Chapter twenty-five--
Alanna puzzled over the Goddess's words while Gary's horse, who soon realized that his rider was too deep in thought to guide him, plodded down the paved road to the palace. She was still in shock that the Goddess had spoken to HER, and very confused in the regards to the Goddess's advice.
"So she sends me the dreams, warning me about Roger. Then, when I start to suspect him, she tells me not to make assumptions!" Alanna complained to the horse, who snorted in agreement. "What does she want from me? I don't want to save the crown; I just want to find my brother, then find out more about this country of Bowen's where women can become knights."
Her steed nickered, a noise that sounded suspiciously like sniggering. Alanna frowned down at the bay.
"What's wrong with my plan?" Alanna demanded. "What, don't think I can do it? Or am I not aiming high enough? I'm sure you'd think it just perfect if I got married to some buffle-brained lord instead, wouldn't ya? What's so funny?"
In response, she received a whinny and a spirited toss of mane. "Now I'm insane--I'm asking my horse for advice!" she muttered. "Yeah, I'm a nut. Look at me, talking to myself."
Maybe she'd dreamed up the interaction? But no, her eyes did not bear evidence of sleep, and she didn't feel the jittery sensation in the pit of her stomach that usually followed such dreams. So, it had not be imagined by her highly active subconscious.
"'As I can give no further explanations, here is my advice: train harder with Gary; you will need skill of sword soon. Be kind to Alex, for it will reap many unseen advantages and avoid many problems. Learn to use your Gift. Ask the thief--he will help you. And listen to the scoundrel here,'" Alanna remembered the Goddess's voice. She glanced around. Where WAS that black cat?
A soft mewing attracted her attention. Twisting half out of the saddle, Alanna saw the cat working hard to keep up with them, running alongside them on swift paws. Gripping tightly on the saddle with her left hand, she shifted to scoop up the cat and bring it up to ride with her.
"You're coming with me," she told it. It sniffed indignantly and proceeded to clean itself. "Do you have a name? Hmmm...I'm warning you, I'm not much of a cat person. Lara is, though. She'd love you. And spoil you crazy," Alanna added, shaking her head.
The cat gave her a sour look and then swatted at her pendant.
"Hey!" Alanna clutched her necklace protectively and gave the cat a smack. "Don't DO that!"
She glanced down at the pendant hanging around her neck and admired the pretty new shade of it, barely highlighted by the pale glow of winter's sun. Winter? She sat up straight with a sudden jerk, glancing wildly around. It was SNOWING! Soft flakes littered her hair, resting cold against her face and decorating her clothing.
"But winter's not due for a while, last time I checked," she muttered. "The gods have something against me. We might want to hurry up. I HATE cold weather, and being wet, and look--we're both. Ugh." She shivered, then patted him. "Sorry. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah. We were just talking about the Goddess," she informed the cat. "Did she take away the dreams or not?" Alanna muttered. "What do you think?"
The cat ignored her. Pursing her lips, Alanna lifted its tail, much to its dislike, proven by its protesting cries, and discovered that it was male. "You need a good bath and grooming, and feeding, too. How old are you? You look like you've seen some tough years."
His startlingly violet eyes met hers in an unnerving stare that Alanna could only meet for a moment before looking away.
"I wish she told me more about Thom. 'They have raised him well, and he has, I suppose, become a vessel at those times when it was supposed to be you through who we acted. That was how, in part, a wrong was set to rights.' That's a big help," she said sarcastically. "I have no idea what that means. 'He will find you.' Sure, one day he'll show up on my doorstep saying, 'Alanna, I'm your long-lost twin.'" Her cat was purring now, eyes closed and rubbing up against her belly.
"'You are twins, and at the age of ten, looked remarkably alike.' So does that mean that we STILL look alike, or maybe now he looks nothing like me? Well, other than he'd be a man, that is. Oh, why does this have to be so COMPLICATED?" Her horse snorted again.
"What's that supposed to mean? Yeah, life's always complicated, but--grr! I can't believe I'm losing a discussion to a HORSE!!"
Suddenly, Alanna felt him shudder and tremble beneath her in, what she realized with a scowl, was a wheezing fit.
