by Shawnna Lea
"How?"
"You're willingly handing it over?" He glanced up at Sylvia who looked worried and mouthed no to him again VERY clearly. Avic looked away.
"Yes."
The jolt that ran through him made him gasp. His chest felt tight, too tight to let air in. He couldn't see anything either. His knees hit the ground. The pressure focused between his shoulders for just a moment more.
He breathed hard on the stone floor. Beyond the pounding in his ears he could hear Traz laughing hysterically. He forced himself to his feet, stumbling sideways for a moment before the world straightened itself. Sylvia still looked down from the bubble, but now she looked scared.
"And now, my dear Avic," Traz's smile was not friendly in the least. "I shall let you and your witch friend go." Avic watched in horror as the bubble around Sylvia began to shrink. Her eyes grew wide as she began to feel cramped.
"YOU PROMISED--" He didn't get to finish his sentence as something unpleasantly hot slammed into him. It was like a swarm of bees attacking him, and he couldn't help but scream as he writhed on the ground. The pain ebbed away slowly, and he focused on breathing. Traz's breath in his ear made him shudder.
"Now you may go. Find Whisper. Tell him I want the rest." His voice became more distant. "I'll even return you to normal if he does."
Then the warm sun was on him, and he sighed. He could just lay there forever and forget about everything. A small touch on his shoulder disturbed him from his goal, though. He looked over his shoulder at--to his surprise--a little dark-haired girl of maybe six or seven. She looked worried, and he sat up, looking around. When he saw his feet so close to him, he fainted.
Chapter 15
Whisper's airy laugh woke him, relief flooding him that everything had just been a dream. He sat up, running a hand through his hair.
"I'm beginning to think it is a bad idea to track down Traz. I just had a terrifying dream..." Whisper started laughing harder.
"It wasn't a dream, Avic." He froze, hearing the higher pitched child's voice, slowly turning. There was the little dark-haired girl half smiling toward Whisper who at seeing the look on Avic's face, was practically rolling with laughter. Avic looked quickly at his small hands and wiggled his toes in boots six sizes too big.
"AAAAAG!" Sylvia grabbed his shoulders.
"Now don't be passing out on me again! We have a serious dilemma. I said SERIOUS, Whisper." Whisper gained control of himself with effort, though his grin never left his face.
"This is why I don't play with wizards."
Avic dropped his head in his hands.
"What are we going to do? We can't stop him!"
Sylvia scowled at him.
"That is a defeatist attitude. Which we definitely can NOT afford right now." She sat, tapping her fingers on her knee. "First off, we need another wizard, a POWERFUL wizard to undo this." Her gesture encompassed both of them as she turned to Whisper. "Whispe--" She didn't get any farther.
"Heck no. I know what and who you are considering, and the answer is a great big NO.”
"But Whisper, he's the strongest wizard in the kingdom! How do you think he got his position?" His humor was all gone, and Avic recognized the warning signs. He was about to run.
"Hold on, hold on! Whisper is right. We can't go to the king's wizard. I'm a wanted man, and I just put the whole kingdom in an even worse situation."
"All the more reason to get help!"
Whisper stood, dusting himself off.
"THAT will not help, Sylvia. He's as power hungry as Traz, if not more. And I'm not going near him."
"Wait, Whisper!" Avic jumped up and promptly fell flat on his face again. "Stupid boots..." He climbed more carefully to his, feet trying to ignore Whisper's smirk. "We've got to do something! We can't stay like THIS!" Whisper cocked his head.
"Why not? Seems Traz gave you a great gift. You have your whole life ahead of you! Again. Now you're in the clear. No one is looking for a kid. So, what's the problem?" Sylvia grabbed his pant leg, trying to look fiercely up at him.
"THIS is the problem!"
Whisper considered her.
"Yes, I suppose you do have a problem. Your husband probably doesn't want another kid to raise."
Avic shook his head, feeling completely overwhelmed as he sat again on the ground. Sylvia stomped her foot.
"Whisper we HAVE to get help! Things are only going to get worse!" He smiled at her brightly.
