by Jim Proctor
As Angus stood, Occisor stirred and stretched his wings. Taking to the air, he landed on Angus’ shoulder.
“Come on, girl,” Jazeen said to Fluffy. “You can go with us, too.”
The big cat looked up at her for a moment, and then got to her feet.
Stepping out the front door, Angus turned to the right and led the way along a path leading east through the trees. The ground rose gently for a while before the path turned left and began descending, winding back and forth across the eastern slope of the island under the trees until it reached the shore. Fluffy walked beside Jazeen as they followed Angus.
The sound of the waves grew ever louder as they went. As they approached the sea, the ground became rockier, with large boulders and fewer trees. Rounding a huge stone, Jazeen saw a narrow strip of sandy beach. In the distance, a row of boulders formed a protected cove, breaking the waves, dissipating much of their energy. Swells of water ran up and down the sand.
“If you ever need to come here by boat, this is the only landing place. It’s tricky, with the waves and the rocks, so you’d need to be very careful,” he said.
“Why would I ever need to come here by boat?” she asked.
Angus turned to face her. “I’m showing you were the door key is hidden under the flower pot, so to speak.”
Jazeen smiled. “Okay. Thank you.” Looking at the waves crashing into the boulders, she added, “I think I’d have to be pretty desperate to try to land a boat here.”
“Life’s an adventure,” he said with a laugh. Pointing out across the water, he said, “Do you see those two boulders there.”
Jazeen looked where he was pointing, but she wasn’t sure which rocks she was supposed to look at. She opened her mouth to ask what he was talking about when she saw what was wrong.
“You have another holographic projector out there, don’t you? The waves are passing right through those two rocks,” she said.
Angus smiled. “I knew you’d figure it out. Most folk would just see the rocks and pass it by. Let’s move on.”
Turning north, he led the way along a path that wound through the boulders, rising gently until it reached the trees. Through the woods they went, eventually coming out between two large stones.
“We’re facing north, now,” Angus said. “Scallia is that way. You can’t see it from here, but on a clear night, you can see the glow in the sky above two of the coastal cities.”
It suddenly struck Jazeen how far she was from home, and how small Angus’ island was. Though she was happy visiting here, she wondered if she could live here all the time and still be happy. Fluffy rubbed against her legs and gazed up at her, and she was sure the cat knew what she was thinking.
“What do you do for fun, Angus?” she asked.
“Well, I go for walks. I love to read while I sit by the fire.” After a pause, he went on, “I go shopping when I get bored.”
With a quizzical look, she asked. “Where do you shop?”
“I take the airship and visit some of the ports. Every port has shops where you can buy just about anything,” he said.
“What about firewood?” she asked. “I haven’t seen any tree stumps. You obviously don’t cut your own. Last time I was here, you had taken at least a dozen logs out of the wood box. Yet, when I built up the fire before going upstairs, the wood box was full.”
Angus nodded. “An enchantment I cast about a century ago. It refills itself at need.”
“I thought you said you don’t channel magical energy anymore,” Jazeen said.
“I don’t. There are different ways to use magical energy. Casting a spell makes something happen immediately, and it only lasts as long as you continue to channel energy into the spell. An enchantment is different. You start the process by channeling a small amount of energy, and then the enchantment continues on its own, feeding off magical energy in the vicinity.”
“So your wood box will keep filling itself up forever?” she asked.
“As long as I am alive,” he said. “My enchantments are bound with my life force. When I die, all my enchantments cease.”
“Can an enchantment end any other way?” she asked.
“Oh, yes. I can cancel an enchantment at any time. Also, if something disturbs the natural magical field, the enchantment will end if it cannot continue to draw energy,” he said.
“Did you enchant your refrigerator and freezer, too?” she asked.
“No, I shop for my food in the ports,” he said. “Having an enchanted food supply may sound like a good idea, but it isn’t. It isn’t like firewood. I mean, wood is wood, it all burns. Food… well, there were things I ate a century ago that I don’t like anymore, and some of the things I eat now weren’t available a century ago.”
“What do you do for money? If you shop, you must pay for things,” she said.
“Investments,” he said with a smile.
“Oh, come on. Really?”
Angus looked offended. “Yes, really. I was a very good wizard in my day, and my fees were commensurate with my skills. I had quite a lot of money saved up. I invested a fortune by your standards, and the earnings are more than enough to live on.”
“Wow. I’m impressed,” Jazeen said.
“You should be,” he said. There was an edge to his voice Jazeen hadn’t heard before. It wasn’t anger, but, maybe annoyance.
“I’m sorry, Angus. I didn’t mean to pry. I just… well…” Waving her arms around, she said, “This all seems too good to be true. You know what they say about things that seem too good to be true.”
Angus’ expression softened, and he nodded. “I do. I’m sorry if I was a bit cross.”
Jazeen knelt and took Angus’ hand in hers, noticing it trembled slightly. “No, I’m the one who should apologize. I’m sorry, Angus. You’ve been so kind to me, and far more generous than I deserve. I had no right to pry into your private affairs like that.”
“No harm done. I understand why you asked,” he said.
