Chapter 44


Odale drummed her fingers at her arm. She detested feeling that helpless. All she really wanted to do was to go to sleep for a long, long time. So that she didn't have to worry about anything anymore.

Zamir grabbed her by the arm. "Do you want to talk?" he asked.

"No, I'm fine." she shrugged him off.

"But-"

"I'm fine!" she snapped. "I'm fine. I just..."

"Whatever." Zamir stood up, "You know, I think I see Septimus and Beetle from here."

"What?" Odale said and jumped up beside him, "Do you... do you think he made it?"

"I do hope so," he replied, "But to be honest, I don't really think so."

Odale groaned. "Then what should we do?" she asked.

"Well, why don't you ask him?" Zamir snapped.

"Maybe I will." Odale snapped back. She turned her back on Zamir and walked over to Septimus.


To an extent, Zamir really hated Odale. He hated her way of always snapping at him and everyone else, he hated the way she at least had used to view death. In short, he hated almost everything about her.

But at the same time, she was one of his best friends. Maybe even the only friend he could rely on. She had tormented him when they were younger, but he still felt a strange kind of loyalty to her. He wanted to help her, bit since she wouldn't let him, he couldn't.

Even though he always felt pushed away from Odale when she talked to Septimus, he went over to them. "How did it go?" Odale asked Septimus. Septimus shook his head.

"They broke the seal," Septimus answered.

"Broke it?" Odale wondered. "How could they break it? No one's supposed to be able to-"

"Do you think I'm lying?" Septimus said.

"No." Odale sighed.

"What are we supposed to do?" Septimus asked.

"I don't know," Odale answered, "Give up? Maybe we could get to Marcia in time and she could evacuate..."

"No!" Septimus protested, "We can't."

"What are we supposed to do, then?" Odale said. "Because I don't see any way out of this."

Septimus were quiet. Painfully quiet. Oddly enough, Zamir thought. Septimus had struck him as a person who spoke a lot.

Odale was quiet too, and Beetle hadn't said anything during the entire conversation. "Jim Knee," Septimus suddenly said. "What if Jim Knee could do something?"

"aLike what?" Zamir asked, who much like Odale didn't know anything about jinnees. "Talk to them?"

He saw Odale role her eyes and snickered. "Very funny," Odale snapped, then turned to Septimus. "What did you have in mind?"

"Maybe he could Freeze them." Septimus said doubtfully. "At least it's worth a try."

"Are you sure?" Odale asked.

"No." Septimus answered, "But as I said-"

"That's not what I meant." Odale replied, "I meant that the warrior jinnees, at least from what Zamir's told, seems to have been Awaken with the Darke. That would mean that Jim Knee would have to have some Darke in him to even stand a chance..."

"From what Zamir told?" Septimus asked, "When did Zamir say that?"

Odale looked at Zamir, who smiled at her. "Didn't you care to tell him?" she snapped.

"Well, when I told you, Septimus were already away." he replied. Odale sighed.

"I thought that you were supposed to have at least some form of intelligence in that thick scull-"

Septimus interrupted her. "Well, we know now." he said. "It was good that you at least said something, Zamir."

Zamir gave him a thankful nod. "Very well." Odale sighed again. "Now, do you think Jim Knee has Darknesse, Septimus?"

Septimus shook his head. "I don't." he replied, "And I haven't felt anything, either. Have you?"

"No," Odale admitted, "I haven't."

"Okay," Septimus said, "Do you know how we could make him... you know, a bit Darke? I take it that you're the expert."

Odale shrugged. "I don't know a lot about jinees, Sep." she responded, "But I suppose you could give him a Darke talisman, or something. I think I might have-"

"No!" Beetle exclaimed, to everyone's shock. "No, if you'd do that, Sep would get involved in the Darke with him."

"Why?" Odale asked.

"If a jinees master willingly let his jinnee turn Darke, he will be involved too." Beetle answered, "It just is like that."

Odale chewed at her lip. "But if the master say wouldn't allow it?" she wondered, "Would that count?"

"No..." Beetle said, "I suppose not."

Zamir gave Odale a look. "Do you mean for me too..?"

"If it's okay with you, then please." Odale replied. "But it maybe is the one chance that we have."

"What?" Septimus asked curiously, but Odale just gave him a sly smirk.

"Just call for him, and we'll see." she answered.


It was almost as though Dextus couldn't get enough of Lorea. Not in the romantic sense, and not either in any physical form. It was more because of memories than because of anything else.

Because he knew who she was. It had taken him a little while, but now he was certain. She was the Lorea. The Heiress.