"Exactly. That's why I'm not going near ANY magic wielders. And I'm beginning to think now would be a good time to start that." He turned on his heal, heading toward his horse. Sylvia ran after him, yelling for him to wait. At least her knee was good now. That was something. And Whisper had a point about him being in the clear. But Traz wouldn't be a good ruler to live under, and he couldn't leave the world in his hands. He watched Whisper ride up the trail, Sylvia running after him throwing anything she could get hold of.
"Oh, let him go. We need a plan." Sylvia gave him an incredulous look.
"No, Avic. We need a horse! We're in the middle of nowhere, and no one knows where we are except that... that..." She gave up trying to find a word for Whisper. Avic shrugged.
"He'll probably come back. As for the rest... Well, we better get walking." She couldn't argue with that, and they started up the trail. It seemed hours he clunked along in boots far too big, trying to hold up his pants. Finally, they reached the top of the trail, and, to their great delight, a wagon was slowly moving along it away from them.
"Now that's what I call luck!" Avic called out, waving his arms around. When that didn't work, he started forward, intent on catching up--only to fall flat on his face. Sylvia, having already discarded her shoes, ran forward, yelling. The men in the wagon looked back, pulling the horses to a stop. Out of breath, they reached them.
"Thank you for stopping. I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't." The men looked friendly enough, farmers from the dusty work boots and calluses.
"What exactly are two youngunds like yerselves doing out here all alone?" Avic stopped Sylvia quickly, afraid she was going to tell them the truth. Farmers didn't want wizard wrath brought down on them.
"We got lost. Our family was all gone when we finally got back to camp just down there." He gestured toward the valley. "Could you give us a lift?" The men looked at each other, one scratching his head under his large brimmed straw hat.
"Well now I suppose we can do that." The other smiled friendlily. "Climb on in kids." The men helped them into the back of the wagon and then clicked to the horses slapping the reins.
"See? Now all we have to do is find a powerful enough wizard." Sylvia nodded to him, her eyelids drooping. He had to admit he was awful tired himself. Soon he was sleeping against Sylvia so neither of them noticed hours later when they turned off the main road just before town.
Whisper frowned, watching the wagon turn down that road. They would probably be safe enough. Much safer than running around looking for wizards. He turned from the large, peeling sign, leaving Darlene's Home For Children behind him.
Chapter 16
The morning sun burnt off the night’s fog as Whisper rode toward home. He wasn't sure what he was going to do now. Nikton was almost deserted. The main streets that went through the town center were closed off. Whisper had avoided the busier back ways and had left it behind. Seeing all the fearful faces he had to admit was disturbing. But there was nothing he could do about it. Avic had tried and failed miserably. He wasn't about to try his luck.
Another traveler appeared on the road ahead, coming his way. It was early for most, but Whisper liked it that way, making camp during the busier times. He pressed his knee against the horse, asking it to move to the side. The other rider, however turned his animal, blocking the road and swinging down. Whisper flicked his ears this way and that, trying to pick up any sound besides their own. All was quiet. If this was a lone bandit he had picked the wrong prey. He pulled his horse to a stop within earshot, closer than he would have liked.
> "Excuse me, but you're blocking my path." The man's hood hid his face, but Whisper could smell his anger. What could possibly anger someone so early in the morning? He got his answer a second later as the man pulled back his hood.
Lord Braddock glared up at him. Whisper immediately kicked his horse forward around the man. He didn't get far, however as the woods to either side of him erupted in mounted guards. He pulled the horse around quickly but more guards had come out behind. Braddock must have brought every guard he had from his vast estate out here. Whisper forced himself to smile, shrugging casually.
"You surprised me, m'lord. I didn't expect to find you out here." The man's glare never faltered.
"And I didn't expect to find you alone. Where's my son?" Whisper's eyebrows shot up.
"You have a son?" The guards drew in closer, forming an unfriendly wall between him and freedom.
"This is no game, Kantro. This has gone far enough. His majesty received a message from this wizard stating if he didn't bow to him he would destroy the people. His majesty has no choice. So did my son fail or were you too cowardly to stay with him to find out?" Whisper could see he had no real choices left here.
