The Merchant of Nevra Coil (Legends of Windemere Book 8)

by Charles E Yallowitz

  Closing his notebook, the dwarf calmly goes to get his backpack and groans when he sees his belongings have been strewn across the floor. The strong smell of perfume on the items tells him that Jenny and her friend decided to make a final act of petty vengeance. He lets Delvin out of his shirt and they search for Timoran, finding him at the bottom of the lost and found box. The barbarian is released to help gather the scattered tools into the backpack, the champions being the last items to crawl inside.

  “Let me get a block away from the school and then I’ll choose an alley, so nobody sees you,” Robert says into the backpack. He acts as if he is having trouble with the zipper and is so frustrated that he has to use his teeth. “You don’t want to be seen and captured, so we have to be patient. All I ask is that if you’re lying then tell your creators that I was the first one to find you and that I treated you nicely. Maybe I can get a consolation prize.”

  The dwarf takes a deep breath and heads for the door, his pace repeatedly switching between a jog and a slow walk. Even from inside his backpack, the champions can tell that he is not moving naturally. Robert waves to his classmates, who stare at him until the teacher claps her hands for their attention. Once he is in the hallway, the dwarf runs around the corner and hurries to get to the front door. He is only a few steps out of the entrance when he is struck by a paralysis spell that freezes him in mid-stride.

  “Why are you in a rush, Blackore?” Jenny asks as the gathered crowd parts to let her through. A pair of male orcs and Amelia are with her, the three staying behind their leader in a neat, horizontal line. “I noticed my toy wasn’t in the bushes where I sent it. You ran out for lunch and got back pretty quickly. Makes me wonder where you hid it.”

  “I didn’t take him,” the dwarf replies through gritted teeth. The spell wears off and he falls at the feet of the angry girl. “Besides, you threw him away and he probably shattered considering the distance. He’d be useless to you now.”

  “I could fix it tonight and sacrifice it tomorrow,” the blonde says. With a flick of her hand and a musical spell, she severs the straps of her classmate’s backpack. “The toy is still mine. I have every right to take it back.”

  Robert stands and holds his backpack to his chest. “But you treat him so badly.”

  “It’s only a toy, you idiot,” Jenny snaps, grabbing the bag and yanking it out of his shaking hands. She throws it to Amelia, the elf pretending to drop it by slamming the patch-covered object to the ground. “My parents will always buy me a new one if I break it. Maybe I’ll take your Timoran toy as compensation. Consider it a reminder about where your place is while you’re at this academy.”

  One of the orcs kicks the backpack to Jenny and she stomps on it for extra measure, cringing in pain when her foot hits the empty case. She is about to yell again when the sound of whispering voices gives her pause and she crouches over the bag. Faint movement can be seen within the canvas as whatever is inside heads for the zipper. Being careful not to make a lot of noise, the girl opens the backpack and peers inside.

  Jenny shrieks in surprise when a plastic axe smacks her nose and the two figurines charge into the open. All of the students watch as Timoran and Delvin sprint toward the distant gate, their tiny bodies not getting them very far. The orcs are the first to try and grab the animated toys, but they crash to the ground when Robert dives to catch their ankles. Amelia leaps over her friends to pursue and shrieks when Timoran hurls his great axe at her face, the harmless projectile bouncing off her forehead. Other students get into the chase and the chaos grows until nobody can find the two champions. The pair rush out of the mob and are almost at the exit when a wall of flames blocks their path. Jenny grabs the pair from behind and carries them back to Robert, the towering fire puffing out of existence.

  “Impressive animation spells,” she says while examining the squirming figurines. She pokes Delvin in the chest and flicks his nose before he swats her finger away. “I guess you found a niche, Blackore. Almost a shame that I have to take your creations away and remove your enchantments. I can’t use them in a summoning if they’re moving around. It would cause the teacher to ask questions that I don’t want to answer.”

