"Andy tried to freeze those horses, but he couldn't," said Janie.
"No big deal," said Chase, shrugging. "Sometimes he can't make his power work."
"Why don't you try yours?"
Chase took a gold coin from the bag and tried to make it float. No matter how hard he concentrated, it wouldn't budge. "Andy, I thought Beatrice said the magic would go with us!"
"But—but," stammered Andy, "that is what she said."
"I don't believe this! I knew I should've had the premonition," Chase growled, shoving the coin back in the bag. "Now here we are in the past with no magical abilities. We needed those to save Jedadiah and the Relic. I can't believe you didn't ask something so crucial. What're we supposed to fight with, sticks and rocks?"
"I'm sorry!"
"I bet you don't have your powers because Jedadiah doesn't have his yet," said Persephone, "but we can get back home because that's part of the time-traveling ability. Maybe when she said we'd bring the magic, she meant the magic of the room."
"I never thought of that, but it makes sense," said Janie. "Well we can't do anything about it now so let's quit messing around and go, or this whole trip will have been for nothing."
"Since we don't have our powers, it probably will be anyway," Chase muttered to himself as they headed down the road.
They stuck to the main roadway leading north through town, doing their best to avoid the carriages, horses and riders, and people hurrying by. After passing under a tall, stone archway, they finally arrived at the meadow that was supposed to be their original destination.
As they tramped through the tall, fragrant grass and flowers, Chase grumbled, "We sure missed this place by a mile."
"Yeah," said Janie. "I don't know what happened there."
It was almost night time. Thousands of stars were beginning to twinkle in the darkening sky. Back in the trees, a gurgling stream mingled with the sounds of chirping crickets.
"Is it my imagination or are the stars a lot brighter here?" said Persephone.
"No smog or millions of city lights yet," answered Chase, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. He wanted to tell her she looked nice in her dress, but he was finding it too hard to work up the nerve. "This whole thing is way too weird anyway. One minute we're standing in Grandfather's house in the twenty-first century, and now here we are, hundreds of years in the past. And to think Andy and I had never even been out of New York City until this."
"So are we speaking a different language now?" asked Andy.
"We won't know unless we talk to someone," Janie answered, while Chase just glowered at him. He was still mad at his brother for not getting all the necessary information from Beatrice and Charles when he had the chance.
"Someone's coming!" said Persephone in a loud whisper.
The four kids dropped to the ground and peeked through the foliage. A man was hiking along the roadside. They watched the shadowy figure walk toward the stream and a clearing in the trees. He pulled his pack from his back and dropped it to the ground. After gathering an armful of sticks and branches, he started a small fire, making it easier for them to see him in the darkness. It was definitely Jedadiah.
"When are those burglar guys going to get here?" Andy whispered a few minutes later. "I'm tired of waiting."
"They aren't burglars, they're bandits or brigands in this time, I think," muttered Chase, huddling in his cloak and shivering.
"Maybe we should go talk to Jedadiah," whispered Janie, her eyes bright with excitement. "How many kids get to meet one of their ancestors?"
"That would be way cool!" said Andy.
"I wouldn't mind talking with him," murmured Chase as he peered through the grass.
"That's really not a good idea, you guys," said Persephone. "We're here to save the Relic, not to run around chatting with anyone."
"Just because he's not your relative," said Janie smartly, "don't ruin it for us."
"Fine, Janie, go ahead!" snapped Persephone. She wrapped her cloak more snugly around herself. "Don't blame me if things go wrong. I'll wait right here for you. And you should probably leave Maxwell."
"Come on, we better go before those bandits get here," whispered Chase, climbing to his feet.
Chase, Andy and Janie crept close to the campfire. "Hi," said Chase as he stepped into the firelight. "We saw your fire and came to see if you'd let us warm up by it."
Jedadiah's head jerked up in fear. He smiled when he saw his visitors were only young people. "Aye, ye may join me."
The three of them gathered around the fire and stared at Jedadiah with wonder as they introduced themselves. He looked exactly like they remembered from the Relic, with his kind face, dark, longish hair and beard, and rough-woven clothing. A large, well-worn pack sat in the grass next to him. Chase knew their Relic was inside it.
