by Ed Masessa
No pressure.
Leonardo balanced the net and began to spin it over his head, allowing it to extend to its full diameter. When he knew he had it just right, he tossed it at the opening. The tranquillityite rocks caught the outer edges of the spell and ripped them from their moorings. The net captured the spell as it fell to the floor. Leonardo looked upon the scene, fascinated. The net crawled along the ground as the spell tried to break free, until it finally exhausted itself. With a whimpering puff of smoke, it was gone.
He rushed to the nearest cell. The spell had been broken, which allowed the cell doors to open easily. The nearly mummified person in the cell could have been either a man or a woman. Its skin cracked and flaked as Leonardo lifted its head to administer the mandrake. No sooner did the first drops of solution enter its mouth than the entire body collapsed into dust. “What have I done?” he gasped.
Leonardo turned on the falcon. “No … what have we done?”
The falcon answered with a deafening shriek as it hopped through the bars into the next cell. Leonardo frowned. “I must be a fool for listening to a confounded bird!”
The same thing happened in the next eight cells. But in the ninth, the solution placed the man into a deathlike stasis. Leonardo rapidly continued down the row of prisoners until he arrived at Markhor.
Henry’s father was crouched in a corner, moaning in madness-induced anger. “Leach,” Leonardo said gently. “You must trust us.”
Henry’s father looked up. His pupils rolled back into his head as he jerked with a seizurelike spasm. “My son,” he gurgled. “Must help.”
Leonardo sensed the man’s urgency. “Drink this,” he insisted. “It will help your son.” As Leonardo had hoped, the madness made Markhor’s mind pliable enough to listen without questioning.
Markhor swiped the vial from Leonardo’s hand and gulped eagerly. For a brief second, his eyes returned to normal, and he managed to transmit one final silent message to Malachai before the drug took effect. “Time’s up, pal.”
He fell heavily to the floor. Leonardo rushed to his side. He felt for a pulse in Markhor’s neck and wrist. There was no sign of life. He stood and gazed suspiciously at the falcon. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Henry’s body was numb and his mind had retreated to a place that blocked some of the pain. Another trick Coralis had taught him. “Coralis,” he reached out feebly.
“Henry, I am sorry.” Coralis’s response was just as weak.
“What are we going to do?” Anguish crept into Henry’s voice.
“There is no we, my son.” Coralis’s voice was barely audible. “I am sorry.”
Henry’s mind reeled as he lost the connection. He curled up on the ground and sobbed openly as he realized Coralis had left him. Defeat engulfed him. It ate through his confidence and filled him with despair. Coralis is dead! Grief overwhelmed him and his mind block slipped.
“Oh, poor young Henry,” Malachai leered. “Is your master gone? You should be glad. He was weak—just like your father. He no longer deserved the title of Wand Master. Now if you will just roll over and allow me to complete your torture, perhaps I will be merci—”
Malachai twitched, his head jerking to one side. “What … ” Seconds later he twitched again, more violently.
Henry sensed a change in the air. He uncurled and glanced about, confused. He thought perhaps Puteo had risen to join the fight, but his body was gone. Malachai reached out to touch Henry and recoiled with a vicious backlash. Henry focused on the Wand Master’s aura. It was changing. The glowing darkness began to fester and crack. Every few seconds another convulsion racked his body and caused the aura to weaken even further.
Henry was at a loss to explain it. There was no way for him to know that his father and the other prisoners lapsing into a deathlike state had weakened his enemy, but he seized the opportunity. This was the man who had given birth to a monstrous son, taken his father, and killed Coralis. Rage at all the injustice Malachai had caused began to swell within him. He stared angrily at the killer before him and knew what he had to do. He smiled cruelly as he raised his wand and spoke the words to invoke a binding spell.
Strands of unbreakable, invisible cords began to wrap around Malachai’s feet and legs, rooting him to the ground. From a place he hadn’t known existed, Henry recalled another spell that added strength to the first one. Then he added another layer on top of that. He twirled his wand, providing silent instructions to the cords as they worked their way up Malachai’s body, which continued to convulse with pain from an unseen source. He pinned the Wand Master’s hands to his body and the Particle fell to the ground once more.
Henry no longer cared about it. He squeezed the spell tighter as he sought revenge.
Malachai’s eyes glowed red as the cords began to strangle him. Yet he sneered at Henry. “You cannot kill me,” he rasped.
Henry was about to prove him wrong when a sudden idea came to him. He lowered his wand and stepped up to the now harmless Wand Master. “There are much worse fates than death.”
Once the villagers saw that Malachai had been defeated, they slowly emerged from their homes like frightened puppies. But their joy at being liberated quickly turned to anger. Henry got his first look at a hostile mob.
He directed his sister to use Voice to quell their fury while Natalia stood by her side to validate her authority. Bryndis and Luis assembled a makeshift stretcher from a piece of canvas and two wooden poles and carried Malachai inside, out of the mob’s sight.
Once everything was under control, Henry’s emotions began to waver. There was only one thing left to do, and it filled him with dread. He didn’t think he could bear to face the lifeless figure of Coralis, and he hadn’t told the others for fear of breaking down in front of them. He was not ready to assume the role of a leader, but he couldn’t let Coralis down. The Wand Master would have expected him to provide some sort of guidance to the other apprentices.
