Chapter 1

"Septimus, come here! I need you NOW!" The impatient voice of Marcia Overstrand, the Extra-Ordinary Wizard, rang in Septimus Heap's ears. He hurried to the room adjacent to the one he was in now. He didn't want to make Marcia more annoyed than she already was.

To his surprise, Marcellus Pye (the newly instated Castle Alchemist)was beside the Extra-Ordinary, bending over what looked suspiciously like a Time Glass.

"I'm here. What is it?"

"Call the Queen and the Chief Hermetic Scribe. And don't dawdle!"

Septimus knew this was urgent. The 16 almost 17-year-old set the Magykal stairs on 'emergency', but the stairs didn't budge. He sighed, and ran down, taking the steps two at a time. The Wizard Tower was like this for about two months, seemingly sucking the Magyk out of everybody. Every day it was getting worse. It reminded Septimus of the time Merrin Meredith set up a Darke Domaine in the Palace attic. He just wished what Marcia and Marcellus were planning would work. He raced down Wizard Way, ignoring the looks of bemusement from the people on the Way. He stopped and opened the door of the Manuscriptorium.

"Hey Foxy. Have you seen Beetle?"

A thin, nervous-looking scribe looked up from his work. "He went off with the Queen 'bout 30 minutes ago. He said he was going to Wizard Sandwiches, and he would be back in an hour but don't disturb him unless there's an emergency."

Septimus had to stifle a chuckle at this. Beetle had always been secretive about him liking Jenna, but now that they were together, he was still wary of the Castle gossip. You can't blame Beetle. After all he was the Chief Hermetic Scribe and she was the Queen, and it made big news. "He and Jen..the Queen need to see Marcia Overstrand. I think that considers an emergency."

Foxy shuddered. Marcia had always made him uneasy. "Yes, of course."

Septimus exited the Manuscriptorium and continued down Wizard Way. Checking his clock, he hurried upstairs to Wizard Sandwiches with more haste. Jenna and Beetle were looking at each other with blank looks in their eyes, sandwiches long forgotten. Septimus cleared his throat and coughed, feeling like he was intruding. The two in question snapped their gaze away from each other, heat rising in their cheeks. Beetle looked down at his lap, and Jenna straightened her crimson cloak.

"Uhh...the Extra-Ordinary Wizard requires your presence?"

The two pushed past Septimus in embarrassment. He quickly caught up with them, squeezing between Beetle and Jenna.

"So what's all this about?" Beetle asked, slightly annoyed that Septimus had come right when he was with Jenna.

"I'm not so sure myself. Marcia and Marcellus are working together -I know, big surprise- on something that will hopefully bring back Magyk in the Castle. Marcellus was looking at something that seemed like a Time Glass. Anyway, Marcia told me to bring you guys here no dawdling, and no one messes with that."

"Agreed,"Jenna and Beetle chorused.