"So what brings young lads and a lass out at night by themselves?" asked Jedadiah.
"We're just goofing around," said Chase, shrugging.
Jedadiah tilted his head to the side and frowned. "Goofing? I'm not familiar with such a pastime."
"Uh, I mean playing," said Chase quickly. "Climbing trees, catching frogs, things like that."
"Ah, aye, I remember doin' those sorts things as a young lad," said Jedadiah, nodding in understanding.
"Have you been traveling long?" asked Janie. Like Chase, her gaze was on the pack.
Jedadiah poked the fire with a long stick before adding more twigs. "For many long months," he answered. "I journeyed all the way to Egypt and I'm on my way home to Scotland now."
"You sure traveled a long way," said Janie.
"The pilgrimage has been worth it," said Jedadiah, a satisfied look on his young, yet sun-weathered face.
"Did you see anything interesting in Egypt?" asked Chase. He hoped Jedadiah would show them the Relic.
"I saw many grand places, but nothin' as wondrous as the pyramids," he said, his eyes reflecting the glowing firelight.
"Did you go inside any of them?" asked Chase nonchalantly. "I want to do that someday."
Jedadiah gazed into the three pairs of dark-brown eyes, which were so much like his own. Chase wanted to yell, you can trust us, Jedadiah. Please, show us the relic you found!
They watched as he touched the pack next to him. "Aye, I did."
"Did you see any mummies?" asked Andy eagerly.
Chase poked Andy's side as Jedadiah smiled. "No, I'm sorry to say I didn't."
"Did you find anything...interesting there?" asked Janie as she stared into Jedadiah's eyes. "You can trust us."
"Tis strange," he said, brushing his hands through his hair. "I feel as if I know ye, somehow. Though, I don't understand how this can be. We've not met until today." A log shifted in the crackling fire and sent sparks shooting into the air as they waited for his decision. "I'll show ye what I found." Digging through his pack, he pulled a bundle from it and carefully unwrapped it.
They all leaned forward, eager to see the undamaged Relic. It wasn't glowing the way they were used to seeing it, but it still looked otherworldly, as if it was filled with endless power.
"It's so beautiful," whispered Janie. She peered into Jedadiah's eyes. "You must get this home, Jedadiah. Keep it safe. No matter what happens."
Looking puzzled by their deep interest, Jedadiah nodded as he rewrapped his treasure and set it on the ground beside him. "Indeed I will."
Chase was so engrossed in the Relic, he nearly jumped out of his skin when several men slipped from behind the trees and stepped into the clearing.
"Greetings, kind strangers," said one of the men. "Might you have some food and drink to spare for three hungry, weary gentlemen?"
CHAPTER TWENTY
Falling Apart
The bandits had arrived. Everyone leaped to their feet.
Now, Chase had seen some creepy guys on the streets of New York City, but nothing like these terrifying men, with their hard, glittering eyes, greasy hair and lethal-looking swords hanging by their sides.
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Chase glanced sideways at the others. Like him, they looked as if they'd just seen a bunch of rattlesnakes crawl out from under the rocks.
"Or gold?" said the second man in a deep, rough voice, stepping forward.
The third man held back in the shadows.
"Please forgive my friend," said the first man, smiling widely. "He is somewhat…eager.
Chase grimaced. Yuck! Didn't the guy know anything about toothbrushes? He sniffed. Or soap?
"But let me introduce myself," the man continued. "I am Lorenzo, King of all Brigands."
"Please, I am but a poor farmer on his way home from seein' the world," said Jedadiah, fear in his voice. "And these others are only bairns. We've nothin' for ye."
"How are they understanding each other?" Chase whispered in Janie's ear. "One's Scottish, the other's Italian."
"It must be our time-traveling magic," Janie whispered back.
Lorenzo narrowed his eyes and reached for his sword. "Nothing to share? We'll see about that!"
Chase racked his brains for some sort of brilliant plan. He almost skipped for joy when Persephone, swinging a huge branch, galloped into the clearing, screaming at the top of her lungs, "Hey, jerks! Leave my friends alone!"
The bandits whirled in surprise.
