“A what?”
“Letter of excuse, excusing her from school. Only valid written permission allows a student to miss school.”
“Oh, um, you’d have to ask Meghan. I’m not sure, Teacher Lindy.” Colin didn’t know what else to say. He knew his sister did not have a letter of excuse.
“Too bad,” the teacher exclaimed. “Exciting day today, trying to move pillows.”
“She’s a little too excited over such a simple task,” whispered Colin to Jae, while taking his seat on a pillow. Jae winked his reply.
“Since you’re here, Mr. Jacoby,” the teacher continued, “why don’t you take a turn?” She used magic to move the pillow stack out of the square, strewing them about. “All you need to do is collect and stack the pillows neatly, then move them into the square. The goal is to have them exactly lined up in the square. During the exam, if you are outside of the lines you lose points.”
Colin was instantly anxious, although he knew he could do this task, no problem. It was completely different though, with a classroom of twenty scrutinizing his every move.
“After fighting Scratchers, moving a stack of pillows should be easy, right?” he muttered.
“All you need to do is reach out and feel the energy around you,” the teacher instructed. “Collect it, focus on what you want to accomplish, and use that energy to move those pillows.”
Colin had already practiced moving objects with Uncle Eddy. Piece of cake he repeated over and over in his mind. Colin closed his eyes, blocking out the students watching. He was aware of the energy surrounding him; it felt diminished in the crowded classroom though. There wasn’t enough for what he needed. Colin peeked at the boy named Marvin, who was still recovering and catching his breath. It had taken nearly all the energy he had to move them.
“How can I draw more?” mumbled Colin. He reached out beyond the classroom, then the school, and then beyond the Svoda wagons into Grimble, where copious amounts of energy were just waiting to be collected. Within seconds, he was over-filled. Colin’s eyes popped open. He moved his hand swiftly. The pillows were collected and stacked. He hovered the stack three feet in the air and moved them deftly, landing them softly in the square, perfectly aligned.
The class observed Colin in impressed stupor, including Jae and Teacher Lindy.
“On the first try. So easy. Spectacular...” she stammered.
Colin smiled, quite satisfied with his performance. He was not tired at all and sat down next to Jae, who patted him on the back.
“That was great!”
“How did you do that?” asked the boy named Marvin. “You don’t even look winded.”
Colin answered honestly. “I could do it again. I’m not winded at all.” Actually, he felt incredible. Powerful. Like the day back in Cobbscott when he had tackled the three bullies. He leaned over to Jae. “I get what you mean,” he whispered.
“About what?”
“The power you feel. It makes you feel... huge.” Colin did not know how else to describe it.
“I wish I could feel it again,” sighed Jae. “I haven’t since I got home.”
Colin wondered if he could help Jae. But how? Jae already knew more than he did.
The class forged on, with students trying their hand at moving the pillows. None of the remaining students succeeded.
Meghan never returned to class. Colin tried to reach out for her.
“Figures. Blocking me.” He hoped she was not out causing another scene. The rest of the afternoon crawled by. “At least tonight,” he thought, “I can finally visit Uncle Eddy.”
MEGHAN JAUNTED OUT of the school and retrieved a note from Juliska Blackwell, which included directions on how to locate her. She followed the map to the ocean’s shore, where a few hundred yards out an island of rock jutted out of the water; a fort had been forged into the rock. She’d seen the top of the fort peeking over the tree tops from the village, but up this close it was an imposing sight.
From the very top, one could look out over the entire Svoda village. There was only one road leading to the fort. It was cobblestone, like so many other roads in the town. But the sides were lined with dangerous looking spiky rocks that pointed inward, and outward, she assumed to ward off any potential unwanted visitors.
Meghan approached nervously. Once closer, she saw Juliska’s private Balaton guarding the entrance.
“State your business?” one of them asked in a gruff voice. He kept his gaze straight forward, not looking at her.
Meghan got tongue tied and almost turned around and left without explaining. The two guards were imposing just in themselves. Never mind the wall of spikes lining the roadway.
