A Tale of Magic... (33 page)

“Did you fall off a
cliff
?” Lucy asked.

“It looks worse than it feels,” Madame Weatherberry said, and swiftly changed the subject. “Now for today’s lesson, we’ll be using our magic for a purpose we haven’t explored yet. It doesn’t matter how much joy and comfort we spread; because of the challenging times we live in, it’s very likely that we’ll cross paths with people and creatures who wish to harm us. And when the situation is justified, we can use our magic to protect ourselves and others from danger. Your assignment this morning is to use your magic to defend yourself from the forces trying to hurt you. Xanthous, we’ll start with you.”

Xanthous gulped nervously. “And what
kind
of forces will I be defending myself from?” he asked.

Instead of responding, Madame Weatherberry tapped her cane on the ground six times, and six scarecrows appeared in the nearby field. The fairy tapped her cane again, and the first scarecrow came to life and detached itself from its wooden post. As soon as its feet touched the ground, the scarecrow charged toward Xanthous with arms flailing in all directions. The boy screamed and the scarecrow chased him in circles around the property.

“I’m not ready for this!” Xanthous yelled. “I think someone else should go first!”

“These situations can be alarming, but it’s important to remain calm and keep a clear head,” Madame Weatherberry said. “Take a deep breath and imagine the quickest way to disarm your attacker.”

Despite the fairy’s recommendations, Xanthous couldn’t summon tranquility to save his life. The scarecrow eventually caught up to the boy and wrestled him to the ground. His classmates desperately wanted to help him, but Madame Weatherberry wouldn’t let them intervene. Xanthous removed his Muter Medal and, thanks to his anxiety, his body was instantly engulfed in flames. The scarecrow was burned to a crisp and crumbled into a pile of ashes. Xanthous’s classmates cheered for him, and the boy stayed on the ground until he caught his breath.

“Well done, Xanthous,” Madame Weatherberry said. “Tangerina, you’re up next.”

For the rest of the morning, Madame Weatherberry’s students took turns magically defending themselves from the enchanted scarecrows. Tangerina splashed her scarecrow’s feet with honey, and it became stuck to the ground. Emerelda trapped her scarecrow inside an emerald cage before it even climbed down from its wooden post. Skylene pointed her finger at her scarecrow, and a powerful geyser erupted from her fingertip and ripped it to shreds. Brystal waved her wand, and a flock of white doves raised her scarecrow into the air and dropped it into the sparkling ocean behind the castle. Lucy clapped her hands, and her scarecrow was crushed by a massive piano that fell from the sky.

“Finally, something I’m good at!” Lucy said.

Madame Weatherberry’s self-defense lesson was by far the most enjoyable lesson the students and apprentices had participated in. They laughed and applauded one another as they defeated the scarecrows one by one. Brystal was envious of the fun her classmates were having with the assignment. Unbeknownst to the others, Madame Weatherberry’s lesson was designed specifically for
her
, and the exercises were preparing Brystal for a potential confrontation with the Snow Queen. It was hard for her to enjoy herself when the fate of the world depended on how well she perfected her skills.

“Terrific work, everyone,” Madame Weatherberry said, and clapped with the little energy she could muster. “You’ve done a wonderful job defending yourself from
one
attacker, but let’s see how you manage when you’re outnumbered by the—”

“Madame Weatherberry!”
Skylene suddenly shouted.
“The witches are back!”

Everyone jerked in the direction Skylene pointed to, and sure enough, they saw four cloaked figures standing at the edge of the property. Just as on their previous visit, the witches instantly made the children uneasy, but no one was more fearful than Brystal. She knew there was only
one
reason why the witches had traveled to the academy.

As soon as their presence was known, Crowbeth, Newtalia, Feliena, and Squidelle crept toward the fairy and her students. Madame Weatherberry was already so fatigued it was hard to gauge her reaction to the unexpected guests. The fairy slowly got to her feet and stared at the approaching witches with a stoic gaze. Before they exchanged a single word in front of the children, Madame Weatherberry headed for the castle, and the witches followed her.

“I suppose this means the rest of our lesson is postponed,” Brystal told the others. “I think I’ll take a quick nap before lunch.”

Brystal hurried into the castle and ran up the floating staircase to her bedroom. By the time she looked through the hole in her bookshelf and peered into Madame Weatherberry’s office, her teacher was already seated behind her glass desk. The witches hovered over the fairy like looming predators. Madame Weatherberry rested her head on her hand and didn’t even look up at her visitors.

“Well? Get on with it,” the fairy said in a faint voice. “What news have you brought this time?”

“King Nobleton is dead,” Crowbeth screeched.

Madame Weatherberry sat straight up in her chair.

“What?”
she gasped. “He didn’t evacuate Tinzel Heights before she attacked?”

“No,” Squidelle grumbled. “General White warned him she was approaching and told him to leave the capital, but the king was stubborn and ignored his advice. He and the royal family were in the middle of dinner at the palace when she struck. No one survived.”