He remembered her very well. They had played with each other a few times when his uncle had business to do at the palace. But she didn't seem to remember him. That puzzled him a lot. She must have been at least four when she was lost, and at that age people did usually remember some things.

Dextus thought of that when he was about to knock at the door to her house. That, and that he maybe appeared to be a bit creepy when he without a warning appeared at her doorstep. Or what if her uncle opened?

Or if it really was her uncle. He had never heard of any 'Rodrian' back when he was little. Rodrian...

The door opened and there Lorea stood. Her eyes were red and teary. "Lorea?" he asked, "Are you okay?"

Lorea drained her eyes quickly and nodded. "Yes." she answered. "Uh... is there something you want?"

"Not really, no." Dextus said, "I just had nothing to do and, you know, stop by. If it's okay, of course."

"Of course." Lorea replied, "Step inside."


"Are you sure?" Zamir asked Odale. "What if they think I'm weird?"

Odale laughed. "I'm sure they already do." she answered, "So you've got nothing to lose, then."

Zamir scratched his hair. Odale knew that he did that when he was nervous. She sighed and looked at Septimus's jinnee. As said, she wasn't impressed. But she had understood what they had to do. And she was going to make Zamir help them.

"Just take the bloody thing off and look at him." she added angrily, meaning for the piece of cloth that covered Zamir's eye, "It's not anything dangerous."

"But why would he do that?" Jenna asked.

"Wait and see." Odale said. She jerked at Zamir's arm. "Zamir. Please."

The jinnee watched them suspiciously. "What are you doing?" Jim Knee asked slowly.

"Don't bother." Odale snapped. Zamir sighed. He put his hand to the knot and pulled. It didn't work and he swore.

Odale put her hand over her mouth. She wanted to laugh, but it wasn't a laughing matter. Instead she snapped her fingers and the knot unwound. Zamir thanked her quietly.


"Do you have any coffee?" Dextus asked Lorea.

Lorea laughed. "No," she answered, "Rodrian calls it the 'brew of the evil'."

"The 'brew of evil'?" Dextus laughed. "Is he a rebel or something?"

"He just really hates coffee," she said, "He's not like that. He would never-"

"I'm sorry." he said.

"I'll get you something else." Lorea replied tartly. She detested jokes about rebels. The rebels weren't funny, neither were the jokes.

Rebels were bad people, end of story.


"Do you think it worked?" Septimus asked as Zamir wrapped the piece of cloth over his eye again.

"You'll have to find out on your own." he answered. "Sorry."

"Well, you did what you could. Thank you." Septimus said, catching both Odale and Zamir by surprise. But in contrast to Zamir, who just widened his eyes and stared, Odale smirked at Septimus.

"What?" Septimus asked.

"Nothing." Odale said. "Just send the jinnee now."

"What did you do?" Jim Knee shivered, but no one cared to answer him.

"Jim Knee," Septimus said, instead. "I demand you to Freeze the Warrior Jinees."

"Did he Curse me?" Jim Knee asked.

"Never mind that." Septimus answered. "Just go on and Freeze the Warrior Jinees."

"How do you suppose me to do that?" the jinee asked and Odale sighed, very annoyed. Septimus raised his hand to silence her, and she did keep quiet.

"I don't know," he said, "I suppose... that you could turn into a crab-"

"A crab?" Jim Knee spat. "Are you..?"

"You turn into a crab and grasp the heel of the last Warrior Jinnee." Septimus replied. Odale tilted her head to one side. What on earth was he thinking? To turn the jinnee into a crab did sound crazy, as he surely could turn him into anyone. A giant, or an even bigger dragon than what Spit Fyre was, or something ever bigger and more horrendous. But no, a crab.

Odale couldn't help but to think off Marcia. Septimus took after Marcia with his way of using Magyk, he only used as much as he had to. Wimpy, her old tutor would have called it. Provident, Odale liked to call it, but maybe her old tutor was right to some degree.

If Septimus could turn his jinnee to anything, why didn't he..?

Enough. She told herself. It's enough. Everything's going to be alright. Please let everything be alright...


Cashmére wrapped her arms around her legs. It was that time of the year again. Her daughter's birthday. It wasn't fair. Little children shouldn't ever be allowed to die. No. They shouldn't be able to die.

Somebody knocked on the door, and she went to look. She didn't even bother to make herself look presentable. What would she do that for? She didn't see the necessity in it.

Outside, one of these Ordinary Wizards stood. She recognized the blue robes. "What do you want?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest. The Ordinary Wizard, a woman in Cashmére's own age, made Cashmére feel like her personal space was invaded.

"Madam Marcia sent for you..." the woman started.

"Oh." Cashmére said and sighed, annoyed. What did she want now?


