by Lucia Ashta
“I highly doubt that.” He gazed at me. I tried to meet his eyes, but only could for a few seconds before whisking them away to anywhere but his face.
Isa? Are you coming? The magical creatures are discussing final plans before takeoff.
Elwin’s voice saved me from myself. Magical creatures? He might mean the humans. Since he was a firedrake, I figured he’d define people differently than I did. Although it was also entirely possible that the actual magical animals could be having a discussion too. Elwin had already proven he could communicate with the other firedrakes when we’d broken the spell around Delilah and Trevor’s family.
Either way, we needed to be there before the team left on their attack or rescue, I still wasn’t clear which of the two it was.
“Come on,” I said, thankful for the change of topic, even if it was a life-or-death one. “Elwin tells me we’d better hurry. They’re about to leave.”
I purposefully didn’t look at Walt even though I felt his gaze on me. I started walking, confident that Nando would follow. Marie and Walt would too.
After all, we were in the middle of a war, and we had far more important things to do than chat. One could only ignore the immediacy of reality for so long.
The grim determination on Marcelo’s face was first to catch my attention as I set out toward the other side of the cave, where a very large and terrifying-looking scarlet dragon looked ready to burn down a castle.
I half hoped he would.
Chapter 2
It was lucky that Maurisse’s castle was only a few hours away from the Acquaine estate. With Mordecai and Grand Witch Giselle in the lead, we’d been forced to ride our horses hard to keep up. I’d chosen to ride Trixie again, feeling a special bond with the white mare since she’d been the one to deliver me to safety on my first run for my life. I had the niggling sensation in the pit of my stomach that I hadn’t yet experienced the last. Which made perfect sense considering that the magicians with us were about to launch their attack on the formidable fortress that looked entirely impenetrable from where I stood.
“Shouldn’t they let the horses rest a bit more?” I asked Nando. We stood on the fringe of the assembled magicians and creatures. I would have expected their energy to be frantic since they hadn’t paused after we set off from the academy, but it wasn’t. It seemed I was the only one working to stave off a full-blown panic.
“I don’t think they’re willing to take the time to let the horses get more rest.” Nando stated the obvious.
Mordecai was determined to deter any delays, and Grand Witch Giselle was right there with him, urging everyone along.
“The horses will be all right,” Nando said, realizing I often connected better with animals than people.
“How can you be sure?” I asked.
Nando huffed, but I could tell he wasn’t frustrated with me. If anything, he seemed sad that the situation had catapulted to this. “Obviously I can’t be sure, but I hope they’ll be all right. The magicians aren’t uncaring. They won’t let the horses—or any other creature—get hurt if they can help it. But I don’t think they’ll be receptive to our pleas for delay so the horses can get more rest.”
He was right, of course. “Trixie’s sides are still heaving.”
“No, they’re not.” When I started to protest, he added, “Though she’s still breathing heavier than usual, I agree.” He sighed. “We have no choice but to go along with what they say.”
Arianne called out for us then. “Isa and Nando, join us please.” She’d moved away from the rest of the group and stood surrounded by the younger and newest members of the academy.
“Come on,” Nando said, leading me over to where Marie, Walt, Gertrude, Brave, and Simon, Nicholas, and Angelica already waited.
Arianne offered me what I was sure was supposed to be a reassuring smile, but it didn’t reassure me, not even coming from my favorite lady of the manor. I wasn’t sure why I was so much more apprehensive than everyone else, but I couldn’t get my nerves to settle. I didn’t feel good about what we were about to do, and I hadn’t managed to shake the feeling.
“What’s wrong, darling?” Arianne asked, surprising me and drawing several sets of young eyes my direction.
On the spot, I suddenly didn’t know what to say. Nothing that I was feeling was specific. Yet I wasn’t prepared to dismiss the sense of foreboding. “I don’t feel good about all of this.” I shrugged. “I can’t pinpoint what it is exactly, I just feel... unsettled.”
Arianne studied me, obviously taking me seriously. “I see. Anything in particular?”
“Not really. Just... all of it.”
Arianne nodded soberly. “I’ll tell the others.”
That surprised me the most. “You think what I’m feeling is that important?”
“Of course, ma chérie.” She blinked her lively amber eyes, and my knotted insides began to relax. “Is there anything else you’d like to say?”
“I suppose not.”
She smiled again, and this time I allowed her kindness to wash over me.
Then her eyes sharpened and she expanded her attention to everyone gathered around her. “None of you will be going along with the rest of us.”
“What?” Nicholas jumped right away. “Why not? We can help.”
“Oui, but you can help more by staying behind. You’re the future, not only of this fight, but of the world of magic. We need to know that if something were to happen to the rest of us, you’d all survive.”
I shared a haunted look with Nando that said, See? I told you this attack situation was really bad. He reached out and took my hand, squeezing it reassuringly. Ordinarily, I found the gesture helpful. This time I didn’t. The magicians were going into a situation so bad that even Arianne was preparing us for the possibility that they might not return.
“You’ll come back, though, won’t you?” Marie asked.
“Of course, darling. We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t believe there was a very good chance that we’d succeed.”
