The Magical Match

  “Let’s look over there,” Blue said, indicating some tables closer to the river.

  “I saw Estel talking to an ogre I’ve never met,” Cory told him as they started to walk. “Do you know who he is?”

  “That’s Grog,” said Blue. “He just moved here from the Deep Woods. Be careful around him. The ogres who live there are still mostly wild.”

  “Why isn’t Estel with Macks?”

  Blue leaned over to whisper in her ear. “They’ve had a big fight. Estel isn’t speaking to Macks right now.”

  “Isn’t this the kind of thing that can make an ogre go on a rampage?” asked Cory.

  “It used to be, and sometimes still is,” said Blue. “Macks is handling it really well.”

  They were only a few yards from the river when they found two seats at a table. To Cory’s delight, Serelia Quirt was there, along with her water-nymph protégé Rina, Rina’s parents, and her new baby brother.

  “Hello!” Serelia said when she saw Cory and Blue. “Please, sit with us.”

  “Happy birthday!” said Minerva, Rina’s mother. “This is a lovely party. The food is marvelous and the weather is perfect. To top it off, we even found a table by the water.”

  “It can’t get any better than this,” Rina’s father agreed.

  “I’m glad you could come,” said Cory.

  The baby squealed and flailed his pudgy arms.

  “I haven’t seen your new baby yet,” Cory told them when Minerva started to rock him. “He’s adorable!”

  The baby found his fist. He sucked on it for a moment, then pulled it out and began to wail. “Pardon me,” Minerva said over the crying baby. “I’m going to walk around a bit.”

  When she got up, her husband did, too, running after her with the diaper bag.

  “How are your lessons going?” Cory asked Rina.

  “Great!” the girl replied. “Serelia has taught me a lot!”

  “She’s a very quick learner,” said Serelia, gazing fondly at Rina. “And a pleasure to teach.”

  “Whatever happened with your investigation into the kraken attack?” Blue asked.

  Serelia sighed. “I still don’t have a clue as to who was behind it. I hoped that the Water Nymph Guild would help, but they’re dragging their feet.”

  “Serelia is going to run for president of the guild again,” said Rina. “She was president a long time ago, but she thinks they need her even more now. The man who’s running the guild is as useful as a leaky bucket.”

  Serelia laughed and patted the girl’s hand. “We know where your loyalties lie! But it is true. I’m going to run for president and I—”

  There was a loud splash and people seated beside the river started to talk in excited voices. “Did you see that? A leopard just caught a fish.”

  “There’s another leopard over there!”

  “I want to go see!” cried Rina.

  As more people hurried to the water’s edge, Serelia got to her feet. “Then let’s go investigate,” she said, taking the girl’s hand.

  Cory had just taken her first bite of food when Daisy arrived with a young man wearing a bowl-shaped haircut and a silver lip ring. Daisy had been Cory’s friend since they were little girls. They were both members of Zephyr.

  “Happy birthday, Cory!” Daisy exclaimed. “Imagine, your very first birthday party. I wanted to give you one when we were in Junior Fey School, but your mother wouldn’t let me. She said there’s no reason to celebrate getting older. We all have to do it, but we shouldn’t pretend to be happy about it.”

  Taking a seat across from Cory, she pointed at the young man and said, “This is my new boyfriend.”

  The young man reached out to shake Blue’s hand. “I’m Ptolomy Ptuttle,” he said, pronouncing the Ps in his name.

  “Ptolomy is a chef,” said Daisy.

  “I specialize in soups,” he said. “I’m planning to open my own restaurant as soon as I can get the funds. I’m going to name it ‘Soups On.’ I don’t suppose you’d like to be one of my backers? I have a great idea for Summer Soup. I’m going to include freshly mown grass and dandelions. They’re the most summery things I know.”

  “What about strawberries?” suggested Cory.

  “Great idea!” said Ptolomy. “Grass, dandelions, and strawberries! If I include strawberries, will you give me money? My restaurant is going to be a hit. My friends have been telling me so for years. I’m going to give Jack Horner and his Shady Nook their first real competition.”

  Cory had opened her mouth to reply, when Blue said, “Uh-oh. We’re in for it now!”