"So you ARE laughing at me!" Alanna cried, giving the horse a good kick. Startled, her horse reared, sending Alanna flying into a sturdy oak tree on the side of the road, knocking a good deal of cold snow onto her head and down her nightgown. She screamed, then let out a loud curse and furious glare at the horse before spots swam in front of her and the world blackened.
She was drawn back to consciousness by gentle shakes and the calling of her name.
"Alanna! Alanna! ALANNA!" Someone said, gripping her shoulders and giving her another shake. Alanna grumbled something rude and shifted. When she blinked again, she found a dark face gazing intently at her.
She blinked. "A-alex?" she said uncertainly. His face came slowly into focus. "Y-you're back!" She felt a peculiar, instantaneous rush of emotions that she couldn't quite place or name. Alex's face split into a relieved smile, and he embraced her tightly. When he let her go, his expression was worried.
"Are you hurt? I heard your scream--what happened?"
"Just...wait!" She looked around and didn't see Gary's horse anywhere. "He better have run off back to the palace or Gary'll scalp me!"
"I assume you're talking about his horse?"
"Yeah, crazy thing threw me!" Alanna said, shivering. Suddenly, she realized that she was just how her thin nightgown was, and how Alex was leaning over her. Her face heated up furiously. Noticing, Alex drew his cloak around her shoulders.
"May I ask why you're riding around in the forest in your nightgown?"
"Nightmare," Alanna explained, not meeting his eyes. One of his strong arms suddenly encircled her waist as Alex drew her to his side.
"I left my horse a bit down the road," he explained. Indeed, a gray mare was awaiting them patiently at the bend in the road. With great ease, Alex swung Alanna up onto the saddle and followed suit, seating himself behind her. He started when her cat's screeching split the still air. They found that he was yowling furiously up at them, causing the mare to dance around with unease.
"Quiet down!" Alanna snapped as Alex raised him by the scruff of his neck and brought him down into Alanna's arms, where he did settle down, but glared at her.
"He found us," Alex said. "and brought us to you. His eyes--"
"I know," Alanna said, stroking him. "Uncanny, right? I only found him today. Haven't decided on a name yet, but I should leave that to Lara. Or maybe not, she'll probably end up trying to force 'snuffles-cuddles' on him."
The mare needed a great deal of consolance before they were headed down the road at a comfortable pace.
"So, did you miss me?" Alex asked casually.
"Um..."
"It's alright, you've been too busy to think about me, I'll warrant," Alex said with a chuckle. Alanna tilted her head back to look at him.
"I HAVE missed you," Alanna said, a sulkly tone entering her voice. He raised a dark eyebrow.
"What with all the healing and the balls? When have you had enough time to pine after me?"
"Pine? You want me to pine?" She placed her hands to her chest in a show of mock lady-like distress. Alex didn't reply.
"I'm a countess now," Alanna said abruptly. "Of Meekwater and Trebond. What do you think?"
"What do you want me to think?"
"What sort of question is that?" Alanna demanded. "Do you think it's it a good thing or not? Are you impressed, curious, what?"
"I've already heard, and I was surprised," Alex said evasively.
"So what do you think?" Alanna persisted.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes, and you're going to ask me why, and it's because...because..." Alanna faltered. "Just answer the question."
"Well, I think that Lord Riel and Earl Tomahs will be giving you a lot of trouble," Alex said with a smile. "And I think it's rather pleasant for you to receive a title as a reward, but if I have to be honest, I'd say that I don't think you're really a Countess."
"I don't think I am either," Alanna said. "Me, a countess!"
Obviously having finished saying what was on her mind, Alanna leaned back into his embrace, as Alex's arms, holding the reins, were wonderfully wrapped around her..
"How's Jon been?" Alex asked. Alanna immediately stiffen. Just when she was getting comfortable!
"Um, he's been, um, better since...since I healed the queen. You heard about that, too, right? Yeah, Jon's been...he's much better now."
"Something else you want to tell me?" Alex asked seriously.
"Why would there be?" Alanna asked suspiciously.
"I just want to know how he's changed. He's always been very close to his mother, you know. That's all I was asking," Alex explained.
"Oh." Alanna relaxed again, this time letting her eyes close. She was SO tired; she'd barely had any sleep the night before, and this felt SO good...she was much warmer now, and so safe...
"Is it alright if I just doze off?" she asked sleepily. "I've been up most of the night."
She didn't hear his response; she was already asleep.