Dextus had the feeling that Lorea didn't appreciate his presence. At least not anymore. She was constantly glancing away from him and sounded distant when they talked. "Do you want me to leave?" he asked her and Lorea jumped.

"No, no." she answered. "No, stay if you want to."

He sighed. "Okay." he said.

"I know that I know you from somewhere," Lorea replied, "I just don't know where."

"Nah." he lied, "Maybe not."

"But I do." Lorea insisted. "Where did you grow up?"

"Here," Dextus said, "In the harbor."

Lies. Always lies. Lorea crossed her arms. "Are you-"

"Yes, I'm sure." Dextus hurried to say. "Lorea, please, let's talk about something else."

Lorea pursed her lips.


The jinnee finally left, in the shape of a crab. Odale let out a deep sigh. She wanted to feel relieved, but she couldn't. Not as long as the Warrior Jinnees were where they were.


Cashmére finally reached the Wizard Tower. The Ordinary Wizard had given her the password, on Marcia's demand apparently. She whispered the password to the door.

The big door opened itself to her and she entered, taking in the scent of Magyk. Structured Magyk, the kind that didn't exist anywhere else. The kind that had stopped larger countries and states from invading for thousands of years. "Cashmére," Marcia said. "Nice to see that you're here early. I'm just going to talk Silas and Sarah, then I thought that you and I could have a chat."

And what on earth did you suppose me to do for that hour that you, Silas and Sarah bicker?, Cashmére thought. She didn't remember hearing them ever bicker, but she had listened to her daughter tell her about it. And then, of course, she knew Marcia well. Or, she had known. Marcia cleared her throat. "How are you doing, by the way?" she asked, surprisingly softly. Cashmére didn't remember the last time anyone had spoken like that to her.

"I'm doing just fine," she replied, annoyed with both Marcia, the annoyance on her voice and then her own accent. "I just wish that I could be alone for a little while."

"I'm sorry." Marcia said. Both women went silent. There wasn't especially much to say, Cashmére thought. Any kind of friendship they'd ever had was gone and they would probably, Cashmére was certain, never be able to reconcile. And Cashmére didn't want to reconcile, either.

Her father had always said that if you can't fix something, throw it away.

"There they are." Marcia sighed. Cashmére turned to see Sarah and Silas Heap, with their dog.

While Marcia went over to the Heaps, Cashmére stood where she was. She could feel the Wizards eyeing her: witches, she knew they thought, weren't welcome in there.

Back home, nobody would act that way. Witch, Wizard... two different things, but it didn't matter there. You used Magyk, fine. If you didn't, fine. There was no need to label people like that.

Home... She couldn't go back. Not ever. Not after everything that had happened.

A sudden loud bang was heard, Cashmére grimaced. She already had a headache building up, and some loud project in the basement of the Tower would cause her head to crack. Another noise was heard, even louder than the first one. But it didn't sound quite right. It reminded Cashmére of the sound that splintering wood made. Or rather, it was splintering wood.

A door had been cracked open by an axe of some sort, and Cashmére's first thought was rebels. She later realized that it was a stupid thought: rebels had no reason to be there at all. The Castle had no connection to the Eastern Snowplains, even less it's Emperor, than that the ExtraOrdinary Wizard happened to have roots in the Snowplains.

But Cashmére was right. It wasn't rebels. Far from.

It was probably the oddest creatures she'd ever seen. Instead of hands, they had daggers, axes, shields or swords. She knew that this wasn't Marcia's... whatever they now were. These were some militant figures, and she knew since long ago that Marcia detested military forces.

Cashmére had no idea why she felt so calm, but she did. It was almost frightening.

She walked over to Marcia, who was pale. Either, she had done something really bad, or this was unplanned. "Marcia, what on earth-"

"Cashmére, leave." Marcia said, in an authoritative tone that Cashmére didn't like. "Silas, Sarah, you should leave too. Now hurry."

"I won't leave unless you tell me what's going on." Cashmére replied, "And even if you do, I might not leave."

Marcia gave a loud sigh. "Odale-"

"The name's Cashmére, Marcia." Cashmére said, irritably.

"I don't have the time for this." Marcia exclaimed, panicking. "Cashmére, leave."

"They're just standing still this far, Marcia." Cashmére snapped.

"You're acting like-"

"Ms. Overstrand." a voice boomed, causing both of them to jump. "I've got a bone to pick with you."

Cashmére glanced at Marcia, who seemed to have gathered herself and now (at least tried to) look calm and cold. "Tertius Fume, I don't know what you think that you're doing, but you better get out of my sight." Marcia said, "I'm not saying that again."

"Indeed you won't." Fume said coldly. "Get her."

