Chapter 22- Marcel's Change of Plan
…
Robert rushed over to Marcel, hugging him and practically lifting him off his feet.
"Marcel! I haven't seen you since that day I carried you out of prison! Thought I'd never see you again, mon ami!" he laughed. He gave his former fellow inmates and the other unexpected visitor an incredulous look. "Agathe, m'lady! You look young again! Must be the fresh air, eh? And-you!" he addressed Aloysius. "You're the other one who broke us out! Merci beaucoup!"
"We have to get you out of here now, Robert!" Marcel said tensely.
"So what the hell are you doing here if you were in some faraway castle?" Robert shouted, giving the three of them a look of confusion. "You can't use Transplaner all the way from Alsace to Paris. If you did, you've reached the pinnacle of almighty wizard power! Unless you can, Mademoiselle Agathe. I don't doubt your powers."
"We rode the skies in Marcel's flying carriage. He brought us down to the grounds of a country estate just outside of Paris," explained Agathe. "A Sans-Magie known as the Marquis de Brumagne allowed us to keep the carriage there."
"Then, the three of us ran into the forest behind the Marquis' mansion," said Aloysius.
"And when we arrived in the forest," Marcel continued, "we used Aloysius' Magic Mirror to concentrate our minds on your whereabouts, Robert. Then, we were able to use Transplaner to come here."
"Brilliant idea!" said Toulouse in admiration, observing the happy reunion.
"So Robert, are you ready to go?" Marcel said with insistence. "We can't waste a minute! Le Ministère has their noses up our asses for certain!"
"Marcel, just relax please-" said Aloysius.
"So get him out of here, then!" Toulouse interjected, giving Robert Lefebvre's large body a push forward. Robert scowled. "His...night is coming up! I've been telling him the same thing!"
"What am I, a giant rat pest you need to get rid of?" Robert growled. "Marie! Please tell your child he is very rude."
Madame Granger took the side of her guest against her son. "Toulouse, he's right. What is his 'night', anyway?"
"Robert!" Marcel chided. "You didn't tell this lady about what you are?"
"What I am, is a homeless man running from Le Ministère like all my friends here," Robert said in an anguished voice, his head down in dejection. "I know when I'm not wanted."
Marcel rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "I don't believe this! Tu te fous de ma gueule?" he groaned.
"I'm telling her then," said Toulouse. He turned to his confused mother. "Maman, your friend and guest here is a-"
"Bouche de Colle!" Robert hissed out at the same time. Toulouse's mouth snapped shut, his lips magically sealed together. Marie Granger gasped.
"Let's go! Now!" said Marcel, reaching out to grab Robert with one arm while grasping Aloysius' arm in the other. "Toulouse Granger, am I correct?" he addressed the youngest fellow. Toulouse nodded, humming through his locked lips.
"You and the lady must leave your home, I'm sorry. There's an execution squad on their way to kill Robert and anyone he's with," Marcel warned.
Madame Granger gasped. "No!"
"Toulouse, you can either go with us by Transplaner right now, or find shelter somewhere else," Marcel directed. "Madame, I'm afraid you will have to go somewhere else in the city for at least the next five days. This kind of travel is dangerous. Enchanters only."
"And Robert, you need to undo your hex on the boy, so he can say a proper goodbye," said Agathe.
The werewolf frowned. "Don't say anything to her about me, Toulouse! Promise?"
"Mfff-mphfff…" Toulouse tried to express. Robert mumbled 'Arrête," and Toulouse was free to speak.
"Maman, pack some things and go to Josette's place. They won't be looking for you. It's Robert they're after. And me- since I'm a member of the Enchanted Rebel Army. We have plans."
"It's a war?" Madame Granger asked grimly.
"Yes," Toulouse replied. He took a few moments to embrace his anguished mother, before joining arms with the four other Enchanters.
They all formed a tight circle and vanished away via the Transplaner spell before Robert had the chance to thank Marie Granger for her hospitality.
…
The group of Enchanters successfully re-appeared in the same part of a forest that Agathe, Aloysious and Marcel had left only minutes earlier.