“We’re all behind you, Henry.” Serena had sensed his apprehension, if not its cause.
Suddenly, all the emotion of the past few days seemed to catch up to her at once. She ran to Henry and kissed him lightly, wrapping him in an embrace that spoke to the love she felt for him.
Henry squeezed her tightly in return, knowing he needed her by his side to keep going. And he had to let her know the truth.
She gasped as he sent her an image of Coralis—a snapshot burned into his memory. He took a deep breath to steady himself. He detached himself from his emotions as he filled in the apprentices on what had transpired and clenched his teeth to keep from weeping as he watched their reactions.
He asked Brianna and Katelyn to remain behind to guard Malachai as he led the others to the foyer in the spire. After the first set of stairs, he gained speed and sprinted up the next three. His fear was that if he slowed down he would not have the courage to keep going. He burst through the door with Bryndis and Luis close behind.
The foyer was empty.
“Are you sure you have the right spire?” asked Bryndis.
Henry sensed the remnants of Malachai’s spells within Coralis’s former prison. And the overturned chair was right where he’d left it. “I don’t understand.”
“Maybe he went looking for you,” said Luis.
A glimmer of hope lifted Henry’s spirits, but only for a brief moment. He recalled how Coralis had looked so old and frail—too weak to even stand. And the damage Malachai had inflicted to his aura.
Bryndis placed a hand on his shoulder. “Whatever secrets there are about the death of a Wand Master died with him,” she said grimly.
They arrived back outside to a minor commotion. A small but heavily armed contingent of Hutsul mountain men and women on horseback were the first outsiders to arrive. The horses huffed heavily, on the verge of exhaustion after their breakneck gallop to the village. Unlike the earlier Hutsuls they had met, these looked battle-hardened. Henry thought their faces might crack if they smiled.
> “Dumitru sent us.” The leader, a large man with the build of a professional wrestler and the demeanor of a marine sergeant, extended his hand toward Henry. The man’s grip was firm but soft. “I am sorry we are late. We tried to get here sooner but could not get through.”
“The dome must have broken when Henry captured Malachai,” Bryndis said proudly.
“Which must be why our powers are returning,” Katelyn added.
Luis punched Henry’s arm with a firm jab. “You did it.”
Henry gazed at the sky, which had begun to clear. It was like a sign that brighter days were on the horizon. “You’re wrong,” he said thoughtfully. “We did it.”
The Hutsuls worked in teams to carry the stretcher. Malachai did not go quietly. He ranted and raved incessantly, delivering idle threats and ineffective curses. Once she’d rejoined them, Molly tried several spells to shut him up, but the Wand Master had just enough strength to break through them.
Finally the leader had had enough. He nodded a silent command to one of his men, who pulled out a roll of bright yellow duct tape imprinted with smiley faces and wrapped it tightly across Malachai’s mouth. “Is funny, yes?”
Malachai stared at Henry with fury in his eyes. Henry felt a pang of pity. But Luis snorted and Katelyn giggled, which broke through the dam of sadness. They all burst out in laughter. “Yes.” Henry smiled. “Is very funny.”
Serena had used her foot to roll the Pangaea Particle onto a piece of canvas. Without Malachai’s influence, it appeared to have gone dormant. Taking no chances, she quickly wrapped it with several more layers, then made a second, smaller stretcher, which she and Bryndis carried—always keeping a wary eye on it for any signs of life.
They stopped only once—to deliver Natalia back to a joyful reunion with her sister. Then they continued to a rendezvous point and met up with another train that would take them back toward Castle Coralis.
The Hutsuls remained behind to deal with the warped menagerie of animals Malachai had created. They promised to show compassion and save the ones they could. As for the creatures already in the wild, they would have to be dealt with later.
Once they had settled down on the train, they each retreated into their own private thoughts and wondered what would become of them. The journey back seemed twice as long as the ride out. Foremost among Henry’s thoughts was how he was going to break the news to Gretchen. He grinned as he recalled the first time Coralis had mentioned her. How the Wand Master had blushed when Brianna asked if they were married. Henry was certain Gretchen would be devastated—which was why he was stunned when her reply was, “Ach … well, life goes on.”
Long after a hearty dinner, Henry lay in his bed. Sleep eluded him. He tossed fitfully until he finally gave up and quietly decided to raid the kitchen for a snack. A mouse crawled up his leg onto his lap and pleaded for a morsel of bread. Henry laughed and handed a piece over. The mouse nibbled happily as Henry stroked its tiny head. “What are we going to do now, my friend?”
“Henry.”
Henry jumped up! The mouse scampered into a hole in the wall. Something like laughter reverberated in his mind. The Particle got to me. I’m going crazy!
“You are not crazy, my son.”
“Coralis!” Henry shouted.
“You didn’t really think that moron Malachai could kill me, did you?”
“But how … ?”
“Your friend, the Roc. She was quite grateful. She flew me back to the castle, where I retrieved my Forever Wand. I am now resting comfortably in the warm springs of Shangri-la, regaining my strength. You really must try it sometime. They—”
“You’re alive?”
