by Mary Swift
Lucy had no idea who that was and she didn’t care. “I’m not staying here. My father must be going out of his mind with worry; he probably thinks I’m dead. I have to get out of here.”
He hesitated. “I can check on you when I’m in the circle.”
“Are you suggesting that I stay?”
“No it’s just that-”
She cut him off. “Do you know what he was talking about last night? Marrying me off. I’m sixteen and he thinks I should get married.”
“That is traditional for girls your age.” Arden said. “Perhaps he could find a suitable choice, someone that you liked.”
“No. I’m not marrying anyone. My father put a spell on me; I can only marry a man I love.”
“I see. You’re willing to wait for love?”
“Yes of course. I know it’s hard for someone like you who’s already married to understand.”
“I’m not married.”
“Oh, I just thought-”
“No one wants me. I’m repulsive to women.” He avoided her eyes.
Lucy couldn’t see anything remotely repulsive about him. “I’m sorry.”
Lucy noticed Devin was staring out of the window again. Arden muttered something and he went away. “I told you it didn’t last long.” He took a deep breath. “Do you really want to leave here?”
“Yes, more than anything.”
He reached out as though he was going to take her hand and then stopped. She noticed a small scar, like a fine scratch, stretching out from beneath his cuff. He suddenly became aware that she was looking at it, he pulled his hand away and tugged at his sleeve. “I can help you, but if we get caught-”
“Just give me some advice and I’ll do it myself. I don’t want you to risk your career or anything for me, this is your home.”
He pulled at his sleeve again. “You have no idea what these people will do to their own. I don’t owe them anything.”
“All right then, what did you have in mind?”
Chapter 68
Killian held his breath. He heard the Master Enchanter and the prison guards, which Finnegan had told him were called protectors, approaching. He and Finnegan were up a tree. It wasn’t the best spot to hide. If someone stood at the right place on the ground they could still be seen. They had to remain as quiet as possible.
“Spread out.” the Master Enchanter shouted. Killian’s heart was racing. He noticed Finnegan’s chest rising and falling rapidly. They were in a nook, Killian had no choice but to put his arm around his big brother.
He couldn’t believe that he had to be civil to this man. He would like nothing more than to punch him in the face, but that wouldn’t solve anything. They had to work together to find Lucy. Underneath them a twig snapped. Finnegan tensed up. Killian caught sight of the Master Enchanter’s dark hair and red robe. He was standing directly underneath them along with a protector. The power of the robe made the air vibrate in Killian’s ears.
“Where should we look?” the protector asked. “Our spells are for the prison, not the forest.”
The Master Enchanter slapped his face. “Imbecile.” He paced back and forth a few times. “I’ll raze the forest.”
Another protector joined them. “Raze the forest? You can’t do that.”
“I’m the Master Enchanter.”
“I am aware sir, but burning down an entire forest for two escaped prisoners. Sir, it is madness.”
The Master Enchanter slapped the other protector hard, sending him stumbling backwards. The severity of the strike made both Killian and Finnegan jump. The branch they were on quivered, an acorn dislodged and fell onto the head of the protector who had just been hit. He looked up and made eye contact with Killian.
“Don’t ever question me again!” the Master Enchanter shouted at him
The protector rubbed his face. “We’ll find them, they can’t have gone far.”
The Master Enchanter crossed his arms. “I want the redhead, kill the other one.”
“We’ll get them sir.” the other protector promised. “Perhaps we should get you back to the island. Your wife must be worried.”
“My wife is the reason I want to find the redhead.” the Master Enchanter said.
“We’ll do everything we can. They don’t stand a chance unless they can find someone in Firesea to hide them.”
The Master Enchanter mumbled something and walked away. The second protector looked up into the tree and caught Killian’s eye, a second later he was gone.
A few uncertain minutes passed. “What does the Master Enchanter want with me?” Killian whispered. “And who is his wife?”
“Nora is his wife.”
“What?” Killian cried.
“Keep your voice down.” Finnegan whispered. “The Master Enchanter is Dante Gavrashelli.”
“He’s dead.”
“I thought he was, but he’s not.”
“Are you sure it’s him?” Killian asked. “Maybe it’s someone who looks like him.”
“It’s him, I’m positive.”
“Nora said that he was an enchanter.”
“Then she was right, as usual.”
Things were going from bad to bizarre. He couldn’t think about it, he had to find Lucy. “How can we get into Firesea?”
“Would you allow Dante to kill me?”
Killian hesitated, he knew what he would like to say. “Listen, can we not have this conversation now? I would like to get out of here before the protectors come back. We were lucky this time. My leg is going numb. Move.”
Finnegan started to climb down. “We could go under the circle wall.”
Killian finished climbing down the tree. “Did you say we could go under the wall?”
“When I was a boy there used to be a couple of spots that people tunneled under. Of course that was thirty years ago.”
“Can we go through the front gate? Do they ask for identification? Can’t we lie? I know you’re good at it.”
“You don’t understand this place. We have to smuggle ourselves in.”
“Do you know where my father lives? Can you bring me to his house?”
“I know where he used to live. Have you thought about what you’re going to do when and if you find Lucy? How are you going to get back out?”