"The carriage is this way. We can walk there since we are out of the city, do not worry," said Agathe, pointing towards the Marquis de Brumagne's stables.
"We have to get Adelaide," Marcel reminded them. Back at the castle, Adelaide had begged to come along with him on the flying carriage. Since she was Sans-Magie, Marcel feared that she could not handle travel by Transplaner if he'd tried to pull her along. He'd compromised with her by sending her to the Marquis' estate, so she could pay her old employers and colleagues a visit. She'd happily agreed.
"She's much more safe to stay here a while and find her own ride back to the castle," argued Aloysius. "Is there a way you can convince her that you'll see her again soon? She ought to go and visit her own family since she's near Paris at the moment."
Marcel gave a stress sigh. "I can attempt that, Monsieur Aloysius...but I doubt it'll work. And yes, I know what you're implying. Merde! It's too late now. Damn, I shouldn't have made her run off with me on a broom that day!"
"People in love do crazy things," said Aloysius with empathy.
"Hurry, Marcel, if you want to fetch her. Use Transplaner if you need," urged Agathe.
Marcel closed his eyes, visualized the staircase and front door of the Marquis' mansion, and found himself there in an instant. He pounded on the door. "Adelaide!"
The door opened abruptly. Marcel's fist collided with the vested chest of the Marquis' new butler, a tall sturdy fellow in a white wig. His face twisted with contempt from the mishap.
"Who are you?" the man snarled. "How dare you lay your hand on me! Your Grace?" he shouted to his master. "Someone else's very rude manservant is here, and he's assaulted me like a-"
"I'm sorry, excuse me, but-" Marcel swept past the man and found himself in a small but elegant reception parlor. "Adelaide?"
"Marcel, is that you?"
His heart warmed to hear his love's voice as she bustled into the room, holding a teacup and looking refreshed and relaxed. The Marquis Antoine de Brumagne and his wife were with Adelaide in the parlor, along with their current maid. Adelaide's cat, Lorette, wandered around her feet. She skittered over to Marcel's boots once she caught sight of him.
"Your Graces! Madame Chambon! I want to introduce you to my fiancé," said Adelaide cheerfully. "Do you remember Monsieur Clement from Prince Adam's castle last summer? Well, we sort of ended up being well acquainted, and-"
"Oh yes, my dear, we remember this man," said the Marquess Marie-Juliette warmly, recalling Marcel upon sight. "How could we forget you?"
The Marquis' face paled. Seeing Marcel again was an instant reminder of the whole 'Luc or Gaston?' fiasco. The nobleman was still trying to put his embarrassing ordeal of hiring Prince Adam's would-be killer behind him. He'd given his senior maid the position of Head of Household, since terminating the so-called 'Luc.'
"You-" breathed the Marquis to the sudden visitor. "You were doing all kinds of strange-" He made an awkward gesture of someone waving a magic wand. "And somehow, Gaston and Princess Belle were-" He made a sweeping gesture with both arms out, pantomiming the giant 'screen' Marcel had made of Belle's library books, so that Gaston and Belle could speak from one part of the immense castle to another.
"I hope that day didn't frighten you. I apologize for that spectacle, Monsieur." Marcel said solemnly. "I also want to let you know that Gaston is doing fine. And so is Emilie."
"We know, Monsieur. Adelaide told us about Gaston," replied the Marquis, forgiving of the man's use of 'Monsieur' instead of a noble title. His face bore a slight expression of hurt, recalling the checkered-past man who'd served him under a fake name, romanced Emilie, and then proceeded to utterly ruin Prince Adam's birthday ball.
"Oh, yes. She must have informed you about them," Marcel replied awkwardly, ignoring the butler's burning look of near-hatred towards him. Finally, he turned to face the man. "Monsieur. In my defense, I did not plan to strike you. You opened the door so fast I was caught off guard. And just to clarify- I am no one's 'manservant' and I never have been."
The butler continued to glare at Marcel, but the latter broke his gaze and looked to Adelaide's loving eyes for comfort. 'It's okay,' her expression seemed to say.
