Septimus Heap_ Magyk Part 9

"All of them? Where to?"

"They all shot off toward the Badlands-there was nothing they could do. I expect he's got them in one of his Burrows down there."

"Oh, Alther Alther."

"Then the Supreme Custodian-that horrible little man-arrives with his retinue, bowing and sc.r.a.ping and practically drooling drooling all over his Master. The next thing I know he's escorted DomDaniel into the Wizard Tower and up to...er, well, up to your rooms, Marcia." all over his Master. The next thing I know he's escorted DomDaniel into the Wizard Tower and up to...er, well, up to your rooms, Marcia."

"My rooms? DomDaniel in my rooms my rooms?"

"Well, you'll be pleased to know he was in no fit state to appreciate them by the time he got up there, as they had to walk all the way up. There wasn't enough Magyk Magyk left to keep the stairs working. Or anything else in the Tower for that matter." left to keep the stairs working. Or anything else in the Tower for that matter."

Marcia shook her head in disbelief. "I never thought DomDaniel could do this. Never Never."

"No, neither did I," said Alther.

"I thought," said Marcia, "that as long as we Wizards could hang on until the Princess was old enough to wear the Crown, we would be all right. Then we could get rid of those Custodians, the Young Army and all the creeping Darkenesse Darkenesse that infests the Castle and makes peoples' lives so miserable." that infests the Castle and makes peoples' lives so miserable."

"So did I," said Alther, "but I followed DomDaniel up the stairs. He was blathering on to the Supreme Custodian about how he couldn't believe his luck-not only had you you left the Castle, but you had taken the one obstacle to his return with you." left the Castle, but you had taken the one obstacle to his return with you."

"Obstacle?"

"Jenna."

Jenna gazed at Alther in dismay. "Me? An obstacle? Why?" An obstacle? Why?"

Alther stared at the fire, deep in thought. "It seems, Princess, that you have somehow been stopping that awful old Necromancer Necromancer from coming back to the Castle. Just by being there. And very likely your mother did too. I always wondered why he sent the a.s.sa.s.sin for the Queen and not for me." from coming back to the Castle. Just by being there. And very likely your mother did too. I always wondered why he sent the a.s.sa.s.sin for the Queen and not for me."

Jenna s.h.i.+vered. She suddenly felt very afraid. Silas put his arm around her. "That's enough now, Alther. There's no need to frighten us all out of our wits. Frankly, I think you just dropped off to sleep and had a nightmare. You know you get them every now and then. The Custodians are simply a load of thugs that any decent decent ExtraOrdinary Wizard would have seen off years ago." ExtraOrdinary Wizard would have seen off years ago."

"I am not going to just sit here and be insulted like this," Marcia spluttered. "You have no idea the things we have tried to get rid of them. No idea at all. It's been all we can do to keep the Wizard Tower going sometimes. And with no help from you, Silas Heap."

"Well, I don't know what the fuss is all about, Marcia. DomDaniel's dead dead," Silas replied.

"No, he's not," said Marcia quietly.

"Don't be silly, Marcia," snapped Silas. "Alther threw him off the top of the Tower forty years ago."

Jenna and Nicko gasped. "Did you really, Uncle Alther?" asked Jenna.

"No!" exclaimed Alther crossly. "I didn't didn't. He threw himself himself off." off."

"Well, whatever," said Silas stubbornly. "He's still dead."

"Not necessarily..." said Alther in a low voice, staring into the fire. The light from the glowing embers cast flickering shadows over everyone except Alther, who floated unhappily through them, absentmindedly trying to undo the knot he had just tied in his fis.h.i.+ng line. The fire blazed for a moment and lit up the circle of people around it. Suddenly Jenna spoke.

"What did did happen on top of the Wizard Tower with DomDaniel, Uncle Alther?" she whispered. happen on top of the Wizard Tower with DomDaniel, Uncle Alther?" she whispered.

"It's a bit of a scary story, Princess. I don't want to frighten you."