“That foolish, foolish man,” Madame Weatherberry said, and angrily shook her head. “I always knew his pride would be the death of him.”

“Only one city remains in the Northern Kingdom,” Feliena growled. “The entire population has fled to Appleton Village—and it’s only a few miles away from Tinzel Heights. General White is days away from surrendering, and when he does, the kingdom will face extinction!”

“What about the other sovereigns?” Madame Weatherberry asked. “Why haven’t King Champion or Queen Endustria or King Warworth sent reinforcements? Don’t they realize their kingdoms are in just as much danger as the North?”

“The sovereigns are in denial,” Crowbeth screeched. “Nobleton assured them he had the situation under control, so
that
is what the monarchs choose to believe. General White has sent word of Nobleton’s death, but they’ve
still
denied his requests for help!”

“The sovereigns believe the conflict can be contained by closing the borders,” Feliena growled. “They’ve shut down the Protected Paths, and now the Northern refugees are trapped. The truth is, Champion, Endustria, and Warworth will not recognize the threat until the destruction crosses into their kingdoms.”

“Those selfish idiots!” Madame Weatherberry yelled, and hit her desk with a clenched fist. “I met with the monarchs and warned them of the danger! All of this could have been avoided if they had granted General White’s first request for help!”

Madame Weatherberry closed her weary eyes and massaged her graying temples while she contemplated what to do next.

“I thought I would have more time to rest…,” she said weakly. “I wanted to be stronger before I faced her again.… I didn’t think it would be so soon.…”

“Celessste, we mussst ssstrike!” Newtalia hissed. “Thisss could be our lassst chance to sssecure the ressspect we dessserve!”

To Brystal’s surprise, Madame Weatherberry looked toward the ceiling at the exact spot where she was watching from. She knew the next thing out of Madame Weatherberry’s mouth was meant for her ears.

“You’re wrong, Newtalia,” the fairy said. “If we don’t succeed,
someone else
will secure acceptance for our community in the future. And I have absolute confidence in them.”

The message was so intimate and direct Brystal had to remind herself she wasn’t actually in the room with Madame Weatherberry. The witches weren’t sure
who
the fairy was talking to and looked around the office in confusion. Madame Weatherberry stood with difficulty and collected her suitcase.

“If it must be done, it must be done,” she told the witches. “We can leave as soon as I say good-bye to my students.”

Madame Weatherberry hobbled out of her office and the witches followed. Brystal couldn’t believe the fairy’s courage—she could barely stand, and yet she was willing to stand up to the Snow Queen in spite of her failing condition. Brystal’s stomach was in knots as she worried about losing her teacher and fulfilling the promises she had made her.

By the time she and the others regrouped, everyone was standing outside the castle and Madame Weatherberry had already broken the news of her departure.

“You’re leaving
again
?” Tangerina said. “Already?”

“Unfortunately so,” Madame Weatherberry said. “My friend has become very ill and doesn’t have much time left. I need to say good-bye while I still have the chance.”

“When will you be back?” Skylene asked.

“I don’t know,” Madame Weatherberry said. “I may be gone for a long time, so I want you to continue your training while I’m away. Brystal will be in charge until I return, so please listen to her and show her the respect you’d normally give me.”

Madame Weatherberry became teary-eyed as she said farewell.

“I’m going to miss you all very, very much,” the fairy said. “Being your teacher has been the greatest privilege of my life, and watching you all blossom into fairies has been my greatest joy. Be good to one another, children.”

They were puzzled by their teacher’s touching remarks. Madame Weatherberry hugged each of her students, her apprentices, and Mrs. Vee good-bye. When it was Brystal’s turn, Brystal pulled her teacher into a tight embrace so she could whisper into Madame Weatherberry’s ear without the others hearing it.

“Please don’t go,”
Brystal whispered.
“We aren’t ready to lose you.”

“I wish I could stay,”
Madame Weatherberry whispered back.
“But the universe has other plans for me.”

“Then take me with you,” Brystal pleaded. “Let’s face the Snow Queen together. You don’t have to do this on your own.”

“The others need you more than I do,” the fairy said. “Take care of them, Brystal. And please, remember what you promised me.”

Madame Weatherberry tossed her brooch on the ground, and the golden carriage grew to its full size. Four unicorns emerged from a nearby field, and the carriage’s reins magically fastened around them. The witches helped Madame Weatherberry into the carriage and took their seats beside her. As they traveled through the property, Madame Weatherberry looked out the window at the grounds, the castle, and the students of her beloved academy, and with one final bittersweet smile, the fairy said a thousand good-byes.

“That was odd,” Emerelda said. “She’s coming back? Right?”

Mrs. Vee and the children turned to Brystal for an answer. Even after Madame Weatherberry’s carriage disappeared into the hedge barrier, Brystal continued staring into the distance so the others didn’t detect the dishonesty in her eyes.

“Of course she’s coming back,” Brystal said. “Madame Weatherberry would never abandon us.
Never
.”