Summer's Cauldron (17 page)

Alex knew immediately some magic curse was upon him, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. And without being able to speak, he didn’t know how he could break it.
Who was responsible?
Alex thought as the bicycle began to slow. Maybe the Mad Mages had discovered his spying. As he tried to figure out how not to land on his face when the bike eventually stopped and tipped over, the bicycle shot forward under its own momentum, gaining speed quickly as it tore down the street and around a corner.

Alex heard Nina yell behind him. Alex wanted to yell back. He couldn’t. All he could do was watch from within his rigid body as the magically powered bike careened through the streets, first one turn, then another, until it was clear to Alex where he was headed — the river. Someone was planning to drown him and he couldn’t even scream.

Chapter 13: River Rescue

Alex heard a small whistle wailing nearby. Then he felt a tug in his pocket. The whistles his father had given to him and Nina. She must be blowing hers. Alex could hear the whistle behind him now, echoed through the one in his pocket. It wasn’t close. Not close enough for Nina to save him. There wouldn’t be time for his parents to arrive, either. He needed to think of something. And fast.

The bike whipped around another street corner. He could see Mrs. Grumbleson sitting on her porch stroking her albino cat, but he couldn’t call out. He doubted if he had, whether Mrs. Grumbleson would have come to his aid. Most of the people in town were used to seeing Alex racing dangerously through the streets on his bike. This would seem like nothing new.

Maybe that was the plan,
Alex thought as the bike turned onto Lake Street, the wide road running straight down to the river. Maybe the plan was to make it look like Alex had lost control of his bike and run into the river, drowning when he was unable to swim back to shore. In reality, he would drown because he couldn’t move to swim.

He was fast approaching the river and the old docks lining it. It wouldn’t be long now. He had to think of something. He had to get off the bike. But how? He couldn’t speak to say any of the rune-words he might use to save himself. But did he need to speak? Centaurs could work magic without speaking. Powerful mages could form rune-words in their minds and perform magic as easily as if they had spoken aloud. Isn’t that what he did when he practiced with Batami in astral form? Could it really be that different?

The bike raced across the river road, veered away from the bridge, and barreled onto the old main dock, its thin rubber wheels bouncing along the loose, old boards. There was no more time. Alex concentrated, imaging he was in his astral body, forming the rune-word with his mind. The rune-word for metal. Focusing on the word and on the handlebars of the bike. The metal shaft holding the handlebars to the bike frame turned soft and liquid-like. A bump of the bike as it raced toward the dark black waters of the river separated the handlebars from the front shaft.

Alex yelled silently with satisfaction in his mind. There was only a moment or two left. Just a few feet before the bike flew out over the dock and into the river, taking him down with it. He focused his mind on forming the rune-words for air, and wind and gravity, feeling himself float up above the bike as it sailed out from the edge of the dock and crashed into the water, quickly sinking into the swift-moving Azure River.

Alex floated out over the river, propelled by his previous motion. He watched as his bike sank into the water and drifted downstream. Focusing his mind, he mentally formed the rune-word for motion and guided himself back to the edge of the dock. Nina brought her bike to a sliding stop, jumping from it and running to Alex as he dropped to the weatherworn wooden slats of the wharf.

“Alex!” Nina yelled as she grabbed his face. At her touch, he suddenly found he could move and speak again.

“Hey, Sis,” Alex said. He tried to grin, but it came out as a terrified grimace. He lowered the handlebars to the dock and opened his hands, flexing his fingers.

“What happened?” Nina said, tears in her eyes as she gave him a shove. “You shot off so fast and your legs weren’t moving. I kept calling you. Why didn’t you stop?”

“I couldn’t,” Alex said. “I couldn’t move. Someone was trying to kill me.”

“Alex!”

Alex looked back up the dock toward the town and saw his parents running to him, each carrying a long wooden staff, his mother’s face contorted with fear and anger, his father’s face hard and unreadable. Alex knew those looks.

