Behind the Sorcerer's Cloak (15 page)

Mr. Smythe opened the door and walked down the corridor. “Owen…Owen, where are you?”

Chantel heard the raised voices within seconds of Holly leaving the bedroom. She flung herself across the bed and pulled the pillow over her ears. “I hate arguing. Hate it, hate it, hate it!” she muttered into the quilt.

She felt sick. Sick of worrying about Adam. Sick of being yelled at by her mother. Sick of Holly and Owen not believing what she was seeing or hearing. Chantel lifted one side of the pillow. She could still hear arguments. She muffled her ears again, wishing she had a magic wand to make everything all right. They needed Myrddin's wand, his magic staff. If they found that it would help everyone. Myrddin would have his full powers back.

Chantel rolled on her back and gazed up at the ceiling.

Here she was in the Isle of Man. So was Myrddin's staff; he'd said so. Adam couldn't get it because he was captured. What if she could find it? Then Myrddin could magic everything all right.

Chantel closed her eyes tight and tried out her new skill at mindspeak
. Er
…
Manannan
…
are you there? It's
me
…
Chantel
…
I'm Adam's sister. I'm a Magic Child too.
She held her breath.

Welcome, Chantel. Manannan hears you.

Chantel received a similar mind picture to the one she'd seen on the plane. A white-haired old man stood listening on the heather-clad slopes of a mountain she now knew was Barrule.

She sat up and tried to gather her thoughts.

Manannan, we need help.

I know child. The Darkness deepens. Even the people
of Mann grow restless and irritable.

We need Myrddin's staff. I think you know where it
is.

I do.

Can you get it?

No. Only the Myrddin can handle his staff. Or someone
chosen by him.

Could a Magic Child get it?

That is the simplest way.

Adam can't. He was the Magic Child chosen by
Myrddin, but he's been caught. We need the staff to help
him.

That is correct, child.

I'm a Magic Child too. Could I get it?

You could. The staff is safe. It lies where Zorianna discarded it, within the secret passages 'neath Pheric's Castle.
If you have the courage to face those who reside there, the
staff will allow the touch of a Magic Child. But you must
never wield it. Only the Myrddin can wield his staff.

How do I go to the passages?

Like this
… Chantel heard Manannan take a deep breath and blow.

The bedroom filled with a whirling wind that surrounded, lifted and swept her away.

The wind set her down gently.

Everything was black. Ahh, her eyes were closed. Chantel opened them. Everything was still black.

She shivered. It was one thing to have an idea. It was quite another to carry it out.

She didn't dare move, not knowing what was around her. She stood still in the endless darkness.

She became aware of sounds, normal sounds. First, she heard waves in the distance. They pounded and hissed regularly as though beating against rock. They reminded her of a dream that had brought comfort. Chantel smiled slightly. “Hello, Gaia's heartbeat,” she whispered. Her fear receded a little—water was part of the Lady's magic.

Her heart lightened.

The second sound she identified was more water. It dripped as though from the roof of a cave or passage and she became aware of the walls of rock around her, enclosing her, but also protecting her and providing a firm foundation for her feet.

The muffled cries of gulls also brought comfort. She knew where she was now, in a passage beneath the castle on Pheric's Isle. She pictured the gulls wheeling above the walls.

Chantel breathed more easily. She was surrounded by three symbols of Earth Magic, and if she kept light in her heart, she had the fourth.

“I must remember the light,” she whispered. Her words echoed softly down the passage. “I must remember the light,” she said again, more firmly. “Earth is below me, water is around me, air is above me and I hold light in my heart.”

On the floor in front of her, a tiny gleam broke the darkness.

Chantel bent and picked it up. It was a hair, a glowing white hair: a tiny light in a great dark. She held it high.

“I have light,” she said, confidently.

“You chose light,” a voice answered. A white shape moved toward her.

“Manxie.” Chantel held out her arms, and the cat leapt into them. “You're part of the light. You're part of Earth Magic.”

“I am Earth Magic.” The cat purred and nuzzled her cheek. “And you have chosen to follow the light. Keep my hair. You may use it again. Come, follow me.”

“All right,” said Chantel, joy in her voice.

“You will have to let me go,” said the cat with a slight sniff.

Chantel chuckled and relaxed her arms.

The cat sprang down and walked ahead, her fur's soft light illuminating the passage.

Chantel followed through the twists and turns of the secret way.

The cat sat. “We are here.”

“Where?” said Chantel.

“At the place where Zorianna discarded the staff.”

Chantel shuddered. “I don't want to meet Zorianna.”

“She's not here,” said the cat dismissively. “Only the staff.”

Chantel peered into the darkness. She saw nothing.

“The staff is hiding. You must find it.”

“Staff,” Chantel called, not knowing what else to do, “I'm a Magic Child, a friend of Myrddin's. I've come to take you back to him.”

Nothing stirred.