She spoke up graciously to thank her former employers. "Thank you so much for the tea and hospitality and letting me visit you on such short notice, Your Graces. I need to take leave of you now." She handed off her teacup to the still-appalled butler, smiling sweetly at him while she took Marcel's hand.
"Monsieur Forêt?" she said flippantly, "When you asked me earlier if I wanted creamer or sugar, I did tell you that I take my tea the same way I like my men. Dark, hot, and sweet." With that, she picked up her cat, and she and Marcel ran out the door, bursting into laughter like children.
Monsieur Forêt scowled down at Adelaide's discarded cup of creamless but sugared tea and gave his master an incredulous look. "Is that even allowed? Her and him?"
"She's our former maid, no relation. So as far as I'm concerned, she can love whomever she wishes. I like him," said the Marquess Marie Juliette.
"But he's a-"
"Warlock? Yes, we're aware. He performs magic, we've seen it. And he's not just an illusionist, he's an actual sorcerer. One of those things one must see to believe," said the Marquis matter of factly.
"A what?" Monsieur Forêt held Adelaide's teacup away from his body with spite. "Never heard the word. Is that what the British call them?"
"Perhaps," said the Marquis de Brugmaine. "All I know is I'm glad to see Adelaide happy again."
…
Marcel and Adelaide rushed back to the stable, where his flying horses Felix and Fifi were being readied for takeoff.
"Promise you won't fly up so fast this time? I still have a stomachache," Adelaide said, trying to keep her cat wrapped in one arm while holding Marcel's hand.
"Ma petite, I cannot promise anything. Avoiding Le Ministère is my only goal right now. You may be ill, you may throw up, but that's the way it is. Now, I'm giving you a choice if you want to stay here and go see your family back in the city. Aloysius and I do want you safe. Actually, I-" He breathed a sigh to try to get the truth out. "Please, Adelaide. I would much rather you not fly with us. Not tonight. There is a worse risk than just you being ill."
Adelaide's sunny mood collapsed; Marcel felt her fingers slipping from his.
"Adelaide," he snapped, reaching out to re-grab her hand. "Listen to me- this is a moment where both our lives are at stake. We were fortunate enough to not run into Le Ministère's agents on the flight here. They must be out there. Aloysius and Agathe are sure of it!"
"I'm staying with you,' Adelaide declared. "You cannot talk me out of it."
He gazed at her, knowing that she was equally as stubborn as he was. Palming both of her cheeks with his hands, he bent down to give her a brief but ardent kiss on the lips. "I love you." He glanced down at Lorette and gave the ever-present cat a light touch on her downy fur.
"And I love you," said Adelaide. "You fly, I fly with you. If we die, we die together."
He nodded and averted his eyes from hers, blinking back emotion. "Let's go. Robert needs to be hidden in a place where he can transform into a vicious wolf without harming anyone else."
Adelaide nodded. They grasped hands again and began to run. He pulled her along as she gasped and panted to keep up with his long strides, clutching Lorette to her shoulder.
When they reached the nobleman's stables, Marcel rushed to his two horses, hugging the mare named Fifi around her strong neck. Aloysius, Agathe, Robert, and Toulouse were waiting for them. Robert had even helped things along by hitching Fifi and Felix to the large black stagecoach.
"Finally! You're here, Adelaide!" Aloysius greeted. "Let's all climb aboard. Not a moment to waste."
"Adelaide, I want you to ride with them on the inside of the coach," Marcel urged her. "I'm sorry, my love, but I cannot have you distracting me with your fretting over my speed. And it's safer."
"I understand," Adelaide replied with growing anxiety. "Whichever way is safe...I trust you."
"I'm so happy that you trust me. I've barely earned it," he replied, palming her cheek and kissing her once more.
Marcel leapt to the driver's seat, while the other five people- plus one cat- crowded into the passenger seats. He pulled on the reins in haste, and the horses took off to above the treetops, soaring heavenward in a nearly vertical position.
Inside the coach, the passengers clung to the door handles. Adelaide screamed while Robert and Agathe remained calm. Toulouse and Aloysius clutched their door handles and tried to reassure the Sans-Magie woman that this was all normal, safe Enchanted transport- in spite of the circumstances of war.