“Bahtzen bizzle! Of course I’m alive.”
Henry jumped around the kitchen, giddy with joy. “I have to tell the others!”
“Not yet! You must take Malachai and the Pangaea Particle to the hot spring in the mountains. Bring Serena with you. The Earth Mother trusts her. Place them in the springs. The Earth Mother will do what needs to be done.”
Henry thought back to the vision he’d had when he’d fought Malachai. This must be what the Earth Mother had attempted to communicate. She had plans for the evil Wand Master.
“Yes! Yes! I can do that!” Henry pumped a fist in the air. He waited for more but was met with silence. “Coralis?”
“There is more,” Coralis said grimly. “The entrance to the Tethys Ocean has been breached. I do not know what has come out.”
This time it was Henry’s turn to be silent. Had they won another battle only to lose the war?
“The responsibilities of the Guild never end,” Coralis said sternly. “Are you up to the challenge?”
Henry never hesitated. “You bet I am!”
“Where am I?” Markhor rubbed his eyes and tried to sit, but a stabbing pain in his neck forced him back down.
“You are with me.” Leonardo entered the room, removed his cap, and sat on the edge of the bed. “And you are where no one can find you.”
“How long have I been asleep?” Markhor surveyed the sparsely furnished room. A short chest of drawers, a nightstand with an oil-burning lamp on top, and … a falcon perched on the bed’s footboard.
“You have not been asleep. You have been near death for three months.” Leonardo saw the reaction on Markhor’s face when he spotted the falcon. “You know this bird?”
Markhor’s brow furrowed with deep creases. “It is familiar … from somewhere.”
“That is good enough for me,” Leonardo said with relief. “When you go, take it with you. It is a nuisance.” He stood and arranged his cap neatly on his head.
“Can I get back to my family?” The pain in Markhor’s neck was far surpassed by the ache in his heart. He had so many wrongs to set right.
Leonardo worked his jaw as if he were chewing on something inedible. “I cannot answer that. The portal was damaged in order to create the net that saved you. There are others, but they will not be easy to find.” Leonardo helped Markhor to his feet and led him to a workroom covered in maps and scrolls. “My secret library. I will show you the way to the nearest portal, but perhaps you should forget about going back. Make this world your home.”
“No,” Markhor said with finality.
“Have it your way. The odds are not in your favor.” Leonardo looked from Markhor to the falcon. “Then again, who knows? Nothing is impossible.”
Some people write by starting with an outline of the story. I’m not one of them. The best I can do is start with a vague idea of where I want my characters to end up. I derive great pleasure from watching the story flow from the tip of my pen, never really knowing what’s going to happen until it does. And I hope that you, the reader, feel that same sense of excitement about this book.
There is a lot of me in Henry. My love of reading and inquisitive nature as a child provided the foundation for Henry’s character. I hope through Henry’s curiosity I’ve piqued your own. This book is an invitation to continue your exploration of science, nature, and history. The supercontinent Pangaea; the Tethys Ocean; insects and animals of the Amazon rain forest; life and customs of indigenous people in Greenland, South America, and the United States; rocks and minerals; ancient fortresses; and especially Leonardo da Vinci, a true genius—all of this is real and is out there for you to discover.
My heartfelt thanks to all who made this book possible. To my editor, Nick Eliopulos, without whose guidance and encouragement my story would never make it into print. To my agent, Marcia Wernick, who knows all the right buttons to push. To Dominic Harman, Carol Ly, and Baily Crawford, whose collaboration on the book cover creates a sense of wonder and gives the book life before you even begin reading. To Kerianne Okie, Jessica White, and Jackie Hornberger, my extraordinary copy editors and proofreaders. In a time of mass misinformation, it is important to be as accurate as possible. Their fact-checking skills and eye for detail are incredible. To Eric Compton, Janet Speakman, Robin Hoffman, and everyone at Scholastic Book Fairs for b
elieving in me. To Tracy van Straaten, Lizette Serrano, Jennifer Abbots, and the rest of the Scholastic team for beating the drum to draw attention to our books. And to my wife, Barbara, whose wit and wisdom always kick-start my imagination when I begin to stall.
Born in nineteen something, Ed Masessa is the second oldest of ten children. He was raised in the small town of Middlesex, New Jersey, where he lived until moving to the sweltering swamp known as Florida. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Rutgers University—neither of which pertains to his current career.
Ed has been a child all his life, subscribing to the Chili Davis philosophy that “growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.” Formerly employed as a grease monkey, office cleaner, fast-food manager, forklift operator, truck driver, warehouse supervisor, sales rep, and automotive purchasing manager, he found his calling at Scholastic Book Fairs, where he was devoted to finding books that would turn every child into a lifelong reader. Now retired, he is pursuing the same mission as an author.
After reading many, many, many books, Ed began to write himself. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Wandmaker’s Guidebook; the well-reviewed picture book, Scarecrow Magic; several works of nonfiction; and, most recently, the Wandmaker novels.
Learn more about Ed on his website, www.edmasessa.com.
Copyright © 2017 by Ed Masessa
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