’s glow.

  Sognar looked up panting slightly and gave Ben an accusing stare. “Why didn’t you say other spells have already been cast on you?”

  “I didn’t think it mattered.”

  “It might have,” Sognar said. “Goblin magic isn’t too different to dark elf magic, you know.”

  Ben felt his pulse quicken. “What do you mean?”

  “Your spell protects you from dark elf magic. It’s strong – really strong – I thought it might reject my spell. Lucky for you we got away with it.”

  Ben spread his arms to examine himself. He didn’t look or feel any different. For a moment he thought they had been cheated.

  Then Natalie faded away.

  Ben stared at the spot she had been in a moment earlier. He was still gaping when she faded back with a smile on her face.

  “It’s perfect,” she said, giving Sognar a glittering smile.

  “The spell will last an hour, starting from now. Remember to recommend Sognar’s Spell Services to your friends and family,” he said as they bid him goodbye and left the tent.

  “Dark elf magic,” Charlie said as they started back down Goblin Avenue. “That makes perfect sense! Your parents must have taken measures to protect you knowing the dark elves were a threat.”

  “Charlie’s right,” Natalie said, looking only marginally less excited than Charlie. “It explains why the dark elves never captured you after your parents disappeared. They may have tried but given up when their magic failed.”

  Ben nodded. “But is that because of the wood elves’ spell or due to Elizabeth’s legacy thing?”

  The question stumped them and they eventually conceded that, without more information, it was impossible to know.

  “So, how do we disappear?” Charlie asked.

  “It’s simple, just will yourself to disappear.”

  Charlie looked at her dubiously. He closed his eyes and scrunched his face in concentration. Just as Ben was beginning to doubt Charlie’s method, he faded away. If Ben squinted he could just about make out a Charlie-like outline. He had blended with the background like a chameleon.

  “That’s brilliant,” Charlie said, fading back in.

  “Great. Let’s hope it’s enough,” Ben said. He gave a determined stare down the street. “We’ve got an hour to get to the Dragonway, find the right platform and make the train without the Institute noticing. We should probably pick up the pace.”

  — Chapter Twenty-Two —

  Fight and Flight

  Ben paid little attention to the smelly and filthy surroundings during their journey back through Goblin Avenue to the Dragonway.

  Armed with the shrouding spell, he felt quietly confident they could avoid the Wardens and make the train. Charlie, however, was not in such good shape. He kept rubbing his forehead and was so pre-occupied he had already stepped in several different types of poo without noticing.

  In no time at all Natalie had guided them along Goblin Avenue, through the hustle and bustle of Taecia Square and within sight of the Dragonway station. Ben could hear the distant roars of the dragons as they embarked on their journeys.

  “This is it,” Natalie said as they stopped just short of the station’s entrance. She took a deep breath. “Are we really doing this?”

  “Of course we are,” Ben said, rubbing his hands together, feeling a surge of adrenaline fuelled by anticipation.

  “What is the plan?” Charlie asked. He was shuffling from foot to foot.

  “Simple,” Ben said. “We use the spell to shroud ourselves and make it to the train without bumping into anyone.”

  “Which train are we getting on?”

  “Platform twelve. There is a direct train to Borgen that goes regularly,” Natalie replied.

  Charlie took his handkerchief out and dabbed his forehead. “If we are shrouded, how will we see each other once we make it to the train?”

  “At the end of the platform is a set of chairs. Let’s meet there,” Natalie said.

  Ben took his small pouch of spells from his pocket. “What about these bad boys? How do we use them?”

  “In the same way you fired the Spellshooter,” Natalie replied. “Once your hand is in the pouch you will feel each spell and should be able to pick out the one you want. Then it’s just a matter of throwing it at your enemy with as much willpower and concentration as you can muster.”

  “Sounds easy enough,” Ben said, pocketing the pouch again.

  Natalie raised a finger and gave them a stern look that was mostly directed at Ben. “Do not use them unless it is an absolute emergency.”

  “Don’t worry,” Ben said, giving her a lopsided smile. “So, are we ready?”

  Charlie shook his head, looking anxious. “Not really. How will we recognise Draven’s Wardens?”

  “Just try to avoid anyone who has a Spellshooter,” Natalie said. “The station guards may also be on the lookout for Ben so watch out for them too.”

  “Wonderful,” Charlie said.

  Ben could see the nerves in Charlie’s face. He clapped him round the shoulder. “Just think of this as an obstacle course like in gym class at school.”

  “I hate gym.”

  “I forgot about that,” Ben admitted. “Okay, think of it like a video game. The train will take us to the next level.”

  “If we get caug
ht, can I load the set-up screen and press restart?”

  “You’re not going to get caught,” Natalie said. She put a hand on Charlie’s shoulder, which seemed to help more than Ben’s efforts. “Remember, it’s Ben they are looking out for. Just walk normally and don’t let anyone bump into you. You’ll be at the platform before you know it.”

  Ben grinned at them. “Are we ready?”

  Two nods. Both Natalie and Charlie suddenly faded away.

  Ben willed himself to be invisible and felt his skin tingle. He watched his arm meld into the background until he could only see it by wiggling his fingers in front of his face. He gave a little sigh of relief; so Sognar had been right, the spell hadn’t affected the shroud.

  Ben headed towards the station entrance. Almost immediately someone bumped into him and looked about in surprise. Ben apologised by habit, which only caused further confusion, and quickly moved on. The station was busy, with people constantly coming and going and Ben had his work cut out dodging people. He tucked in behind a suited ogre and followed in his wake. To his left were the crossroads and the sign that had originally directed them to the Institute up the hill. It was hard to believe that was only yesterday.

  The ogre he was following took a left up the hill and Ben was suddenly without a buffer to deflect the people ahead. He quickly found someone else and was soon walking under the large sign that said “Taecia Dragonway”. He went up the stairs that led to the gangway and risked a glance at the station below. He counted twelve platforms, half of them occupied by squat dragons pulling carriages. One began to depart, breathing a mighty flame into the black tunnel so that for a second Ben could see the track’s gradual descent as it headed underground.

  He reached the top of the stairs and hugged the barrier to avoid people while he got his bearings. There were numbers at regular intervals hanging from the ceiling with stairs leading down to the corresponding platforms. Unfortunately, platform twelve was at the very end of the gangway.

  There was a Warden holding a Spellshooter at the top of each set of stairs. They stood at ease, but Ben caught the keen looks they gave the passing passengers.