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Bowen spit out the wine that was in his mouth, spewing it in the air and all over the table. He stared, sputtering in shock, at the couple who had just stepped into the Dancing Dove.
"How're you coming along, brother?" Elijah asked with a grin as he slid into the seat opposite him. "Me, I just about nearly died, but nothing I haven't been through before..."
"What are you DOING here?" Bowen raged. "Y-you..." He looked from Elijah to Vera. She was grinning nervously, wringing her hands.
"Hello, Bowen. We're just staying in Corus for a while and, well, thought we might stop by and see you," she said.
"You've seen me," he snapped. "Now leave."
"Sometimes I get the feeling that you don't like me very much," Elijah said dryly. "At least make an attempt to look happy to see me. Now aren't you going to ask us why we're in Corus?"
"It's none of my business," he said angrily, "just as what I do is none of your business."
"Well, at least ask me about my near-death experience," Elijah said, obviously undaunted by his hostility. "Would you, brother?"
"Not interested," Bowen said sharply.
"Someone in Corus," explained Elijah, ignoring him, "sort of tapped into my Gift, borrowing it, if you will, and nearly killed me, since they took quite a powerful bit. We're here to find out who."
"How wonderful for you," Bowen said darkly. "Just splendid."
Now Elijah frowned. "Something bothering you?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern. Bowen's face twisted into an ugly expression of anger.
"Having you as a brother, first and foremost," he said. "My life's bane."
Elijah frowned. The enmity that had long existed between them, which had first begun as simple sibling rivalry, had rarely been verbally stated, and never before so plainly.
"Then we'll leave," Elijah said, just as angry, rising. Vera, obviously relieved that neither had let their emotions turn into a brawl, gave Bowen a pained smile.
"If you need--"
"I won't be needing anything from you, Vera," Bowen said sharply. Her smile faltered.
"Let's LEAVE," Elijah said emphatically, taking her arm and steering her out of the doors of the inn. Bowen watched them leave with a strange expression crossing his handsome features.
Later he would regret being to hostile, he knew. Yet at the moment, from the little sleep and hard work he'd been doing lately, he was extremely stressed and his emotions very high-strung. His frustration from not finding the assassin he'd been hired to find had escaped in a verbal form.
Still, those words had not come from nowhere. They were the result of many years of bitterness, jealousy, and misery. Always, it had been Elijah who was favored and adored (as he was sweet-faced and very able to charm everyone with his tricks), first by his parents and their friends, then their peers, and then Vera.
Vera. His heart constricted at her very name. If for nothing else, he bitterly hated Elijah because Vera had chosen his brother over him, married Elijah, not him. And why? How was Elijah more worthy than him? Because he possessed the Gift? It was the only thing that Elijah had that he did not.
Well, that was not necessarily true--he did have the Gift, he just didn't want to use it. He could, their parents had seen to that, but he dispised and afraid of sorcery. Still, in all other matters--hunting, tracking, fighting, strategizing, spying, reading, writing, shooting, persuading, even dancing--he excelled, by far exceeded Elijah. So why? It had caused him many sleepless nights, and did not help his wounded heart heal any.
Bowen shook his head abruptly. This was too close to feeling sorry for himself, an action he considered a great waste of time and effort. It had been many weeks of fruitless searching. Now it was time to swallow it dignity seek the aid of an old mentor.
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WOW, I think I'm actually getting around to ending this thing. I've brought Alex and Elijah to Corus, to set off the grand finale. Take a wild stab at who Bowen's old mentor is. Oh come on, it's not that hard!
Well, there's not much more to say.
I saw the Two Towers!!! Loved it, of course. (is Gollum not just so pitiable, you can hear you heart break for him?) Things I didn't like: THEY TOTALLY DESTROYED FARAMIR!! In the book, he's like, super nice and in the movie...grr! I was so mad. I was totally looking forward to him and, and... I didn't like the way they made the Ents look. At all. And the wargs look like hyenas instead of wolves but...it actually works, so never mind. And the ending was a lil'...hmmm... But I still loved it! (Gimli & Legolas were SOOOO funny!)
I just reread the whole Harry Potter series and realized that Avra Kedavra is Abracadabra.
Sorry if my next update will be really late, but I'm staring down at my planner and hyperventilating just THINKING about what I've got to do this month!