"Hi-yah! Take that!" shouted Andy. He kicked Rough-Voice in the shin. The man yelled and hopped on one foot while holding his injured leg. Seeing his chance to join in the fight, Chase leaped onto Lorenzo's back and grasped his throat in a bone-cracking stranglehold.
"Run, Jedadiah! Save the Relic!" he yelled. "We'll hold them off!"
Jedadiah stared at the scuffling men and children. He looked uncertain about what he should do.
"Please, just get going!" Chase yelled as Lorenzo thrashed like a wild gorilla and tried to yank Chase off his back. He slammed against a tree, squashing the air out of Chase.
Jedadiah took several steps back.
"And where do you think you're going?" yelled Rough-Voice. He back-handed Andy in the mouth and shoved him to the ground. Vaulting across the fire, the bandit tackled Jedadiah, like he was a football linebacker or something.
Meanwhile, the girls had attacked the other bandit. He was on the ground, his hands covering his face and howling while Persephone whacked him with the tree branch, and Janie jumped around, giving him small kicks. "Darn this sucky dress!" yelled Janie, shoving her hair off her sweaty face. "I can't move in it!"
"Janie!" yelled Chase. "Help Jedadiah!"
Janie hiked up her skirt and ran across the clearing. Her cloak flapping behind her like Superman's cape, she leaped onto Rough-Voice, who was having an extremely hard time getting the thrashing Jedadiah under control. Jedadiah, seeing his chance to escape, smashed his foot into the bandit's face.
"Ahh!" cried Rough-Voice, clutching his gushing nose.
Jedadiah scrambled to get away.
"Run, Jedadiah!" screamed Janie as she yanked Rough-Voice's matted hair. "But don't—forget—the Relic! Remember, you must get it home and keep it safe."
For one heart-stopping moment, Jedadiah's eyes met Janie's. In that moment, he knew he was doing the right thing in leaving. He gave her a quick nod, grabbed up his precious Relic and with one last look around the clearing, he vanished into the darkness.
Lorenzo had at last pried Chase from his back and now held him against the tree with the sword to his throat. "Tell them to stop," he growled.
Chase stared back defiantly.
"Tell them!"
The blade dug into Chase's skin, causing blood to trickle down his neck. "You guys! Stop! NOW!"
Andy, who had joined Persephone in clubbing the third man, looked up. Blood oozed from his split lip. He wiped his shirt sleeve across his mouth and was about to protest until he saw the dangerous position his brother was in with the other bandit. He and Persephone quickly tossed their tree branches to the ground.
Rough-Voice had one dirty hand pressed to his bleeding nose and Janie's arm clutched in the other. His face was twisted with anger as he jerked her across the clearing. He shook her. "You allowed that man to escape!" he growled. Before she had a chance to answer, a small dark body soared through the air, landed on the bandit's shoulder and with a loud hiss, chomped his ear. For the second time, the rough-voiced man bellowed in pain. "Ahh! Get off me!" Grasping the animal by the scruff of the neck, he ripped it from his ear and flung it away.
Maxwell flew through the air and with a loud splash, landed in the middle of the fast-flowing stream. He disappeared in the dark rush of water.
"Noooo! Maxwell! You've killed him! You murderer!" Janie tugged and kicked at her captor. "Let go of me! I have to go after him!"
"What was that?" yelled Rough-Voice.
"My ferret and you killed him!"
"He deserved it!" he snarled, shaking her again. "Maybe you should go for a swim too!"
"Enough, Cosimo! We have other things to take care of," said Lorenzo. Keeping a tight grip on Chase, he pulled a rag from his pocket and tossed it to his friend. "Go clean yourself."
Cosimo thrust Janie to the ground and stomped to the stream. Andy and Persephone jerked away from the other man and hurried to Janie's side.
"What have we here?" said Lorenzo, finding the kids' bag of gold. He yanked it free and looked inside. "We have found our gold after all." He gave Chase a nasty smile. "And we have four excellent slaves to sell to get even more. It looks as if it's our lucky day, Alfredo."
"You big creep!" yelled Andy.
"Be quiet!" snarled Alfredo. "You should have stayed out of our business."