Killian hadn’t given that any thought at all. His only focus had been to find Lucy. “Just get me there, all right?”
“I will. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Killian hoped the same thing. He followed Finnegan through the woods. He had no idea if he was being led in the right direction. He was going to have to trust his brother. They walked for ten or fifteen minutes, neither of them spoke.
Finnegan stopped and tugged at Killian’s sleeve. “Look.” Through the trees they could see the outer wall of Firesea. A two story guard tower stood next to a wooden door in the wall. “That’s the back gate. It’s not used much. Just beyond it there used to be a blind spot that the protectors couldn’t see. That’s where people would go under the wall, of course they were usually trying to escape Firesea, not get in.”
According to the Founders’ Code, the dirt beneath the circle wall could not be enchanted. Enchanters weren’t supposed to have thoughts of escape. It was the job of the Master Enchanter or the council to keep them happy and keep them in line.
“We’ll never get there unseen.” Killian said. Between the edge of the forest and the wall was a large open field.
“We’ll have to go at night.”
“And where are we going to hide until then? The Master Enchanter could be anywhere.”
Finnegan looked up.
“Not that again.”
“It was your idea.”
“I’m not sitting all day with my arm around you.”
“I’ll get my own tree.”
“That suits me just fine.” Killian climbed up into the branches of an old maple to wait for dusk.
Chapter 69
Nora sat in Dante’s office and s
tared at Killian’s pen. She could use it because of Dante’s poem, Enchantment by Fire, it was a spell. It had given her a connection to Firesea. She wrote in Dante’s book: Take me to Lucy. Nothing happened. Killian had said that the pen could not move enchanters from one place to another but it was worth a try anyway. Take Nora to Lucy. Nothing. Take Nora Gavrashelli to Lucy Cramer. Nothing.
Killian was right, she had a feeling he was hardly ever wrong. She would have to find Lucy the old fashioned way. But Nora still wanted to be sure she could really use the pen, the door could have just opened on its own. She remembered the demonstration that Killian had given her.
Nora Gavrashelli is wearing a green dress. Her red dress suddenly turned green. She felt a flutter of excitement. It did work. Dante Gavrashelli cannot, under any circumstance, use the pen Nora Gavrashelli is holding in her hand right now. She sat for a moment and then wrote. Dante Gavrashelli cannot force Nora Gavrashelli to use the pen Nora Gavrashelli is holding in her hand right now.
She stood up and looked out of a tiny smudged window next to the door. The boy was still on the dock. She had to get herself off of the island and she had be specific. There is a boat next to the dock on the island off of Firesea. She looked up and saw a small rowboat bobbing in the water; the boy was staring at it. She tore some pieces of paper out of Dante’s book and ran outside.
“Look at what just appeared.” The boy pointed to the boat.
Nora climbed into the boat and soon realized there were no oars. The boat has oars, she scribbled. Nothing happened. “Damn it.” She hadn’t indicated what boat had oars. The boat Nora Gavrashelli is sitting in has oars. A pair of oars appeared. She put the pen and paper in her pocket and started to row away from the dock.
“I’m telling the Master Enchanter.” the boy shouted after her.
“Go ahead.” she called back. “Tell him Nora says goodbye.”
“You’ll never get away with this.” He shook his fist at her.
“Just watch me.” Her arms immediately started to tire. She took a deep breath and kept going. Back on the island the boy was running to the other side. The wind picked up and Nora’s hair blew in her face. The island got smaller, she looked over her shoulder and saw she was already approaching land. A few minutes later she felt the bottom of the boat scrape the beach. She climbed out and stared up at the wall of Firesea. There was no option but to go inside. The door in the wall was locked. Open, she wrote on it. The door opened. A protector was on the other side, he scowled at her.
“The Master Enchanter sent me home.” she said to him. “Do you know where the workhouse is?”
“Why?”
“I was just wondering.”
He leaned on a long spear. “Are you sure the Master Enchanter said you could leave?”
She didn’t dare take out the pen and use it in front of him. Anything she did with it could draw unwanted attention, she had to be careful. “Yes.” She looked at her wrist even though she wasn’t wearing a watch. “Look at the time. I’ve really got to run.”
“Hey!” he called after her, but he didn’t follow.
Nora ran towards the cathedral. It was the only place she could think to go. “Hello!” she shouted as she ran inside. “Monsignor Cramer?” Her voice echoed off the stone walls.
Ivan Cramer came shuffling out of a side door. He looked surprised to see her.
“I need help.” she said desperately.
“Oh?” There was a look on his face that suddenly reminded her of Killian. “Is something wrong with the Master Enchanter?”
“He’s crazy.” Nora said. “I’ve just managed to get away from him. I need help. My brother has been taken to the workhouse and I’ve got to find him.”
“I can’t get someone out of the workhouse.”
“I just want you to point the way.”
He nodded. “If you wish, but I have to warn you-”
“Are you related to Killian Cramer?”
He blinked several times before he answered her. “Killian Cramer? Is that what you said?”
“Yes. He was brought to Wildbush as a boy.”
“I haven’t heard that name in so long. He was my nephew, my brother’s son. What do you know about him?”
