Peter started to jump up and down. “HE’S STAYING! HE’S STAYING! HE’S STAYING!” he shouted with excitement.

Helen was surprised and at the same time delighted to see that Peter had taken to Delsani so quickly. Usually, it would take longer for him to even build up the courage to say a single sentence to a stranger, never mind wanting them to stay for dinner.

“You two go into the living room and watch some more cartoons for a couple of minutes, and I’ll set the table,” said Helen.

“Can I help?” asked Peter.

“I thought you wanted to watch cartoons with Daniel,” said Helen hopefully, as every time Peter took hold of anything breakable, he would drop it – unintentionally, of course. Helen did not mind when Peter had his powers, for one look from her and he would fix the plate in a second.

“No,” said Peter, “I want to help you,” he said, his lip curling as he spoke.

“We can both help,” said Delsani. “And don’t worry about any accidents.” the Wizard winked at Helen, as she had told him about Peter’s butter fingers.

“Fine, you can help,” said Helen sounding relieved.

In the end, Helen thought it would be better, not to mention, safer to put Peter in charge of the place mats. She put out the cutlery, and Delsani set out the plates. When all was done and the food was out, they sat down to eat, and Delsani had only begun to swallow a piece of one of his juicy roast potatoes when he saw smoke rise from the floor and twirl up almost into a thin pillar. The Wizard started to choke.

“Are you all right?” asked Helen.

Delsani took a drink and quickly said. “Helen I think that you should take Peter into the living room.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” she asked, concerned.

“There’s smoke.”

“Smoke?” repeated Helen. Then she realized what he meant. She grabbed Peter by the arm. “Come on, Peter, into the living room quickly.”

“I HAVEN’T FINISHED!” the boy squealed as his mother dragged him out of the room.

The smoke cleared, and standing there was a young Wizard.

He was shorter than most and was wearing orange and red robes, which Delsani knew were the colors of a trainee council member.

“Hello,” said the young Wizard. “My name is Olperad, trainee of the Council of Wiz-Wit and I’m looking for an old Wizard by the name of Delsani. You wouldn’t happen to know where he is.”

“I don’t know what the heck you think you’re doing. But you better have a very good excuse for this,” said Delsani angrily, though low enough so Helen and Peter could not hear.

“Excuse me, but I doubt that I have to explain myself to you. For as I told you I’m a member of the Council of Wiz-Wit,” said Olperad.

“I am the old Wizard,” said Delsani, as though offended by the way this boy described him, “and if you wouldn’t call me old Wizard from this moment on, it would be much appreciated.”

“I’m sorry sir, you must excuse me. I didn’t realize that it was you,” said Olperad apologetically.

“Very well,” said Delsani, “and as for your excuse for just barging into this house, you almost exposed the Wiz-Wit world to the boy that I have worked so hard to keep in the dark. Then there’s the fact that you could have also exposed our world to a Normal, who in turn could have had no prior knowledge of Wizard and Witch kind, in which case you were lucky that it were I.”

“The Grand Wizard sent me,” said the young Wizard.

“I find that very doubtful, for he would not jeopardize all that we have done so foolishly,” said Delsani.

“It’s true,” said Olperad.

Delsani threw the lad a stern look.

“No, I mean, not that the Grand Wizard is foolish, but he did send me here to find you. The enemy has attacked the Elven Sanctuary of Faluice.”

Delsani stood staring at the young Wizard as though hoping that this was some kind of sick joke.

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Olperad said nothing.

“How many were wounded, and how many are dead?” Delsani asked quickly.

“There were no survivors,” said Olperad mournfully.

Delsani’s face turned a light green, as though he was about to be sick.

“And the Grand Wizard told me to tell you that you are needed. He also told me to tell you that Feudel, the master of Haludon, was in the sanctuary at the time of the attack.”

Delsani now stood staring at the young Wizard as though there had been some mistake. “Give me a few seconds. I would rather not leave without a word to the queen,” said the old Wizard.

“Yes, of course. However, the Grand Wizard said to be hasty. I, for one, do not want to keep him waiting.”

“Then you may go and tell the Grand Wizard that I won’t be long, to insure that he knows that I got his message,” said Delsani.

“But, sir, he said not to return without you,” said Olperad.

“Then you may wait for me,” said Delsani loudly. “Take a seat if you like. And whatever you do, don’t leave this room.”

Olperad nodded and sat on the dinning chair closest to him. Delsani was just about to open the kitchen door when, “Wait!” Olperad called out. “I almost forgot to tell you. I was told that Ulicoth has sent an assassin to find the King. Some of our agents were sent to track the assassin. He is now believed to be in City New York. Is that right? I’m not very good with all these strange names the Normals keep coming up with. And the Grand Wizard has also suspended almost all Phazing windows except the ones you and I will use.”