"Oh, go on, tell us," said Nicko. "Jen likes scary stories."

Jenna nodded a little uncertainly.

"Well," said Alther, "it's hard for me to tell it in my own words, but I'll tell you the story as I once heard it spoken around a campfire deep in the Forest. It was a night like this, midnight with a full moon high in the sky, and it was told by an old and wise Wendron Witch Mother to her witches."

And so, beside the fire, Alther Mella changed his form into a large and comfortable-looking woman dressed in green. Speaking in the witch's quiet Forest burr, he began.

"This is where the story begins: on top of a golden Pyramid crowning a tall silver Tower. The Wizard Tower s.h.i.+mmers in the early morning sun and is so high that the crowd of people gathered at its foot appear like ants to the young man who is clambering up the stepped sides of the Pyramid. The young man has looked down at the ants once already and felt sick with the giddy sensation of height. He now keeps his gaze firmly fixed on the figure in front of him-an older but remarkably agile man who, to his great advantage, has no fear of heights. The older man's purple cloak flies out from him in the brisk wind that always plays around the top of the Tower, and to the crowd below he looks like nothing more than a fluttering purple bat creeping up to the point of the Pyramid.

"What, the watchers below ask themselves, is their ExtraOrdinary Wizard doing? And isn't that his Apprentice following him, chasing him even?

"The Apprentice, Alther Mella, now has his Master, DomDaniel, within his grasp. DomDaniel has reached the pinnacle of the Pyramid, a small square platform of hammered gold inlaid with the silver hieroglyphs that Enchant Enchant the Tower. DomDaniel stands tall, his thick purple cloak streaming out behind him, his gold and platinum ExtraOrdinary Wizard belt flas.h.i.+ng in the sun. He is daring his Apprentice to come closer. the Tower. DomDaniel stands tall, his thick purple cloak streaming out behind him, his gold and platinum ExtraOrdinary Wizard belt flas.h.i.+ng in the sun. He is daring his Apprentice to come closer.

"Alther Mella knows he has no choice. In a brave and terrified leap he lunges at his Master and takes him by surprise. DomDaniel is knocked off his feet, and his Apprentice dives onto him, grabbing at the gold and lapis lazuli Akhu Amulet that his Master wears around his neck on a thick silver chain.

"Far below, in the courtyard of the Wizard Tower, the people gasp in disbelief as they gaze with squinting eyes into the brightness of the golden Pyramid and watch the Apprentice grapple with his Master. Together they balance on the tiny platform, rolling this way and that as the ExtraOrdinary Wizard tries to break free of Alther Mella's grasp on the Amulet.

"DomDaniel fixes Alther Mella with a baleful glare, his dark green eyes glittering with fury. Alther's bright green eyes meet the stare unflinchingly, and he feels the Amulet loosen. He pulls hard, the chain snaps into a hundred pieces, and the Amulet comes away in his grasp.

"'Take it,' hisses DomDaniel. 'But I will be back for it. I will be back with the seventh of the seventh.'

"One piercing scream rises from below as the crowd sees its ExtraOrdinary Wizard launch himself from the top of the Pyramid and tumble from the Tower. His cloak spreads like a magnificent pair of wings, but it does not slow his long, tumbling fall to earth.

"And then he is gone.

"At the top of the Pyramid his Apprentice clutches the Akhu Amulet and gazes in shock at what he has seen-his Master enter the Abyss.

"The crowd cl.u.s.ters around the scorched earth which marks the spot where DomDaniel hit the ground. Each has seen something different. One says he changed into a bat and flew away. Another saw a dark horse appear and gallop off into the Forest, and still another saw DomDaniel change into a snake and slither under a rock. But none saw the truth that Alther saw.

