by Gregory Heal
Malcolm tried to ignore Madro and opened his mouth to contradict Draconex, but he was quickly interrupted.
“Do not try to deny it! I can see it in your eyes, your mind”—Draconex pointed first at his eyes, then his forehead—“and I’m determined to rid you of that weakness. Only then can you fulfill your full potential . . . even if it is well below mine.”
Malcolm breathed hard through his nostrils, trying to contain the anger he felt from being verbally harassed yet again.
“For this reason, you’ve given me no choice but to stick you down here.” He gestured to the room around them. “You need to absorb dark magic in its crudest form to suppress your foolish notions of love.” He walked past the warded line and stared down at his apprentice. “You’ve been down here for nearly a week. Your body’s cells have been feeding off of the crystal’s radiation and slowly getting accustomed to its effects. By now, you should have a better communion with the ShadowCrystal and its magic.”
Let us help you . . . you need us . . .
There was that voice again! The one that had invaded Malcolm’s mind before he had awakened. He knew by now that it was coming from the ShadowCrystal.
Let us free you . . .
Malcolm put his hands around the rusty cuff on his left ankle.
Love is your shackle. Break it off!
Malcolm pulled at the restraint as the voice repeated itself more aggressively.
Love is your shackle! Break it off! NOW!
Malcolm’s eyes turned black as he let the dark magic flow freely through his veins, and with the effort akin to snapping a toothpick, he broke the cuff off his ankle. The voice let out a distant hiss of approval. Malcolm smiled and reached for the cuff on his other ankle, which clattered to the ground with the same satisfying crack.
Draconex felt the first flicker of pride as he watched Malcolm break his restraints like they were nothing and stand up, glaring at him with eyes black as coal.
He’s ready.
Chapter Forty-Three
Jen woke up as the sun was breaking across the Earth’s surface, eager to get a new charm for her totem bracelet and to see Mystra Hephalon. She turned in her hammock to see Mira at her desk, quietly making touch-ups to her Jubilee dress.
“Good morning!” Mira greeted her roommate when she heard movement behind her. Without looking up, she continued to thread her needle through a side seam.
“Morning.” Jen rubbed her eyes. “Looks like you’re wide awake.”
“Oh yeah. I need to finish preparing my outfit for tonight.”
“I thought everything was set?”
“I thought so too, but then this part started bugging me.” She lifted her dress, indicating the seam that annoyed her so. “It has to be perfect. A Sesquimillennial Jubilee doesn’t happen every day, you know.”
Jen laughed. “Very true. Thanks again for helping with my gown. If it wasn’t for you, I’d probably be going in a shirt and capris.”
Mira put down her dress and smiled at Jen. “Think nothing of it. That’s what BFFs are for!”
“Well, either way, I owe you.” Jen slid on her shoes. “I’m gonna grab some breakfast at the mess hall. Want anything?”
Mira didn’t look up from sewing. “No, thank you. I’ve already eaten.”
“Okay. Hey, I probably won’t make it back here before the Jubilee, so I’ll need to take my dress with me. Mind if I borrow your shoulder bag?” Jen asked, seeing the bag in Mira’s closet.
“Sure! It’s in my closet,” Mira directed, flattening her dress out on the table.
“I’m sorry, add it to my tab—I promise to bring back some of my own belongings after the Jubilee so I don’t keep stealing your things.” Jen blushed as she took the bag off its hanger.
“Don’t sweat it, girl.” Mira broke her gaze from her dress to look at Jen. “I’m not using it. What’s mine is yours.”
“Ditto,” Jen agreed, “once I actually have things to share, that is.”
Both girls laughed as Jen folded her dress.
“Thanks again. Bye!” Jen shouldered the bag and walked into the crisp morning air.
After a light breakfast of fruit and yogurt, she made her way to the stables. Victor must have had the same idea, for he was already busy preparing Skarmor for their flight.
“Hey, Vic! How was your sleep?” Jen said as she petted Skarmor.
“I could have used more, but once I’m up, I’m up.” Victor bent over and rolled Skarmor’s feeding plate to the wall. Wiping his hands, he looked at Jen with a glint in his eye. “I can’t believe you’re on your way to begin another plane.”