When Cosimo returned, Lorenzo handed him some coins. "Go to the town and buy us food, wine and rope." He hauled Andy to his feet. "Take this one with you to help. He should not be much trouble. Alfredo and I will stay and keep watch over these others. And hurry!"
Chase tried to protest, but Lorenzo forced him across the clearing to sit with Persephone and Janie. Getting separated was not part of the plan. Not that anything else has been part of any great plan either, thought Chase with disgust as he watched Andy stumble away into the darkness.
Lorenzo didn't take his eyes off them for one moment while they waited. He sat silently by the fire and polished his sword. Alfredo, whose face looked as if he had been in a fight with a large, angry cat, lounged on the ground and glared at the kids.
Chase pounded his fist in the dirt. From the moment they'd arrived, nothing had gone right. And with Andy gone, time-traveling out of this mess was completely out of the question.
Janie, tears streaming down her face, stared at the dark, rushing river. Persephone kept a comforting arm around her friend's shoulders, and hissed at Chase, "I can't believe this! I told you guys not to talk with Jedadiah. And look what happened!"
"There's no guarantee it wouldn't have happened anyway," he whispered back.
"We might've had a better chance if they hadn't surprised you! But no, you wouldn't listen. You had to go charging in and damn the consequences. This is your fault!"
"My fault! Janie and Andy wanted to come too. Why don't you yell at her?"
"She lost her pet!" Persephone snarled, looking like she wanted to smack him in the eye. "If you would've said, no, it wasn't a good idea; they would've listened to you."
"But I—"
"Quiet over there!" Lorenzo cut in.
With one last glare at Chase, Persephone turned her back on him. He slumped against the tree trunk and glowered at the back of her head.
An hour later, Cosimo returned, panting heavily. His nose was red and swollen and black and blue circles had formed around his eyes. "Lorenzo, Alfredo, I found an abandoned house not far from here. We can take shelter there for the night."
"Good," said Lorenzo, getting to his feet and sliding his sword into its sheath. "Let's bind them together and you can lead the way."
"Hey! Where's Andy?" demanded Chase. "He better be okay!"
"Don't worry!" snapped Cosimo as he began winding rope around Chase's wrists. "I le
ft him bound tightly in the house along with the food and wine. You will join him soon enough."
The bandits dragged the kids across the meadow and down the road to an old rundown house. As they traipsed through the weedy courtyard and circled an ugly fountain draped in moss and bird droppings, Chase stewed with anger at himself. He hated being like this; all tied together like fat hams ready to be sold at the market. If only they had their powers. He kicked a rock out of his way. Maybe Persephone was right and this whole mess-up was his fault.
Lorenzo pushed open the sagging door and shoved them inside. They waited in the dark while Cosimo grabbed some candles and lit them. In the flickering light, they saw that the floor and the few bits of cobwebby furniture were covered in dust and grime. By the look and stinky smell of it, some sort of animal had been living there.
Lorenzo took the kids to a smaller room and stuck a candle into the wall sconce.
"Andy!" Chase exclaimed when he saw his brother, looking lonely and miserable, huddled in a corner. He was tied and gagged, but his eyes lit up when he saw them.
After helping to untie them, Cosimo dug in the sack and pulled out a flat loaf of bread and a hunk of cabbage. He tossed the food to the floor. "We cannot let our little slaves starve, can we?" he said as he walked away, laughing.
Andy wrinkled his nose at the wilted cabbage. "I'd rather have pizza, you big dork."
With one last look at his hostages, Lorenzo slammed the door. Several minutes later, the kids heard the muffled sounds of the men laughing and talking as they ate and drank.
Chase scuttled to the far side of the room and motioned for the others to join him. "I know Jedadiah got away without being hurt, but did anyone see if something happened to the Relic?" he whispered.
Andy and Persephone shook their heads. He looked at Janie, hoping she might tell him something, but she just stared at the wall.
"Janie?" he said tentatively.
"She's too sad about—about—Maxwell," whispered Persephone.
"We're all upset about that," he whispered back, "but we have to get out of here and return to our own time."
With a low growl, Janie leaped forward and grasped his shirt. Her eyes were cold and ruthless. Twisting the fabric in her clenched fists, she snarled, "We are not leaving without Maxwell!"
Chase Tinker & The House of Magic Page 17