We all let that sink in for a few beats before I said, “Isn’t there another way? One that isn’t so risky?”
Arianne started to shake her head, looking sad for a moment before seemingly reminding herself that she needed to look optimistic for all of us.
“Wouldn’t it help to wait and talk the plan through some more?” I added.
“I don’t think delaying will help. Miranda is sure to have told Maurisse that Delilah and her family escaped. If they figured out the cursed firedrakes ended up at Acquaine, which is very likely, then they’ll assume either Gustave or I would realize what they were. From there, they’d assume it was only a matter of time until we managed to free them and learn what they know.
“We delayed long enough in our wait for you to return to your body, Isa. Now we have to pounce before Maurisse has any more of a chance to organize himself to defend his castle.”
“Or move Albacus,” Nicholas said, and I wondered if he’d only said it to prove that he had something to contribute to the cause. I didn’t suppose it would be easy to constantly be in the shadow of a younger brother.
Nicholas caught me looking and winked. He winked at me! What did he do that for?
I caught Nando glaring at him. Obviously he’d noticed too.
But Nicholas was back to looking at Arianne, apparently not caring about what Nando or I did.
“Oui, that’s another part of it,” Arianne continued. “We can’t delay, because the longer we wait, the more likely it is that the circumstances in Maurisse’s castle will change. It’s highly improbable that Maurisse will have realized that Isa died and had a witch’s spirit spy out Albacus. But no matter, only a fool underestimates a sorcerer of the caliber of Maurisse.”
Arianne took turns making eye contact with all of us, then locked on me. “I understand your concern, but we can’t delay. In that I agree with Mordecai and Giselle. We’ve decided to pounce from a place of strength, so it’s time for us to go.”
I desperately wanted to talk her out of going... but there was nothing I could say. I had nothing beyond sinking sensations in the pit of my gut. That wasn’t proof of anything, and I suspected a healthy dose of fear was contributing, no matter how much I wished it weren’t. Fear alone is enough to make you feel bad about the situation, I told myself. It might not be anything at all beyond fear. I understood that to be true, still... I wouldn’t rest easy until they all returned in one piece, with Albacus in tow.
“You’ll all remain here.”
“What? Alone?” Walt asked.
“No. You’ll all be together, and Sir Lancelot will also remain behind with you. He’s an important resource of magical information.”
“What about us?” Brave asked. Even though he said us, it was clear he was referring to Gertrude and himself only.
Arianne’s pleasant face became entirely serious. “You’ll come with the second wave of attack if it becomes necessary. You possess enough skills to be able to help us. Gertrude, my lovely granddaughter, your powers are still blossoming. I’d like you to wait with everyone else, even if Brave must come to aid us.”
I expected Gertrude to take issue with being left behind, but she didn’t. “All right, Grand-mère. I understand.”
Obviously I didn’t understand much about Gertrude or her powers. Maybe she didn’t know how to do anything beyond becoming a cat, even though she was Clara’s sister. And I didn’t suppose a regular-sized cat would be much help in this fight.
Arianne addressed Brave. “If a second wave of attack becomes necessary, I want you to lead Isa and Simon into the fight.”
Nando and Walt complained at once. Arianne stopped them with a lifted hand. “I promise you that we won’t be putting Isa—or Simon for that matter—in harm’s way.”
Nando raised his eyebrows, and Walt brought his hands to his hips, making me wonder how I’d ended up with two protectors instead of one.
“We won’t call for them unless we think it will be safe for them and they can help in some particular way.”
“What about me?” Nicholas asked, clearly angry at being left out and clearly not caring much about anyone beyond himself.
“You’ll stay behind to protect the others.”
I suspected Arianne was assigning him the duty of protection to appease him. Apparently, so did Nicholas.
“What will I be protecting anyone from if we’re all the way over here? I should be in the action. I can do things. I can help.”
Do things? Help? Could he be more specific? I wanted to know what he and his siblings were capable of. No one had bothered to tell me, assuming that Delilah and Trevor had confided in our teachers about their children’s abilities.
“I should be going along with you, in the first wave of attack,” Nicholas said.
“Well, you’re not,” Arianne said, shocking me at her firm tone. She’d never addressed any of the rest of us like that. “If you want to contribute to Albacus’ rescue and the end of this fight, then you’ll help the way your parents think best.”
Wow. That was... firm.
Nicholas seethed, and Arianne softened her tone. “Your mother tells me you’re quite the skilled magician in the making. We’d be grateful if you’d agree to stay behind and watch over the others. It will put the rest of us more at ease and able to focus on the rescue.”
The hard line of Nicholas’ shoulders softened minimally. “Fine.”
“Good.”
Brave, who didn’t seem concerned with Nicholas, asked, “How will we know it’s time to assist?”
Arianne turned to face Brave and Gertrude, who was never far from his side. “Elwin will tell Isa.”
“What?” I said.
“Elwin will tell you through your unique connection to him.”
“How... but what if I can’t hear him from that far away? What if his words can’t get through the castle walls or the dungeon or wherever he’ll be?”
“He’ll make sure you can hear him.”