“Me neither!” Jen laughed, scratching her head. “It’s all happening so fast . . . I’m excited and nervous.” Jen pretended to shake the nerves off.
“You have nothing to worry about, Jen.” Victor put a hand on her shoulder. “You’re more than ready.”
“Thanks, Vic.” Jen hugged him. Skarmor tried to fit his beak between their arms, causing both of them to laugh. “Thank you too, Skarmor.” Jen wrapped her arms around his neck.
In his most regal tone, Victor suggested, “Shall we disembark to the metallurgy?”
Jen raised her chin to the sky. “Quite.” She slid her arm through his and they walked out of the stables side by side, closely followed by Skarmor. Looking out over the lake, Jen hopped on Skarmor in her usual place and waited for Victor to join her.
“Why don’t you sit up front?” Victor said, smiling.
Jen grinned from ear to ear. “Really?!” She scooched into the rider’s spot, setting her sights ahead as Victor sat behind her, holding onto her waist.
“On your call,” Victor said, giving Jen full control.
“To Azumar!” Jen announced, and off Skarmor went, galloping across the grassy field. The griffin extended his mighty wings as he pushed off the lip of the hill, soaring high above the azure lake and away from Camelore. With the wind blowing through her hair, Jen knew she would never get used to the wonderful feeling of flying.
As Camelore shrunk behind them, Jen saw that there was a dense dome of clouds miles below. That didn’t seem to faze Skarmor—he tucked his wings in and dove headlong into a swirling bank of clouds. Jen couldn’t see anything in front of her for a few heart-racing seconds, until Skarmor broke out of the band of clouds. Her vision returned to see only a mottled gray landscape below.
“Where are we?” Jen yelled over the wind.
“The Atlantic Ocean, just off the eastern seaboard of the United States!” Victor responded. He pointed due west at a coastline, and sure enough, they were flying high above the Statue of Liberty.
Jen looked down at the Lady Liberty and smiled, bittersweetly remembering when she and her family visited it for the first time. Back then, the only thing that worried her was if Wes Stanley from homeroom liked her back.
My, how times have changed . . .
Jen’s stroll down memory lane led her to start daydreaming about the design of her animancy charm, followed by a dance shared between her and Gavin, slowly turning into a kiss . . .
Jen, stop it! Mira is Gavin’s girlfriend, not you!
Clamping her eyelids shut to push out her shameful fantasy, Jen felt her stomach lift as Skarmor dropped in for a landing deep within Chestnut Ridge Park. Once Skarmor had touched down, Jen slid down Skarmor’s wing and waited for Victor to dismount before she entered the Eternal Flame Falls cave.
Drip . . . drip . . . plonk!
The water droplets falling from stalactites all around created a sound symphony as the trio made their way to the floating flame deep inside the cave. Jen put her hand out and said the two words that would take her to a different realm: “Ad Azumar.”
Everything turned white as she was brought to Azumar’s version of the cave. Seconds later, Jen saw balls of colored light spring forth from the flame, which formed into Victor and Skarmor.
As they walked out of the cave’s mouth, Jen took a deep breath and said, “I’ve missed this pla
ce.”
“Me too,” Victor agreed along with Skarmor, who trilled his approval.
“Oh!” Jen snapped her fingers as she remembered, letting Victor and Skarmor walk a few paces in front of her. “When we go back to Earth, remind me to stop by my apartment so I can bring some of my things back to Camelore.”
“Consider it done.”
“And I’m also thinking of not renewing my lease at the end of this month.”
Victor raised his eyebrows, reading between the lines.
“I want to stay with you on Camelore full-time so nothing can get in the way of my training.”
Skarmor cawed in delight and stood on his tawny lion hind legs.
“Well, I think Skarmor feels exactly the way I do,” Victor said. “Ecstatic.” He extended a hand to Jen after he hopped onto his griffin.
She took it with gratitude and, after getting situated, commanded Skarmor to take them to Hephalon’s metallurgy, which took surprisingly less time than she remembered.