"Alther Mella makes his way back down the Pyramid with his eyes closed so that he does not have to see the dizzying drop beneath him. He only opens his eyes when he has crawled through the small hatch into the safety of the Library, which is housed inside the golden Pyramid. And then, with a sense of dread, he sees what has happened. His plain green woolen Apprentice Wizard robes have changed to a heavy purple silk. The simple leather belt that he wears around his tunic has become remarkably weighty; it is now made of gold with the intricate platinum inlay of runes and charms that protect and empower the ExtraOrdinary Wizard that Alther has, to his amazement, become.

"Alther gazes at the Amulet that he holds in his trembling hand. It is a small round stone of ultramarine lapis lazuli shot through with streaks of gold and carved with an enchanted dragon. The stone lies heavily in his palm, bound with a band of gold pinched together at the top to form a loop. From this loop hangs a broken silver link, snapped when Alther ripped the Amulet from its silver chain.

"After a moment's thought Alther bends down and takes out the leather lace from one of his boots. He threads the Amulet onto it and, as all ExtraOrdinary Wizards have done before him, hangs it around his neck. And then, with his long wispy brown hair still awry from his fight, his face pale and anxious, his green eyes wide with awe, Alther makes the long journey down through the Tower to face the waiting, murmuring crowd outside.

"When Alther stumbles out through the huge, solid silver doors that guard the entrance to the Wizard Tower, he is greeted by a gasp. But nothing more is said, for there is no arguing with the presence of a new ExtraOrdinary Wizard. Amid a few quiet mutterings the crowd disperses, although one voice calls out.

"'As you have gained it, so will you lose it.'

"Alther sighs. He knows this is true.

"As he makes his lonely way back into the Tower to begin the work of undoing DomDaniel's Darkenesse Darkenesse, in a small room not so very far away a baby boy is born to a poor Wizard family.

"He is their seventh son, and his name is Silas Heap."

There was a long silence around the fire while Alther slowly regained his own form. Silas s.h.i.+vered. He had never heard the story told like that before.

"That's amazing, Alther," he said in a hoa.r.s.e whisper. "I had no idea. H-how did the Witch Mother know so much?"

"She was watching in the crowd," said Alther. "She came to see me later that day to congratulate me on becoming ExtraOrdinary Wizard, and I told her my side of the story. If you want the truth to be known then all you need to do is tell the Witch Mother. She will tell everyone else. Of course, whether they believe it or not is another matter."

Jenna was thinking hard. "But why, Uncle Alther, were you chasing DomDaniel?"

"Ah, good question. I didn't tell the Witch Mother that. There are some Darke Darke matters that should not be spoken of lightly. But you should know, so I will tell you. You see, that morning, like every morning, I had been tidying up the Pyramid Library. One of the tasks of an Apprentice is to keep the Library organized, and I took my duties seriously, even if they matters that should not be spoken of lightly. But you should know, so I will tell you. You see, that morning, like every morning, I had been tidying up the Pyramid Library. One of the tasks of an Apprentice is to keep the Library organized, and I took my duties seriously, even if they were were for such an unpleasant Master. Anyway, that particular morning I had found a strange for such an unpleasant Master. Anyway, that particular morning I had found a strange Incantation Incantation in DomDaniel's handwriting tucked into one of the books. I had seen one lying around before and hadn't been able to read the writing, but as I studied this one, an idea occurred to me. I held the in DomDaniel's handwriting tucked into one of the books. I had seen one lying around before and hadn't been able to read the writing, but as I studied this one, an idea occurred to me. I held the Incantation Incantation up to the looking gla.s.s and discovered I was right: it was written in mirror writing. I began to get a bad feeling about it then, because I knew that it must be a up to the looking gla.s.s and discovered I was right: it was written in mirror writing. I began to get a bad feeling about it then, because I knew that it must be a Reverse Incantation Reverse Incantation, using Magyk Magyk from the from the Darke Darke side-or the side-or the Other Other side, as I prefer to call it, as it is not always side, as I prefer to call it, as it is not always Darke Magyk Darke Magyk that the that the Other Other side puts to use. Anyway, I had to know the truth about DomDaniel and what he was doing, so I decided to risk reading the side puts to use. Anyway, I had to know the truth about DomDaniel and what he was doing, so I decided to risk reading the Incantation. Incantation. I had just started when something terrible happened." I had just started when something terrible happened."

