by Leah Price
"You must have, too," Duncan said. "If you found that out of bounds like you said."
"Well, I did to get the evidence, but...." Glenna's voice trailed off. She wasn't sure how to defend herself. She had gone out of bounds, but only to get the evidence. Not to play like he had. Or steal.
"I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding," Sybil said. She met Roger's eyes and an unspoken message passed between them.
"Glenna," Roger said, "we can't accuse someone without more evidence." His voice was gentle and low. "You understand that."
"I do, but Roger, he has your cloak," Glenna insisted.
Roger took a deep breath. "We don't know that. This could all be a coincidence. We'll just keep looking."
Glenna scowled. I blew it, she thought. The fox is getting away just as he did in the other world. She nodded at Roger and left the tent without a word.
She had barely gone ten steps when a bony hand closed over her arm. Duncan jerked her around to face him. He hustled her into the trees before she could speak.
"Where is it?" he asked. His voice was rough and low. Frown lines appeared between his eyebrows as he glared at her. He held her arm tightly, looming over her. She could tell he was trying to intimidate her.
"I don't know. Why don't you tell me?"
"You know it's gone. When I went to our tent, it was missing. You've been following me, haven't you?" Duncan asked. He saw the truth in her eyes. She had been following him. He fairly growled at her as he continued. "You took it for yourself and tried to get me in trouble. You're keeping it for your own."
"That's not true," Glenna said. He must have hidden the cloak in his grandmother's tent. When he went to get it, it was gone. That was why he was so angry. She jerked her arm free as she faced him. "I don't know who took it. But I know you better help me find it. Roger needs it."
"I don't care what he needs," Duncan said. "I want it. I'm going to be a great magician, better than him. And you can't stop me. I'll get it back."
"No, you won't," Glenna assured him. "I'll find it first."
"You already have it!" Duncan exclaimed, his voice rising. "You took it from where I hid it in my grandmother's tent. Give it back to me!"
"She didn't take it," a small voice said from behind them. "I did."
* * *
Duncan whirled to face the voice, his expression distorted into an ugly, angry scowl. Glenna's eyes widened in surprise as she peered around him at the boy holding the cloak. Sam. With David standing staunchly by his side.
Duncan started towards Sam, but Glenna grabbed his arm, holding him back. Sam stood his ground, his fingers turning white as he gripped the cloak. Glenna could see the flicker of fear on David's face, but he remained by his friend's side.
"You stole Roger's cloak," David said.
"Sam! David! Run!" Glenna shouted.
Sam started to back away, still facing Duncan. His brave countenance was failing. He looked at David, unsure of what to do. Glenna felt her grip on Duncan's arm slipping.
"Run!" David said. "I'll hold him back."
Duncan whirled and pushed Glenna away from him. She fell on the ground between her brother and Duncan.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Sam turn to go. She braced her arms on the ground and started to rise, but stopped as Roger spoke.
"There's no need for anyone to run. It's over now."
* * *
Glenna felt Roger lift her from the ground and stand her up. The livid expression seemed to melt off Duncan's face as he stared at the magician with wide eyes.
"You don't understand...," Duncan started to say. His voice was once again friendly and pleading. "I didn't mean...."
"You did take my cloak," Roger said. Sam offered it to Roger and he took it, slipping it on proudly. He smiled as he melted into the comforting familiarity. Glenna stared at him, once again resplendent.
"I... yes, I did. I'm sorry." Duncan hung his head in shame.
"Why?" Roger asked.
Glenna turned to see Duncan's grandmother was staring at him, an expression of disappointment and embarrassment on her face. She hugged Sam close to her side.
"Because I want to be a great magician, like you. I want to so bad. I thought I would be able to with the cloak." Duncan sniffed unhappily.
Roger hesitated before kneeling on the ground in front of Duncan. He placed one hand on the boy's shoulder as he addressed him. "If there's one thing I've learned in this business, it's that you don't need any one thing to be a magician but belief in yourself and your abilities."
Duncan nodded before Roger continued. "And props, of course," he added matter-of-factly.