"Well he certainly didn't fail as much as I thought he would." Lord Braddock dropped his reins marching over to stand at Whisper's knee.
"Get off the horse." Whisper had the insane urge to kick the grumpy old fool in the face, but the shifting of guards around him kept him in check. He slowly swung down, knowing Lord Braddock probably just wanted to tower over him. Not that that had ever intimidated Whisper.
"Well?"
Braddock turned back to his saddle, pulling out a piece of paper.
"This is a letter of clemency from his majesty for Avic. He won't hold any of this against him, but we need the whole story. Everything about this wizard we know. So..." He walked closer glaring down at Whisper, speaking slowly and low. "Where is Avic?" Whisper shifted uncomfortably. This was a dilemma. He couldn't actually tell Lord Braddock he had to start over raising his son. He had a feeling that wasn't going to blow over well.
"Let me see that." Lord Braddock handed him the paper and Whisper buried his expression in it. He needed a plan. He needed to get away. This paper was actually a good deal if it were honored. Considering Lord Braddock was a fairly powerful person in the kingdom it would be. He peeked over the paper, seeing Lord Braddock impatiently tapping his fingers. Maybe he could make a deal-- The paper was snatched from him and rolled hastily.
"Where's Avic?"
"He's a few miles past Nikton last I saw him." Lord Braddock turned, motioning to his men.
"Then let's go find him." Whisper didn't move. The old man glared at him again. "You're going to take us to him and then you're going to help us defeat this wizard. You're not getting out of this one if I have to drag you every step of the way! Besides, it's probably all your fault." He motioned to the guards who moved in, grabbing Whisper's arms. Whisper resisted the urge to struggle. An opportunity would come sooner or later for escape. They lifted him onto his horse, and he sighed unhappily as they started back down the road he'd just ridden.
It was an uncomfortable ride. Night was even more so. As he had threatened to do to Lord Braddock days earlier, now he found himself tied to a tree all night. Worse, he was watched by the guards, swapped every couple hours so there was never a chance to wiggle loose.
They passed through an empty and abandoned Nikton. The sky drooled down into the center of town spreading the destruction faster than before. Whisper tried to ignore the condemning look Lord Braddock kept throwing him. It wasn't HIS fault Traz was even more powerful. What WOULD be his fault is if he got captured by Traz because of this idiotic lordling.
They left Nikton behind and were getting dangerously close to the crossroads. He sighed. There was only one thing to do. He rolled off the horse, stumbling slightly as the guards surrounded him.
"Lord Braddock, I'm not enjoying being tied up, and it's time to speak my mind." The lord's thick finger pointed straight at him, forehead wrinkled in a scowl.
"Get back on that horse!" Whisper shook his head but the guards grabbed him, lifting him roughly back into the saddle. In a moment he'd rolled off again, however, and sat on the ground. They couldn't reach him so easily from horseback that way.
"Think about it m'lord. I could send you on a wild goose chase. I guarantee you'll NEVER find your son without me. On the other hand, if you release me, I'll help willingly. I have no wish to be a prisoner anymore, and wasting your time completely is just what I would love to do." The man glared down at him, the guards frozen over him waiting for orders. It was obvious Lord Braddock wanted to stop the damage Traz was causing. Getting his son an amnesty must have been an added bonus.
"Fine. You'll be untied, but you'll continue to accompany us. To the very end. Is that understood?"
"I'm touched. I didn't know you liked my company so much." Lord Braddock glared back but didn't argue, just motioned for them to untie him. He must be more desperate than Whisper had thought.
"How close are we? Where was he planning to go?" Whisper shrugged. That was still a problem.
"I doubt he's gone anywhere. If he has, I'm sure he left a forwarding address." He smiled at the man's obvious annoyance. He climbed into his saddle, holding his hand out for the reigns, but Lord Braddock shook his head.