Alanna puzzled over the Goddess's words while Gary's horse, who soon realized that his rider was too deep in thought to guide him, plodded down the paved road to the palace. She was still in shock that the Goddess had spoken to HER, and very confused in the regards to the Goddess's advice.
"So she sends me the dreams, warning me about Roger. Then, when I start to suspect him, she tells me not to make assumptions!" Alanna complained to the horse, who snorted in agreement. "What does she want from me? I don't want to save the crown; I just want to find my brother, then find out more about this country of Bowen's where women can become knights."
Her steed nickered, a noise that sounded suspiciously like sniggering. Alanna frowned down at the bay.
"What's wrong with my plan?" Alanna demanded. "What, don't think I can do it? Or am I not aiming high enough? I'm sure you'd think it just perfect if I got married to some buffle-brained lord instead, wouldn't ya? What's so funny?"
In response, she received a whinny and a spirited toss of mane. "Now I'm insane--I'm asking my horse for advice!" she muttered. "Yeah, I'm a nut. Look at me, talking to myself."
Maybe she'd dreamed up the interaction? But no, her eyes did not bear evidence of sleep, and she didn't feel the jittery sensation in the pit of her stomach that usually followed such dreams. So, it had not be imagined by her highly active subconscious.
"'As I can give no further explanations, here is my advice: train harder with Gary; you will need skill of sword soon. Be kind to Alex, for it will reap many unseen advantages and avoid many problems. Learn to use your Gift. Ask the thief--he will help you. And listen to the scoundrel here,'" Alanna remembered the Goddess's voice. She glanced around. Where WAS that black cat?
A soft mewing attracted her attention. Twisting half out of the saddle, Alanna saw the cat working hard to keep up with them, running alongside them on swift paws. Gripping tightly on the saddle with her left hand, she shifted to scoop up the cat and bring it up to ride with her.
"You're coming with me," she told it. It sniffed indignantly and proceeded to clean itself. "Do you have a name? Hmmm...I'm warning you, I'm not much of a cat person. Lara is, though. She'd love you. And spoil you crazy," Alanna added, shaking her head.
The cat gave her a sour look and then swatted at her pendant.
"Hey!" Alanna clutched her necklace protectively and gave the cat a smack. "Don't DO that!"
She glanced down at the pendant hanging around her neck and admired the pretty new shade of it, barely highlighted by the pale glow of winter's sun. Winter? She sat up straight with a sudden jerk, glancing wildly around. It was SNOWING! Soft flakes littered her hair, resting cold against her face and decorating her clothing.
"But winter's not due for a while, last time I checked," she muttered. "The gods have something against me. We might want to hurry up. I HATE cold weather, and being wet, and look--we're both. Ugh." She shivered, then patted him. "Sorry. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah. We were just talking about the Goddess," she informed the cat. "Did she take away the dreams or not?" Alanna muttered. "What do you think?"
The cat ignored her. Pursing her lips, Alanna lifted its tail, much to its dislike, proven by its protesting cries, and discovered that it was male. "You need a good bath and grooming, and feeding, too. How old are you? You look like you've seen some tough years."
His startlingly violet eyes met hers in an unnerving stare that Alanna could only meet for a moment before looking away.
"I wish she told me more about Thom. 'They have raised him well, and he has, I suppose, become a vessel at those times when it was supposed to be you through who we acted. That was how, in part, a wrong was set to rights.' That's a big help," she said sarcastically. "I have no idea what that means. 'He will find you.' Sure, one day he'll show up on my doorstep saying, 'Alanna, I'm your long-lost twin.'" Her cat was purring now, eyes closed and rubbing up against her belly.
"'You are twins, and at the age of ten, looked remarkably alike.' So does that mean that we STILL look alike, or maybe now he looks nothing like me? Well, other than he'd be a man, that is. Oh, why does this have to be so COMPLICATED?" Her horse snorted again.
"What's that supposed to mean? Yeah, life's always complicated, but--grr! I can't believe I'm losing a discussion to a HORSE!!"
Suddenly, Alanna felt him shudder and tremble beneath her in, what she realized with a scowl, was a wheezing fit.
