“Delsani, son of Furolt,” said Ulicoth, “so you are also here?” he said, addressing Delsani directly.
Delsani said nothing.
“I heard that you were the one who persuaded our old friend John to join us at Kealhal. It truly is unfortunate that he couldn’t handle the pressure and lost his head,” laughed Ulicoth. “You know, I was disappointed that I was unable to add your head to my extensive collection. However, there is plenty of time for that, and I will get you. I will never forget the night at Kealhal, when you cost me most of my armies, not to mention my great victory. And don’t worry, my old friend, I will put your head with your wife’s. After all, you have spent too much time apart.” Again he laughed. “Oh, by the way, John left something behind I’m sure you’ve noticed, something that looks like a silver Dragon.”
Then to the surprise and even shock of the others, Delsani laughed also. Even Ulicoth was taken aback by the Wizard’s reaction to his harsh words; the laugh was loud and extensive.
“You really are pitiful, aren’t you, oh great and powerful Dark One of Dempmage,” said Delsani mockingly. “Like a child afraid of a weary stranger on a dark night. And perhaps the reason for this is the simple fact that you know your time will soon be up. For your attempt to abduct the boy has failed, and I’m glad to say there is something else of yours that has recently failed. The news of it is riding back to you as I speak. I do hope you like it, for I and many of my comrades went to a lot of trouble, and we think that it was some of the best work that we’ve done as of late.” the Wizard laughed again.
There was nothing but silence in the air, for no answer came, and most there thought perhaps Ulicoth was stumped by Delsani’s words and had left to see if what he said was indeed true. Suddenly, his dark voice rose out from behind the shadow yet again, “What you say means nothing to me, for if it were something worth worrying about, I surely would’ve known of it without your futile words. My power can stretch far beyond the limits of my world, as all of you are seeing today.”
“Your power may stretch to this world; however I assure you that it does not hold sway with me in its stretched and weakened state,” said Jaucal, whose voice rang out loud and clear. “Now be gone and crawl back into the hole in which Salith found you. You are not welcome here,” he said and raised his arms, tightly griped the Sceptre of Sevlter in the palm of his left hand. The large jewel in the top of the short staff burst with the brightest and most radiant coloured light to ever grace the faces of those around the Grand Wizard.
“Be gone, I say! For there is nothing and no one here whom you can see or touch,” said Jaucal. “Now go back and never set your foul air around the walls of this dwelling again.” He turned his left wrist slightly, and the sceptre tipped forward. The light from it grew stronger still.
They heard Ulicoth yell, and the shadow squealed as its master faltered. Everyone in the room flinched except Jaucal, who stood firm. It began to retreat slowly, as though it was trying to fight back and failing miserably. The Grand Wizard tipped the sceptre again. “GO BACK NOW!” he shouted. “NEVER RETURN!”
The darkness squealed again. This time it was so loud that most thought their eardrums were going to burst. Some even found tiny amounts of blood running out of their ears. But it only lasted a few seconds, for the shadow made a swift getaway.
Jaucal held the sceptre out, and it grew longer and looked like a longer staff. Leaning on it, he went to see Helen and Peter, whom everyone had forgotten in all the excitement.
Helen was still sitting with Peter in her arms. She was holding the top of this head to her chin, and tears rolled down her cheeks as she silently wept.
“Are you okay?” Saren asked.
“I’m fine. But I don’t know about Peter. He passed out when that thing was destroyed,” said Helen as she wiped her eyes with the end of her sleeve.
Jaucal put all of his weight on his staff and knelt down to take hold of Peter’s right hand. “He’s fine. The spell has put him into a deep sleep.”
“What went wrong?” asked Helen. “I mean, you said that the spells you cast would stop him from finding us.”
“One of our people made a very small mistake,” said Jaucal, “which allowed the assassin to find you.”
“And what’ll stop that from happening again?” asked Helen fretfully.
“Ulicoth won’t send another assassin,” said Delsani. “There are no assassins left for him to send. We destroyed all of them and the Druids are all dead.”
“What happened?” asked Saren.
“We went to their place of worship. They saw us, and most of them fought us as we entered their temple. We had no choice but to fight back,” said Delsani. “We pushed them back, and when they could go no further with the fight, they gave up their lives willingly until there was only one. The chieftain of their clan, before he took his own life, said, “The Prophecy will be undone.”
The room went silent, and no one knew where to look.
“Helen, do you want me to take Peter to the couch? It would be more comfortable, and I’m sure getting off the floor wouldn’t do you any harm either,” said Berlanin, who sounded more than a little concerned.
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“Yes, of course,” said Helen. “Thanks.”
Berlanin lifted Peter. Helen followed, and when he set the boy down, Helen knelt beside him and stroked his head as he slept.
“I think it’s time for us to go,” said Jaucal as he looked around. “There is much to be done in the aftermath of Ulicoth’s show of power.” He put his hand on Saren’s shoulder, and it was then that the letter came back to her mind.
“I wish I could stay with the Queen, after all that’s happened, but I have to go back,” said Saren.
“Don’t worry about us,” said Helen, still gently stroking Peter’s head. “You have your own family to go to.”
Delsani and Berlanin both saw the concerned look on Helen’s face at the prospect of being alone after all that had just gone on.
“If you like, majesty, I’ll stay and help you with Peter,” said Delsani.
“I wouldn’t mind staying, either,” Berlanin said.
“Yes, I think that would be for the best,” said Jaucal. “I think we could manage without the two of you for a day or so.”