“But what if I can’t?” I wasn’t usually this defeatist, I swear, it’s just that this was a whole lot of pressure on someone who’d only just discovered she had this skill in the first place. What if I clammed up and closed myself off to Elwin?
“You can if you believe you can.” Arianne was starting to sound like Elwin. “I can communicate with Mathieu from a great distance because he and I are connected. You and Elwin have forged an even more powerful bond because it’s supported by magic. It was sealed with the magic you touched through your intervention in the dark spell dissolution.”
I must have allowed my doubts to show on my face.
“Darling, if you know you can, you’ll have no problem doing it. It’s as simple as that.”
Simple? Nothing about this seemed simple.
But Arianne had moved on. “We have to get going. Any questions?”
Yeah, I have tons of them.
“None? Good. It’s time we get going.” Arianne told Nando, “I promise you that if Isa gets involved, it will only be because I’m certain she’ll be safe. We won’t bring her in unless we absolutely have to and only if there’s no risk to her in doing so.”
Nando stared back, but finally nodded. “Fine. But I’ll be coming with her.”
“You can’t—”
“If she goes, I go. I might not have any skills in magic at the moment, but I have plenty with my sword.” He patted the place where his sword was ever present at his side. “At least I’ll be able to defend her from non-magical threats.”
Arianne hesitated, casting a look at the other senior magicians, who were clearly now waiting on her.
“Brave can take care of himself, but I’ll protect Simon too.” When Arianne didn’t immediately acquiesce, he said, “Those are my terms. Isa might be a member of the academy, but she’s my little sister first. I swore to my parents I’d protect her. I have every intention of keeping that promise. I’m coming along, whether anyone likes it or not. Where Isa goes, I go.”
Arianne finally nodded. “Very well.”
“Me too,” Walt said.
“Marie is staying here. If you’ve sworn to protect her, then your place is here.”
Walt opened his mouth to protest but had nothing to say.
“Now that it’s all settled, I have to go.”
Settled? Nothing was settled in my view.
“We’ll be back soon,” the grandmother said, her red hair braided tightly across her head. In riding clothes, she looked fiercer than a lady of a grand manor was supposed to be. She smiled, but the gesture didn’t reach her usually lively eyes, and turned toward those who waited for her.
“Thanks,” I whispered to Nando while she walked away. Ordinarily, I’d take issue with Nando speaking for me and relegating me to the place of little sister. Not this time. I was relieved that I’d have him along if it came to that.
“I can’t believe I’m supposed to stay behind,” Nicholas groused.
“At least you don’t have to go whether you want to or not,” Simon said.
“You always get to go when Angelica and I stay behind.”
“Yeah, and have you ever bothered to ask yourself whether that’s what I want? Huh? Have you?”
Simon stomped off, heading right toward his parents. A few seconds later, Angelica followed as I wondered what it must be like to be Simon. He appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen, and yet he apparently had powers so important that the most influential sorcerer in the region considered him a pawn.
Simon was no more in control of what happened to him than any of the rest of us. But Nicholas was obviously jealous of him. I wondered some more about Simon’s skill set. I hoped I wouldn’t see it in action before the day was over, but the niggling feeling was still well and alive within the pit of my gut, suggesting that’s exactly what I’d get.
I twisted my hands in front of me while a dragon, many firedrakes and hellhounds, and a motley crew of magicians prepared to ride off.
Plea
se don’t let them die, I thought, and then realized I was allowing myself to fear.
I breathed in resolve and tried again. I pictured them returning to us, whole and well, with Albacus in tow.
It wasn’t great, but it’d have to do. They were about to depart.
The time for doubts was gone. The path to victory lay ahead... so long as I found the courage to claim it.
Chapter 3
Despite my unease with the impending attack on Duke Maurisse’s stronghold, I couldn’t help but admire the team of magicians and creatures as they prepared for takeoff. It was a varied crew, and that was before their powers were on display. But they all shared one thing: their faces were set in grim, determined lines. Even Clara and Arianne, graceful and feminine, looked like two witches I didn’t want to mess with.
They were the first to take the final step for launch, in fact. Humbert, so large that he’d barely fit in several rooms of the academy merged together, folded his legs and lowered himself to the ground in front of the cave. Even so, Clara’s head barely reached eye level as she shared unspoken words with the fierce scarlet dragon.
So fast that I wasn’t prepared for it, Clara, dressed for the job, scaled Humbert’s front leg like a monkey, using both hands and feet to gain purchase, and settled right behind his head.
I hadn’t finished being impressed when Arianne imitated her granddaughter’s actions. Her movements weren’t quite as limber as those of Clara, who appeared to be in her mid-twenties, but considering Arianne’s age, I was even more impressed than I’d been with Clara. The women of that family had some excellent constitutions, that was for sure.
Arianne shared a single glance with her twin brother, and Gustave climbed Humbert’s hind leg and settled in behind her, patting his sword in its sheath to make sure it remained where it was supposed to.
I fully expected Marcelo to join the three dragon riders, but I was surprised when he mounted one of the horses instead.
Sir Lancelot chose that moment to fly over and join us, landing abruptly on Brave’s shoulder.