Chantel tried again. “Staff, Adam unlocked you from the Crystal Cave. I'm his sister, Chantel.”

No response.

Chantel considered the problem. She needed Earth Magic to locate the staff. She didn't have water or a candle or anything to do a ritual. The only thing she could use was her voice. Equus had said it was her magic tool.

She tried Holly's chant.

“Earth support me,
Air surround me,
Fire enlighten me
Water cleanse me.”

“Earth support me,
Air surround me,
Fire enlighten me,
Water cleanse me.”

The darkness lightened slightly, a feeling of peace surrounded her, but the staff did not betray its presence.

Chantel tried again. She voiced the chant they had learned in Avebury.

“Light and Dark, Dark and Light,
Sun by day, Moon by night,
Man and woman, adult, child,
Bird and beast both tame and wild,
Past and present, far and near,
Patience, anger, hope and fear,
Frantic movement, contemplation,
The Dance of Stones, a celebration!” she finished.

The cat purred and wove around her ankle.
The staff remained hidden.

“Nothing's working, Manxie,” said Chantel. “Equus is my Wise One, not Myrddin. I don't know how to call things for Myrddin. Oh, Equus, I wish you were here to help.” She tried sending mindspeak.
Please, Equus, talk to me. Can't
you help? Can't you hear me?

Silence.

What's wrong with everyone? Talk to me, Equus. I know
you've gone to Barrule. I heard you galloping there.

More silence.

Chantel stamped in frustration. She sent out a general blast of mindspeak.

Equus, Ava, Myrddin, Manannan
…
Please
…
someone
answer me?

I am the only one who can hear, Child. A web protects
Pheric's Isle's magic realm. Only my magic can freely flow
through it.

Manannan. Thank goodness! Can you help me?

I can try, Child. What is your need?

How do I call Myrddin's staff?

I have heard Myrddin call up his magic with a verse.
Try it, Child, then use your own words.

A talisman to hone the mind,
A circlet old to hold and bind,
A staff to smite with hidden might,
Beads to link and hold the light.

Thank you, Manannan! Thank you.
Chantel sent a wave of gratitude and returned to her task.

She began to chant…
“A talisman to hone the mind,
A circlet old to hold and bind,
A staff to smite with hidden might,
Beads to link and hold the light…
In Myrddin's name I call you, staff. Myrddin needs you. Please let me take you to him.”

The staff flew out of the darkness, its tip shining like a shooting star.

Chantel's hand shot up and caught it. The staff shook and quivered at her touch, and settled into the crook of her arm.

“Thank you, Manannan. And thank you, Manxie, for bringing me here.” Chantel bent to stroke the cat. “Can we go back to Myrddin now?”

A loud rumbling growl startled her.

The cat sat.

“Is that a dog?” Chantel peered through the darkness.

The growl rumbled again, and two red eyes blinked at Chantel's knee level.

“You're a very black dog,” said Chantel. “I can't see your body at all.” She chuckled. “You must be as dark as the darkness.”

She heard a faint sound as though a large furry animal was stirring. A scrabble of claws on rock sounded as though it was rising to its feet. The eyes blinked again, this time level with Chantel's head.

The growl was a loud ominous rumble.

“Goodness,” said Chantel. “You're humongous. Why are you so scared of me?” she chuckled. “You shouldn't be. I'm just a kid, and you're so big.” She paused as she remembered something Holly had told her. “Are you the Black Dog that helps protect the Lady? The one Holly heard in her dream?”

The growl died away. The darkness stirred and snuffled.

“Here, dog, smell me.” Chantel held out her free hand. “I'm a friend. I'm one of the Magic Children come to help the Lady. I'm taking Myrddin's staff back to him.”

A cold nose sniffed Chantel's hand. A wet lick followed.

Chantel laughed and dried off her hand on her pants.

“I've never seen that before,” said the cat stiffly. “He'll be turning white if he's not careful. Come!” She stood, skirted around the Moddy Dhoo and resumed her journey.

Chantel followed but kept turning to look. She could sense the Moddy Dhoo padding at her heels, but he stayed blended with the dark.

Finally the cat stopped. “This was your place of arrival, child, so it is your place of departure. Remember, you may need my light again.”

Chantel stroked the cat's head. “Thanks for your help, Manxie. I'd have been really scared without you.”

A low whine sounded behind her. Chantel turned and put out her hand. “Thank you too, Black Dog. I'm glad we made friends. I'll tell Myrddin you're still protecting the Lady.” She felt rough fur against her palm and patted it.

Manannan, are you there? I have the staff.

So I see
. There was amusement in Manannan's voice.
You chose the Light and tamed the Dark. You have useful
talents, child.

Chantel smiled, not sure what he meant.
I like dogs
and cats. I like all ani
… The wind blew and swirled her away.

She landed with a bump in the bedroom.

Chantel walked into the living area. “Here—stop arguing everyone.” She held out the staff to Myrddin.