“Alex,” his mother said again as she and his father came to a stop and knelt beside him. His mother ran her hands over him, looking for wounds, and then threw her arms around him. His father scanned the surroundings, looking from the docks to the street to the river to the bridge and back to his family.

“Are you all right?” his mother asked, releasing him from the bone-crushing grip of her embrace.

“I’m fine,” Alex said, staring at his parents, grateful for their presence. “Now.”

“What happened?” his father asked, placing a hand on Alex’s shoulder.

“Someone tried to kill him,” Nina said, her voice quiet, but filled with anger.

“You’d better tell us everything,” his mother said, briefly cupping his face in her hands.

“At home,” his father said, his eyes still scanning the dock and the street. “We’re in the open here.”

“Right,” his mother said, hauling Alex to his feet.

“Where’s the rest of your bike?” his father asked, picking up the severed handlebars.

“Somewhere down river by now,” Alex said, glancing over his shoulder at the rushing water below the dock. His parents and his sister followed his gaze in silence. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw something on the nearby Ravenstone Bridge spanning the river. A black cloak. When he turned to look, it was gone.

A short while later, Alex and his family sat around the kitchen table eating leftover dessert. Apparently, for his mother, nearly getting killed required apple pie and ice cream.
There must be easier ways to get pie and ice cream
, Alex thought. He explained what had happened and how he had managed to save himself at the last moment. His parents ate in silence for a full minute after he had finished, occasionally glancing at each other, but never looking in his direction.

“This is going to require…” his mother began after setting down her spoon.

“Some serious discussion,” his father said, wiping his chin with his napkin.

“Your father and I will talk about this.”

“And in the morning, we’ll let you know what we’ve decided.”

“If someone is trying to kill you…”

“It may be best for you to stay home.”

“But your presence makes it easier to find the Shadow Wraith’s followers.”

“So, we have to decide if we put your safety first…”

“Or the safety of the whole town.”

“Knowing if the Shadow Wraith is unleashed on the town…”

“It will be unleashed on you.”

Alex’s parents fell silent again and Alex looked back and forth between their faces. Both were concerned, angry, and confused in equal measure.

“I’m glad you guys don’t do that all the time,” Nina said, shaking her head. “Finishing each other’s sentences. That’s freaky. It’s like watching the Kaldon Twins.”

“Why don’t you two…” his mother began.

“Go to bed…” his father continued.

“And we will see you…”

“In the morning…”

“See?” Nina said. “Freaky.”

Alex made no attempt to debate his parents’ decision-making process or plead in favor of not being sequestered at home for some indefinite period. Instead, he hugged and kissed them both goodnight and headed off to bed. It would do no good to argue with them and try to influence their thinking on the matter. He knew from experience that was more likely to result in the decision he least desired. He would have to hope they realized hiding him in the house while the Shadow Wraith’s followers were planning havoc didn’t make much sense. Otherwise, he’d have to find a way to defy them, and he really didn’t want to have to do that. Again.

Nina insisted he sleep with the door open, so she could come to his aid if something happened in the night. Alex didn’t point out she hadn’t been able to do much the last two times someone had tried to kill him. The look on her face and the tightness of the hug she gave him in the hallway before bed were enough to tell him she blamed herself for his near-death debacle at the docks.

“Thanks,” Alex said. “For tonight.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Nina said, her lips curling in an angry pout.

“You’d have thought of something to get me out of the river,” Alex said. “I have complete faith in you as my guard dog.”

“Thanks,” Nina said, her face brightening a little. “I suppose I could have found a fishing rod somewhere.”

“See?” Alex said. “A brilliant idea.”

“A leash would still be easier,” Nina said.

“Go to bed,” Alex said.

“Say hi to Batami for me,” Nina said as she stepped into her room and climbed into bed.

“Night,” Alex said.

Once in bed, he pulled the sheets up over his head and used the shard of glow-wand to read by as he thumbed through his copy of
Spirit Magic Revealed
. He had read the slender book dozens of times, but Batami had been correct when she had said it would only reveal its secrets slowly. Alex doubted he understood even a tenth of what the book explored and explained. However, one passage always intrigued him. He suspected it might be of some help in rooting out the Shadow Wraith’s followers. He found the passage, and read it again. Then again. It was still cryptic and confusing.

