13 - The Lady Drains the Lake and Other Magical Missteps

Outskirts of Pelensgrad, Afternoon After the Festival

After walking the entire night and most of the next day, Petra and her pals made it to a small town closed off by a wall constructed with large logs. The gate was open, and two guards eyed the incoming traffic into town. When the group was about to step out of the tree line, Annelise ushered them back.

"What?" Petra said. "It's not like word would have spread this far out here. My son is the king for all they know."

"There is magic," Annelise responded. "Wind Mages can spread their voice on the winds. Surely, the court would have spread word to all the farthest reaches of the kingdom by now."

"I was hoping we could stay at the inn," Tim said. "How cool would that be? We can even set up dummies in another room to fake out anyone who is after us."

He glanced back to Jonathan, who was napping on a floating invisible platform that Aiden had conjured. Jonathan nearly beheaded the dwarf during an incident of droopy eyed tossing of the battle axe and now cradled the weapon while he slept. They all needed sleep.

"The mattresses at the inn are infested with bugs and disease. They are not good places to stay," Annelise said.

"Then why take us to the town?" Petra asked.

"I am not saying we should avoid the town, only that we must take care to disguise ourselves," Annelise explained. "We must rest, for the road ahead will be a long one."

"Great, so how are we going to disguise ourselves?" Petra said.

"Lady Ameria...sorry, Jack knows a spell."

"Huh?" Jack said. "I wasn't paying attention. I was thinking about dancers."

Sissy huffed, "Jack!"

"No, seriously, guys. I think I want to try out for the school musical. I mean, we almost died last night. I may never get a chance."

"Oh, Jack," Sissy said. "You mean it? But what about your dad? He'd disown you."

"Just because my dad was an all-State football champion for three years in a row doesn't mean I have to be. I want to express myself in art, dance, and singing. Is that too much to ask? I mean, what if I died? I'd be just another all-State champion," Jack said in a panic. He was short of breath and pale.

"All right, all right," Petra said. "Calm down. Head between the knees. Count to three."

Jack leaned over, and she patted his back.

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Once his breathing returned to normal, Petra said, "Spell, Jack. Disguise spell. Do you think you can manage that?"

"Yeah," Jack said. "I think so."

"I thought I spotted a body of water a while back," Tim said.

"That will do. He will need more than a puddle for such powerful magic," Annelise added.

***

After a short hike, they were at the banks of a pond. The water was clear and pristine. It was at the base of a waterfall. The trees were thick around the edges, and the forest was still. It might have been relaxing if people weren't trying to kill them.

"Does he really have to bathe naked?" Sissy asked. "Why can't you cast the spell?"

"I am a moon mage," Annelise said. "My power draws from the moon, and it is weaker in the daylight."

"Great," Sissy said. "A lot of good that will do. What about Aiden? He knows magic. We'll build a fire for him."

"Water shapes with a gentle flow. Fire scorches with fury."

"I vote for the gentle flow," Tim said.

"Yeah, babe," Jack said. "I can get naked."

"What's wrong with her...er, him getting naked?" Aiden said.

"I'm not saying that for him," Sissy said. "But the poor woman whose body he is using!"

"To change our visage with magic, he needs direct contact with the water," Annelise said.

"It's okay," Jack said. "I got this."

He pulled on his robe straps, and Sissy held her hand out. She coughed, and all the others turned around. Jack finished removing his clothes and stepped into the water. Annelise took off her clothes and followed.

She held Jack while he floated face up in the water. She gently walked him in as far as she could stand and said, "Now breathe deeply. In and out. Slow, full lungs. Inhale. Exhale. Good. Think of the ocean. Think of the water enveloping you, pulling you down into its depths. There are secrets in the ocean. Hidden from the eyes of the living. Now, harness that energy. Feel the water flow through you."

"I can feel it," Jack said.

"Quick, harness the energy! Use the water's power to hide the truth. Change our visage so none who gazes upon us will recognize us."

Jack sang, "Hidden in ocean depths. Secrets of years past. In the dark of the ocean. My true love's last breath."

Streams of brilliantly sparkling water rose from the pond. They wove intricate patterns in rhythm with the melancholic song. Just as Jack reached a final crescendo, the spouts shot toward everyone in the party. Jonathan woke with a start. For a moment, they were showered with powerful magic. The ancient and endless power of the water washed over them. It evaporated when Jack finished singing.

When it was over, they all still looked like themselves except they were all wearing Clark Kent glasses.

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