"So you ARE laughing at me!" Alanna cried, giving the horse a good kick. Startled, her horse reared, sending Alanna flying into a sturdy oak tree on the side of the road, knocking a good deal of cold snow onto her head and down her nightgown. She screamed, then let out a loud curse and furious glare at the horse before spots swam in front of her and the world blackened.
She was drawn back to consciousness by gentle shakes and the calling of her name.
"Alanna! Alanna! ALANNA!" Someone said, gripping her shoulders and giving her another shake. Alanna grumbled something rude and shifted. When she blinked again, she found a dark face gazing intently at her.
She blinked. "A-alex?" she said uncertainly. His face came slowly into focus. "Y-you're back!" She felt a peculiar, instantaneous rush of emotions that she couldn't quite place or name. Alex's face split into a relieved smile, and he embraced her tightly. When he let her go, his expression was worried.
"Are you hurt? I heard your scream--what happened?"
"Just...wait!" She looked around and didn't see Gary's horse anywhere. "He better have run off back to the palace or Gary'll scalp me!"
"I assume you're talking about his horse?"
"Yeah, crazy thing threw me!" Alanna said, shivering. Suddenly, she realized that she was just how her thin nightgown was, and how Alex was leaning over her. Her face heated up furiously. Noticing, Alex drew his cloak around her shoulders.
"May I ask why you're riding around in the forest in your nightgown?"
"Nightmare," Alanna explained, not meeting his eyes. One of his strong arms suddenly encircled her waist as Alex drew her to his side.
"I left my horse a bit down the road," he explained. Indeed, a gray mare was awaiting them patiently at the bend in the road. With great ease, Alex swung Alanna up onto the saddle and followed suit, seating himself behind her. He started when her cat's screeching split the still air. They found that he was yowling furiously up at them, causing the mare to dance around with unease.
"Quiet down!" Alanna snapped as Alex raised him by the scruff of his neck and brought him down into Alanna's arms, where he did settle down, but glared at her.
"He found us," Alex said. "and brought us to you. His eyes--"
"I know," Alanna said, stroking him. "Uncanny, right? I only found him today. Haven't decided on a name yet, but I should leave that to Lara. Or maybe not, she'll probably end up trying to force 'snuffles-cuddles' on him."
The mare needed a great deal of consolance before they were headed down the road at a comfortable pace.
"So, did you miss me?" Alex asked casually.
"Um..."
"It's alright, you've been too busy to think about me, I'll warrant," Alex said with a chuckle. Alanna tilted her head back to look at him.
"I HAVE missed you," Alanna said, a sulkly tone entering her voice. He raised a dark eyebrow.
"What with all the healing and the balls? When have you had enough time to pine after me?"
"Pine? You want me to pine?" She placed her hands to her chest in a show of mock lady-like distress. Alex didn't reply.
"I'm a countess now," Alanna said abruptly. "Of Meekwater and Trebond. What do you think?"
"What do you want me to think?"
"What sort of question is that?" Alanna demanded. "Do you think it's it a good thing or not? Are you impressed, curious, what?"
"I've already heard, and I was surprised," Alex said evasively.
"So what do you think?" Alanna persisted.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes, and you're going to ask me why, and it's because...because..." Alanna faltered. "Just answer the question."
"Well, I think that Lord Riel and Earl Tomahs will be giving you a lot of trouble," Alex said with a smile. "And I think it's rather pleasant for you to receive a title as a reward, but if I have to be honest, I'd say that I don't think you're really a Countess."
"I don't think I am either," Alanna said. "Me, a countess!"
Obviously having finished saying what was on her mind, Alanna leaned back into his embrace, as Alex's arms, holding the reins, were wonderfully wrapped around her..
"How's Jon been?" Alex asked. Alanna immediately stiffen. Just when she was getting comfortable!
"Um, he's been, um, better since...since I healed the queen. You heard about that, too, right? Yeah, Jon's been...he's much better now."
"Something else you want to tell me?" Alex asked seriously.
"Why would there be?" Alanna asked suspiciously.
"I just want to know how he's changed. He's always been very close to his mother, you know. That's all I was asking," Alex explained.
"Oh." Alanna relaxed again, this time letting her eyes close. She was SO tired; she'd barely had any sleep the night before, and this felt SO good...she was much warmer now, and so safe...
"Is it alright if I just doze off?" she asked sleepily. "I've been up most of the night."
She didn't hear his response; she was already asleep.