The second guard’s eyes grazed across her. He nudged his partner. “Jenner, it’s okay, it’s the girl.”
The other one darted his eyes, curiously, then opened the gate to let her through.
“You may enter. Banon Blackwell has alerted us to your possible visit.”
“Thanks,” said Meghan, relieved, but also gratified. Juliska had told them to expect her. Any insecurity she had about her unannounced visit vaporized into the mists of the ocean.
She stepped through the gate, surprised at the vast courtyard leading to the entrance of the fort. It was a sparse open space. More cobblestone. She thought it was big enough that if necessary, the couple hundred Svoda in the village could stand in the courtyard.
A petite woman dressed in business attire greeted Meghan at a stone door and led her inside. Before Meghan could make her request to see Juliska, another ornate stone door swung open; Juliska Blackwell strode elegantly into the room. She wasn’t dressed in her normal one piece long-jacket, but instead, a long sleeved tunic, which was form fitted down to her hips then flared slightly; it was a silky, crimson color. Accentuating just how tall and thin she was.
“Meghan. I’m so pleased you came. Join me on the rooftop.” She followed Juliska up a stone stairwell to an outside room. It was larger than she expected. And although it looked to be carved out of stone, the floor was even and easy to walk on. Juliska led them to a far corner where an overhang shielded them from the day. It wasn’t particularly sunny today though, mostly cloudy and breezy.
Meghan paused halfway over. “Wow. You can see the entire town from up here.”
“Yes. Magnificent view, isn’t it?”
Meghan nodded. She wondered what the real town looked like. Jae had said this was a replica. From this view, it was much bigger than she’d thought.
“Please, sit,” motioned Juliska. Meghan joined her underneath the overhang. She took a seat at a table, across from Banon. The woman in the business attire reappeared, setting down a tray of food and drink.
“Your timing could not have been more perfect, Meghan. I was about to have a late breakfast. Please join me if you’re hungry.”
“Thanks, I am a little hungry.” She helped herself to a biscuit with jelly.
“Coffee?” asked the woman serving them.
“Yes, please, Hollee,” said Juliska.
The woman glanced at Meghan. “Oh, um, no thanks.” She did drink coffee now and then, when she’d lived with Uncle Arnon, but the caffeine often made her jittery and her nerves were already on high alert, just sitting across from Juliska Blackwell.
“It’s decaf,” said Juliska, shooting a wink in Meghan’s direction.
“Oh. In that case, sure. Why not?”
Juliska chuckled. “I love coffee. Can’t handle the caffeine.”
“My uncle let me drink coffee sometimes,” said Meghan. “But more than a cup and I feel like I can climb walls.”
Juliska laughed lightly, putting Meghan at ease. “I know what you mean.” She turned to the woman serving them. “Thank you, Hollee. We’re all set for now.” The woman gave them each a short nod and departed, leaving them to speak alone.
They ate in silence for a few minutes. Sipping on the hot coffee. Without realizing it, Meghan let out a deep sigh.
Juliska put down her fork. �
��You’re troubled?” she guessed.
“I’m not even sure how to begin. Being a Firemancer is,” she clipped her words with a headshake. “There’s this thing happening. A terrible thing, I think. Not to me, unless you count being a seer in the terrible category. Sorry,” she added in haste. “I just mean...”
Juliska held up her hand to stop her and smiled sympathetically. “Going that well is it?”
“I’m just having a hard time adjusting. More like, I don’t really understand anything that’s happening.”
“That is an entirely acceptable way to feel, Meghan. It does take some practice and getting used to.”
Meghan knew instantly that Juliska understood her.
“Twice now,” said Meghan, getting to the heart of the visit, “I’ve had this overwhelming feeling. It tells me something is horribly wrong. The frustrating part is that I don’t know what it is, or how to fix it. It’s all so mysterious. Not clear at all.”
“May I ask, is this occurring around one particular person?”
Meghan explained her encounters, leaving out Jae’s name.