In the distance, Jen saw the burly terramancer chopping firewood outside, just like he had been when she had first met him. Hearing Skarmor’s call, he stuck his axe in a wood stump and turned around, waving his hands high above his head.
“Good tidings, my friends!” he shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Heph!” Jen shouted back. She ran into his muscular arms after Skarmor had landed.
“Great to see you again, my dear,” Hephalon said as he returned the hug. “I hear that you are already in need of another charm for your bracelet?”
“Yes! An animancy charm, please,” Jen mentioned after she finished her hug.
“So you’ve chosen animancy next. Splendid!” Hephalon said as he opened his arms to greet Victor. “Come here, you old sorcerer! I hope you haven’t been going easy on your new tenderfoot here.”
“Oh, no. She’s been able to take everything I’ve dished out,” Victor finally said after being released from Hephalon’s tight bear hug.
“Good.” His grin made his beard fan out, making his face look even wider. “If you don’t mind carrying in some wood, I’ll make a nice fire for this chilly morning.”
Jen and Victor picked up a few chopped logs and followed Hephalon into his cottage. After setting them on the pile by the fireplace, they politely declined a serving of Hephalon’s Azumarian ale.
“Suit yourself,” he said as he threw his head back and downed a full stein.
In minutes, a dazzling fire was crackling in the fireplace, wrapping Jen in a blanket of warmth as she put her shoulder bag by the door and sat on his bear-skinned rug.
Hephalon briefly went into his metallurgy, and when he returned, a small leather pouch was in his hand. Sitting down next to Jen, he started, “After you left with your terramancy charm, I was overcome by an outburst of creativity and took the liberty of forging the rest of your charms. I hope that was all right.”
“Of course, Heph!” Jen said, crossing her legs and staring at what might be in the pouch.
“I hope that you find my design worthy.” Hephalon reached in and daintily pulled out a silver charm about the same size as her terramancy one. A very intricately sculpted dragon was the clear inspiration for this charm’s design. It looked to be coming in for a landing, its wings spread and its tail curled beneath its taloned feet. “The dragon is in honor of your family crest,” Hephalon noted.
Jen’s mouth inadvertently opened in wonder as she took the charm. “Heph, this is beautiful.” She looked at the charm from all sides, watching the firelight dance across the treated silver. “I had no idea my family had a crest.”
Victor was sitting on a rocking chair on the other end of the fireplace. He said, “The Ring of Lancaster also has your crest on it.”
Finally understanding, Jen said, “I’ve always wondered about that.” She looked back down at her new charm and closed her hands over it. “Thank you, Heph.” She leaned in for a hug.
He embraced her, then picked up a poker to tend the fire. “It is my pleasure, milady. I’m glad you approve. Will I see you at the Jubilee this afternoon?”
As Jen put her animancy charm onto her totem bracelet, Victor responded, “Yes, of course! We’re actually going to Watercress in a little bit. Jen wants to get ready there, and I need to meet with the Grand Mystra.”
Jen had been so focused on training this past week that she had forgotten to follow up with Victor on his last meeting with Cindergray. “Oh, that reminds me: What meaning does ‘Mintaka’ have to you?” Jen asked. She twisted her wrist, letting her bracelet and two charms spin around and softly jingle as she waited for him to respond.
Victor leaned forward and pursed his lips, suddenly very serious. “Before I tell you, I need you to know that I was protecting you. Do you understand?”
Jen laughed out of confusion. “Okay, I understand. It can’t be that bad.”
Victor cast a glance at Hephalon, who got the hint and went to pour himself another drink in his kitchen. “Jen, there’s no easy way to say this: I believe that your birth parents are still alive and being held hostage by Draconex.”
Jen immediately forgot about her bracelet and shot up off of the rug, trying to contain her surprise. “Wait . . . what?!”
Victor put a hand out in front of him as he used his staff to ease out of the chair. “Mintaka . . . is your middle name.”
Jen felt the air leave her lungs in one fell swoop. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Y-you kept this from me?” Her eyes shone with betrayal.
“Only because I knew you’d want to postpone your training to help me search for them.” Victor stood up straighter. “I wouldn’t allow that.”
