by A W Hartoin
“She’s crazy, Thaddeus,” said Gerald, looking desperate. “Certifiable. Matilda might not survive her.”
“I heard that, pipsqueak!” yelled Marie. “If I’m so crazy, I guess I’ll just have to return those books on the Roman invasion of Britain you wanted. Too bad some of those titles were quite obscure.”
“Never mind.” Gerald darted through the window and landed on the cupholder.
Marie rolled her eyes at us. “A boy has to have his priorities.”
“I’ve always thought so.” Thaddeus smiled. “Thaddeus Van Winkle at your service. You must be Marie.”
“I am. I’d give you all my surnames, but we don’t have that much time. Everyone ready?”
“I believe so.” Thaddeus put his hand on the dashboard and Lrag walked off, followed by Lucien and Bentha.
“And just who are you?” asked Marie, squinting and leaning forward toward the new members of our group.
“I am Bentha, greatest sword of the mall,” said Bentha.
“You’re odd, but I like that,” said Marie.
“I’m Lrag, teufel, not troll,” said Lrag.
“Got it.”
“And I am Lucien.” Lucien’s hair coiled into long ringlets down his back and he planted his cane firmly on the dash.
“Don’t tell me,” said Marie, giving him a beady eye. “You’re known as trouble.”
“Takes one to know one.”
“Thank goodness. It’s been getting boring around here. We could use some livening up.”
“No excitement!” I called out. “Home. We just need home. How is Miss Penrose?”
Marie leaned back and blew out a breath. “Near death, though no one will admit it. Sarah’s sitting by the mantel keeping watch or she’d be here. Well, Thaddeus Van Winkle, no time to chat. Time to save a life. I’ll write you a check.”
Thaddeus looked nonplussed. “For what?”
“Whatever your museum needs.” Her eyes twinkled. “Perhaps you need an exhibit on folklore, fairies, and such.” Marie settled us into the comfy confines of the cupholder and I stretched out on the cotton fluff.
“That’s not a bad idea,” said Thaddeus.
“Of course it’s not. I don’t have bad ideas.”
“That’s debatable,” I said.
“Says the girl who’s bright yellow and swathed in bandages.” Marie rolled her eyes again and hit the gas. I imagined Thaddeus’s startled face as we drove away. Almost everyone looked startled upon meeting Marie. Sometimes they even stayed that way.
I closed my eyes and let Iris stroke my forehead. The ride wasn’t that long, but I slept the whole way.
The red room in Tess and Judd’s house looked just the same. Our mantel sat in its accustomed spot, shining and warm. Marie had talked her way in, saying she needed to look in on Sarah, not that Rebecca would’ve denied her entrance no matter how much she might’ve wanted to. Marie fussed over a bright-eyed Sarah while Tess and Judd stood off to the side barely restraining themselves from running over. Tess started hopping, quite involuntarily, I think. She couldn’t take her eyes off Lrag and Bentha. Bentha made the most of it by stalking back and forth and preening his needles.
“What are you doing?” Rebecca asked Tess.
Tess stopped hopping and twisted a long lock around her finger. “Um, I have to go to the bathroom.”
“Well, go then.”
Tess dragged her feet past us, looking longingly at Bentha, who’d taken out his sword and was making a real show of himself. Judd kept still but just. He looked at my leg and Lucien. I could see the million questions forming in his mind.
“Excuse me, Miss Marie,” said Judd. “Have you seen Mom’s new...candlesticks on the mantel?”
“What is up with you?” asked his mother with a raised eyebrow.
“Nothing. They’re cool candlesticks.”
“Since when?”
“Since forever. Come on, Miss Marie,” said Judd, leading her over to the mantel where she deposited us on the shelf.
Lrag hopped off her hand with me. Bentha spotted Tess and did a running somersault onto the shelf. Lrag rolled his eyes. Marie turned back to Rebecca and chatted her up about the candlesticks. Rebecca looked like she wanted to take Marie’s temperature.
“Go get your mother,” Lrag told Iris as she swooped in. “We may as well get this over quickly.”
My mother lighted in front of us. “No need. I heard you the moment you came in.”
