Chapter 24- A Good Time to Sprout Wings
There was a blinding flash as a bolt of lightning struck the conductor. Bryony felt another surge of power flow through the string, and raised her right hand as the Spell Wizard shot a bolt of fire straight at her.
A wall of white light formed in front of the children, deflecting the Spell Wizard’s fire bolt.
Cursing with fury, the Spell Wizard launched another attack, and then another, but his fiery bombardment could not penetrate the Guardians’ magic shield.
“He can’t break through,” laughed Edwin. “We’re too strong for him.”
“It’s deadlock.” Stubby peered cautiously out of Edwin’s blazer pocket. “And it won’t last forever. Your power will fade as the natural balance decays.”
“Then we need a boost,” said Bryony. “Inglenook, can we have more power?”
“Not without risk to yourselves,” advised the Keeper of the Ancient Wisdom. “If I increase the flow of power it will destroy you.”
Another volley of fire bolts hammered into the magic shield, which flickered ominously under the assault.
“Your powers weaken,” laughed the Spell Wizard. “Soon the shield will fail and you will be at my mercy.”
There was another barrage of fire bolts, and the magic shield became almost transparent. Edwin felt his legs wobble, and noticed Bryony was struggling to stand up.
They couldn’t hold out much longer. It was only a matter of time.
“Please do something,” shouted Edwin. “Inglenook, please…”
“I can do nothing more,” said Inglenook. “Unless a third Guardian steps forward to absorb the power.”
“But there isn’t a third Guardian,” cried Bryony. “There’s only two of us.”
The Spell Wizard raised his arms again, and Edwin knew the final blow was coming.
Then he caught a flash of light in the corner of his eye. He assumed it was lightning, until he felt something brush his hand.
Edwin looked round, and gasped when he saw who was standing beside him.
“Maddy!”
Maddy stared back at him. Her large blue eyes were glazed and red-rimmed. Water droplets cascaded down her green freckled cheeks, but Edwin couldn’t tell if it was rain or tears.
There was a roar from the Spell Wizard, and Bryony screamed when she saw a massive fireball heading straight for her.
Then Edwin felt Maddy’s fingers close around his hand.
Another bolt of lightning struck the mast. The surge of power was greater this time. Bryony yelped, and Edwin gritted his teeth as the magical charge arced through their bodies.
Maddy tightened her grip on Edwin’s hand, and he felt the magic flowing between them.
The magic shield glowed brighter again, and the Spell Wizard’s fireball bounced harmlessly off it.
“Now to press home our advantage,” said Inglenook. “Guardians, we shall trap the Spell Wizard in a force field of magic.”
The magic shield lifted and changed shape, wrapping around the Spell Wizard to encase it in a bubble of light.
The Spell Wizard shrieked and roared, shooting fireballs in a fit of rage. The fireballs couldn’t penetrate the magic bubble, and bounced back to strike the Spell Wizard. That only made the Spell Wizard angrier, and more fire bolts streamed from its pointed fingers.
The Spell Wizard’s screams became squeals, and the black robed figure started to shrink. Its robes turned from black to grey to purple, and its red eyes became tiny spots of white light.
The Spell Wizard disappeared, and its squeals faded into silence. The magic bubble burst with a loud pop, and the Tome Terriblis tumbled to the roof of the tower.
“Now it is over,” announced Inglenook. “The Spell Wizard’s power is spent.”
Edwin let go of the girls, and dived on the fallen Tome. He slammed the book shut, breathed a sigh of relief, and then realised it had stopped raining.
He looked up at the sky and saw the storm had ended. The black clouds were dispersing, their fury spent. The wind’s howling was now a soft purr, and he felt warmth returning to the air.
Then Edwin heard tapping from inside the Tome. He opened the book a fraction, and a bent pointed hat emerged.
“Please minimize me before closing,” said a high pitched voice.
“Sorry.” Edwin tapped the Spell Wizard’s hat, which disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. Then, with another sigh of relief, he closed the Tome for the very last time.
Bryony untied the Key from the conductor mast.
“So what happened?” she asked Inglenook. “You said our magic would be useless against the Tome.”
“Our magic could not destroy the Spell Wizard,” said Inglenook. “But it could be used to contain him. In the end the Spell Wizard destroyed himself.”
Bryony nodded. “So his own magic rebounded back on him. Neat.”
“But to achieve that required a great deal of power,” continued Inglenook. “Which is why we needed help.”