  “Please don’t hurt them,” Robert begs, struggling against the grip of the orcs. The stronger boys keep the dwarf pinned to the ground, both of them being careful not to break any of his bones. “They came like that. Delvin kept his walking and talking secret from you, but they’re part of a special competition that the toymaker started. If you remove the magic or destroy them then they’re voided from the contest.”

  “I don’t care about some stupid competition.”

  “The prize could be money or a special edition that you can sell.”

  “My parents have money and that other prize sounds pathetic.”

  “Then what do you want them for?”

  “I just enjoy seeing weaker people suffer.”

  Amelia taps her friend on the shoulder and whispers, “Not to ruin your fun, Jenny, but why aren’t the instructors stopping this? With all the noise, you’d think a few of them would have noticed. Something isn’t right here.”

  “That would be my doing,” a polite voice says in everyone’s head.

  The students turn to see Catarina, Kira, and Dariana standing in the open gate, the protective cherubs sleeping around the three women. Bessaria is grazing from a nearby griffin-shaped bush, the hungry sheep ignoring the tense silence. Urged by Dariana’s powers, everyone moves off the path except for Robert and Jenny. The two students are not sure where the telepathic voice came from, but they have a gut feeling that the beautiful, silver-haired woman is the source. Neither of them have the courage to look at her, so they focus on Kira who is the only one of the three that they recognize.

  Snapping out of his trance, Robert takes advantage of Jenny’s awe and snatches the toys from her hands. He makes it a few steps before she tackles him at the knees, but he throws Timoran and Delvin to Catarina as he falls. The gnome is mildly surprised when the figurines grip her wrists and clamber up to her shoulders. She is so distracted that she does not notice the blonde girl racing toward her. The furious apprentice skids to a stop when Kira steps in the way, the stone-faced heiress lazily spinning her weapon at her side.

  “Those are mine,” Jenny growls while backing away a few paces. Something in the other woman’s eyes sends a chill through her body, but her pride is too strong for her to retreat. “I’m not scared of a merchant’s daughter and her bodyguards. So give my property back, gnome.”

  “I say we turn around and walk away,” Catarina suggests while patting Timoran and Delvin on the head. “This child is only going to waste our time. Get the name of the boy, Dariana, and I’ll send him a thank you gift for helping us. Maybe a first edition of all the Hamilton Military Academy figurines.”

  “My name is Robert Blackore,” the dwarf happily replies with a polite bow. “Thank you for your generosity.”

  The gnome returns the gesture with a dramatic flourish and a grin. “My name is Catarina Arnica Warrenberg of the Innovator League, my adorable caster. Don’t let the compliment go to your head, kid, because you’re too young for me. Anyway, I’m the creator behind these toys and I need to take a few back. We had an accident at the factory and it caused some unexpected, dangerous prototypes to go out to the public. These two are mild compared to . . . the other ones. We’ll be on our way and all of you should return home to do your homework . . . or pretend to do your homework. It really depends on how much you care about your future.”

  “Don’t ignore me!” Jenny shrieks, her temper reaching its peak. “Nobody embarrasses me and takes my stuff!”

  The apprentice hurls her orange satchel behind her and speaks in Draconic, her hands whipping through the air. A shining rune appears beneath the bag, which sinks into the stone path. As Jenny’s voice gets louder, six flaming arms rise from the summoning portal and slam their three-clawed hands onto the ground with quivering force. The spidery limbs lift
a furry body into view and a curved stinger twitches on the creature’s rear. A howl rolls from the three-eyed head of a wolf that patiently waits for a command.

  “I’ve never seen anything like that,” Kira admits, shuddering at the acidic drool that falls from the monster’s mouth. “Is that a demon?”

  “No because I can read demons. This creature has no thoughts, so it’s probably an obscure summoning beast,” Dariana answers while rubbing her aching temples. The creature howls again and hunkers down to nuzzle its mistress. “I don’t have the strength and energy to fight something like that. If only I didn’t send so much of my power away. Why are you smiling, Catarina? This is a problem.”

