by Sever Bronny
Leland made two succinct and angry moans while covering his ears.
“Devon, come have some oatmeal,” Bridget said, gesturing at the empty place.
Devon finally let go of Augum’s hand, nodding at Leland. “I’m sure I’ll be able to eventually understand him better, but I’m afraid right now I’m going to have to rely on a translator.”
Mr. Goss ran a hand over his balding and burn-scarred scalp. “Dear me, I think he said his, uh, his ears hurt.”
“That really is awful, Mr. Goss,” Devon said, “and I really am sorry about his pain. Have you tried a healer yet? I know the Legion stole them all but—”
“Yes, Mr. Goss tried a healer,” Leera said, shoving a spoonful into her mouth.
“Leera, hi—” Devon extended his hand across the table, once again knocking over the salt. “Oops, sorry, I’m a bit clumsy, but Father says that’s natural to a chub like me.” Leera just stared at him. Devon finally withdrew his hand, fumbling for the salt.
“Never mind that,” Bridget said with a smile, “I’ll get it.”
“Thank you, Bridget, thank you so much. WOW! YOU’RE USING MAGIC—!”
“We call it arcanery,” Bridget said, wincing at his sudden outburst and clearing the rest of the salt using Telekinesis. Augum was impressed, actually—he’d never moved a pile of anything before, nor had he tried. Sure, stone by stone, maybe, but not a pile. Bridget’s arcanery was definitely getting stronger.
“Sorry, uh, arcanery. Right, I should know that, being the son of a Legionnaire and all. You know I was really upset when I heard that foul Harvus took Leera, but wasn’t surprised at all that you and Augum saved her—”
Augum watched as Devon prattled on and on, the boy’s face steadily growing more and more purple. When will he take a breath? He could not recall ever meeting someone so … energetic.
“And you’re Haylee Tennyson. I’ve heard about you and your family. You were really rich once, right? I mean, back before you changed sides and all. My, you’re really pretty, you know that? Chaska is very lucky—”
“Oh no,” Haylee said, staring at him with a slack expression. “You’re not …”
Devon blinked. “What is it? Are you not feeling well? Is it the leg? I heard if you—”
“No, I mean, you’re not coming today, are you—”
“What Haylee means,” Bridget quickly began, “is, you know, you should really … just take a breath once in a while, Devon.”
Jengo took a seat at the end, nodding gravely. “It’s really bad on the humors to go on like that. Could even kill you.” He opened and closed his hand. “Heart can suddenly … explode.”
Devon’s eyes grew wide. “Explode? I mean, I’ve been told I can talk the ears off a jester, but … hey, do you think—”
“I ought to get going,” Mr. Okeke suddenly said, standing. “Good luck with your training today, everyone—”
“But, Father, you haven’t finished your oatmeal—”
“Yes, well, the men need me at the mine and time is short—” He slapped on his boots and hurried out the door.
Mr. Goss, who had been rushing to finish his oatmeal, stood in haste. “Dear me, I do believe Mr. Haroun is expecting me. I ought not to keep him waiting. That would be terribly rude, it would.” He kissed his son on the forehead. “Behave yourself and be very careful with those artifacts, Leland. I shall expect you all to be training at the cabins. Good luck, everyone!”
He strode off just as Devon plowed into another dialogue on cabins and how wonderful this one was and how he couldn’t wait to see theirs and—
Leera pushed her half-finished oatmeal away. “Kill me,” she mouthed to Augum. He squeezed her hand under the table instead.
“Aww, you two really are adorable together,” Devon said. “I mean, really adorable. And nobody even knows that the renowned Augum and Leera are boyfriend and girlfriend! I bet you two are going to be a famous warlock couple, aren’t you? Like Matilda and Franco Viperborn, or Semma and Sinna Trailweaver, or even Sarah and Anna Burnfire. So when are you getting married? I mean, I know you’re not old enough, but it must be less than a year—”
Bridget, who was sitting beside Devon, placed a hand on his shoulder. “Devon, we have a great deal to think about and do today. We need to focus.” She gave him a kind smile. “I hope you do not mind me asking, but can you help us do that? Can you help us focus on training?”