Edwin’s gaze shifted to Maddy. She stood at the edge of the roof, staring sullenly over the battlements, her face streaked with tears.
“Thanks, Maddy.” Edwin stood beside her. “We couldn’t have done it without you. But I don’t get it… why did you come back to us?”
A smile flickered across Maddy’s lips as she turned to him.
“You forgot the first spell I wrote in the Tome today. Whatever magic you use on me will rebound on you, at double the force. Inglenook sent me back in time, so I used that magic to bring myself back.”
“That’s not what I meant,” said Edwin. “You didn’t have to come back, but you did.”
Maddy gazed over the battlements again, her smile fading.
“There was no one,” she whispered. “I was all alone back there. No family, no friends. And…”
She looked at Edwin again, and this time he saw she was crying.
“And you came back for me, Edwin.”
Edwin smiled. “That’s what friends are for, eh?”
Maddy frowned. “But we’re not…”
A loud rumbling noise interrupted Maddy’s reply.
“Is that thunder?” Bryony peered up at the sky. “I don’t see any clouds.”
“It’s coming from below,” said Edwin. “And… the tower’s shaking.”
“That will be due to structural weakness,” said Stubby. “The force of the elemental imbalance was focussed on Maddergrub Manor, thus compromising the physical integrity of the building and resulting in a high probability of significant material displacement.”
Edwin and Bryony looked blankly at each other.
“I mean it’s going to collapse,” said Stubby. “I suggest now might be a good time to sprout those wings.”
“Good idea.” Bryony struggled to stand up as the trembling intensified. “Inglenook?”
Inglenook smiled. “I thought you’d never ask. Brace yourselves!”
The rumble became a crash, and Byrony felt the tower crumble beneath her. Then she was airborne, her newly sprouted wings lifting her away from the collapsing building. She linked hands with Edwin, giving her stepbrother a relieved smile as they fluttered sedately to the ground.
Their wings vanished, and the children turned to see what had become of Maddergrub Manor.
There was nothing left of the building except a dust cloud wafting from a hole in the ground.
“That was a close shave,” said Bryony.
“Agreed,” said Stubby. “Couldn’t have been closer if we’d limbo danced under a lawnmower.”
“I wonder what happened to the Professor and Voltaria,” pondered Edwin.
“Isn’t that her?” Bryony spotted a shape emerging from the dust cloud.
Yes it was Madame Voltaria, but not as the children had seen her before. Her dress was charred, her pale skin coated with dust, but stranger still she was smiling. Smiling, and singing to herself as she pushed a large, old-fashioned pram.
“Are you OK?” Edwin as
ked Madame Voltaria as she trundled past.
“I have never been happier,” beamed Madame Voltaria. “Not since I last had my battery changed.”
“What happened to the Professor?” said Bryony.
“He’s adorable.” Madame Voltaria leaned forwards and gazed into the pram. “Aren’t you, my little coochy-coo?”
Curious, Edwin and Bryony peered into the pram. Professor Schrunkopf lay snuggled inside, wearing a pretty lace bonnet. He looked calm and contented, sucking noisily on his thumb.
“It must be a result of the experiment,” said Stubby. “The Tome drained all knowledge from his brain, so he now has the intellect of a new born baby.”
Edwin looked at Inglenook. “Can we do anything to help him?”
“Perhaps it is best to leave him this way,” said Inglenook. “Now he has a clean slate, and any knowledge he learns can perhaps be used for good.”
“I will teach my darling boy,” said Voltaria. “He will be the brainiest pupil in kindergarten.” Then she wrinkled her nose and drew back from the pram. “And I know what the first lesson will be. Now if you will excuse me, it’s been a long day and I need some refreshment. Anybody know where the nearest power station is?”
Bryony said she didn’t, but Edwin suggested that Madame Voltaria might try following the nearest overhead pylon route.
“Isn’t that sweet.” Edwin smiled as he watched Madame Voltaria wheel the Professor away. “It leaves you feeling warm inside.”
“Sort of,” agreed Bryony. “As well as a bit creeped out.”
“I’m glad they got out in one piece,” said Edwin. “Aren’t you, Maddy? Maddy?”
Edwin looked round, but couldn’t see Maddy anywhere.
“Up here,” said Maddy.
Edwin looked up and saw Maddy hovering above him, her little wings beating fast like a humming bird’s.