"Every September, all French Magical children are transported to the Academie in a flight as fast as this one, though in much larger coach," Aloysius said in as lighthearted a tone as he could.
"That's child abuse!" cried Adelaide in a hoarse voice. She clutched the handle for dear life, her eyes scrunched shut. Lorette lay peacefully on her lap.
...
From Marcel's vantage point, he began to spot objects flying in the distance. With horror he realized they were not in the shapes of birds. Squinting, he could make out the silhouettes of a dozen people on brooms, flying in formation like a flock of geese. A glowing blue streak shot out from what looked like someone's wand.
"Putain de merde!" he hissed under his breath. It had to be Le Ministère men. Marcel was flying the carriage east, they were heading west. Someone- Sauvageon, perhaps- must have tracked one or more of the trio in Paris.
Marcel thought for a moment whether or not he could throw a freezing curse at them from this distance. He raised his hand to prepare the strike...but a moment later, he came back to reason and reconsidered the decision.
They had wands. There were more of them. If he took a chance, threw his freezing curse and missed- and they saw his golden beam flying in their direction, it would be an open invite to battle. They would not be afraid to send horrible deadly flames from their wands, incinerating the coach and everyone in it.
Fearing the thought of such an encounter with Adelaide and the others on board, Marcel guided the horses to soar higher and veered north instead of east. He heard Adelaide shout in fear at the sudden turn. Approaching a thick cloud, he set a heating charm around the carriage to keep everyone warm while leading the horses through the water vapor.
The cloud would at least hide the coach from human eyes. He now had to turn his head sharply to the right to see the threatening broom riders. They were at a much lower level.
"Faster, Felix and Fifi...faster," he urged them on quietly, pulling on their reins. The horses and coach increased speed. "Please, please...Dieu aide moi!"
An image of his Maman- Sabine- came into his mind. The feeling came upon him that she was the one he needed to go to. She was a potion making expert! It was possible that she could brew a draught to stop Robert's wolf transformations. Aloysius, though an equally good potion brewer, had not been able to make any more potions due to his near-deadly accident. If only Marcel could get his mother to help Robert- the man's werewolf problem could be at least partially cured.
"Agathe! Aloysius!" Marcel yelled.
"Yes?" Agathe replied. "We hear you. Is something wrong?"
"Would you mind if I took a change of course? Changed our plans entirely?"
"Change of plans?" Robert exclaimed. "What are you talking about, Marcel? I thought we're going to that royal palace where Agathe cast her Shield Charms!"
"I'm thinking about London!"
"London?" Robert yelled.
"To check on my Maman and aunt and cousin."
"Now?"
"Yes!"
Marcel fiddled with a rolled up map on his seat. He took a glance downward; he could clearly see the blue hue and reflected sun of a large body of water. The compass at the side of his seat indicated he was completely northbound. The English Channel.
For the time being he'd lost sight of the enemy broom fleet, but he didn't know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Mademoiselle Agathe, if I keep flying north over the English Channel at this point, we'll be completely out of France, and that means out of Le Ministère's reach! We can't risk a fight if we meet them in the skies!" he shouted against the rushing wind. He addressed Agathe in particular, feeling dependent upon her power and cunning. Her being there was the only thing keeping him under a semblance of control. Whatever she could do from inside that carriage, she'd better do it. Shield charms, Invisibility- anything.
"You sound as if you've already seen Le Ministère people flying around!" Robert yelled.
"I...I can't determine that, but we have to assume it!" he shouted back, not willing to admit the truth. "Aloysius? Toulouse? Got your wands on hand?"
"We have them," Aloysius' calm voice was muffled in the winds of flight.
"Stick your heads out the window and look behind you! Wands out and ready to fire!"
He heard Adelaide's panicking voice. "Marcel, what are you saying?" It wouldn't take much for her to sense what was going on.
"Marcel!" Agathe, too, screamed his name in warning.
A 'crack' sound and a blue glow came whizzing past Marcel's ear. He turned to the source, and horror struck his entire being. Two men on brooms had found them and they were starting to fire curses from behind.
...