  When Cory turned around, she saw Grog kissing Estel. Macks was standing among a group of other ogres, his face turning redder and redder when he saw what Grog was doing.

  Suddenly, all of Macks’s self-control was gone. He went berserk, roaring at the top of his lungs, “Get your filthy paws off my girl!” A moment later he was on top of Grog, pounding him with both fists, while Estel stood to the side, watching open-mouthed. And then Grog started to fight back, pummeling Macks as they rolled around on the ground.

  While most of the crowd tried to get out of the way, the other ogres ran toward Macks and Grog. Two ogres tried to separate them, but went flying back when Macks punched them.

  “I didn’t know that Macks was that strong,” Cory said to Blue.

  “Ogres are exceptionally strong when they go on a rampage,” Blue told her.

  Melter and another ogre tried to pull Macks off Grog. Macks threw them both off his back. Melter crashed onto the table, and Blue and Ptolomy Ptuttle fell out of their chairs. When Ptolomy got up, he ran off, leaving Daisy to follow him.

  Cory shook her head. Daisy never had been able to pick very good boyfriends or want to stay with them for long. Cory wondered what had happened with Jonas McDonald. She had introduced him to Daisy herself. Even though she knew they weren’t a perfect match, he was far better than anyone Daisy ever chose. So far, Cory had been unable to see Daisy in a vision with anyone. When she tried again, she still couldn’t see her friend’s match. Even so, she wasn’t going to give up.

  “You sure throw a great party!” the Bigfoot told Cory as he stood and shook himself.

  Cory looked back at Macks, who had pulled up a twenty-foot tree and was using it to club Grog. Rina screamed when Grog landed at her feet.

  “That’s enough of that!” Serelia said. Pointing at the river, she brought up a column of water, arcing it over the heads of the people in the crowd and dumping it full force on Macks. The ogre howled and sputtered as the water smashed him to the ground.

  When the water finally let up and Macks got to his feet, dripping with water and blood, Estel ran to him, crying, “You really do love me!” and threw her arms around him.

  A cheer went up from the crowd, and people began to applaud. Hearing this, Grog growled and looked as if he wanted to continue the fight, but five ogres and Melter picked him up and tossed him into the river.

  Cory was helping Blue pick up pieces of the smashed table when she felt a tap on her shoulder. “I told you ogres were rowdy,” said her grandmother. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice about inviting them.”

  Deidre was walking away with a smug look on her face when Cory had a vision. This time she saw Macks and Estel, and knew that for once she might not need to do anything.

  “Macks and Estel really are meant for each other,” she told Blue.

  Blue glanced at the two ogres, who were still kissing despite Macks’s injuries. “I know. And I think they’ve finally figured it out, too.”

  “Yes, but I mean they’re really meant for each other,” said Cory.

  “Did you see them in a vision?” Blue asked.

  Cory nodded. “Just now. But I think this time I can leave it up to them. It looks as if they’re doing fine on their own.”

  A familiar song began to play. Cory glanced at the house and saw that Zephyr had set up their instruments on the terrace. They had started with “Fairy Spring,”
a song that didn’t require drums, but Cory knew that they would need her soon.

  Alecks, Twark, and Skweely walked up and stopped in front of Cory. “We’ll take care of the broken furniture,” said Alecks, Macks’s brother. “This is your birthday. You have better things to do.”

  The three ogres shooed Cory and Blue away, but they hadn’t gone far when Cory spotted someone she didn’t want to see. “Oh, no,” she told Blue. “My mother just showed up.”

  “I was afraid she’d come even if we didn’t send her an invitation,” said Blue. “I know it’s virtually impossible, but try not to let her upset you.”

  “I suppose there isn’t time to hide in the crowd,” Cory said, looking around.

  “It’s too late,” Blue replied. “She’s already headed this way. She brought Officer Deeds with her, too.”

  “I can’t believe you had a party like this and didn’t invite your own mother,” Delphinium said in a voice meant to carry.

  “Cory didn’t send out the invitations,” said Blue. “It was a surprise birthday party.”