“Still, I am sorry,” Jazeen said.
“Let’s walk back to the house. I’ll show you my library,” he said.
“You have a library? I’d love to see it!”
“Do you like to read?” he asked.
“I love to read,” she said brightly. “Do you have a romance section?”
Angus frowned. “I’m afraid romance is a genre I’ve neglected over the centuries.”
Jazeen laughed. “That’s okay. I’m sure I can find something that will interest me.”
“I have a number of books written in Latin,” he said.
Jazeen groaned. “I’ll pass on those, I think.”
“What? Some of them are brilliant works, full of useful information,” he said.
“We’ll see. Maybe I’ll look at them… someday.”
Angus laughed. “Fair enough. Let’s go.”
* * * *
In the living room, Angus placed a hand against the paneled wall beneath the stairs and pushed. There was a click, then the panel swung inward and to the left. Jazeen never would have known it was a door. Lighting an oil lamp, he stepped inside and Jazeen saw, to the right, a wrought-iron spiral staircase leading down. As they descended, the lamp cast constantly changing shadows on the walls. The air was dryer than she had expected in this subterranean place. Reaching the bottom, Angus flipped a switch and the library filled with warm, bright light. Extinguishing the oil lamp, he hung it on a hook.
“This is the only place where I use electric lights,” he said. “We’re well underground, so nobody can see them. Also, oil lamps aren’t the best idea in a room filled with old, dry books.”
The diminutive former wizard led the way along the first row of shelves.
“These are ancient books about channeling magical power. Many of these are older than I am. As we move along, these are newer books on channeling. These most likely won’t interest you very much, as most of them are in languages you probably can’t read.”
“Can you read them?
” she asked.
“Yes, I can read all the books in my collection. This next row has mysteries and true crime novels. I used to love reading these,” he said. Moving along, he said, “And this row is mainly humor.”
Jazeen pulled a book from the shelf and examined it. “Oh, wonderful—Latin humor,” she said as she shoved it back. Tracing a finger along the books, she stopped at one with curious characters down its spine. Pulling it out, she said, “This looks ancient. I don’t recognize the language. What is it?”
Angus studied the cover for a moment and said, “Oh, that’s written in Klatchian. It’s Achmed the I Just Get These Headaches’s Book of Humorous Cat Stories[1]. Fluffy used to love when I read that to her.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “The funny thing is, I didn’t buy that book. It just appeared in my library one day, out of nowhere. That was right after I got Fluffy, come to think about it. There was a peanut shell on the shelf, too. Odd, that.”
Jazeen carefully slipped the book back into its spot.
Angus said, “Let’s skip a few rows and I’ll show you were you can find the newer books in languages you might enjoy.”
She followed him past several rows, until he stopped and turned.
“From here to the far wall are my newer books. You’ll be able to read most of these. This row is science, mathematics, and engineering. The next is history and geography,” he said.
“Don’t you have anything that you read for pleasure?” she asked.
“I read all of these for pleasure,” he said. “But I think I know what you mean. Come along to the last row.”
Angus led the way past more than a dozen rows.
“This row is… now isn’t that odd?” Angus said, staring at a shelf.
“What?” she asked.
Angus pointed to a full shelf. “That was empty yesterday.”
As Jazeen stepped forward to scan the titles, something crunched beneath her foot. Bending down, she picked up a broken peanut shell.
Angus took it from her, staring at it.
Turning back to the books, she said, “Hey, these are all modern romance novels. I thought you said you didn’t have any.”
“Honest, Jaz, that shelf was empty yesterday.”
“So these books just materialized out of thin air?” she said.
“Just like Achmed’s book,” Angus said.
“Well, wherever they came from, I’ll gladly read them,” she said. “Can I take one upstairs?”
Staring at the peanut shell in his palm, a smile spread across his face, as though some great riddle suddenly made sense. “Sure, help yourself. I’m pretty sure these books are here for your pleasure.”
Jazeen pulled a book out, studied the cover for a moment, and put it back. Selecting another, she smiled as she looked at the artwork, and then flipped it over and read the back cover.
“I’ll read this one,” she said before turning and walking toward the stairs.
Angus stared at the new books for a moment, shaking his head. “Ook,” he said. Going back a few rows, he selected a book and headed toward the steps. He tossed the peanut shell into the trash can, lit the oil lamp, and turned off the library’s lights.
When he stepped into the living room, Jazeen was sitting in her chair by the fire reading with Fluffy curled up at her feet. He pulled the door shut and hung up the lamp. Taking his seat, he opened his book and began to read.
* * * *
Jazeen yawned and stretched. Angus was asleep in his chair, an open book in his lap. Digging in her pocket, she found a receipt from the mall and used it as a bookmark. The world beyond the windows was inky black. Hunger had pulled her out of the book. Judging by the darkness and the way her stomach was growling, she had read through lunch, and possibly through dinner as well.
Swinging her legs over one side of the chair to keep from disturbing Fluffy, she awkwardly got to her feet and walked quietly to the kitchen.