Devon gaped at her a moment. “I would do anything to help you three. I mean, no offense, Haylee and Jengo and Leland, but Augum and Bridget and Leera are legends in every school, every academy and … oh, please, just tell me what I can do to be of service. I’ll do anything you ask—”
“You can begin by starting on your oatmeal,” Jengo said with a weary sigh.
Matters of the Heart
Somehow they made it through breakfast. Throughout, Devon offered countless ideas on ways he could help.
“I can also hold the book for you while you read,” he said to Leera, completely oblivious to the expression on her face. “Maybe even give pointers on any administrative language. I sometimes help Father with official documents and stuff, so I’m sure I can be of service.” He turned to Bridget. “Or fetch things for you. I mean, not like a dog and stuff, but do serious errands, like run secret messages back and forth for the Resistance—”
Bridget, packing a rucksack with the Agonex, Orb of Orion, and books, was reduced to the occasional nod by then. “Let’s go,” she finally said, and tromped out the door without waiting.
Devon scampered after her, talking all the while. Augum, Leera, Haylee, Jengo and Leland mutely followed.
It was a sunny morning, cool and still. The forest was wet with dew that glistened in the slanted rays of the sun. Birds warbled softly. Bridget marched in the front. Devon struggled to catch up, offering wacky training ideas, like sparring on their stomachs, or flinging pinecones at their heads while they were trying to cast a spell, or standing on one foot while blindfolded.
“… oh, and you could climb the trees and try blending in,” Devon said as they reached the two cabins on opposite sides of the creek. He was panting. “Wow, so this is the hideout—it could be a painting! There’s a creek, and some nice looking trees in a meadow. But where are the—”
Leera’s face lit up. “It’s not too late—” she whispered to Augum.
Bridget turned to Devon, face strained. “Devon Clouds, I want to formally invite you in to our training ground.”
Leera’s face fell. “Now it’s too late.”
“Oooooh, there they are!” Devon flashed a confused smile. “But … but I thought I was already invited …”
“She did that to bypass Mrs. Stone’s enchantment,” Jengo said, walking by, holding Leland’s hand.
“Wow, I just passed one of the Anna Atticus Stone’s enchantments? I mean, a real live one? What’s it do? Why can’t I see it? Hey, wait up—!”
Once they descended to the sunny glade, Leland moaned. Bridget dug out the Orb of Orion and the Agonex for him. He plopped down in a patch of sun and immediately placed his ear to the orb. She left the rucksack beside him.
“That’s the cabin Mr. Harvus built, right? Oh, can I look inside? I know they’ll write about it in the history books one day, or maybe someone will write a grand adventure detailing your heroic deeds—”
Bridget watched Devon waving his arms about while he yakked on. She kept moving her jaw from one side to the other, as if stretching it. Finally, perhaps realizing Devon wasn’t going to let up, she turned her back on him.
“I want to start by going over all our spells,” Bridget said, ignoring him. She held up her hand. “Shyneo.” A glowing vine entwined around her palm and fingers.
Devon was as animated as ever. “—and they’d have to mention that I was here as a visitor, wouldn’t they? I mean, this is real live history—”
“Shyneo,” Augum, Leera, Haylee and Jengo echoed. Augum noted Jengo’s was the weakest, eventually flicke
ring out. At least he had been practicing. It was astounding the boy could cast a complicated healing spell but not even know Shine. How was that even possible?
“—and I bet they’d write about Milham too, how it supported the legendary trio and—”
Bridget, whose nostrils actually flared, made the glow of her hand fade then brighten, nodding at them to do the same.
“Think you can teach me that, Bridge?” Devon interrupted, standing right beside her, pudgy face glowing with wonder. “I mean, I’ve never been any good at arcanery, but I think I can get the hang of it if you teach me.”
Augum shared a look with Leera, mouthing, “ ‘Bridge’?”
Bridget firmly shut her eyes and took a very deep breath.
“Here we go,” Leera murmured. “We’re about to see a murder.”