“He’s here, maybe in the prison. We came to Firesea to find his daughter Lucy, she was kidnapped. Do you know anything about it?”
“No, but I’m not allowed to sit on the council anymore.” he said. “I’m afraid the church isn’t-”
“When I was at the council I mentioned Lucy’s name and they seemed to recognize it. Do you think she might be here?”
“Possibly. You should ask my brother Devin. If she came through the council hall then they would have called for him. I haven’t spoken to him in years, but I know where he lives.”
“Just show me the way.”
“Where do you want to go first? The workhouse or Devin’s?”
Nora thought for a moment. She wanted to help Lucy but there was no guarantee that she was at her grandfather’s, but she knew for sure that Tom was suffering, she could end that right now. “The workhouse.”
Ivan shook his head. “I hope you have a strong stomach.”
She followed him into the churchyard. Tombstones ten feet tall towered above them. “I know a shortcut.” He wrenched open a gate overgrown with a weedy vine. They walked through a narrow alley. The air was rank with a foul smell. Enchanters or mortals wandered about in rags, some held their hands out to beg. Ahead was a somber one story wooden building. It had no windows, just a plain unpainted door.
Ivan stopped. “This is it. I can’t get you inside.”
“That’s not a problem.” Nora took the pen from her pocket.
He started to leave and then turned back. “Do you really know Killian?”
“Yes.” she said. People began to gather around them. “My brother is in there.” She pointed to the workhouse. “If I find him can I bring him to the church?”
Ivan looked surprised. “Of course not.”
“But you’re a priest. Don’t you help people?”
“You don’t understand this place.”
“I’m starting to get it.” Nora said angrily. “Every man and woman for themselves. Never mind, I can take care of myself.”
“I still have to show you where my brother lives.”
“I’ll find it myself.” Nora faced the workhouse door. From inside the building she thought she heard the hum of machines.
“You can’t go in there.” Ivan said to her.
Open. She wrote on the door. The lock clicked and the door opened a crack, damp musty air seeped out.
Ivan looked at the pen in her hand. “Where did you get that? I haven’t seen an instrument like that in a long time.”
Nora didn’t say anything. She opened the workhouse door. It was dark inside and she couldn’t see a thing. She pulled some paper from her pocket and wrote: The workhouse in Firesea has electric lights. Nothing happened. She realized her mistake. The electric lights in the Firesea workhouse are on. The darkened workhouse was suddenly bathed in light.
“You’re playing at things you know nothing about.” Ivan warned.
The workhouse looked like a factory, machines lined the walls. Next to each machine was a man or a woman. Mortals. It was then that Nora noticed the wires connecting the mortal to the machines.
“We have no electricity.” Ivan said. “The mortals are the source of power for the machines.”
Tom was in the corner. Three thick cables were clamped on his arms; they were attached to a loom that was weaving cloth. His eyes were wide open. “But you have spells.” Nora said.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s the submission Firesea enchanters enjoy. Mortals are nothing to them. You are very lucky the Master Enchanter married you, you would have ended up here.”
“You know I’m a mortal?”
“Yes. But I don’t understand how you are able to use that pen. Those are usually created by very strong enchanters.”
/> “The Master Enchanter put a spell on me.” Nora wasn’t going to waste time telling him more. She shook Tom’s shoulders. “Tom, can you hear me?” Tom stared straight ahead. “We need to unhook him.”
“No. He’s part of the machine now.”
“Then let’s stop the machine, all of them.”
“You can’t do that. If you stop the machine then you could stop his heart.”
“What should I do? I can’t just leave him here.”
“Only the Master Enchanter can undo this.”
There was no way of knowing if Ivan was telling the truth. “What if I write that the Master Enchanter has to release Tom and everyone here?”
“That might work, if the pen is strong enough to override him.”
Nora began to write. The Master Enchanter- She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Nora, what are you doing?” Dante dug his fingers into her skin. She dropped the pen on the floor. “And Monsignor, I’m surprised to see you here. Shame on you for helping a mortal.”
Ivan’s bottom lip began to tremble. “Your wife, she forced me to show her this place.”
“I did not!” Nora cried.
Dante looked at her and smirked. “Nora can be like that. She gets foolish notions in her head. You can go Cramer. I’ll deal with you later.”
The Monsignor scurried away. As soon as he left Dante waved his hand and the door to the workhouse slammed shut. “This is where I should have put you.” He lifted Tom’s chin and looked into his eyes with disgust. “I saved you from this and you repay me by running away.”
“I came here to find Lucy Cramer and that is what I intend to do.”
“Here in the workhouse Nora? I know you’re not the brightest woman but I thought even you could figure out that she wouldn’t be sent here.”
“I’m here for Tom. Let him go. He’s done nothing to you.”
Dante leaned on the loom Tom was powering. “I never liked your brother. He was always a bit too smug for my taste.”
Nora glanced at the pen on the floor. If only she could finish the sentence she had been writing. Suddenly Dante noticed the crumpled papers in her hand. He snatched them up before she could put them in her pocket. “What’s this?” She watched as he read her recent scribbling. He tossed the papers on the floor. “Nice work Nora.”