Glenna grinned to herself as Roger rose and stretched.
"You must have props," he repeated.
"Duncan, apologize to Roger. What is he going to think of you?" Sybil asked. Her voice was sad and hollow.
"I'm sorry," Duncan said, sullenly.
"Then it is forgiven. And... well, I do need an apprentice if you'd like the job. I'd be happy to teach you," Roger said. Glenna saw a twinkle in his eye as he glanced at Sybil.
He likes her, Glenna thought. Her mouth fell open in surprise. Roger's in love!
Sybil grinned back at Roger, a deep flush spreading over her cheeks.
And she likes him, too, Glenna realized. She found that she was happy Roger had a crush. She could picture the two of them together, the magician and the fortune-teller. She hoped it would work out.
"That would be great!" Duncan exclaimed. "I can't wait to get started."
He smiled up at Roger and Glenna felt a sudden pang of jealousy. She tried to push it away, but it lingered.
"Then we will, straightaway, but Duncan," Roger wagged his finger at the boy, "magic is a very serious business. You must be trustworthy and good if I am going to teach you."
"I will." Duncan grinned. A flap of hair had fallen over one eye, giving him a roguish expression.
"Glenna," Sybil said. "I'm sorry I doubted you. It appears as if you were right about my grandson. Duncan, say you're sorry to Glenna and then come inside. You'll have to miss Roger's show this time because I'm going to have a talk with you." She waited by the tent flap, watching them.
"We'll all be great friends," Roger said happily. "Just watch, Glenna and Duncan will be the best of friends."
"Sorry," Duncan said as he offered Glenna his hand. She took it, ready to put the past behind her. She hoped they would all be friends.
Dismay filled her as she felt Duncan squeeze her hand hard. "Of course we'll all be friends, Roger," he said, his eyes never leaving Glenna's. He squeezed her hand once more, hard, before smiling at her. The corner of his mouth raised in a smirk as he released her.
He's warning me, Glenna thought. He doesn't want to be friends. He's just as bad as he ever was. But no one else seemed to see it, besides Sam.
Sybil's and Roger's faces shone with happiness, and even David was grinning in a friendly fashion at Duncan. Only Sam remained unsure. Glenna could almost read his thoughts as he met her gaze. Don't trust him, he seemed to warn her.
"Very well." Roger clapped his hands. "I see no reason to mention this to anyone outside our circle. No cause to embarrass the boy. We'll leave it at this and forget it. But I do have a magic show to perform shortly, so I must bid everyone adieu." Roger bowed and waved his hand elegantly before departing.
Glenna stood alone in the middle of the trees. She felt as if she must warn Roger, but she knew he wouldn't listen. Neither he nor Sybil seemed to sense the badness in the boy. Glenna watched him as he departed, stomping after his grandmother. He paused near the tent flap to turn towards her once more.
He raised his hand in farewell, a mean, crafty expression on his face. "Till we meet again," he growled before disappearing inside.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The Show
Glenna fell in step with the boys as they left the wooded glen near Sybil's tent. She hugged them happily, grinning as she clasped one in each arm.
&
nbsp; "How did you boys do it?"
"I saw Duncan with it earlier. I knew when you were talking with your parents that he had the cloak you were looking for so I went to get it," Sam said. "My brother is always doing things like that." He shook his head sadly.
"Duncan's your brother?" Glenna asked. She was surprised. The two of them were nothing alike.
"Yeah, he's my brother. He's bad most of the time, but no one seems to notice. He picks on me a lot," Sam said.
Glenna knew there was a lot Sam wasn't saying. He's probably going to be in big trouble with Duncan now, Glenna thought and she felt sorry for the boy.
"I hope he's not too hard on you over this," Glenna said.
Sam shrugged. "He will be, but I don't care. I had to do what was right. David helped me."
A lump formed in Glenna's throat. All this time she had felt alone. She hadn't realized she had two good allies. She couldn't have done it without them. "I'm proud of the two of you," she said.
The two boys smiled, their eyes shining with happiness.