Opening the refrigerator, she looked through packages and found two steaks. Putting those on the counter, she went back and grabbed a bunch of asparagus, some butter, and an armful of other ingredients. Setting them by the steaks, she went to the spice rack and selected a few bottles. Then, pulling a cast iron skillet from a hook, she went to work.
A short while later, Angus appeared in the doorway, stretching and yawning.
“Something smells wonderful,” he said.
“It's almost ready. Wash up and have a seat,” Jazeen said.
“I need to feed the critters, first,” he said as he went to the refrigerator and removed a package, and then went about the task of feeding Fluffy and Occisor.
“Dinner is ready,” she called.
The sound of coal falling into the dragon's bowl came from the other room.
“Thank you for cooking dinner,” Angus said as he returned to the kitchen. “I don’t know what came over me. I was reading a book on partial differential equations, and I guess I fell asleep.”
Jazeen laughed. “I can’t imagine why,” she said as she put the last of the serving platters on the table and sat.
“Maybe I should have picked one of your new books,” he said.
“I doubt you would enjoy them,” she said.
“I happen to have a very romantic soul,” he said defensively.
Jazeen chuckled. “I mean, if they were of any interest to you, they would have turned up a long time ago.”
He thought for a moment and then said, “You’re probably right.”
Angus sat, and they each began filling their plates, passing dishes between them.
“Angus, can you teach me how to see someone’s nimbus?” Jazeen asked.
“I could, but I won’t,” he said.
She frowned. “Why not? Is it hard to do?”
“I’d have to teach you to channel magic first, and I won’t do that,” he said.
“So, you have to channel magic to see someone’s nimbus?” she said.
Angus sighed. “It’s complicated. Let’s just say that learning to channel magic teaches you to broaden your mind and your senses. You learn skills that you wouldn’t otherwise. Once you broaden your senses, you can see someone’s nimbus. It doesn’t involve channeling.”
They continued eating in silence. Angus could feel her next question growing, and he hoped she wouldn’t ask it.
“Why won’t you teach me to channel magic?” she asked.
Angus shook his head. “Because you might choose to channel negative magic.”
“What a preposterous thing to say! Why in the world would I do that?” she asked.
“Most folks who learn to channel magic expect to channel the positive power. More than half end up channeling the negative. It has an allure that many find irresistible,” he said.
“But you know me well enough to know I would choose the positive, surely,” she objected.
“Jaz, it isn’t like that. It doesn’t matter what your intentions are. Channeling changes you, twists you. The negative power draws people in, even good people like you.”
Jazeen was quiet for a moment. “No secrets between friends, you said. Was there someone special in your life who chose the dark power?”
Angus’ fork stopped halfway to his mouth. Finally, he said softly, “My wife.”
Jazeen was stunned, unsure of what to say.
“She was a sweet, beautiful, caring person. That’s why I married her. I would have bet my life that she would choose the positive power,” he said.
“But she didn’t. She chose the negative,” Jazeen said.
Angus nodded.
“Is that what ended your marriage?” she asked.
“We were so much alike; we enjoyed every moment together. When she chose the dark path, her power grew and I no longer recognized her. She grew to dislike me, and I, her.”
“I’m sorry,” Jazeen said. “I’m sorry you lost her, and I’m sorry I asked.”
Angus smiled faintly. “No harm done in asking, Jaz.”
“No, I shouldn�
��t have brought it up. I caused you pain,” she said.
“Nonsense. My wife caused me the pain.” After a moment, he added, “I caused myself pain. That’s all in the past, and I’m over it now.”
She knew he was lying. She didn’t need to see his nimbus to see the sadness behind his forced smile.
“How’s the steak?” she asked, desperate to change the subject.
“It’s wonderful. I love a steak seared with garlic, salt, and pepper,” he said.
As they ate, they chatted about things, steering clear of magic and former loves.
Chapter 10
The clack of Venefica’s boots could be heard all around the dungeon as she descended the carved stone steps.
“It’s playtime!” she announced with a laugh as she reached the bottom step. Walking along the row of cells, she slid her hand over the bars, studying each prisoner carefully. “Who wants to entertain me today?”
No one answered.
“Come now, surely one of you wants to be my plaything.” More silence. “Well then, I guess I’ll have to choose.” She reached the last cell and turned to walk back along the row. At the third cell, she stopped. “I think you shall be my plaything today, Pabuli.”
Pabuli dropped to his knees. “Please, my lady, have mercy. I tried my best to find Beaph. I just needed a little more time.”
“Oh, Pabuli, come now. I gave you a year to find him. A whole year. You failed me. I have high hopes of my new bounty hunter, so you are no longer of any value to me,” she said. Walking to the base of the steps, she pulled a rope. The faint jingle of a distant bell could be heard. A moment later, a door opened and closed, followed by feet hurrying down the steps. Emmett reached the bottom step and awaited instructions.
“Emmett, we’re going to take dear Pabuli to the Chamber of Doors. Unlock his cell, please, and bring him along,” the witch said.
“Yes, mistress,” Emmett replied. He scurried over, unlocked Pabuli’s cell, and swung the door open. “Come along, Pabuli.”