“Very well, I’ll be back soon,” Delsani went into the living room. Helen was sitting on the couch, and Peter as before was sitting on the floor. Helen had not realized that Delsani was in the room.

“Don’t sit so close to the T.V. Peter; you’ll get square eyes,” she said.

Peter put his hands on the floor and pushed himself back a little. His eyes never left the television as he did this.

“Don’t slide back on your bum like that or you’ll ruin your trousers,” said Helen.

Still Peter did not take his eyes off of the television.

While watching him, Delsani could not help thinking that he might be addicted to this Normal devise. Then the Wizard remembered why he was there and gave a light cough to make his presence known. Helen looked up at the Wizard. Before she had a chance to open her mouth, Delsani said, “Can I talk with you Helen?”

“Sure.” She got up and they went to the other side of the room where they stood whispering to each other in case Peter might hear.

“So who was it? And what does he or she want?” asked Helen.

“He is a trainee Council member. And he has news of an attack that took place in Dorminya. I’m sorry, I can’t say any more, for I don’t have the time, though I would like to ask one thing.”

“Sure, anything.”

“City New York,” he said hesitantly, as though unsure of the name. “It is on the other side of this America, is that right?”

“Yes it is. And it’s New York City. But why?” said Helen with a blank expression on her face. “Has it something to do with the attack?”

“Yes,” said the Wizard. “Personally, I believe you should be coming with us. You are the Queen.”

“There’s something going on Delsani. Tell me,” said Helen. “Unless you want me to make it an order, as you just said I’m the Queen.”

“You’re right. There is something, but don’t worry; I’ll see to it,” said Delsani confidently. “And now there really is no time. I must go.”

The Wizard went back into the kitchen.

Helen followed close behind. “I don’t like being kept in the dark, especially if what is left of my family is in danger,” said Helen hotly.

At those words, guilt went prickling through the old Wizard, for although Helen had told him that she did not blame him for John’s death, it still weighed heavily on his heart. The thought of his own son’s death had now come to his mind, and he knew how it felt, as he himself did not know of the danger his son had faced.

“Very well,” he said.

“But we can’t stay. The Grand Wizard bid you to come with me as soon as you heard his message’ said Olperad loudly. “This, this Normal will just have to wait,” he said stiffly.

“If you’re not careful, this Normal, who just happens to be your Queen, will hang you upside down by your pants,” said Helen harshly.

Delsani laughed lightly, “Go on without me,” he said, “and tell Jaucal that I’ll be there as soon as I’m finished. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“I don’t know why the Grand Wizard holds you in such high regard,” said Olperad.

“Well, I suggest that while you wait for me, you do a little research. Now go.”

“I’m a trainee Council member. You have no right to talk to me like that. I have three Comtant awards and five Frue grades. For all you know, I could be a future Grand Wizard. So if I were you, I’d be careful,” said Olperad confidently.

“Very well, would you please go?” said Delsani and waved his hand dismissively, knowing that would anger the boy even more.

“Fine, but I’m telling the Grand Wizard about the way you’ve treated me,” said Olperad.

“You do that. Now bug off,” said Helen. ‘And just for reference, that was an order.”

Olperad scowled at the old Wizard as he Phazed back to Dorminya, and after they made sure that Peter was all right on his own, Delsani and Helen sat down, and the Wizard told her all that Olperad had told him.

“A Druid’s Assassin?” said Helen. “But why doesn’t he send his own people?”

“His people would get nowhere, for they would rip through this world until we would destroy them. But this Druid’s Assassin, as you called it, would be trained and taught to blend into this world so it would be harder to find,” explained Delsani. The Wizard saw the concerned expression on Helen’s face. “Don’t worry, our people are tracking it as we speak, and that’s exactly why I have to go.”

“Okay,” said Helen, “but you’ll tell me what happens won’t you?”

“Yes, of course I will,” said Delsani. “Now Helen, listen carefully, I don’t want you or Peter to leave the house at all, okay?”

“Okay,” said Helen.

“And ask Saren to come round and then tell her everything that I’ve just told you,” said Delsani.

“Wait. Saren said that she was going to pick Dorana up from school,” said Helen.

“She will still be in this world,” said Delsani, “for Olperad told me that Jaucal had sent letters to all Wizards and Witches in this world that explicitly told them not to Phaze back to Dorminya or anywhere else. She will still be here.”

“Wait,” said Helen again.

“Yes.”

“Who’ll take care of Dorana? Saren said that Henkot would be working late.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll send word for her to be picked up,” said Delsani.