The last thing was meant for the warriors, Cashmére assumed, as they suddenly stood in a fightingstance.

They reminded her off something she once had read about, but they couldn't be the same. The soldiers, or rather warriors that she had read about, were dead bodies reanimated to fight for the one that had brought them back. Or rather, brought their bodies back. But the dead were still human, these things that she saw was something else.

The warriors, however, wasted no time. "Run!" Marcia yelled, but Cashmére did not. Silas and Sarah stood paralyzed, just as some Ordinary Wizards.


Cashmére raised her arms quickly into the air, chanting a couple of words. It wasn't latin. Marcia didn't think so at least. She didn't know much latin, but she could tell what was latin and what was not.

Blue flames burst from the floor (how Marcia would hate the snide comments from the Wizard who was supposed to be cleaning the bottom floor). She assumed that Cashmére had done it in an attempt to protect, but Marcia knew that it wouldn't work. Warrior Jinnees were unstoppable, almost.

At least, she thought to herself, Odale and Septimus aren't here. They were hopefully safe somewhere.


Odale clasped her hands together in her lap. She sat on the sand with her legs crossed and stared at the line of jinnee that streamed out of the ship. Why wasn't it ending? Had Milo just found some painful, endless supply of warriors?

Zamir put a hand on her shoulder. "It's going to be okay." he said. "Septimus's jinne-"

"Ssh," Odale snapped. "Don't talk to me right now. Please"

Her friends went silent and they looked over the waters. Milo was still muttering something about "double-crossed", "jinnees" and "stupid idea", meanwhile everyone else was just silently staring.

Odale leant her chin in her hand, sighing deeply. "Look." Septimus said, and Odale did. "I think that was the last one."

"Why aren't they Freezing yet then?" Odale snapped.

"Patience, Odale." Septimus replied calmly. "Patience."


Marcia felt something like a cold breeze around her neck. That wasn't what she had expected.

She had expected some pain. Either a burning, sharp pain or perhaps a quick cut, followed by deep unconsciousness. She drew her fingers over her neck, but all she could feel was the Akhu Amulet hanging safely around her neck. No blood, no nothing.

As Marcia opened her eyes the first thing she saw was a sword of ice, just an inch from her face.

She looked around. Frozen. "Cashmére," she whispered, but noticed that her voice rasped. She cleared her throat. "Cashmére?"

"Yes, Marcia?" Cashmére replied.

"Did you... did you do that?" Marcia asked.

"No." Cashmére answered, "I wish I could say that I did, but I'd be lying."

Marcia Smashed the closest jinnees around her to pieces. It had been Septimus and Odale who had Froze them. She just knew it.


When Odale saw the jinnees Freeze, she let out a sigh. Finally she felt relieved.

Of course someone could still have been hurt, but she decided to ignore the possibility. "Is there something more dangerous that you want to do now, Lau, or will you let me rest for five minutes?" Zamir mocked.

"You go ahead and go back to that sandpit of yours." Odale retorted and turned around to look for Septimus, but he wasn't there. "Jenna?" she called instead.

"Mmm." came the reply.

"Where'd Sep go?" Odale asked. Jenna sighed with annoyance.

"If you're going to fight him again-"

"I'm not." Odale said. "I just want to talk to him."

"Well," Jenna replied, "He went to talk to Syrah. I think that he's over there somewhere."

She pointed over a hill and Odale groaned. Why couldn't he stay in one place for once?


Septimus was supporting an unconscious Syrah when Odale approached. "Odale," he let out a sigh with relief. "She just collapsed. Would you be kind and ask someone to come back here and help me carry her?"

She could hear that he was genuinely worried about the girl. "What happened?" she asked him, ignoring what he had asked her to do

"I told you, she just collapsed." Septimus answered. "I... I told her something. I think that she might have..."

"I understand." Odale said. "Okay, I'll go get someone, but afterwards we need to talk."

Septimus nodded vacantly and Odale understood that he wasn't really... there.


Syrah was carried to a safe spot. It didn't seem like she was unconscious, Odale thought. Not sleeping, but more like she was dead.

But Septimus insisted in that he had looked. The girl was still alive.

Odale sat down by him. "Oh, Odale." Septimus said, but Odale could feel that he still wasn't there. "You wanted to say something."

"Well..." Odale sighed. "I just wanted to say that I'm happy to go home."

It was a lie. She really wanted to say that she was sorry that they had fought, but she didn't want to say that.

"Me too."


(A/N That was the end (finally!). I have had to other stuff, but hey, it's here now. I'm not entirely happy with this one (started out good, but ended badly). I'm going to wait a little while before I continue, if I even do. But see y'all! Have a nice day!)