  “I agree and there’s only one person who can handle this,” the gnome replies, her eyes shimmering with glee. She puts her fingers to her lips and unleashes a sharp whistle. “Bessaria! See through the veil and stomp this thing, old girl! You’re all we have.”

  Bessaria yawns and saunters onto the path as if she does not see the towering creature eyeing her like a delicious meal. When the summoned beast leans forward to bite, the sheep whirls around and kicks it in the snout. The monster pauses for an instant before reeling back, the delay making Jenny nervously bite her lower lip. Flaming limbs lash out at Bessaria as she charges underneath her enemy, the razor sharp claws slapping together behind her. The calm sheep wanders in a circle beneath the roaring beast and occasionally bleats back to Catarina, the gnome impatiently tapping her foot.

  With a little dance of joy, Bessaria snaps at something on the ground and trots back to her beloved rider. To the surprise of the students, the summoned beast flails and howls as it is dragged behind the sheep by an invisible cord. Whenever she shakes her head, the panicking creature sways back and forth. Bessaria eventually chomps down on whatever is in her mouth and bleats in disgust while her body shudders. With a low hiss, a prismatic lizard materializes in her teeth and detaches from its trapped, narrow tail. The reptile falls at the sheep’s feet and tries to run away, but it is swiftly trampled beneath its wooly adversary’s hooves. With a mournful howl, the monstrous illusion bursts into rainbow dust that evaporates in the breeze.

  “I taught her how to see through illusions,” Catarina says while giving Bessaria a handful of clovers. The sheep devours the delicious snack and does another little dance. “Figured we should conserve our strength and let the old girl have some fun on this trip. After all, we have our hands full with finding the others.”

  “Don’t you dare le-” Jenny starts to shout before she is hit in the face with a paralysis spell.

  “Please shut up,” Robert mutters while he gets his damaged backpack. He smiles at Timoran and Delvin as he follows the other students to the gate. “Good luck with your adventures. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. Remember, Ms. Warrenberg, my name is Robert Blackore and I’m a big fan of your work.”

  “I’ll make sure to send a proper thank you package, young man,” the inventor replies with a small chuckle. Catarina sighs and holds the champions in her hands, frowning at the signs of damage on Delvin’s body. “You two had quite an adventure here. Are you able to help us considering your injuries, Mr. Cunningham?”

  The battered warrior flashes a charming smile, keenly aware of Dariana hiding a look of worry on her face. “I’ll do whatever I can, but I lost my sword. Do we know where the others are?”

  “Fizzle is with Willow and Cyril,” Kira replies before she gets choked up about what she has to say next. A lone tear rolls down her cheek and a small hand reaches out from behind her hair to catch it. “Luke disappeared and Dariana hasn’t been able to locate him again. There’s nothing more we can do besides gather everyone else and find Yola Biggs. Once she reverses the curse, Luke may return to his body even from a distance.”

  “I pray you are correct and we do not lose our friend,” Timoran says, focusing on the heiress’s shoulder. He sees the red and yellow Sari materialize, but decides not to bring attention to her. “What is our plan of attack?”

  “We’re going to meet with Fizzle at Rainbow Tower,” Dariana replies, leading the way out of Sparkflag Academy. Almost forgetting, she whirls around to wake the teachers from their trances and leave a psychic message about Jenny’s actions. “After that, we’re going Sari hunting.”

  13

  The gymnasium at Zelacryd stands on the edge of a cliff and is connected to the main building by a metal tunnel. Glass doors are at both ends of the pathway and potted flowers are set onto the sills to give the entrance a comforting smell. To project an atmosphere of serenity within the single floor building, the domed ceiling has fluffy clouds passing along its sapphire surface. The illusions cast shadows on the polished floor, which is covered with weights, mats, and a random collection of exercise gear. Every wall is clear to give the patients a view of the surrounding mountains and to allow for nurses in a nearby lookout tower to keep an eye on those inside. Sunlight glints off the foam cannons that are enchanted to send their payloads through the tempered glass.