"Now, I think we should all go to Roger's show together. What do you think?" They nodded in agreement, and she clasped each one's hand in her own, the boys already chattering. They tugged and pulled at Glenna's arms as they jumped and danced happily down the lane. Glenna usually scolded David when he did that while she held his hand, but this time she didn't care. They had helped her solve the case and stood by her side. They had earned it.
* * *
The back row of benches at the pavilion was uncomfortable. Shards of wood and splinters bit into the back of Glenna's legs through her dress. She shifted awkwardly, but it was no use. There was no escape. Eyeing the first few rows of benches, worn smooth by years of use, Glenna wished they had been earlier.
The boys had taken their time walking to the pavilion and had demanded a stop by the bathrooms on the way. By the time they finally reached the show area, it was crowded. This was Roger's main performance. No other shows ran at this time of the evening. He was the star. And he was late....
Glenna wondered what was keeping him. She suspected it was his tried and true trick of making a grand entrance. He loved to keep the crowd waiting five or ten minutes and then appear onstage in a puff of smoke or walk grandly down the aisle. The cheers never ceased to please him.
The stage was built out of wood as well, heavy wood. A staircase led to a balcony on the right-hand side and several doors were built into the three-sided walls. The main wall faced the stage head on, while the two flanking walls were edged towards the audience. It remained bare, awaiting its performer.
All around her, the audience muttered, shifting in their seats. "Why are we bothering to stay? I heard he's no good," a woman in a dirty T-shirt and shorts said.
"We paid. We're getting our money's worth," her husband argued.
"You can stay, but you still won't get your money's worth, from what I heard," a boy snickered.
Glenna closed her eyes, angry, and decided to ignore them. She settled in, waiting for the show to begin. Sam and David were busily playing on the dusty ground, having already abandoned their seats for sticks and stones and dirt. Glenna shook her head in bewilderment. She didn't think she would ever understand boys.
This time, Roger took her by surprise as well. She glanced up when the crowd gasped to find a large puff of black smoke appearing on the right-hand side of the stage, just in front of the staircase. Glenna scanned the area, squinting to spot her friend through the haze of the smoke.
But he wasn't there....
A second, larger puff of yellow smoke appeared in the center of the stage, right in front of the large double doors. They swung open to reveal... nothing.
A third puff of smoke appeared on the left-hand side, first pink and then darkening to a blood-red color. Suddenly, popping and crackling appeared within it and sparks flew into the air. The smoke shimmered with flashes of light.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" The deep, grand voice echoed over the crowd. Eyes raised in surprise and shock to Roger, sitting with legs crossed on the edge of the balcony railing. His cloak trailed over the wooden barrier, its stars glittering in the reflection of the red smoke and lights. "Oh, were you all waiting on me?" he asked, smiling.
The crowd cheered and applauded. It seemed as if Roger had appeared out of nowhere. No one had seen him go up the stairs. Only Glenna knew a trap door led directly to that very spot.
"I'm sorry to have kept you! Let's begin, shall we?" Roger asked. And in an instant, he disappeared.
And reappeared sitting on the ledge of a window across from the balcony. The crowd cheered and applauded again. A few even stood as they clapped.
"No, no!" Roger held up his hand. "I did that trick wrong. Don't clap for me. I meant to appear...." He disappeared again, only to reappear in the center of the stage.
His arms were lifted, opened grandly towards the crowd that loved him. "HERE!" his voice boomed. He searched the crowd, smiling broadly as he spotted Glenna.
"Let us begin!"
The rest of the show was one of the best Glenna had ever seen Roger perform. He kept the crowd laughing and entertained. They cheered as he made objects disappear, only to reappear in various spots in the crowd. He trapped a song in a box, his voice escaping in delightful tones as he opened it. He laughed and whirled and danced. And then his big trick came up.
He disappeared from view once more. Glenna recognized the puffs of green and pink smoke as the sight of him faded away. The crowd waited with bated breath. Where had he gone?
As the smoke gradually faded, she was able to see him once more. He smiled at the crowd, enjoying the looks of anticipation on their faces.