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Bowen spit out the wine that was in his mouth, spewing it in the air and all over the table. He stared, sputtering in shock, at the couple who had just stepped into the Dancing Dove.
"How're you coming along, brother?" Elijah asked with a grin as he slid into the seat opposite him. "Me, I just about nearly died, but nothing I haven't been through before..."
"What are you DOING here?" Bowen raged. "Y-you..." He looked from Elijah to Vera. She was grinning nervously, wringing her hands.
"Hello, Bowen. We're just staying in Corus for a while and, well, thought we might stop by and see you," she said.
"You've seen me," he snapped. "Now leave."
"Sometimes I get the feeling that you don't like me very much," Elijah said dryly. "At least make an attempt to look happy to see me. Now aren't you going to ask us why we're in Corus?"
"It's none of my business," he said angrily, "just as what I do is none of your business."
"Well, at least ask me about my near-death experience," Elijah said, obviously undaunted by his hostility. "Would you, brother?"
"Not interested," Bowen said sharply.
"Someone in Corus," explained Elijah, ignoring him, "sort of tapped into my Gift, borrowing it, if you will, and nearly killed me, since they took quite a powerful bit. We're here to find out who."
"How wonderful for you," Bowen said darkly. "Just splendid."
Now Elijah frowned. "Something bothering you?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern. Bowen's face twisted into an ugly expression of anger.
"Having you as a brother, first and foremost," he said. "My life's bane."
Elijah frowned. The enmity that had long existed between them, which had first begun as simple sibling rivalry, had rarely been verbally stated, and never before so plainly.
"Then we'll leave," Elijah said, just as angry, rising. Vera, obviously relieved that neither had let their emotions turn into a brawl, gave Bowen a pained smile.
"If you need--"
"I won't be needing anything from you, Vera," Bowen said sharply. Her smile faltered.
"Let's LEAVE," Elijah said emphatically, taking her arm and steering her out of the doors of the inn. Bowen watched them leave with a strange expression crossing his handsome features.
Later he would regret being to hostile, he knew. Yet at the moment, from the little sleep and hard work he'd been doing lately, he was extremely stressed and his emotions very high-strung. His frustration from not finding the assassin he'd been hired to find had escaped in a verbal form.
Still, those words had not come from nowhere. They were the result of many years of bitterness, jealousy, and misery. Always, it had been Elijah who was favored and adored (as he was sweet-faced and very able to charm everyone with his tricks), first by his parents and their friends, then their peers, and then Vera.
Vera. His heart constricted at her very name. If for nothing else, he bitterly hated Elijah because Vera had chosen his brother over him, married Elijah, not him. And why? How was Elijah more worthy than him? Because he possessed the Gift? It was the only thing that Elijah had that he did not.
Well, that was not necessarily true--he did have the Gift, he just didn't want to use it. He could, their parents had seen to that, but he dispised and afraid of sorcery. Still, in all other matters--hunting, tracking, fighting, strategizing, spying, reading, writing, shooting, persuading, even dancing--he excelled, by far exceeded Elijah. So why? It had caused him many sleepless nights, and did not help his wounded heart heal any.
Bowen shook his head abruptly. This was too close to feeling sorry for himself, an action he considered a great waste of time and effort. It had been many weeks of fruitless searching. Now it was time to swallow it dignity seek the aid of an old mentor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WOW, I think I'm actually getting around to ending this thing. I've brought Alex and Elijah to Corus, to set off the grand finale. Take a wild stab at who Bowen's old mentor is. Oh come on, it's not that hard!
Well, there's not much more to say.
I saw the Two Towers!!! Loved it, of course. (is Gollum not just so pitiable, you can hear you heart break for him?) Things I didn't like: THEY TOTALLY DESTROYED FARAMIR!! In the book, he's like, super nice and in the movie...grr! I was so mad. I was totally looking forward to him and, and... I didn't like the way they made the Ents look. At all. And the wargs look like hyenas instead of wolves but...it actually works, so never mind. And the ending was a lil'...hmmm... But I still loved it! (Gimli & Legolas were SOOOO funny!)
I just reread the whole Harry Potter series and realized that Avra Kedavra is Abracadabra.
Sorry if my next update will be really late, but I'm staring down at my planner and hyperventilating just THINKING about what I've got to do this month!