“Interesting,” replied Juliska, afterward. “As I’ve said, seeing is a gift and a curse. I’m sure that’s a picture you’re seeing loud and clear.”
“Yeah, that one’s easy to see,” Meghan replied, rolling her eyes. She enjoyed talking to Juliska. It was easy. Effortless, in a way.
“Sometimes,” said Juliska, “figuring out the problem comes down to experience and, well, guess work.”
“How do you guess?” asked Meghan.
Juliska laughed softly. “Time, I am afraid. Learning to decipher what you feel or see. Understanding if what you’re seeing is the past, present, or future is a good place to begin.”
“Even if I somehow decipher that, what can I do? I mean, say it’s a current problem, can I actually interfere in someone’s life, if they truly are in danger, or need help?”
“That depends,” admitted Juliska. “This is where things get tricky. You see, if it is the past, obviously you cannot do anything. Often we see glimpses of the past in order to better understand a current situation. If what you’re seeing is the present or the future, you must determine if it is something that can be fixed. Or if it’s something you should attempt to fix. In the end, you must decide what to do with your knowledge, Meghan.”
Her eyes widened. “Um. Wow. That’s so much to decide. What if I’m wrong? What if I make things worse?”
“I am afraid I may be burdening you, more than helping today,” sighed Juliska.
“I guess I just didn’t realize how complicated Firemancy would be. I don’t know why, but I thought having visions would make things easier to understand. Not harder.”
“With time and practice, it will become easier, Meghan. No. Easier is not the word I’m looking for. Manageable. Controllable.” She rose from her chair, pacing elegantly. When she turned back, Meghan gasped. Juliska’s pulled back hair began to fan out around her shoulders, something crawling through her dark strands. There was the slightest sound of tinkling, almost like glass hitting glass.
“Banon Blackwell, you’ve got a spider in your hair,” she choked out. Juliska didn’t flinch or seem to care. She shifted her hair so Meghan could see the spider.
“Not to worry. That’s Pajak, my pet.”
It was big. Far too big. With a black body and silver slits cutting across its legs. And shiny, like it really was made of glass.
“He serves as a fantastic hair piece when he sleeps.”
A spider for a pet! When would this new world begin to make sense? Meghan was not fond of spiders and this was the biggest one she had ever seen. It had to have been at least four inches round.
Juliska ignored Pajak, completely at ease with the spider. She took her seat at the table again.
Meghan had a hard time keeping her eyes off the freaky looking thing.
“I’m going to give you something.” Juliska was speaking to her and she’d tuned out for a minute.
“Okay,” replied Meghan.
“It’s something an old friend once gave me. Pantin Hollee,” she called out. The same woman that delivered the food came striding in.
“Yes, Banon Blackwell.”
“Oh, Hollee, when will you start calling me Juliska?”
“As I have always answered, only when not on duty, and I’m never not on duty, Ma’am,” the lady called Pantin Hollee replied dutifully.
“Oh fine, then. Will you please go to my study and grab an unused journal and bring it to our new Firemancer?” The woman nodded with a curt smile and departed. “I want you to keep this journal with you at all times,” she instructed Meghan. “And whenever anything occurs that you think is vision related, write it down. Keep track of where you were. Who you were with, or anything of note that comes to mind. This, after some time, should create some patterns and give you a better picture of what may be happening.”
“Okay, I will,” decided Meghan.
“Good. And if nothing else, it gives you a place to keep track of it all. To go back and reference if needed. And give your mind a break. It can get a little crowded after a while.”
“It already feels crowded.”
“Ah, then you’ll love the journal. It will be your new best friend. Just put all the little details on the pages, and let your mind rest. Visions don’t always give you exact answers. Sometimes they are difficult to interpret. But writing it all down can give you a new and fresh perspective.”
Hollee returned with the journal and handed it to Meghan.
“Thanks.”
The woman gave her a short nod.
“Yes. Thank you, Hollee.” Juliska cast the woman a half-lidded gaze that Meghan missed while she flipped through the journal.
