Behind the Sorcerer's Cloak (25 page)

“Nope,” said Owen cheerfully. He bounced up and down on the end of the bed. “Your mattress is softer than mine.”

Holly hurled the pillow at him.

Owen caught it and grinned.

Holly glared.

Owen returned the pillow and lay back across the end of the bed, his hands behind his head. “Better spill the beans before you explode.”

“It's feelings. Mixed-up feelings. I feel right at the center of everything, yet totally helpless. This situation's a mess.”

“No. It's an onion.”

Holly sat up straight. “Say that again.”

“It's an onion,” Owen repeated.

They both laughed.

“That's why it's making me cry.” Holly blew her nose again.

“Haven't you realized what's happening, Holly? We're going round and round and coming to dead ends. Nothing seems connected. But each time something happens, we're getting closer and closer to the center. That's been happening right from the first adventure. We fix something, strip off a layer, and there is another underneath.”

“All in circles. A real maze.”

“Yup, like an onion.”

“The Lady's the center.”

“Yup.”

“The name connects me to the Lady in a big way.”

“Looks like it.” Owen rolled over. “The sooner you string that darn necklace the better,” he said seriously.

“I know.” Holly gazed out of the window. “It's scary.”

Outside was a scene from a postcard. The castle basked in brilliant sunshine. Its walls rose against a perfect blue sky and reflected in sparkling water. White gulls soared above, colorful boats floated below.

She sighed. “Earth Magic's shouting at me.”

“Yup.”

“It shouted at you? That's when you found the secret passage.”

Owen nodded.

“I can use that passage to sneak in to thread the beads.”

“Yup. Going to?”

“Coming with me?” she countered.

“You bet. I still need to make battle plans.” He shifted on the bed. “Holly, do you trust Adam?” he asked abruptly.

Holly stared at the quilt. She sighed. “To be honest, I don't know. When he told us about Doona being thrown out when she was a kid, he was really sorry for her. He believed it. The way he said it made me feel sorry for her.”

“Me too,” muttered Owen. “I couldn't help thinking that's what happened to him. His mum kind of threw him and Chantel out when she packed them off to England.”

“Ouch,” said Holly. “I didn't think of that.”

She paused. “What about the Wise Ones?” she said, her voice so low Owen could barely hear. “Do you trust them?”

“Whoa,” said Owen. “That's some question.” He thought for a while. “It changes everything.”

Holly nodded. Her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I have to ask it. I'm being asked to resurrect really powerful magic. I…I…have to understand whose side I'm on.”

“And whose side are you?” said Owen.

“Ours,” whispered Holly. “You, me, Adam, Chantel and Mr. Smythe represent Gaia. I have to be on Gaia's side. I have to look out for us! I sense that Adam's right. The Wise Ones haven't told us everything. I…I still think they're good…but…I think they have a secret agenda, so I have to figure out what to do.”

Shaken, Owen pulled the castle brochure containing the map out of his pocket. He consulted it. “The castle closes at six. We'll slip away then. According to Ava, there's less chance of the Dark Being bugging us while it's still light.”

Holly stifled a yawn. “That gives us about an hour for a nap.”

Owen took the hint and left.

Doona turned her ring.

She felt Adam's ring twitch in response. She smiled. She had her hostage, and the great finale was in motion. She was ready. If the Lady was dead, she had nothing to fear.

She contacted the Shades gathered along the edges of the Mists of Time.

“Take heart. Gaia's sunlight is temporary. Watch carefully. In a few hours a great cosmic dark will begin. No one can halt it. As the sunlight fades, act as one body. Force your way through the Mists where they are weakest. Find me on Gaia. There you may unleash your anger and mayhem and punish the humans.

“I will deal with the Wise Ones as Gaia falls to its knees.”

Adam pushed his chair back from the table and stood up.

“I'm going for a walk. I don't even know where I am, or what this place is called.”

“Isle of Man,” said Mr. Smythe.

“The Kingdom of Mann,” said Manannan and the Wise Ones at the same time.

Everyone chuckled.

“Whatever! Is it a real place, or are we in a magical world? I don't even know how you got here or what day it is.”

Myrddin clambered to his feet. “You are right, Adam. Forgive us. You must be really confused. We will take a walk, and I will explain. Much has happened since you were dragged into the mist.”

They strolled along the River Nebb in the sunshine, the Shade flowing along at Adam's feet. Myrddin brought Adam up to date and pointed out many things: the plane, Mr. Cubbon crossing the road, the castle and the round tower. He also spoke carefully of the Kingdom of Mann and his long association with Manannan.

The Shade wiggled restlessly. None of this talk mattered. There was nothing here the Dark Being didn't know.

Under cover of their conversation Adam showed Myrddin his finger.
I've messed up again, Myrddin. Doona said the
ring was a gift, so I accepted it. But it's torturing me, trying
to make me do what she wants.
The ring had bitten deeply into his flesh. The finger was red and swollen.

Myrddin's face grew grave.
What is it she asks?

That I find the beads and give them to her. The Shade
told her the Lady is dead. So she wants the beads now,
before anyone else gets them.
Adam cradled his hand
. I
don't know where the beads are, so how can I get them? But she won't stop hurting me.

Myrddin looked sad
. The Shade I can deal with, but
not the ring. It is linked with Doona's ring and under her
control. Tell the Shade you've worked out that it's Holly
who knows where the beads are, but she's sleeping. The
Shade knows that's true. Promise to follow Holly when
she wakes.

Adam nodded. He ran ahead of Myrddin, as though attracted by the Viking boats in the river, and whispered to the Shade.

It immediately sent mindspeak to the Dark Being.

The ring eased on Adam's finger.

Adam sighed with relief. He'd bought some time.

As Holly napped, she dreamed a dream that she had dreamed before. A dream she'd almost forgotten. This time the dream was clearer. Now it made sense.

Holly flew over a silver sea toward a castle on a small island. From the castle's center rose a tall round tower. She recognized Pheric's Isle and swooped over the castle walls.

A figure stood on the circular platform at the top of the round tower, a cloaked figure in a long green skirt. One arm was outstretched, and silver threads of magic spun from the fingers creating a delicate web of light that spiraled to the stars. The other hand clutched a glowing necklace.

“Who are you?” shouted Holly. “Pease tell me.” She dived down.

The figure looked up.

Holly felt the same flash of recognition she'd had in the earlier dream. She'd seen those eyes before. Now she knew why. Her own eyes looked back at her! She was seeing her future.