Jen closed the distance between them and pointed a finger at Victor’s face. “You had no right to keep that from me!”
Victor didn’t bat an eye. “I was waiting until I had conclusive evidence that they were still alive before I brought it to you, because what if I was wrong? I would’ve gotten your hopes up just to dash them. I made a judgment call,” Victor said calmly, tapping his staff on the ground for emphasis.
Jen put her hands on her hips and stood by the fire.
Hephalon, from the kitchen, could be heard awkwardly slurping down more ale.
After wiping the tears from her eyes with a sleeve, she said, “I know you meant no harm, Vic, but it still hurts.” She turned around. “I mean, even if it’s not a sure thing, it’s still something. What if Draconex is holding my parents in the same place?”
Victor blinked, clearly having not considered this.
Jen rested her head in her hands. “If it concerns me, I would like to know from now on, please.”
Victor sighed. “You’re right.” He walked up to Jen and said, “I should’ve told you from the start and trusted that you would’ve made the right decision. You’re an adult, not a child.”
In an even tone, Jen said, “As much as I want to drop everything and find my parents—both sets of them—I’ll continue to train . . . on one condition.”
“Let’s hear it.” Victor patiently waited.
“That you let me help you search for them after I’ve gone through all five Mancy planes,” Jen requested, not backing down.
Victor grinned. “Deal.”
“Deal.” Jen sniffled, then looked into the kitchen and said, “Heph, I think I’ll take some ale now.”
“Coming right up, milady,” Hephalon said as he took a clean stein from the cabinet behind him.
She walked over to him as he filled the foamy ale from his oversized keg to the stein’s brim. Victor, however, didn’t move, and Jen got the impression that he still felt regret for not telling her about her parents right away. Taking the stein, she vowed to herself that she wouldn’t let this make her lose her focus, and that she would always keep her priorities in line.
“Cheers,” Jen repeated after she clinked steins with Hephalon. Even though she only had a few sips of the sour ale, sharing a drink with him helped settle her nerves. Jen still fe
lt the initial stab of betrayal, but it died once she realized Victor had noble intentions; she knew he would not purposefully hurt her in any way. She also felt hope rise in her heart that she could actually meet her birth parents after all.
The sun had hit its peak when Jen decided it was time to head to Watercress Castle and get ready for the Sesquimillennial Jubilee. “Thank you again for the beautiful charm, Heph.” Outside, a gust of wind brushed strands of hair into her eyes. She tucked them behind one ear and repositioned her bag’s strap on her shoulder.
“’Twas an honor, milady!” Hephalon bowed his head in respect. “I’ll see you later this afternoon!”
“Can’t wait.” Jen hugged him once more before getting on Skarmor.
“See you at Watercress,” Victor said as he took his position behind Jen.
“Where it all started.” Hephalon waved as Skarmor flapped his wings and steadily rose into the sky.
“Watercress Castle, boy,” Jen told Skarmor.
With a piercing call, the mighty griffin flew westward.
A few minutes passed before Victor broke the silence.
“Jen, I’m sorry I—”
“No need to apologize . . . again.” Jen looked back and winked at him in reassurance. “I’ve had a chance to calm down. I was just so caught off guard at first. I’m sorry for raising my voice.”
“It’s in the past. Let’s just focus on having a great time at the Jubilee.”
“That’s the best idea you’ve had today,” Jen joked, facing forward as Skarmor glided over Azumar’s breathtaking landscape.
They flew for twenty more minutes until they could see a squadron of Shepherds guarding the skies above Watercress Castle. Below was Lac Cravath, deep blue with wisps of white as the wind churned up surface waves.
“Mystra Huxley.” It was the Shepherd who brought them into Watercress during their first visit. “Tenderfoot Lancaster. Good to see you both.”
“Good to see you again as well,” Victor said over Jen’s shoulder. “We’re here for the Jubilee.”
“Right this way.” The Shepherd pulled at the reins and turned his black pegasus around, bidding them to follow. Instead of bringing them to the east courtyard, this time he led them to a circular enclosure near a promenade that led toward the main gate of the castle.