Bridget suddenly thrust an open palm at Devon’s face. “Devon, first of all, can you take a step back please? Thank you.” She turned to him, jaw set. “Look, you’re very nice, you really are, but you need to let us concentrate. We’re about to do something very dangerous, maybe stupid even, and we need to be ready. We need to focus, Devon, and I don’t have the time to teach you arcanery from scratch—”
Devon’s chin trembled as he stood there for what seemed an eternity.
“Sweet, blissful silence at last,” Leera whispered.
“You hate me …”
“No, Devon, of course we don’t hate you—”
“You really hate me …”
“Devon, how could you even—”
“You hate me and think me fat and ugly and stupid.”
“Devon, don’t be silly, we just need—”
But Devon suddenly did something quite unexpected—he shoved Bridget. She fell to the ground, stunned.
“Don’t bully me!” he yelled through tears, storming off.
The rest of them stood gaping, too shocked to react.
“Yeah, don’t bully him, Bridge,” Leera finally said with a smirk, giving Bridget a hand up.
“It’s not funny, Lee, he’s obviously very unhappy and lonely.” Bridget dusted off her blue robe, watching the back of Devon as he struggled up the gentle valley incline. “I don’t know, I guess I was being too harsh or something.”
“Harsh would have been stuffing a sock in his mouth,” Leera said. “Firmly, so that only high degree arcanery could dislodge it.” She sighed. “All right, stop giving me that look. He had it coming. He’s our age yet he acts like he’s nine.”
Leland gave a sharp moan.
“No offense, Leland.”
Leland nodded stiffly and returned to listening to the orb.
“I’ll talk to him,” Augum said, turning to go, feeling bad for the boy.
“No,” Bridget said, voice firmer than usual. “What we’re doing is important, Aug. You need to focus. You’re compassionate and you want to make sure he’s all right, I get that, but we’ve got priorities.”
Leera nodded along. “He’ll just have to put on his big boy pants.”
“He’s got to learn to be independent,” Haylee added. “Hmm, maybe I can get Chaska to spend time with him.”
“All right,” Augum finally said. Though Chaska might end up pummeling the poor boy if he gets too annoyed with him.
“I’ll keep studying, I’m wretchedly behind.” Jengo strode over to Leland, fetching the yellow book from the rucksack. “I want to be able to defend myself in battle, and I’m nowhere near that yet. But I also want to learn battle healing—”
Bridget placed her hands on her hips. “Jengo, you need to learn all the spells of the 1st degree, not just the elemental healing spells.”
“I know, I was just—”
“Stop fooling around, Jengo, this is serious. Your Shine spell is weak and your—” Bridget stopped and rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry …”
“You all right?” Augum asked softly.
“Fine. Just haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Same nightmare?” Augum pressed. It was a guess.
She surrendered a nod.
Augum watched her a moment, wondering if she was finally going to talk about it. She had deep circles under her eyes. Her cheekbones protruded a little as if she hadn’t been eating much, and her long cinnamon hair was thin and stringy.
“You know you can talk to us,” he said gently.
She gave him a tired look. “I keep dreaming the same stupid thing,” she said at last. “Remember that moment on the cliff when the harpies attacked me?”
Augum’s palm scar tingled. “How could we forget.” He recalled her dangling below as one harpy after another swooped in. She had sustained serious injuries from the attack and nearly died. Luckily, Raptos the wolven allowed them to make a concoction using Augum’s own blood to save her.
“Anyway,” Bridget continued, “In the dream, I’m alone—none of you are there to help me—getting attacked by all these harpies, while I’m dangling and swinging on that rope. I always wake up at the same instant, when the rope breaks and I suddenly …”
“… fall,” Augum said. She always had a horrible fear of heights.
She slowly nodded. “Look, we’re all under a lot of pressure, let’s not worry about it, all right?”
Leera placed a hand on her shoulder. “You sure you’re fine?”
Bridget’s gaze wandered to the forest where Devon had disappeared. “I wonder if it’s right that we stay here. We’re putting them all in danger. Maybe we should leave and train elsewhere. What if—”
“Bridge,” Leera cut in. “You said it yourself plenty of times to me—we can’t do this alone. It especially counts now that Mrs. Stone is missing.” She nodded toward the village. “They know what they’re getting into. We’ll just have to …” She made a vague gesture with her hand. “… trust the Fates or something, I don’t know.”
