by Simone Pond
“Let’s all just take it easy,” I said. “I suggest we send Benjamin north to check it out.”
He jumped forward. “Heck yeah! I gotta know if this crackpot is speaking the truth.”
“And on the way back, notify the ships to continue north. Let them know we’ll catch up soon,” Matthias added.
Without hesitation Benjamin shifted into his eagle form and swept into the morning sky.
“How far away is the channel?” I asked Sawyer.
“At least a couple hours each way in flight,” he said.
The guys grumbled, then set up camp in the thicket of trees, while we waited for Benjamin to return. Matthias stood against a tree a good twenty feet away, not looking in my direction. Sawyer strolled around from bush to bush, gathering wildflowers. Levi and Binx remained quiet. I wanted them back on the Sinai protecting the passengers, but we were in too deep now. I knew Magnus wouldn’t be rash enough to send more attack cruisers right after losing three, but he was probably contacting each city and asking for favors to keep the ships from passing. He was most definitely strategizing his next attack, so we did need to get back soon.
Sometime in the early afternoon, a streak of golden light appeared in the crisp blue sky. Benjamin flew overhead, then swooped down to join us.
He shifted back into his human form and his green eyes beamed against his light brown skin. “Well, it’s true. There’s a Rankin Canal at the most northern point of the river. And it’s barricaded like nobody’s business.”
Sawyer stretched out his arms, the wildflowers bending at the stem. “See, I did not lie.”
“We still don’t know if Isabella is the Overseer,” said Matthias.
Benjamin grinned. “Yeah, well, I did some additional snooping around at the nearby trading port to find out the last time someone had actually passed through the channel. No ships have crossed in over six months.”
Levi spoke up. “Can’t be a coincidence.”
The air stood still between us, weighted and dense. I could’ve suffocated on the silence, but then I made the final call. “Enough proof for me.”
“Fair enough,” said Matthias.
Chapter 4
Sawyer clapped his hands in delight, grateful we were going to find his special lady friend and Overseer, Isabella.
“But we make the rules,” I warned him.
“Yes, of course. I’m just here as an advisor of sorts,” said Sawyer with a slight bow.
“And you don’t get to walk off into the sunset until she opens the waterway and all three ships are safely through the canal,” said Matthias.
“Yes, of course. Of course.” He bobbed his head up and down. “I believe I know where she is. Glendora holds most of her prisoners in the High Tower. But it’s nearly impossible to get there.”
“Is there a place we can go and discuss the details?” I asked. “We’ll need a map of the city. Potential routes to get to this High Tower. And I want to know more about this High Witch, Glendora, and her status with regards to Mysterium’s high council. Specifically Counselor Magnus.”
Sawyer pressed the front of his swanky green waistcoat. “Yes, I have a hidden cottage out in the forest, where I’ve set up a home with all the accoutrements for Isabella’s return.”
Matthias snorted. “How charming.”
The guys joined in with some under-the-breath laughing.
“Just ignore them,” I told Sawyer. “I’m sure none of them have ever properly courted a lady. Now, if you could please show us to your home so we can get started on our strategy.”
Sawyer released a string of nervous chuckles. “Oh, hehehehe, I do like how you think, my dear lady. We will most definitely need a strategy. Glendora is a powerful and repulsive witch.”
The tall fellow began walking toward the path leading into the woods. I followed, motioning for the guys to come along. Benjamin sped up so he could tag along next to Sawyer. He started drilling him about Lycaeon and asking if the hyena shifter knew any of his relatives or favorite places in the city. Levi and Binx stayed at the rear, keeping an eye out for any Topaz operatives. We were also on high alert for potentially hostile witches or warlocks since we were now traveling through Endor territory. Matthias trudged next to me, remaining quiet. But I knew what he was thinking. He didn’t like this idea one bit.
“He’s harmless,” I said quietly.
“It’s not him I’m worried about.”
“If you’re gonna sulk, I can teleport everyone back to the ships right now,” I said with a slight threat to my tone.
“What about you?” He glanced at me from the corner of his eye.
“I think you already know that answer.”