Helen looked grateful and thanked them both for volunteering.”
“You know, I was thinking that it might also be a good idea for you to get more involved in the politics of the kingdom until Peter is old enough to rule. It would mean that you would have to travel back and forth, but I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t think it was necessary.”
“That sounds like a good idea. I’d be happy to help, but I don’t want to leave Peter here alone.”
“To be honest, it is your duty as Queen. I didn’t mention it sooner, as the council thought it best to let Drago grow a little.”
“In that case, I guess I have no choice,” Helen said, not knowing to be happy or not. Part of her was thrilled to be going back, but the rest of her was fearful of what might happen when she was not around to watch over her son.
“Good,” said the Grand Wizard.
After the others had left, she asked how the assassin found them, not to mention “The big guy,” by which she meant Ulicoth, of course.
“The young trainee Wizard who thinks he may one day be Grand Wizard,” said Delsani.
“I remember him,” said Helen.
“Well, he Phazed into the house and was detected by the assassin. And as Ulicoth was no doubt watching his creature from a very safe distance, he came as well,” said Delsani.
“Is it safe to stay here?” asked Helen, concerned.
“Yes,” Berlanin said. “The Grand Wizard has stopped Ulicoth from finding the whereabouts of your house. And he can’t send any more assassins, because there are none. This place is safe.”
Helen then turned to Peter who was still unconscious. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Why isn’t he awake yet?”
“We forgot to change,” said Berlanin.
Helen looked at them again and Berlanin’s red and gold Council robes were gone, he was now wearing Normal clothes, which were: track shoes, blue jeans, and a grey T-shirt.
Delsani had again changed not only his clothes, but his whole appearance again, looking young and fresh in a trim business suit.
“Mommy,” said Peter with a frightened expression on his face.
“It’s okay, Peter. It was just a bad dream,” said Helen gently.
“No,” said Peter, “are cartoons still on?” he asked hastily.
Delsani laughed. For a moment he had been worried that Peter might remember what had happened. However, it turned out just as before, he did not remember anything about who and what he really was.
“What are cartoons?” asked Berlanin out of the blue.
Peter shot a look his way and suddenly became aware of the new man in the room.
“Don’t be scared,” said Helen. “This is er...”
“Ben,” said Berlanin.
“He’s another one of your dad’s closest friends who’s come to see you,” said Helen.
Berlanin gave a little wave, but still Peter just stared at him and did not know how to react.
“He might watch cartoons with you, if you ask him,” said Delsani.
“Yeah,” said Peter excitedly as he jumped off the couch and parked himself in the same spot as before. Then he turned his head and said, “Hurry up Ben, silly.”
Delsani and Berlanin laughed, and Helen gave only a vague smile as Berlanin sat beside the boy, which was an honour for him. How many Wizards or Witches could say that they had even met Peter (Drago) Stark, never mind sat with him in his own house?
“Are you okay Helen?” asked Delsani sincerely.
Helen put her hand to her mouth and started to weep. “No,” she said, “I’m not okay.”
“Let’s go into the kitchen,” said Delsani sympathetically.
As soon as the kitchen door closed, Delsani said. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
Helen laughed and said hysterically. “That, that thing was in my house trying to kill my son. Not to mention Ulicoth himself, the man that murdered my husband and you’re asking me what’s wrong,” she added hotly.
“I’m sorry that you and Peter had to go through that. But now there’s no need to worry. Ulicoth has no idea where we are, and as this world is so big, he will never find you. He is running scared, for he knows that when Peter grows, he will take his place on the thrown.”
Helen nodded.
“One more thing,” she said, “remember when we were in the main hall at the Towers of Telian and I saw my double?”
“Yes I remember. And we also saw Dragdani,” said Delsani, recalling what he thought was a great moment. “Helen, as I said before, with different realities, it is best to forget what you see. Sometimes things can be the same and other times completely different. Although I know you were right, and I’m sorry that I didn’t listen. Regrettably, we still could not trust the information,” he said mournfully.
“No,” said Helen, “I wasn’t gloating or anything. It’s just that I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. I didn’t want to say anything, but it’s been driving me nuts with guilt. I was wondering if you could do a swish and a whoosh and get rid of the memory for me,” she said anxiously. She had never had a spell used directly on her mind before.
“If you’re sure.”
“Well, if it means not having to see her sobbing face in my mind, then yes,” said Helen. “Not to sound cruel, I know how she feels; it’s just every time I look in the mirror, that’s what I see. That’s why I try not to look at myself after what happened.”
“I understand. Of course I’ll do it for you. But you’ll have to settle for an ordinary spell. No swishes or whooshes I’m afraid.”
“I think I could live with that.”
“If you remember, that is,” said Delsani.
Helen’s eyes widened. “I better remember.”
“I’m entirely sure of the spell to use. I hope it’s not too powerful. There’s really nothing to worry about. If I do get it wrong, you won’t remember anyway.”
“Forget it, I’ll live with the memory, thanks all the same,” said Helen as quickly as she could get the words out of her mouth.
Delsani laughed aloud. “Now there’s only one between us.”
“Very funny,” said Helen smiling.
----------------------------------------
Not long after Saren returned to Dorminya with Jaucal and without Berlanin and Delsani, they informed the Witch of some good news which, apart from the destruction of the Druids, was probably the only good news they had. It had turned out that they had rushed the letter she had read in the kitchen at Weston Road, and in their haste to get the letter away, they forgot to mention there was one survivor. This survivor was Saren’s younger niece, who in fear fled the village not long after her mother was killed.