"I've enjoyed your company this evening," Roger said. "And I'd like to share my magic with each and every one of you. Only the sparkling jewels from deep down inside the earth, from glittering caves and sand-swept deserts, from palace walls and ocean treasures are what you deserve!" He raised his hands higher and higher into the air. "And you shall have them," he said, before dropping his arms suddenly.
The crowd held its breath, watching expectantly. Nothing happened.
Glenna groaned inside. His trick had failed. He had....
But wait... a single large stone dropped from his sleeve. It thumped onto the plank floor, twinkling in the stage lights.
The crowd applauded as Roger kept his head bowed as if deep in concentration.
They stopped as a second stone plunked loudly onto the stage from his other sleeve. Roger looked up, meeting Glenna's eyes, and grinned. A wave of stones rushed from his sleeves, covering the bare wooden floor around his feet.
Glenna smiled widely as the boys gasped with delight. Roger knelt and grasped two handfuls of the stones, allowing them to trickle from his upraised hands before rising, still clenching several. He paused, staring at his clenched fist, his gaze intent. He ground his fist tightly and then raised it. It was empty....
Except for....
The sparkling confetti blew from Roger's hand over the crowd, filling the air. Glenna laughed aloud as first the children, and then the adults, rose in wonder as it rained down on them.
The cheering began once more and Glenna sighed with relief. She saw a short figure standing near the edge of the stage.
It was Mr. McMillan, and he was smiling and clapping. He grinned at Roger and gave him thumbs up. A swirl of glittering confetti filled the stage and when it fell to the ground, Roger was gone.
Glenna edged her way over to Mr. McMillan, Sam and David in tow. "Does this mean you're going to let Roger keep his show?" she asked when she reached the short man. Her mouth felt dry, and her knees trembled as she waited on his response.
"I am," Mr. McMillan said. "Anyone who can perform a show like this deserves to. But he better keep track of that cloak," he added.
Glenna let out a breath of relief. "Don't worry. He will."
They both turned in surprise as Roger reappeared onstage without his cloak. "I've always believed I couldn't perfor
m without my cloak. I didn't have faith in myself. But a dear friend, along with a fortune-teller, helped me to see that the only reason I couldn't perform was because I didn't think I could. I know now one form of real magic is having confidence in yourself. Glenna, you were right. This one is for you."
Roger stood on the stage in his slacks and loose white peasant shirt. He cupped his hands and stared at them intently. A small flame appeared, growing larger until it was the size of a tennis ball. It licked hungrily towards the heavens.
"May all of you never let your light, the light of your belief in yourself and your abilities, may you never let it go out," Roger said. "I've enjoyed sharing my light with you."
He blew and the flames fanned out before him, flickering quickly before exploding into a burst of yellow confetti. Roger bowed over and over as the audience gave him a standing ovation.
Straightening, arms stiff at his side, he gestured towards the back and a lady appeared with his cloak. Sybil, Glenna thought as Roger slipped his arms inside.
He whirled, and his cloak fanned out around him before he posed, head high and one arm lifted proudly above his head. His lightning hair seemed to crackle and snap with electricity. He scanned his audience and spotted Glenna once more. She was jumping up and down and applauding along with everyone else.
He winked at her and smiled.
Glenna paused, smiling back at him. Her smile faded when she noticed Duncan waiting in the shadows of the stage. His eyes glittered as he surveyed the audience hungrily. He wants them for himself, Glenna thought.
She didn't think Roger even noticed her change of expression as he disappeared from view once more in a cloud of rising smoke and fireworks.
Their light reflected almost evilly in Duncan's eyes as he smiled.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The End
The path was waiting on her, Glenna felt. It seemed to shimmer and shift in excitement as Glenna ventured forth. She was almost giddy as she traveled the now familiar lane. Patches of light from the setting sun leapt and played in the breeze on the forest floor before her.
A buzzing sound filled Glenna's ears, and she swatted at it without thinking.
"Hey!" Flutter exclaimed.
"Oh, sorry, Flutter," Glenna said.
"I'm getting used to it. Being around you is a risk to my life," Flutter replied.