  “I’ve been telling Delphinium that the invitation must have arrived in her message basket, but she threw it out by accident. That is what happened, isn’t it?” said Officer Deeds, the goblin FLEA officer whom Cory had recently matched with her mother. Although he was shorter than Cory, the goblin’s bulging forehead, long, crooked nose and bristling eyebrows made him appear formidable. The stern look he gave Blue was as strong as a command.

  “Yes, of course, sir,” said Blue.

  “Humph!” said Delphinium. “I had to come see you sooner or later, Cory. Wilburton and I are going to have a traditional goblin wedding, so you’ll have to be involved.”

  “I really don’t think—” Cory began.

  “I don’t care what you think!” Delphinium declared. “All my female relatives have to take part. Now, I assume my mother is here. I have to tell her, too, and I might as well do it now.”

  “She never listens to me, does she?” Cory said to Blue as her mother walked away.

  “Not since I’ve known her,” Blue replied, shaking his head.

  CHAPTER

  6

  Cory had to skip breakfast in order to get to band practice on time the next morning, and was still yawning when she climbed onto Macks’s solar cycle, Lucille. “Creampuff sent this for you,” Macks said, handing Cory a bag.

  Cory peeked into the bag and took out a blueberry muffin. “Wonderful!” she said. “I’ll have to thank her. Would you like some?”

  When she offered the ogre the bag, he grinned and took one. “I got up extra early to eat breakfast, but I can always eat more of Creampuff’s cooking. That putti sure can bake!”

  It wasn’t easy riding on the motorcycle and eating, but Cory managed. As they rode through the still-dark town, then up the mountain to Olot’s cave, she started thinking about the song she’d been working on. She wondered if she should share it with her bandmates during rehearsal or wait for another day.

  They had almost reached Olot’s cave when she thought to ask Macks, “Are you going home again after you drop me off?”

  “Not today,” said Macks. “After you told me about the rehearsal, I offered to take Estel on a picnic. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m going to propose. I figured we’d waited long enough.”

  “That’s wonderful!” Cory told him. “Did you get her a ring?”

  “Ogres don’t wear rings,” said Macks. “We get tattoos when we get married. It’s part of the wedding ceremony. So is getting drunk and smashing things. I’d invite you, but I don’t think you’d like it.”

  “I appreciate that,” said Cory. “And you’re right. That’s one special occasion that I’d prefer to skip.”

  The sun was just coming up when Cory got off the solar cycle and got a good look at Macks’s face. Grog had broken Macks’s nose in the fight. It was swollen and he had two black eyes. He was also missing a front tooth. “Oh, Macks!” exclaimed Cory. “Does it hurt?”

  “Naw, I hardly feel it,” he said, but he winced when he touched his nose. “Estel says it makes me more handsome. She says she doesn’t want me to get it fixed. It will always remind her how much I love her if I don’t get it straightened.”

  “I’m glad you’re marrying her,” said Cory. “You two belong together.”

  “Are you saying that as a friend or as Cupid?” Macks asked.

  “Both,” Cory told him.

  Macks grinned. “Then I know I’m doing the right thing! How long have you known?”

  “Since yesterday,” said Cory. “I had a vision of you and Estel during the party.”

  “I’ve been such a lunkhead,” Macks said. “I should have proposed long before this!”

  The door to the cave opened and Chancy looked out. “Oh, good! You’re here. You’re the last one to arrive.”

  “I have to go,” Cory told Macks. “I don’t know what time we’ll be finished.”

  “No hurry,” said Macks. “I’ll be back by late afternoon. If you’re not ready, I’ll take a nap out here under the trees.”

  Everyone was tuning up when Cory followed Chancy into the cave. Olot’s wife was already developing a baby bump and couldn’t have looked happier. She pointed to a table where she’d set out doughnuts and pieces of fruit, but Cory wasn’t hungry. Hurrying to her drum set, Cory started her warm-up exercises.

  The band started with an old song, “Shooting Stars,” then moved on to “The Last Flight of Silver Streak.” They were partway through the song when a gong sounded and Chancy got up to answer the door.

  “I just had that gong installed,” said Olot. “I might have to change it before the baby is born, though. Chancy says the gong is too loud.”