"What?" whispered Jenna.

"A Spectre Appeared Spectre Appeared behind me. Well, at least I could see it in the looking gla.s.s, but when I turned around it wasn't there. But I could feel it. I could feel it put its hand on my shoulder, and then-I heard it. I heard its empty voice speaking to me. It told me that my time had come. That it had come to collect me behind me. Well, at least I could see it in the looking gla.s.s, but when I turned around it wasn't there. But I could feel it. I could feel it put its hand on my shoulder, and then-I heard it. I heard its empty voice speaking to me. It told me that my time had come. That it had come to collect me as arranged as arranged."

Alther s.h.i.+vered at the memory and raised his hand to his left shoulder as the Spectre Spectre had done. It still ached with cold, as it had ever since that morning. had done. It still ached with cold, as it had ever since that morning.

Everyone else s.h.i.+vered too and drew closer around the fire.

"I told the Spectre Spectre that I was not ready. Not yet. You see I knew enough about the that I was not ready. Not yet. You see I knew enough about the Other Other side to know you must never refuse them. But they are willing to wait. Time is nothing to them. They have nothing else to do side to know you must never refuse them. But they are willing to wait. Time is nothing to them. They have nothing else to do but but wait. The wait. The Spectre Spectre told me it would return for me the next day and that I had better be ready then, and it faded away. After it went, I made myself read the told me it would return for me the next day and that I had better be ready then, and it faded away. After it went, I made myself read the Reverse Reverse words, and I saw that DomDaniel had offered me up as part of a bargain with the words, and I saw that DomDaniel had offered me up as part of a bargain with the Other Other side, to be collected at the time I read the side, to be collected at the time I read the Incantation Incantation. And then I knew for sure he was using Reverse Magyk Reverse Magyk-the mirror image of Magyk Magyk, the kind that uses people up-and I had fallen into his trap."

The fire on the beach began to die down, and everyone cl.u.s.tered around it, huddling together in the fading glow as Alther continued his story.

"Suddenly DomDaniel came in and saw me reading the Incantation Incantation. And that I was still there-I had not been Taken Taken. He knew that his plan was discovered and he ran. He scuttled up the Library stepladder like a spider, ran along the top of the shelves and squeezed through the trapdoor that led outside of the Pyramid. He laughed at me and taunted me to follow him if I dared. You see, he knew I was terrified of heights. But I had no choice but to follow him. So I did."

Everyone was silent. No one, not even Marcia, had heard the full story of the Spectre Spectre before then. before then.

Jenna broke the silence. "That's horrible." She shuddered. "So did the Spectre Spectre come back for you, Uncle Alther?" come back for you, Uncle Alther?"

"No, Princess. With some help I devised an Anti-Hex Formula Anti-Hex Formula. It was powerless after that." Alther sat in thought for a while, and then he said, "I just want you all to know that I am not proud of what I did at the top of the Wizard Tower-even though I did not not push DomDaniel off. You know, it is a terrible thing for an Apprentice to supplant his Master." push DomDaniel off. You know, it is a terrible thing for an Apprentice to supplant his Master."

"But you had to do it, Uncle Alther. Didn't you?" said Jenna.

"Yes, I did," said Alther quietly. "And we will have to do it again."

"We shall do it tonight," declared Marcia. "I shall go right back and throw that evil man out of the Tower. He'll soon learn that he doesn't mess with the ExtraOrdinaryWizard." She got up purposefully and wrapped her purple cloak around her, ready to go.

Alther leapt into the air and put a ghostly hand on Marcia's arm. "No. No, Marcia."

"But, Alther-" Marcia protested.