Bridget gave her a funny look before finally surrendering a nod. “All right. Let’s move on then. Repair?”
Haylee stepped away from them. “You know what? Why don’t I help Jengo train in the 1st degree, that way you three can concentrate on what you need to do.”
“You … you’d do that?” Bridget asked.
“Yes, of course I would.” She made a derisive gesture at her cane. “Look, I’m not going with you, that much is plain. I’ll stay, train Jengo, help Leland, help the Resistance in whatever way I can. Besides, now that you told me about that dream, I … well, I just didn’t realize how much pressure you’re all under.”
Even Leera’s brows travelled up her forehead. “Are you coming down with something?”
“I’m fine, that’s the point.” Haylee hobbled over to Jengo. “I’ve been resisting … everything. Holding too much in. Seeing Augum and Bridget go after you like that after Furhead kidnapped you … well, I want that in friendship too. I mean, yeah, I’m stuck with this stupid cane—” She gave it an angry shake. “But life goes on. We go on. I go on. And besides, I’ve taken so much. Now I want to give back … for a change. Or something. Anyway, stop gaping and get back to work, you bunch of … fools.” She was smiling as she plopped down beside Jengo, who was staring at her with a perplexed expression.
“Hell has frozen over,” Leera mumbled, giving Augum a stunned look.
Bridget smiled, nodded. “Right. Uh, let’s get back to it, shall we? We’ll begin by warming up with one cycle.”
The trio began a challenging regimen, truly pushing themselves with every spell. Augum felt an underlying sense of urgency throughout, as if time was not on their side. In one very unique sense, it wasn’t—at the back of his mind, he still thought about Cron. What would happen to them if they aged rapidly in a short period of time trying to learn the spell? And then to perform it in battle? How would that affect their—
“Concentrate!” Bridget said after knocking him down with the Push spell. “You didn’t even raise your shield, Aug. What’s the matter with you? Where’s your head at?”
“Sorry,” he said, allowing her to help him up.
“Try it again. I’ll be ready.”
And the second time, he got it right.
They worked through the gamut of spells, focusing on the 4th degree, especially Summon Minor Elemental, though even after hours of practice, neither Augum nor Leera were able to cast it successfully. They next tried the Reflect spell using the prisms, but failed at that too. Bridget, still uncharacteristically short-tempered, was about to move on to the counterspell for Object Alarm when four figures climbed down the valley slope—Malaika, Charissa, Annelise, and Gabe.
“Great, just what we need,” Leera muttered.
Malaika frowned at the top of the valley. “I don’t see anything.”
“That’s right, they can’t hear or see us,” Leera said. “This is fantastic, all we have to do is ignore them and they’ll go away.” She gave Bridget a hopeful but apprehensive sidelong glance.
“We can’t do that,” Bridget finally said with a sigh. She marched up the valley. The moment she crossed the invisible boundary of the spell, the newly arrived foursome startled.
“Oh my!” Charissa squealed, clutching her chest with one hand and Malaika’s elbow with the other.
Bridget’s voice was weary. “Malaika, Charissa, Annelise, Gabe—I formally invite you in to our training ground.”
The looks on their faces said it all. Charissa in particular, who kept clapping her hands, tugged on Malaika’s sleeve and whispered something into her ear, to which Malaika nodded her head, flashing a secret smile Augum’s way.
“Here comes trouble,” Jengo said to Haylee.
“Hello, Augum!” Malaika called with a wave, wearing a bright floral-embroidered spring dress, offset by her chocolate skin. “We’ve come to call as we promised!”
Charissa skipped along, wearing a tight dark brown dress that looked too hot for the weather. Her pale skin glistened with sweat as she wafted a hand at her face. Behind the girls walked Annelise, wearing a black servant outfit and carrying a basket, looking thoroughly miserable, and a smiling Gabe, also wearing a servant outfit and carrying a polished silver tray brimming with sweets.