Firemancer Collection (Fated Saga Box Set Book 1) (20 page)

“Thanks, are you sure? These are really nice.”

“Yes, definitely sure,” replied Meghan, deciding to open the package delivered from Juliska, instead of waiting. She took out a black and gold full-length long-jacket, exactly like the ones she had seen Juliska wearing.

“It’s magnificent. What is it?” asked Meghan.

Mireya touched the delicate gold and black fabric.

“It’s a
long
-jacket, very popular. They are thin, so you can wear them even if it’s warm, or over other clothes if it’s cooler. This is the prettiest one I’ve ever seen, besides the Banon’s of course.”

Meghan wanted desperately to try it on, but she was too dirty and in need of a bath.

“That’s a special occasion
long
-jacket,” said Mireya, still in awe of the piece.

“It could possibly be the nicest piece of clothing I’ve ever owned.” The last package included a long sleeved sweater, with a jumper looking item. It had one button in the front to hold it together, and then the rest was open.

“It’s kind of a stylish apron,” said Mireya. “Not many Svoda women like them. They prefer the front to be closed, then they don’t have to wear skirts or pants underneath.”

Meghan loved it. As she put her new things away, Colin dove into his own packages.

“How old are you?” Meghan asked Mireya, trying to think up conversation.

“Eleven and a half.” Meghan was not sure what to talk about with a giggly eleven-year-old. Meghan had never been one to enjoy giggling. Mireya continued explaining the clothes.

“Those long shirts, with ties down the sides, they help keep things clean and out of the way, which is good, ‘cause sometimes magic can be messy,” she twittered.

“I won’t be practicing any magic in them, but thanks.” Meghan decided she needed a bath. Mireya showed her how the bath worked and had Jae do the water-heating spell.

Before Mireya and Jae left her to bathe, Colin slumped around the corner. Meghan did her best not to break out laughing, although the urge bubbled up easily in her stressed-out mind. Finally, she gave up and laughed, forcefully. Colin was dressed in a long man’s coat; it was thin and maroon in color, with long sleeves. It was also so big on him that it hit the floor, and then some.

“It’s not funny,” he sighed, looking downhearted.

“Sorry,” replied Meghan, biting her lip.

“I think it looks wonderful, Colin,” said Mireya, nicely. “I do hope you will help him,” she chirped to her brother, leaving the bath room.

Colin scowled. “I look stupid, don’t I?”

“Don’t worry. My mother can fix it. All the boys’ suits come extra long, so we can grow into them.”

“Oh,” answered Colin, taking off the coat.

“I’ll give it to my mother later,” said Jae, peeking out of the bath room to see if they were alone. He closed the door, rolling his eyes. “I’ve been dying for a moment that we could talk privately. What happened at the Viancourt?”

The twins described what had taken place.

“They didn’t bring up you using magic, did they?” he asked Colin.

“No, not at all. I don’t think they saw anything.”

“That’s such a relief. I was afraid you’d be in there for hours.”

Meghan got up the courage to confirm her and Colin’s worst fear.

“So, we really are stuck here, aren’t we?”

“Yes, I’m afraid there’s no way, not until the next blue moon. I’m sorry. This time it’s my fault, plus you’ll be stuck away from home much longer than I was,” said Jae, his voice apologetic. “If there were any way of finding out anything, even if it broke a hundred rules, I’d tell you in an instant.”

“We have no option, then,” said Colin, beginning to come to grips with their plight.

Jae shook his head.

The twins knew he spoke the truth, and that it was time to accept it.

“We may be stuck here, Jae, but it’s in
no
way your fault,” consoled Meghan. “We made the choice not to heed your warning.”

“Still…”

She cut him off. “Nope! Won’t hear it, Jae. We’re here. There is nothing that can change that now!” She put on a brave face. Colin could sense her fear underneath, ready to overtake the braveness.

“Since we are stuck here,” said Colin, “tell us about this place. How does it work exactly? An entire town inside a wagon.”

“Kind of like the wagon back in Cobbscott, only on a much larger scale. We collect energy to create this place. Although the town has actually shrunk a great deal in recent years, as we find our magic getting weaker the longer we travel.”

Colin took out Magicante and thumbed through it.

“There is one thing I don’t understand.”

“What’s that, Col?” asked Meghan curiously, not having sensed this in her brother’s mind.

“Do you remember, after we got Jae’s father through, when Uncle Arnon showed up?”

“Yeah, I recall,” she said snidely. As if she could’ve forgotten!

“Well, do you remember when we left the trailer that night that I did not have the Magicante?”

Meghan’s eyes widened.

“I do,” answered Jae. “I remember asking you where it was.”

“Why would Uncle Arnon bring Magicante to me? I can see throwing it at me, to get me out of the way, but why did he bring
it
?” Colin fought off tears, but he was too weak to hide it from Meghan.

“It wasn’t your fault, Colin,” she tried to assure him.

“But if I hadn’t forgotten my book, or hadn’t gone at all, Uncle Arnon might still be safe. Why would he risk his life to bring me Magicante? It’s a handy book, but worth giving up his life for?”

“Colin, I think it’s vital that we try and put this out of our minds, for now. We should focus on surviving the next three years. I think I’d rather curl up and die, than sit around drowning in constant worry.”

“I’ll try,” he murmured.

Footsteps shuffled up the staircase.

“I think its best,” warned Jae, “to keep all of this to ourselves; using magic, the book… and Meghan, I wouldn’t tell anyone about your run in with the Catawitch, either. Those things could easily change the Viancourt’s minds about you staying here.”

It was Mireya who had come up the stairs.

As Colin departed the bath behind Jae, he spun around.

