Craggen suddenly formed an energy ball and cast it at Melinda. Instinctively she brought up her hands and used her telekinetic power to send the attack away from her. The energy ball struck a tree and exploded harmlessly. Then Melinda raised her hand again and used her freezing ability against Craggen. He brought up his hand and it glowed red. Her power was deflected away.
"It won't be that easy, witch," said Craggen. "You can't win. I'll keep you busy long enough for the sun to destroy your son. You can't rescue him as long as you're fighting me. In the end, he will die and I'll destroy you. Then I'll go for your daughter. She should be easy enough to turn evil. If I don't just kill her and take her power instead."
"No," screamed Melinda.
She used her telekinetic power on a fallen log nearby sending it crashing toward Craggen. Craggen ducked and the log barely missed him. He smiled and stood up forming another energy ball. He raised his hand and was about to cast the weapon when he was suddenly thrown several feet backwards, the energy ball being extinguished. Matthew stepped into the clearing near Melinda.
"This ends today," said Matthew.
"Matthew, you have to get to Patrick," cried Melinda, pointing to her son. "I'll handle Craggen. You have to get to Patrick before it's too late."
Matthew hesitated for a moment. Craggen was powerful. Melinda may not be able to defeat him. But the look in Melinda's eyes compelled Matthew. Suddenly he turned and ran for Patrick as fast as he could.
"No," screamed Craggen, forming an energy ball and casting it at Matthew.
Melinda reached out with her telekinetic power and took hold of the energy ball. Then she redirected it back at Craggen. The weapon struck Craggen sending him flying backwards. He fell to the ground singed but still alive. He stood up and raised his hands for another attack against his foe.
Melinda reached into the folds of her dress and pulled out the crystal she had taken from the box over the fireplace. She threw it at Craggen and he instinctively reached out and caught it. With his hands still raised he looked at the crystal in confusion.
"Earth, air, wind, and fire," Melinda chanted, "I call upon the power of nature to bind this warlock into an everlasting prison. Seal him away for all time so that he may never again harm the innocent or prey on the weak."
Craggen suddenly cried out in pain as the crystal he was holding embedded itself in the palm of his hand. At precisely the same instant the crystal began to grow covering first his hand, then his arm, and continuing to grow until his entire body was encased in crystal. He stood with his hands raised and a look on his face that suggested pain. But he felt nothing. He was encased in a crystalline prison, frozen for all time.
Suddenly, Matthew ran past Melinda into the cave beyond. Craggen momentarily forgotten, Melinda rushed in behind him fearing for her son. Matthew had removed his jacket and wrapped the young infant in it. He held the child close to his chest as he attempted to shield him from the penetrating rays of the son. Gingerly Matthew laid the small bundle on the floor of the cave and removed the coat.
Melinda was alarmed at what she saw. All ready huge sores had begun to form on Patrick's arms, legs, and back. Several smaller sores were beginning to form on his face. They were becoming worse faster than Melinda would have thought possible, even considering the exposure Patrick had to the sun.
"We're too late," announced Matthew. "You have defeated Craggen but I fear there is nothing we can do for Patrick. We have none of the poultice for his sores."
"No," cried Melinda, tears streaming down her face. "We can't just let him die."
"There's nothing we can do," said Matthew. "The damage from the sun is too great. Even if we had the poultice I fear it would not be enough to help. His injuries are too severe. I'm sorry, Melinda. There's nothing we can do for him."
Melinda just watched as her son lay crying loudly from the pain caused by the sores. She knew from experience that the sores were painful to Patrick. Part of the poultice had been a soothing ointment that deadened the pain. But Matthew was right. The sores on Patrick's body were too great this time. Not even the poultice could help him.
"Matthew," Melinda said very deliberately, "you have to hide Craggen. Some of the villagers will be arriving soon to gather water from the creek. If they see him imprisoned with us here they will know our secret."
"What about Patrick?" Matthew questioned.
"I will see to Patrick," said Melinda. "I am his mother. But you must hurry before anyone sees Craggen."
Reluctantly, Matthew hurried out of the cave to where the frozen Craggen stood. He knew the crystal encasing the warlock would be much too heavy for him to move physically. Matthew tapped into the telekinetic power he had gained from Melinda and moved the now statue-like warlock to the very back of the cave. He then used the power to seal over the back of the cave and made it appear natural.
When he finished, he moved back outside and erased all evidence of a heavy object being dragged into the cave. When he was finished, there was no indication that anything had ever happened there. All the while Melinda cradled her son to her breast comforting him as best she could.
As Matthew finished outside the cave he noticed that Patrick suddenly stopped crying. It was so sudden that it took Matthew by surprise. He quickly finished his work, and then turned and walked back into the cave. Melinda still sat on the ground cradling the young infant in her arms.
As Matthew walked around in front of Melinda he noticed that it wasn't her son she was cradling, but a large book. Matthew looked around but could find no sign of the baby that had been in the cave only moments before.
"Melinda," said Matthew, "where's Patrick? And where did you get that book? It wasn't in here a few moments ago."
"Patrick is safe," said Melinda. "No one will ever harm him again. I'm tired, Matthew. I need to rest."
"Melinda?" Matthew questioned. "Where's Patrick? We can't just go home and leave him . . . "
Matthew's voice trailed off as he suddenly realized what Melinda had done. He wouldn't have thought such a thing possible. But there could be no doubt. Melinda cradled the book to her breast as if it were a living thing. As if it were a small child in need of her protection.
"Melinda, what have you done?" Matthew gasped.
"I've saved my son," said Melinda through tears. "No one will ever harm him again. And he will never have to worry about the sun again. I had no choice, Matthew. He was dying and there was nothing I could do to save him. Now, he will be safe. Evil can't ever touch him again."
Still in a state of shock, Matthew helped Melinda to her feet. Quickly but cautiously he led her back to her home in a round about way so they would not meet any of the villages that would be coming to gather water.
Back in her home, Melinda gingerly placed the great tome in Patrick's crib and covered it with his blanket. Prudence still lay sleeping in her bed oblivious to all that had transpired. Then, near exhaustion, Melinda collapsed on her own bed as Matthew simply stared at the book that now occupied Patrick's crib.