“I could not locate one from the shop in town, so I grabbed an empty one from your personal collection,” the woman named Hollee explained.
“Perfect,” said Juliska crisply. “As if you read my mind. Don’t know what I’d do without you, Hollee.” The woman departed, leaving the two Firemancers alone again.
Meghan closed the blank journal, realizing that the woman had left again. “Is her name, Pantin? Or is that a title?” She wanted to properly greet her, or say goodbye.
“Title. For the assistant to the Banon. Hollee is my most trusted personal assistant. I really could not manage without her. Or without my own journals. Both help me keep my sanity. I think you’ll find the journal of great value.”
“Thank you.” Meghan took a cleansing breath. She was ready now. Armed with something to help her figure all this stuff out. A simple thing, but not something she had thought about herself. She had never been one for writing in any form.
“I will have Hollee show you out in a few minutes. I’m afraid I need to go to a meeting. But remember, feel free to come back at any time. You are always welcome here. I am a busy woman, but there are few things more important than helping a new Firemancer.” Her eyes twinkled as they got up from the table. Juliska leaned over and touched her shoulder gently. Meghan caught Pajak out of the corner of her eye and swore the spider winked at her.
There was a powerful energy that emanated all around Juliska. It was easy to understand why she was the Svoda’s leader. Meghan grinned and was about to say goodbye when her pocket stirred.
Juliska’s gaze narrowed in on the little kitten head peeking out of Meghan’s sweater pocket. The kitten had been sleeping so soundly, Meghan had forgotten all about her. She opened the sweater pocket and let Juliska see the Catawitch.
“My, my.” The leader let out a breathy rush of air. “To be chosen as the master and companion of one of these is truly an honor.” Juliska gazed at Meghan with a fascination that left her filled with uncertainty.
She wanted to ask, is it a good honor, or bad honor? But held her tongue. She’d come seeking help and Juliska had given it. Freely and willingly.
“Um. Thank you, Juliska, I mean, Banon Blackwell,” Meghan bowed slightly hoping she had not
offended.
“I insist that you call me Juliska. I may not be able to force Hollee to do it, but frankly, it is nice to hear my real name once in a while.” She tossed her a bemused wink.
The Pantin returned, almost like she’d been called, although Meghan heard no such call. Juliska bid her farewell and she was showed out of the fort. She hurried back into town, itching to get started writing in her journal.
She stopped at the one open shop to get a pen. The man behind the counter showed Meghan his selection; she couldn’t get over the fact that she did not need to pay. He simply wished her a good day and sank behind a shelf.
COLIN FOUND UNCLE EDDY talking to Timothy in the old mill. After learning that Meghan had cut classes and not made contact with him, Uncle Eddy insisted that he send a leaf, once she had turned up. Just to let him know everything was okay.
“We also found out that after the holidays we are moving on,” Colin informed him.
“I assumed that would be the case,” said Uncle Eddy. “We still have some time though. Come whenever you can.” This did not cheer up Colin, but he pretended to be happier, and told Uncle Eddy about successfully moving the pillows in class.
“I did it no problem. I couldn’t believe it was so easy.”
“Good, good,” Eddy answered. “I had no doubts you would fit right in. And from what I’ve seen you accomplish so far, you shouldn’t have any problems with whatever they throw at you.”
Colin nodded. He actually believed this too. It was a strange feeling to be so sure of it. But he felt more confident about his abilities than anything else.
The rest of the hour his uncle helped him get a start on his homework, and they watched Timothy play. Colin, too soon, realized it was time to leave.
“No Meghan yet?” Eddy asked, hopeful of some news before Colin’s departure.
“No, still nothing. She is completely blocking me. I’ll send a leaf once she turns up.”
Timothy followed most of the way back and left him near the wagons. When Colin arrived home he spied his sister sitting alone in the back near the fire pit, writing. He stormed through the house ignoring the Mochries, and yelled at her.
Fated Fantasy Adventure Page 29