See within and see the sight that only sightlessness can see.

See the inner essence and know the inner nature.

See what is sought, but seek only to see the seeker.

Alex read it again. It might mean what he thought it did. However, it might mean something else entirely. Batami would know. He could ask her when they met for their nightly astral lesson. They were supposed to meet soon. Not long.

He yawned. It had been a long day. And he hadn’t had much rest the night before. He would have to rest later. When the Shadow Wraith’s followers had been found. When the Mad Mages had been dealt with. But first Batami and his question. He would ask her first thing. First thing. As soon as he…

“Ick.”

Alex’s eyes fluttered open. He was lying on his stomach in his bed. His mouth felt dry. His sister’s face was close to his own. Too close. She looked disgusted.

“You drooled on your pillow,” Nina said. “Oh, ick! It’s on my hand! I have your drool on my hand!” She wiped her wet fingers on his forehead and wrinkled her nose in revulsion.

“Hey!” Alex said, sitting up in bed. He barely noticed the drool. His forehead was already wet. He was soaked with sweat. It was stiflingly hot. It looked like it was going to be another blistering day.

“You overslept,” Nina said. Alex looked at the clock and then back to his sister. It was late. She was already dressed.

“Hurry up,” Nina said, walking out the bedroom door. “You’ll miss breakfast.”

Alex jumped out of bed, hastily pulling on his clothes. Missing breakfast wasn’t what concerned him. He had missed something more important — his astral meeting with Batami. He must have dozed off and slept too deeply. Why hadn’t Batami come to his dreams? She had before when he had fallen into a deep sleep rather than the light trance of astral travel. Maybe something had happened to her. That didn’t seem possible. There was one way to find out.

“I have to go see Batami,” Alex said a few minutes later while seated at the kitchen table with his parents. He shoved a spoonful of oatmeal leaden with dried cherries, pieces of walnut, and shredded coconut into his mouth.

“What happened last night?” his father asked before taking a sip from a glass of milk.

“I feel asleep,” Alex said after he swallowed.

“You’re pushing yourself too hard,” his mother said with a frown.

“I can push him for a while, instead, if that helps,” Nina said, her face bright and mischievous.

“This brings up the question of your safety,” his father said.

“Your father and I…” his mother began.

“Had a long discussion last night…” his father continued.

“About you…”

“And we are in agreement…”

“That your safety…”

“Is the same…”

“As the town’s safety.”

“You’re doing that freaky thing again,” Nina said. Alex shot her a warning look while their mother and father frowned at her.

“So we have decided…”

“That as much as we would like to lock you up…”

“To keep you safe…”

“And to keep you out of trouble…”

“It might be better to follow our earlier plan…”

“With some conditions.”

“What conditions?” Alex asked, trying to keep his excitement out of his voice.

“Nina is with you at all times,” his mother said.

“As well as your club,” his father added.

“Guild,” Alex and Nina said in unison.

“Whatever,” his mother said. “We’re willing to let you out our sight only because we know our presence will make it harder to find the Shadow Wraith’s followers.”

“They’re not likely to show their faces with a famous warlock hanging around you,” his father said, looking at his mother. “And me being with you won’t help, either.”

“So stay with the Guild and keep those whistles handy,” his mother said, giving his father a smile and taking his hand.

“Everywhere,” his father said. “Take Ben and Clark to the restroom with you.”

“Yuck,” Nina said.

“We were going to make it your job,” his mother said.

“Mom, I’m eating,” Nina said, her face scrunching up with distaste.

“Thanks,” Alex said to his parents.

“Don’t make us regret it,” his father said.

“And don’t do anything reckless,” his mother said.

“Seriously, Mom?” Nina said. “Who are we talking about?”

“I’ll be extra careful,” Alex said, trying to sound responsible as he took another bite of oatmeal. His parents glanced at each other and frowned. Maybe he had sounded excited instead of responsible.