He heaved a sigh. “If you’re staying, I’m staying. Someone has to keep an eye on you.”
We laughed and it felt good to lighten up a bit. His fingers brushed against mine, sending a pleasant pulse through my hand and up my arm. My chest swelled with warmth. I wanted to hold his hand, but it wasn’t the time or place. Our moments of “accidental” finger grazing would have to suffice.
Sawyer led us down a hill through the woods and across a creek over a narrow wooden footbridge. His eloquent tales in response to Benjamin’s nonstop questions were interrupted by his nervous giggling from time to time. When we reached a cozy clearing surrounded by a canopy of willow trees and hydrangea bushes, Sawyer stopped and spread open his arms.
“My humble abode,” he said.
The clearing was bare, with the exception of flora, mossy grass, and tiny flowers sprouting up.
Matthias nudged my shoulder. “Can we go back now?”
“Sawyer, there’s nothing here,” I said.
He let out a long cackle of high-pitched giggles, waved his hands in a messy and theatrical whirlwind and shouted, “Apparet enim omnes!”
The five of us stood there watching in silence. Sawyer nervously pressed the front of his waistcoat with his palms. He held up his index finger and smiled, then walked closer to the clearing.
“Apparet enim omnes!” shouted Sawyer once again.
Nothing happened.
I felt sorry for the hyena shifter wannabe wizard, and it pained me to hear Binx and Levi laughing at him. I whipped around.
“Stop,” I said. “When you first started, you probably didn’t hit your mark right out the gate.”
Levi shrugged. “Actually, I did.”
Binx nodded. “Yeah, I’ve always been a good shot. That’s why Matthias wanted me on his team.”
I wanted to strangle both of them. “Just … be nice. Okay?”
They each gave me a nod and pursed their lips tightly to hold back any more laughter.
Matthias rubbed my shoulders. “Okay, Jordan, we’ve wasted enough time out here. I know you feel bad for the guy. Maybe you relate to him or something, but we really gotta head out.”
Now I was seething.
“Relate?” I yanked away and walked over to Benjamin. “I’m just not a jerk.”
“Maybe he needs one of your pep talks?” said Benjamin, staring at Sawyer hopefully.
“Not sure a shifter practicing to be a wizard has much interest in the Ancient One,” I said.
“Doesn’t hurt to try. Like you said, originally we’re all descendants of the Ancient One …” Benjamin grinned.
“You’re right.”
I plodded over toward Sawyer, ready to give him some Ancient words of wisdom—similar to what I’d told Benjamin about calling on the guiding star for help—when a sudden burst rippled through the clearing.
A rainbow of colors shimmered and once it settled there was a charming white cottage with flower boxes of overflowing red and purple petunias in the windows. Sawyer stepped onto the redbrick path that had manifested and led to the front door.
“Come, come,” he sang out cheerfully.
The laughter from the peanut gallery had ceased.
“Not bad for a wizard in training,” I said, shoving the guys down the pathway.
Matt
hias took my hand and squeezed it. “I wasn’t trying to be a jerk.”
I brought his hand up to my mouth and kissed it. “I think it just comes naturally.”
He gave me a slight smile. “I meant you could relate to him because you just found out about being the Chosen One.”
I ushered him along. “I knew what you meant.”
“We need to stick together, J.”
“Like carbon atoms,” I said.
“I was thinking more like spinach in teeth, but sure. For the record, I don’t trust Fancy Pants.”
“You trust me, though?”
The pause was a millisecond too long, but he said, “Of course.”
Sawyer had decorated the quaint cottage in a simple countryside theme with lots of comfy furniture draped in blankets and pillows, and way too many equestrian paintings. We gathered in the kitchen nook next to a stone fireplace, while Sawyer fussed about preparing tea and sandwiches. We spread two maps of Endor across the kitchen table: one was topographical and the other showed all the places of interest like restaurants, shops, and lodging.
“So where is this High Tower?” I asked Sawyer.
“Hehehe, it’s complicated. I mean, well, yes, I know where it is, but I don’t. Hehehe. My point is, there is no direct route to the High Tower. But there’s a trail of breadcrumbs throughout Endor that will lead you there.”