I was all set to defend myself by railing at her about keeping Grandma Vi silent about her adventures. With parents, it’s often a good plan to attack first, but the moment I saw her eyes my throat closed up. “Mom,” I squeaked out.
She stood straight, her hands clenched into fists. She wore her angry clothes, a buttoned-up pants suit, and her dark hair was ornately braided. Mom always got more formal when she was mad. “How bad is it, Lucien?” she asked between tight lips.
“Not so bad. She’ll heal in time. Jacqueline has seen to it.”
Mom’s shoulders stayed rigid. “What happened?”
“Why don’t you ask Matilda? She was there.” Lucien’s long locks settled on his shoulder under Mom’s icy stare.
Mom swallowed. “You weren’t?”
“Not all bad things happen because of me, Adele.”
“You told her, didn’t you?” asked Mom, shaking. “You didn’t keep the promise I asked for.”
“It wasn’t my promise to keep. Viola is gone,” said Lucien.
“So you decided it was finally time to punish me.”
Lucien took Mom by her shoulders. She struggled, but he held her firm. “Never. I saw before me another Viola. Telling her would make no difference in her.”
“You should’ve told us, Mom. Grandma had a cool life. She could’ve taught us so much.”
“I didn’t want you getting ideas,” Mom said.
“I didn’t need Grandma for ideas. I have plenty of my own.”
Mom glared at me. “This is not over and you are not forgiven.”
Isn’t that just like a mom? Never look at the bright side, like how we were back alive and mostly intact. She looked so mad I was afraid to bring up Miss Penrose straightaway. I didn’t want her denying me access to her, just to be difficult. So we eyed each other, waiting for someone to make the first move.
“Is everyone else okay?” asked Mom, finally.
Iris and Gerald landed, both looking guilty and excited at the same time.
“We’re fine, Mom,” said Iris, reaching into her bulging pocket. “I can’t wait to show you. I’ve got a...”
Lucien snapped his fingers at her. “That information is for in private.”
“Oh, right. But wait til you see, Mom. It’s unbelievable.”
“Iris,” I said.
“I’ll be quiet. I promise.” She clamped her lips together, but they popped back open. “Where’s Dad?”
“Off at Wood Crazy with Evan. I think he’s trying to devise a trap for the Home Depot fairies. They fixed Rebecca’s blender yesterday and gave it twice as much power. He just about had a fit.”
“What’s he going to do if he catches one?” I asked, glad to find someone else she could be mad at.
Gerald barged in and showed Mom his swords. “I got these and I fought. I really did. I bet you didn’t think I could do it, but I can. I’m a warrior. They’ll tell you. Go ahead, Lrag.”
Lrag said in a quite formal voice, “Gerald’s heart is as large as his body is puny.”
Gerald stomped his foot. “That’s not right. Tell her I’m a warrior like you, and don’t use puny.”
“Gerald isn’t as puny as he seems.”
Mom stifled a laugh. “I’m very impressed. I only hope your mother will be. Let’s get Matilda inside and then I’ll go find Eunice. She’s been a nervous wreck since you left.”
“Let’s wait a while,” said Gerald. “I’m going to tell you everything that happened. Mom can wait.”
“I don’t think so.
Your mother loves you, Gerald. We can’t make her wait. Speaking of waiting, isn’t anyone going to introduce our guests?” asked Mom.
Bentha bowed low and kissed Mom’s hand. “I am Bentha, greatest sword of the mall and an admirer already. May I say your beauty is like a lovely piece of ponderosa freshly planed?”
“You may not. I’m a married woman.” Mom turned to Lrag. “And you’re Lrag.”
“I am,” said Lrag.
“Ah, yes. Short and to the point. Good man.”
“My lady has such sparkling eyes, such dewy lips,” said Bentha.
“Stop that,” I said. “It’s weird.”
“I think you are confusing weird with gallantry.”
“No, I’m not. You are definitely weird.”
“Then weird I shall be in the face of such extraordinary ladies.” He bowed again and for the first time in my life I saw my mom roll her eyes.
I took a deep breath and decided to jump in. “Let’s go home, Mom. I have the kaki persimmon root I needed for Miss Penrose.”