“I almost forgot. The other room,” he pointed to the room across from the staircase, “that belongs to Ivan Crane. He was with me the day I ran into you guys and dropped all my packages. He just turned seventeen. Busy all the time. We don’t see him much. My parents took him in a few years back after his grandfather passed on.”

“That’s nice of your family to do that,” said Meghan from the bathroom door, recalling the rude boy and her instant dislike of him. She hurriedly bathed, allowing Colin time to clean up, too. After, they had dinner. During the meal, another package arrived from Banon Blackwell, this time for Colin.

“I already got mine, its beautiful,” said Meghan.

Colin opened his. It was a black jacket, with a hint of gold fringe.

“That’s what all the men wear to
fancy
type occasions,” said Jae, rolling his eyes. Colin tried it on over his clothes. Again, it fell to his ankles.

“Another item to grow into?” Colin asked hopefully.

“I can fix that, along with your other one,” said Sheila. “Leave it on the couch over there, but in the box. We must keep it nice. It’s a real honor to get a gift from Banon Blackwell.”

“Is there some event we need to have these outfits ready for? We were told there may be occasions we cannot attend.”

“We do have lots of fancy affairs. Best to always be ready,” Sheila smiled. They ate quietly and immediately after, Meghan announced she was ready for bed.

“I realize it’s early, but I’m spent.”

“I’m pretty beat myself, probably won’t be too far behind,” replied her brother.

“I think that’s a splendid idea all around,” announced Sheila. “I’m going to make a quick trip to see your father and when I get back, bed time.”

No one argued. The dinner meal had filled their bellies, causing the immensity of their gloomy tiredness to kick in.

“Night everyone,” yawned Meghan, as she wound her way up the staircase. A chorus of sleepy goodnights swept through the house.

The boys and Mireya decided to stay up until Jae’s mother had returned from seeing Irving Mochrie at the hospital.

Meghan’s head hit her pillow, all thoughts left her mind, and exhaustion took over. She did not awaken until the next morning.

##

##

It took a few groggy minutes for Meghan to remember where she was. She sensed in her mind for Colin.

“You’re finally awake,” he said, catching her probing through his thoughts. “Hurry and get up. Jae’s practicing magic.”

“K, gotta get dressed,” she mumbled, hurrying to make herself presentable. As she departed the bedroom, a door opened beside her. A handsome, dark haired young man dressed in a sport coat bounced out, surprised to see her.

“You must be Meghan,” he said dryly.

“Yes, I am.” Before she could say more, he raced down the stairs. She followed him, recalling their first encounter back in Cobbscott. She wondered again,
Is it really possible to know you hate someone, so instantaneously?
Ivan ran out the back door, yelling hello and goodbye.

Irving Mochrie had returned home from the hospital late the night before and was sitting in the back, outside the house near a lit fire pit, clearly impressed with the boy.

“Look at that, already off to work. Never an idle moment, that one!”

Off to the side, Jae was practicing a balancing spell. He had many items stacked atop each other; his hand balancing the items without touching them.

Irving Mochrie, still heavily bandaged, noticed Meghan arrive.

“Good morning. It is nice to meet you, properly, although I wish it were under different circumstances,” he added.

“I can’t believe you’re home already, after what those Scratchers did to you!” said Meghan.

“Yes, that was some ugly business. But the wounds will heal! We
all
have a price to pay for this lifestyle we lead. I’ve already spoken with your brother, but I must thank you personally for your assistance, and I am deeply sorry about your uncle. He would be proud of your bravery, of this, I am sure.”

“Thanks,” she said, growing agitated that so many believed their uncle to be dead.

A glass dish fell off Jae’s balanced stack, plummeting to the ground. Irving used magic to stop it before it smashed into shards. “Pay attention, Jae.” he scolded harshly. “You’ve got a month’s worth of work to catch up on.”

Jae looked worn out. Meghan wondered if he’d slept at all, and had a twinge of guilt for having such a restful night. Colin watched Jae intently.

Irving shifted in his chair, wincing a bit, as Sheila Mochrie joined them from inside.

“Ivan’s off,” she told Irving. “Says he won’t make it home for dinner, another long day ahead.”

“I’ve never seen a young man so dedicated to his work,” claimed Irving. 

Jae lost his concentration and the stack of items smashed to the ground, the glass ones smashing into sharp bits.

Irving glanced in Jae’s direction, huffing. “Keep trying. Always keep trying, Jae.”

“Yes, Dad.” He flicked his wrist and the broken items magically repaired themselves.

Irving went back to his conversation with Sheila.

Meghan grabbed a meat pie that Sheila had stacked in front of her, trying not to listen in, but could not help it.

“Not nice, Sis,” Colin sent.

“They’re not exactly keeping it down,” she shot back.

“We cannot judge the Banon,” Irving was saying. “Has she ever led us astray?”

“No, she hasn’t. I was wrong to even think it!” Sheila disappeared into the cottage, followed by Irving a moment later.

“What was that about?” wondered Colin.

“It’s okay to listen in on other’s conversations now is it?”

“I got curious,” he shrugged. The twins twitched uncomfortably, believing they were not as welcomed into the Mochrie house as they had been led to believe. Maybe they should take up Billie’s offer and move in with her. Meghan got up the courage to ask.

“Jae. It’s not a problem is it, us staying with your family?”

“Problem? No. People are just a little slow to warm up to strangers is all. It’ll take some time, but they’ll come around.”

He wasn’t as reassuring as the twins had hoped.

“What’s there to do around here?” Meghan asked, changing the subject.

Jae finished cleaning up his mess before answering, the last of the glass repairing itself as he stacked the non-breakable items on the table.

“There’s Grimble, otherwise not much. I should warn you that tomorrow I’ll be back in school. I haven’t heard any word as to what they’re going to have the two of you doing.”