Matthias peered at Sawyer. “What’s that supposed to mean? Breadcrumbs?”
“The High Witch trusts no one, and rightly so. Even Magnus—her own flesh and blood. So she typically scatters pieces of information throughout the city. Keeps things compartmentalized.”
I stepped away from the table and approached Sawyer. “Did you just say Magnus and Glendora are related?”
He nodded, gulping back a fit of nervous giggles. “First cousins.”
I moved in closer, my temper kindling like the orange embers in the fireplace. “You didn’t mention that vital piece of information. If they’re first cousins, why wouldn’t Magnus just go to Glendora and request Isabella? He knows she’s the Overseer of the canal.”
Sawyer released a breath, along with some more hideous laughter. I was growing weary of this hyena. He pulled himself together, breathing in and out and fanning himself. “Oh, my dear lady. You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Glendora and Magnus despise one another. Loathe. Detest. If there were a stronger word, I’d use it. The feud began about twenty-two years ago when Glendora accused Magnus of killing the Oracle.”
Matthias and the others were no longer studying the maps. Everyone had their attention on Sawyer.
“Why would that cause such a rift?” asked Levi.
“Glendora was the Oracle’s apprentice … and she was also her niece. Glendora adored her aunt.” Sawyer poured the steaming water into the ceramic teapot and put the lid back on.
“So, if the Oracle was Glendora’s aunt, does that mean she was Magnus’s mother?” I asked.
Sawyer gracefully hoisted the large tray of sandwiches and teacups and the teapot, then ambled over to the kitchen table. Benjamin quickly moved the maps out of the way, making room.
“That’s right,” said Sawyer as he distributed the cups and saucers. “The bastard murdered his own mother.”
While the news was disturbing, it wasn’t shocking. After all, Magnus also set into motion a genocide on Mysterium’s left bank in order to kill all of the females under the age of three. And he’d been poisoning the Ancients’ water supply for decades, kidnapping their children to drain their magic, setting up false flags to cause unrest and tension between the left and right banks, and separating me from my father …These were just the things I knew about. Murdering his own mother was simply one more item to add to the High Warlock’s expanding list of horrendous accomplishments.
“This might actually work in our favor. At least they won’t be working together,” I said.
Sawyer finished pouring the tea and stepped away from the table. “But you do have to worry about Glendora. She’s deplorable. And her coven of witches is just as bad. I can’t imagine what they’ve been doing to my poor, dear Isabella all these months.” He let out a succession of noises that criss-crossed between laughter and bleats.
“Look,” I said. “We’re going to get her back. But you have to give us some information that we can use. You mentioned breadcrumbs. Is there somewhere in the city that we should start looking?”
Sawyer took one of the maps—the one with the places of interest—and concentrated as he paced for a moment.
He looked up at me. “Please, sit and enjoy your tea. Hehehe. I must put on my thinking cap. I’m going to study this map and look for a clue of where you can find the first breadcrumb. I’ll be by the fire in the living room if you need me.”
He sashayed into the other room in a blur of green.
“Sandwiches are stellar,” said Benjamin around a mouthful of bread.
My stomach gurgled. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten a proper meal—or anything for that matter. Despite the frown on Matthias’s face over Benjamin indulging in the food, I sat at the table and grabbed one of the sandwiches and gobbled it in a few bites. I sipped my tea, letting it warm my bones. When I reached for another one of the sandwiches, Binx sighed and joined us at the table. Moments later, Levi caved. But Matthias remained by the window, staring outside.
“More for us,” I mumbled with my mouth full of the delicious cucumber and goat cheese sandwich.
“Like I said, someone’s gotta keep an eye on you,” said Matthias, teasing but not really.
I didn’t let his stubbornness ruin my enjoyment. If Glendora was as horrible as Sawyer claimed, I wanted to walk into the city of Endor on a full stomach and prepared for a fight. Halfway through my third sandwich, Sawyer came bustling back into the kitchen waving the map, his blond hair flopping all over the place.