“You don’t need that. Lucrece is taking care of Penrose.”
“Is she better?”
Mom pursed her lips and they shifted sideways. “I wouldn’t say that exactly.”
“What would you say? Exactly?” asked Lucien, his hair coming to life and swirling into angry coils. “Is that Lucrece still insisting on chamomile tea to cure congestive heart failure?”
“You don’t know that’s it, Lucien. You haven’t even seen the patient,” said Mom with her cheeks reddening.
“I don’t need to. Matilda told me and I believe her. She is of Viola.”
“She’s a child.”
“And that means she should not be believed?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Good. May I trouble you for the unwinged entrance?” asked Lucien.
Mom went to the corner of the mantel shelf and pressed a button. A handle popped out and she pulled it. A small section of the mantel’s trim lowered with a heavy clunk that I felt through Lrag’s arms.
Lucien eyed the stairs. “Is the door unlocked?”
“Always,” said Mom.
I didn’t hear Eunice coming. Iris’s expression told me. It was pure horror. Gerald backed up and looked like he might pull out his swords when his mother landed on the shelf at a full run, knocked into him, and tried to take off with her arms wrapped around our newly minted warrior. Gerald caterwauled and fought her off.
“My baby! What happened? Are you sick? You look sick. Where’s Lucrece? Adele, get Lucrece. It’s an emergency,” yelled Eunice while trying to grab Gerald.
“I’m not sick. I didn’t even get hurt. Matilda got injured by a horen and I helped protect her. Look at my swords,” said Gerald, his face red.
Mom gasped. “A horen here in the States?”
Lucien nodded.
“Put those swords down, Gerald,” said Eunice. “You’ll cut your little fingers.”
“I don’t have little fingers!” shouted Gerald, running behind Iris.
“Well...” Iris grinned at me.
“You’re not helping,” said Gerald, peeking out from behind her.
“I wasn’t trying to help.”
Eunice dashed back and forth, trying to nab Gerald’s wing.
“Stop grabbing me, Mom. I’m a warrior now.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s all Matilda’s fault, dragging you off and putting you in danger. I knew we should’ve moved like everyone else.”
“I’m not moving.”
“Yes, you are, but first I’m going to destroy those swords. You’re going to stay home and be safe forever.”
Bentha moved in so fast he was between Gerald and Eunice like he just appeared there. “Ponderosa swords are sacrosanct.”
Eunice looked up at Bentha’s tall form and her eyes narrowed. “Then take them. My baby will not be using them.”
“No!” yelled Gerald.
“Just give them to Bentha,” I said. “They’ll still be yours.”
“You stay out of this, you troublemaker, you kindler,” Eunice snarled at me and I smarted from the lash of her words.
“Mom.” Gerald’s mouth gaped. “Matilda’s my friend.”
“Not anymore she isn’t.”
Mom’s mouth dropped, then she snapped her jaw closed. I’d never seen that look in her eyes before. Not when Gregor said terrible things about me and everyone moved. Never. It was beyond anger.
Lucien saw it and stepped forward. “Go with your mother, Gerald. What cannot be cured must be endured.”
“Don’t you say that to my child,” said Eunice.
“I’ll say whatever I like, woman. I’m the father of the great healer with three times your years and twenty times your experience. Go before I lose my patience and cast a silence spell on you.”
Eunice took Gerald’s hand as Bentha eased his swords from his belt. “Another time, young warrior. There will be more battles to be fought, and I will be at your side.”
Gerald’s eyes filled with tears and he let Eunice drag him away, flying below the mantel’s shelf.
“Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything to her and she’ll let Gerald be our friend.” Iris ran to the edge and hurled herself after them. It was pretty fast too, especially for Iris.
“That boy is going to have problems,” said Lrag.
“He already does,” said Mom.
Marie came up to the mantel, her bright eyes just above the shelf. “I think we should make some tea for Sarah. What have you got, Rebecca?” She winked at us and turned around.
“Do you want tea, Gram?” asked Rebecca.
“Tea sounds nice,” said Sarah with a grin that was sly for her. “Let’s make it together.”