  Nyx and Trinity keep an eye on the tower, their anxiety about getting drenched having grown over the last few days. Memories of their time at the asylum have slowly returned and plunged them into a depression. It has been a life of breakdowns, outbursts, and constant examinations with their delusions never entirely disappearing. Doctor Eltzer has told them that remembering their past is an important step, but the channelers cannot shake the feeling that they are in for a long and tiring journey that might never end. The stress and fear has been thick enough to cause them to lash out at each other, including a recent brawl over the last blueberry muffin in the cafeteria. Standing at the farthest set of doors, Nurse Bola has his arm in a cast from trying to pull the sisters apart, their spell-enhanced strength making them more dangerous than the dwarf realized.

  “It’s nice to be out of the foam tubs,” Nyx casually mentions while she struggles to do a set of pull-ups. She blinks the burning sweat from her eyes and her white-knuckled hands clench the slick bar. “I’m sorry about fighting with you. We should have shared the muffin. Hitting you in the head with my tray was uncalled for. You look good in the new exercise clothes. The red works with your skin beautifully.”

  “Thanks. Your green clothes look good on you too,” Trinity says as she beats on a punching bag. The chaos elf stops to grab a towel and pat the sweat off her neck. “I’m not sure what got into me. All I know is that I was furious about you taking something that I felt was rightfully mine. The idea of sharing made me even angrier.”

  “I got that from you yelling that you’ll take everything I stole from you,” the half-elf replies with a small smile. With a groan of pain, she drops from the pull-up bar and gets a cup of cool water to dump over her head. “My body is hating this workout after being in the tubs for three days. I think my ears are the only parts that aren’t aching.”

  “Stop complaining, Nyxie, because this is the only thing keeping us from becoming lazy blobs. Though we’re in amazing shape for only being at the gym three times a week,” Trinity says, curiously running her hands along her body. The laugh of one of the supervising nurses makes her stop, but a sense of doubt grows in the back of her mind. “Why are we the only patients here? There’s usually a group in the gym, especially on a beautiful day like today. I saw everyone at breakfast, so I know they’re still in Zelacryd.”

  Nyx grabs a jump rope and tries to break her record of five skips, but her feet repeatedly fall out of rhythm. “I overheard a nurse say that they wanted us in isolation for the next two days because we were just let out of the tubs. Doctor Eltzer is worried we’ll have another fight and other patients will get drawn into it. The gym is the most likely place for such a thing to happen because we can get competitive.”

  “That makes sense,” the chaos elf replies while making sure her hair stays tied back. She returns to the punching bag, but stops after a few powerful kicks. “Are we competitive? I don’t remember ever going up against you for anything. Our childhood is still fuzzy
, but we always got along and worked together. I don’t even remember playing any friendly games with you. That seems pretty strange for siblings.”

  “Maybe we never had any interest in seeing who was better.”

  “Especially since I’m the oldest and would have won more often.”

  “Older means you’re slower.”

  “Younger means you’re dumber.”

  “Be careful or your wrinkles will show, old lady.”

  “Go suck your thumb, little baby.”

  The sisters grin and hurry to clear an area for a game they vaguely remember from their childhood. Nyx finds two wooden cylinders used by a few patients for swordsmanship practice and sets them up on opposite sides of the room. Trinity digs through a ball bin to find one that is the right size and hardness for their homemade contest. Ignoring the impatient whistling from her sibling, the chaos elf reaches to the bottom of the collection and pulls out a black orb. It takes a minute of squeezing and bouncing for Trinity to be sure it is perfect for their game. She tosses it to Nyx, who awkwardly juggles it until catching it between her elbows.

  “Very graceful,” Trinity jokes as she wipes her bare feet on a mat. “I claim the left side goal and you can start with the ball. Do we want to go for time or points?”

  “First to ten since we don’t have anything to tell time with,” Nyx replies, spinning the solid ball on her palm. She catches it between her hands, the clap loud enough to make the edgy nurses jump. “No magic. Let’s keep this physical. I’ll start when you get to your side and give me the signal.”