  “She’s right,” said Cheeble. “My mother had fourteen kids. You don’t want to wake a sleeping baby if you can avoid it.”

  When Chancy came back into the room, she had two ogres with her.

  “Everyone, I want you to meet Twark and Skweely,” said Olot. “I talked to them at Cory’s party yesterday when I saw what a great job they did cleaning up the broken furniture. I offered them jobs and they accepted. They’re going to help us haul our instruments around.”

  “New roadies!” cried Cheeble. “Great!”

  “Do we really need two?” Skippy asked.

  Olot nodded. “It will get us set up a lot faster if we have two. Chancy can’t lift heavy things anymore and I have to handle the administrative end when we go places, so I can’t do it, either. We’ve been getting a lot more requests since we played at those ogre parties and we keep getting more every day. Everyone, take a break. I want to show Twark and Skweely what they’ll need to do.”

  While the other members of Zephyr went to the table to get food, Cory took the song she’d written out of her pocket. She hadn’t had a chance to try the song on her drums because she kept her instruments at Olot’s cave. Using a light touch, she beat out the rhythm of the song, going over the more difficult parts a couple of times. When she’d finished playing it all the way through twice, she looked up and saw that everyone was watching her.

  “What was that?” asked Daisy.

  Cory shrugged. “Just something I’ve been working on. It’s not finished yet. I mean, it is, but I want to polish it a bit.”

  “It sounded great to me!” said Perky.

  “Me, too,” Cheeble announced. “Can we try it?”

  “It really isn’t ready yet,” protested Cory.

  “I liked it!” Twark said. “But it sounds kind of sad.”

  “It is sad,” Cory told them. “Zephyr plays so many upbeat songs that I thought I’d write something really different.”

  “Let’s see what we can do with it,” said Olot. “Cory, can you teach it to us?”

  “I guess,” she replied. “It’s called ‘Lily Rose’ and is about a fairy who lost her love in the Troll Wars. It starts like this.”

  “Do you mind if we hang around and listen?” asked Skweely.

&nb
sp; “Go right ahead,” said Olot.

  The two ogres sat on the couch with Chancy while Cory sang the song through. She sang it again a second and third time until everyone had gotten it. When they knew the words, they picked up their instruments, taking their cues from Cory. They practiced the song until they all thought they had it, then played it one more time. As the last notes faded away, Cory heard loud sobbing. Twark and Skweely were both crying. Chancy was weeping into one of the pillows from the couch. Tears streamed down the faces of Skippy’s two girlfriends.

  “That was so sad!” cried Skweely. “I loved it!”

  “I did, too!” blubbered Twark. “And I never like sad songs!”

  “It was b … b … beautiful!” Chancy wailed.

  “Wow!” said Cory. “I didn’t know it would have such a big effect!” She turned to talk to her friends and saw that they were crying as well.

  “I think we should take a break for lunch,” Olot said, sniffling.

  Chancy was still dabbing at her eyes, so Cory got up to help Olot. She followed him into the kitchen carrying the empty platters from the table. “That was some song you wrote,” said Olot. “Ogres don’t usually cry. In fact, I think that’s the first time I’ve cried since I was a kid.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Cory. “Maybe we shouldn’t play it in public.”

  “Are you kidding! It was great!” Olot told her. “I can’t wait to play it again. Chancy tells me that everyone needs a good cry now and then.”

  “After lunch, why don’t we play a happy song,” Cory suggested.

  Olot nodded. “Like ‘June Bug Jamboree.’ ”

  By the time they carried out the sandwiches that Chancy had made earlier, everyone was looking more cheerful. “Skweely and I should go,” said Twark.

  “Wouldn’t you like to eat first?” asked Chancy. “I made plenty of sandwiches.”

  “If you insist,” Skweely said, going to the front of the line.

  During lunch, all anyone could talk about was Cory’s new song. Apparently, Cory was the only one who hadn’t cried. When lunch was over, Olot asked the band members what they wanted to play next and everyone agreed that “June Bug Jamboree” was the best song to play after “Lily Rose.” Twark and Skweely stayed until midafternoon.