"Marcia, there are no Wizards left to protect you at the Tower, and I hear you gave your KeepSafe KeepSafe to Sally Mullin. I beg you not to go back. It is too dangerous. You must get the Princess to safety. And keep her safe. I shall go back to the Castle and do what I can." to Sally Mullin. I beg you not to go back. It is too dangerous. You must get the Princess to safety. And keep her safe. I shall go back to the Castle and do what I can."

Marcia sank back down onto the wet sand. She knew Alther was right. The last flames of the fire spluttered out as large wet flakes of snow began to fall and darkness closed in on them. Alther put his ghostly fis.h.i.+ng rod down on the sand and floated above the Deppen Ditch. He gazed across the marshlands that stretched far into the distance. They were a peaceful sight in the moonlight, broad wetlands dusted with snow and dotted with little islands here and there as far as he could see.

"Canoes," said Alther, floating back down. "When I was a boy that's how the marsh folk got around. And that's what you're going to need too."

"You can do that, Silas," said Marcia dismally. "I'm far too tired to go messing about with boats."

Silas got to his feet. "Come on then, Nicko," he said. "We'll go and Trans.m.u.te Trans.m.u.te Muriel Muriel into some canoes." into some canoes."

Muriel was still floating patiently in Deppen Ditch, just around the bend, out of sight of the river. Nicko felt sad to see their faithful boat go but he knew the was still floating patiently in Deppen Ditch, just around the bend, out of sight of the river. Nicko felt sad to see their faithful boat go but he knew the Rules of Magyk Rules of Magyk, and so he knew only too well that in a spell, matter can neither be created nor destroyed. Muriel Muriel would not really be gone but, Nicko hoped, rearranged into a set of smart canoes. would not really be gone but, Nicko hoped, rearranged into a set of smart canoes.

"Can I have a fast one, Dad?" asked Nicko as Silas stared at Muriel Muriel and tried to think of a suitable spell. and tried to think of a suitable spell.

"I don't know about 'fast,' Nicko. I shall just be happy if it floats. Now, let me think. I suppose one canoe each would be good. Here goes. Convert to Five! Convert to Five! Oh, bother." Oh, bother."

Five very small Muriel Muriels bobbed up and down in front of them.

"Dad," complained Nicko, "you're not doing it right."

"Wait a minute, Nicko. I'm thinking. That's it-Canoe Renew!"

"Dad!"

One enormous canoe sat wedged into the banks of the Ditch.

"Now, let's be logical about this," Silas muttered to himself.

"Why don't you just ask for five canoes, Dad?" suggested Nicko.

"Good idea, Nicko. We'll make a Wizard of you yet. I Choose Canoes for Five to Use!" I Choose Canoes for Five to Use!"

The spell fizzled out before it really got going, and Silas ended up with just two canoes and a forlorn pile of Muriel Muriel-colored timbers and rope.

"Only two, Dad?" said Nicko, disappointed not to be getting his own canoe.

"They'll have to do," said Silas. "You can't change matter more than three times without it getting fragile."

In fact, Silas was just pleased that he had ended up with any canoes at all.

Soon Jenna, Nicko and Boy 412 were sitting in what Nicko had named the Muriel One Muriel One canoe, and Silas and Marcia were squashed together in the canoe, and Silas and Marcia were squashed together in the Muriel Two Muriel Two. Silas insisted on sitting in the front because, "I know the way, Marcia. It makes sense."

Marcia snorted dubiously, but she was far too tired to fuss.

"Go on, Maxie," Silas told the wolfhound. "Go and sit with Nicko."

But Maxie had other ideas. Maxie's purpose in life was to stay by his master, and stay by his master he would. He bounded onto Silas's lap, and the canoe tilted dangerously.

"Can't you control that animal?" demanded Marcia, who was dismayed to find herself horribly close to the water again.

"Of course I can. He does exactly what I tell him, don't you, Maxie?"

Nicko made a spluttering sound.

"Go sit at the back, Maxie," Silas told the wolfhound sternly. Looking crestfallen, Maxie bounded over Marcia to the back of the canoe and settled himself down behind her.