“I don’t get it,” said Edwin. “How come your wings haven’t vanished like ours?”
Maddy smiled mischievously. “That little spell of mine is still active. Plus I’m a Guardian too, remember.”
“Not officially,” said Inglenook. “You did not complete your magical training.”
“Let’s not split hairs.” Edwin was too tired for further arguments. “Anyway Maddy, you can come down now.”
“I’m not coming down.” Maddy’s smile vanished. “I’m leaving.”
“But Maddergrub Manor is your home,” said Edwin.
Maddy glanced at the smouldering hole in the ground. “There’s nothing left of the home I knew. And I have my family paintings in here.” She tapped her little school bag. “It’s a pan dimensional satchel, in case you’re still wondering how I fit so much inside. Every girl should have one.”
“You’re so right.” Bryony eyed Maddy’s bag with envy. “Do they do them in black?”
“Please don’t go.” Edwin gazed imploringly up at Maddy. “We can help you. Inglenook will find a way to bring your family back.”
Maddy shook her head. “Wychetts’ power cannot undo the magic of the Tome.”
“Then we’ll use the Tome again,” suggested Edwin. “One last time.”
“No.” Inglenook’s voice was emphatic. “The Tome must remain sealed. Its power is too destructive. Surely you have seen that for yourself, young Master?”
“Inglenook is right,” said Maddy. “But there must be another way, and I’m going to find it.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Edwin. “I’m your friend, right?”
“We’re not friends,” sighed Maddy. “We never were and never will be.”
“But you came back to help us,” said Edwin. “So that means you like me, right?”
Maddy took a deep breath, as though she was building up to something.
“It doesn’t matter what I think about you, Edwin. It’s what you think about me.”
“But I like you,” insisted Edwin. “Despite all that stuff about the pit. We still had fun exploring, and...”
“You won’t like me,” said Maddy. “Not when you find out what I did.”
“You stole the Tome and used its powers for yourself.” Edwin shrugged. “Join the club.”
“It’s my family. What happened to them.” Maddy swallowed. “It wasn’t that renegade warlock who imprisoned them in those paintings. It was me.”
Edwin’s jaw fell open. “Why did you do that?”
“I couldn’t stand them,” revealed Maddy. “My parents were always telling me what I could and couldn’t do. My elder brother was cleverer than me. My elder sister was prettier and cleverer than me. My younger sister used to hang around me all day wanting to play with her dollies, and she was still prettier and cleverer than me. And my younger brother… well, he was just like any younger brother. I’d had enough of them, so when I got hold of the Tome, I…”
“You imprisoned them in those paintings forever?” Edwin shook his head with disbelief.
“It wasn’t supposed to be forever. Just a day or two.” Maddy’s lips trembled as she spoke. “I wanted to be alone. I didn’t think people mattered.”
Maddy took another deep breath.
“But they do, Edwin.”
Edwin nodded. “I’ve been alone, too. Which is why I’m asking you to stay.”
“You’ve never been alone.” Maddy glanced at Bryony. “Neither of you.”
Edwin and Bryony looked at each other.
Maddy spread her wings, which had magically expanded to the size of an eagle’s.
“Time to go,” she called. “Maybe I’ll see you again someday. But don’t bet on it, I don’t like hanging around with dweeps!”
Maddy laughed, and the sound lingered in the air long after she had receded to a dot on the horizon.
Edwin tore his gaze from the sky and looked pleadingly at the Wychetts Key. “Couldn’t you have stopped her?”
“I am sorry,” said Inglenook. “But she has made up her mind. All I can do is let her follow her own destiny. Besides, I have a feeling that isn’t the last we’ll see of Malady Maddergrub.”
Bryony saw Edwin was upset about Maddy’s departure. She thought about saying something to comfort him, but was distracted by the sound of screeching.
She looked round, and saw the screeching was coming from two girls running towards her.
Laughing with joy, Saffy and Jaz threw their arms around Bryony.
Bryony was stunned by her friends’ behaviour. Saffy and Jaz had never treated her like this before. At first she quite liked it, but after thirty seconds of hugging she thought it might be nice to breathe again.
“Hi,” she said, gently pushing her friends away. “Are you two OK?”
“Don’t worry about us,” said Saffy. “When we saw the building collapse we thought you were still inside.”
“We’re so glad your safe,” said Jaz. “We couldn’t bear the thought of anything calamitous happening to our best friend.”