“I’ve got it! Hehehehe. I know where we can start!” he sang out.
Chapter 5
Matthias moved away from the window and snatched the map from Sawyer’s hands.
“First of all, there’s no we in this scenario,” he said.
Sawyer pursed his lips and reached for a cup and poured some hot tea. “Fine, I’d rather not have a chance encounter with Glendora anyway.”
“What did you find?” I asked.
“There’s a charm shop on Landburry Street.” He paused and motioned for the map, which Matthias had laid out on the table among the plates of half-eaten sandwiches and teacups. Sawyer took out a fountain pen and circled a location on the map. “It’s called Charmed, I’m Sure. This is where you want to start.”
I bent forward and studied the map. The city of Endor was designed like a spider’s web, all the connecting streets making one large kaleidoscopic pattern. The charm shop was on one of the outermost sections of the web.
I pointed to a black star located directly in the middle of the city. “What’s here?”
“The High Tower of Endor,” said Sawyer.
“And you’re sure Isabella is being held there?” I asked.
He nodded, biting his lip to contain a burst of giggles.
“Explain again, why can’t we just start there?” asked Matthias.
Sawyer shook his head and waved his hand, almost spilling his tea. “It’s not that simple. You can’t just ride a horse or take a buggy to the tower. Hehehe. It’s protected by every magical charm and amulet in Endor. Besides, it’s rumored that the version of the tower we see is only an illusion. No, you’ll have to start at the charm shop. Then you’ll get the next location and so on and so forth … Breadcrumbs, you see.”
I looked at the map again, feeling the weight of this mission pulling me down. I sat at the table and tried not to let my true emotions show, but I honestly wasn’t up for a scavenger witch hunt in a city packed with witches and warlocks. I just wanted to get back to our ships and to my people. But what good would I be if I couldn’t get them through the
canal and back to Shteim'esrei? No good, that’s what.
“What are we looking for at the charm shop?” I asked.
“You’ll need to talk to an older witch named Adele. She used to work in the High Tower decades ago. You tell her you’re looking for the one whose fleece is white as snow.”
Matthias slammed his fists onto the table, firelight glinting in his gray eyes as he glared at Sawyer. “What is this crap?”
I jumped up and stood beside Matthias. “Cool it. I’m sure he’ll explain.” I turned to Sawyer. “Won’t you?”
“It’s a euphemism for using white magic. She’ll know you’re talking about Isabella, without having to use her name. You cannot mention her name in the city proper. If you say Isabella, there are spells set up everywhere and you’ll be tracked. Hehehe. Adele will point you to the next breadcrumb. Each one will lead you along the route to the High Tower and eventually to Isabella.” Sawyer sat at the table and wiped the perspiration from his brow with his handkerchief.
“Okay, I’m ready. Let’s do this. Levi and Binx should stay with Sawyer to keep an eye on him. Matthias and Benjamin will come with me.” I waved the guys over so we could teleport to Endor, but Sawyer let out a yelp.
“No, no, no! Hehehe. You cannot go into the city in those garments. You’ll be hauled off to prison lickety-split! Come along …”
Matthias, Benjamin, and I followed Sawyer to the back of the cottage where he led us to an enchanting bedroom suite. The canopy bed looked fit for a queen with its piles of comforters and pillow shams. A chaise lounge sat by the bay window looking out to a rose garden, and an antique vanity with bottles of perfumes and hair trinkets was stationed in the corner of the room. It was the perfect dream-like sanctuary I’d want to come home to. Clearly, Sawyer didn’t hold back when it came to pampering his Isabella.
I picked up a set of pearl-inlayed hair combs off the vanity and held them up to my hair. “Isabella must love all this.”
Sawyer scurried over and sat me on the cushy chair and began fussing with my hair, first taking out my ponytail, then brushing out the long tangle of strands. “You must wear these pearl combs, my lady. They’ll be perfect with your dark waves. You have hair like my Isabella, mysterious and alluring.” He studied me a moment. “But your eyes are quite different. I’ve never seen such a fascinating color. Is that jade?”