“Um...okay.” Rebecca led the old ladies out of the room. The second they stepped away, Judd bounded toward the mantel.
“What happened?” he asked.
Tess, much shorter, dragged a chair over. She climbed onto it and perched her pointed chin on the shelf. “Did you get it?”
“We got it,” I said.
“Are you alright?” asked Judd.
“Matilda was wounded,” said Lucien. “It is a story that deserves time and talent to tell.”
“I heard you tell off Eunice. That was awesome.”
“Is your hair alive, Lucien?” asked Tess.
“It is. Care to touch it?”
Tess extended her finger and Lucien’s long locks caressed the tip and tried to wrap around, but were far too short. “That’s so wild. So what species are you?”
“I’m a galen, a species of healer fairies.”
Tess looked at Lrag shyly. “Hello.”
“Good afternoon,” said Lrag.
“I like your red.”
“Thank you. I’m a teufel. It means devil in German.”
Judd’s eyebrows shot straight up and disappeared under his thick hair. “Dude, are you a devil? That would be so awesome.”
“I’m named for my looks not my character.”
“Lrag is awesome. He’s a great warrior,” I said.
Bentha danced in front of Tess’s eyes. He was spinning while he talked, so I only caught the words, remarkable, skilled, and sword.
Lrag coughed. “We should get the medicine to Miss Penrose.”
Lucien led the way down the staircase. I’d never been in it before. We hadn’t had an unwinged visitor in my entire life. It got completely dark for a minute and then Lucien opened the door to our hall. All the fungus was glowing, casting green shadows on the shiny wood walls.
“Miss Penrose is down three doors to the left,” I said.
Bentha squeezed past Lrag and sprinted to the door. He looked in and smoothed his needles. “Prepare yourself, Matilda.”
Mom came from the opposite end of the hall and heard Bentha’s words. She frowned and shook a finger at him. “Don’t go scaring her. Miss Penrose is doing just fine. Lucrece says so.”
Lrag stepped around the corner
and tears filled my eyes. Miss Penrose lay on the bed, still and blue-lipped. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was so shallow, it was nearly undetectable.
“Lucien!”
Lucien came in and glided to the bed. He put his cheek to her forehead and closed his eyes. “She is near death.”
“She can’t be,” said Mom, her hands fluttering. “Lucrece said she’d be fine.”
Lucien’s eyes popped open. “Have I ever given you cause to doubt me?”
Mom ran to the bed and grasped Miss Penrose’s foot. “Oh, Penrose. I didn’t want to believe it.”
“The root. Quick, Matilda. Give it over to Lucien,” said Bentha.
I pulled the bag out of my pocket and held it out to Lucien.
Lucrece stomped into the room with her wrinkly little wings spread. “Get away from my patient! You, girl, especially.”
Lucien rose up slowly. “Watch your tongue.”
Lucrece gasped and backed up. “I...I...I...”
“You know who I am, do you? And yet I’ve never laid eyes on you. Remarkable that there would be a wood fairy healer in this area that I don’t know.”
“Well, I’m new. Very new,” said Lucrece, wringing her hands.
Lucien took the bag and went nose-to-nose with Lucrece. “I seriously doubt that.”
Bentha went to the window. “I hear a tapping. Might I open it?”
Mom said yes, and Bentha unlatched the carved rose and swung it outward. Tess’s blue eye peered in. “What can we do?”
“Hot water,” said Lucien. “Now.”
“I’ll get it,” said Tess, and her eye was replaced by Judd’s.
“What else?” he asked.
“I find music to be healing. Certain songs more than others. Do you have “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison?”
“Is it on iTunes?”
“It is. Thaddeus got it there.”
Judd left and a minute later Mom smiled. “That’s a lovely song and so like Penrose, too.”
I couldn’t hear it, of course. It was one of those moments I was destined to miss all my life.
Tess’s eye appeared again. “I have the water.” She looked away and all we saw was her brown hair filling the window. “Judd, Mom’s coming. You have to get her away.”
More distant, but still clear to me came Judd’s voice. “Hey, Mom. I think I got a D on my science test. Let’s check my grades.”