"You asked to be untied. You are. Now where is Avic?" Whisper rolled his eyes pointing ahead. No way was he going to tell them and lose his usefulness. They continued on till the familiar turnoff he'd followed the farmers down toward Red Rock. The children's home would come long before town and Whisper still hadn't come up with a plan. He sighed. Avic was going to kill him. Well, at least step on his toes.
"Here's the turnoff." He pointed toward the road to Darlene's Home for Children. Lord Braddock didn't look like he believed him.
"What would he be doing at a children's home?" Whisper shrugged.
"Probably working. There's a lot to do to keep a place like that running." Lord Braddock wasn't sure. Whisper could see him trying to work it all out in his mind. But he wasn't getting it. Whisper kicked the horse lightly, and it moved forward, pushing against the others. Finally, he seemed to come to the conclusion there was no other choice. Whisper had hoped he'd leave some of the guards on the road, but they all followed toward the children's home.
Chapter 17
"Alright. Here's the NEW plan." Avic drew in the dirt with a stick his next plan for escape. Sylvia watched in annoyance. His last plan had been a disaster. They'd had to scrub floors for hours and his plan before that had landed them ALL the dishes. The owner of the home hadn't believed his story and had straight out laughed when Sylvia told them the truth. But this plan was fool proof. All they had to do was get out of sight of their warden. The woman on duty watching the children playing mostly watched them. They'd been labeled trouble makers.
"Avic, we're three feet tall. How are we going to get over the fence?"
"We go up a tree and jump over, see?" He drew the arrow of them jumping from the tree.
"We're going to jump out of a tree? You know how high up that is? And have you noticed the top of the fence? It’s kinda sharp. I don't want to end up skewered, Avic!" He threw down his stick.
"Well have you got a better idea?"
"Why don't we just walk out the front door?"
"It's right by the secretary!"
"She's not there at night!" Avic was about to argue more, but a strange feeling came over him. Like someone was watching him. He looked around, but even their guardian was looking the other way. Then he noticed on the third floor balcony shadowy figures. And he was just certain they were staring at him.
Lord Braddock gripped the railing, staring down into the yard. He couldn't believe his eyes. He just couldn't. But there was no denying that boy. He looked exactly like Avic had at that age. Whisper yawned beside him and he fought the urge to punch him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" The man shrugged.
&n
bsp; "So he's a bit shorter. Is that a problem?" He took a deep breath trying to stay calm.
"This isn't a laughing matter. That's my son down there!" He pointed viciously over the balcony. The man had no decency. "The least you could have done was tell me instead of letting me find out like this!" Whisper's smile started to grow and he shrugged.
"Thought I'd surprise you. Now you can raise him right." That did it.
The next thing Whisper knew he was off the ground and flying. He twisted about to get his feet under him as the ground came at him. He'd fallen from higher, but this landing was on a hill. Perhaps he should have bit his tongue this time. He hit hard, his knees bending to absorb the impact, then he was rolling head over heels down the hill. When he finally skidded to a stop, he opened his eyes. He spat dirt and slowly moved, testing every muscle. His legs were sore, but he didn't think anything was damaged. He rolled over, running his hands over his chest. He'd once collapsed a lung from a higher fall but he didn't feel anything like that this time. He nodded to himself. He seemed to be in one piece. Now for revenge.
"WHISPER!"
Whisper groaned, closing his eyes again. Of course he would end up right in front of them. He rubbed his head, looking up at Avic and Sylvia. Sylvia shook her head.
"Most people would use the door. You and Avic have a lot in common."
Avic gave her a shove.
"That's not funny. Are you alright?"
Whisper nodded, dusting off.
"Aside from grass stains on my perfectly good pants, I suppose I'll live. Your father won't though once I'm done with him." Avic took a step back.
"My FATHER is here? Why in the world would you bring HIM?" Whisper gave him that you're smarter than that look again before dusting his hair out.
"I didn't. He brought me. And then threw me off a balcony. I'm gonna kill him, though, so don't worry about it." Avic began to pace.
"He can't see me like this!"
"He already has. Don't worry! I'll take care of it." Avic grabbed Whisper's shirt, pulling him back around.