“So we’re friends?” said Bryony, wondering what clams had to do with anything. “Proper friends again?”
“We were never anything else,” said Saffy. “And we are most apologetic should we have given you cause to suspect our motives were ever less than genial towards your personage.”
There was something odd in the way Saffy was talking, but Bryony couldn’t put her finger on it.
“We must celebrate this felicitous circumstance,” said Jaz. “Let us venture into town and avail ourselves of the numerous vending establishments found therein.”
“Um…” Bryony stared at Jaz. “I have no idea what you just said.”
“I think they mean go shopping,” said Edwin.
“That is what I just said.” Jaz frowned. “Did I not just say that, Sapphira?”
“Most coherently,” said Jaz. “Not to mention eloquently and with copious lucidity.”
“I’d like to come,” said Bryony, who was getting a bit of a headache. “Only, I don’t have any money to shop for clothes.”
“I was not suggesting we purc
hase clothes,” said Jaz. “I thought instead we might peruse the shelves of the local bibliographic emporium.”
“A book shop,” said Edwin, before Bryony could ask. “They want to go to a book shop.”
Saffy nodded. “But if you have insufficient monetary reserves for such a venture, perhaps we could confine our visit to the library.”
“The library would indeed be most agreeable,” said Jaz. “And mayhap after we may while away an hour in the local museum?”
“I would find that a most efficacious and stimulating usage of our time,” agreed Saffy.
Bryony stared at her two friends. “Bookshops, libraries, museums. Are you two all right?”
“I have never felt in a more superlative state of health,” said Saffy.
“Me neither,” said Jaz. “Both physically and psychologically.”
Bryony shook her head. “But you’re talking like dweeps.”
“Dweeps?” Saffy wrinkled her nose. “I do not believe there is such a word in contemporary parlance.”
“I can’t understand what you’re talking about,” said Bryony. “Sorry, but I don’t think I could hang out with you.”
“Hang out?” Saffy looked offended. “I do not recall suggesting we participate in hanging anything out?”
“We can’t be friends,” said Bryony. “We’ve got nothing in common. You go to your library, I’ll see you at school next term.”
“School?” Now Jaz looked affronted. “We are too intelligent to go to school. From the start of next term we shall be attending University.”
“I believe Bryony is correct,” said Saffy. “It would seem we have little in common with the likes of her. Come Jazmina, we are wasting precious study time.”
Saffy and Jaz linked arms and strode away.
Bryony turned to Edwin. “What’s got into them?”
“Another result of the experiment,” said Stubby. “When the data transference took place there must have been feedback from the BBC which streamed some knowledge into their brains.”
“And they became geniuses.” Edwin shook his head. “It’s just not fair.”
He looked at Bryony, and noticed her eyes were moistening.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I know they were your friends.”
Bryony sighed. “They were never my friends, they didn’t even like me. And I’m sorry about Maddy.”
Edwin shrugged. “She wasn’t my friend, either. But she was right about one thing. I thought I was alone, but I wasn’t really.”
“Neither of us were.” Bryony found herself smiling at Edwin. “So maybe we could become friends?”
“Maybe.” Edwin found himself smiling back. “We could hang out together.”
Bryony nodded. “But only on one condition.”
“And what’s that?” wondered Edwin.
Bryony grinned. “You put on some trousers.”
Edwin had forgotten that he was half undressed.
“Good idea,” he chuckled. “Inglenook, can you please magic my trousers on.”
Then Bryony realised that might not be a good idea, seeing she was wearing them.
“Why don’t you wait till we get home?” she suggested.
Edwin looked at Bryony, and then noticed something for the first time.
“Hey. You’re wearing my trousers.”
“No I’m not,” lied Bryony. “They’re mine.”
“But I recognise that stain on the left knee.”
“That’s not a stain, it’s a fashion label.”
“I can’t believe it!” Edwin laughed. “Bryony is actually wearing my trousers!”
“I don’t see what’s so funny about that,” said Bryony.
“Nothing,” said Edwin. “Just I’m surprised you got into them.”
Bryony scowled. “Are you saying I’m fat?”
“No,” said Edwin. “Just fat-shaped.”
Edwin laughed, but then stopped when he saw the hurt look on Bryony’s face.
Then Bryony started laughing too. “You know, you’re actually quite funny. And funny is cool.”
Edwin gasped. “So you don’t think I’m a dweep anymore?”
“A dweep?” Bryony grinned. “That’s not even a word.”