The door slammed shut as a man walked into his house. Placing a bag down, the man looked around in the darkness. He squinted his eyes as he noticed something wasn't right. He looked over on the ground where a corner of the rug was flipped over. The rug was never misplaced like this. The man looked up, trying to see who was here.
"Luce?" He called out.
The man walked over to a small drawer and took out a candle.
"Fyre". The man breathed over the candle, which immediately was ignited with a spark of Fyre. Its light illuminated the room, revealing the silhouette of a man standing quietly at the end of the room, his back turned to the man standing with the candle.
"Hello, Simon." The man at the end of the room said.
Simon relaxed, letting out a deep sigh of relief. He set down the candle. "Marcellus, what are you doing here? You gave me a scare."
Simon set down his candle as Marcellus gingerly turned around to face his apprentice.
"Do we really need that light?" Marcellus asked painfully, holding his hand against his eyes to avoid the light.
"Sorry," Simon said, reaching out to snuff out the candle. "Wouldn't have done it if you had said something, you know. Or maybe if you told me you would be coming."
"I know," Marcellus replied. "But stealth is starting to become more imperative these days, unfortunately."
"What do you mean?"
"Darknesse is coming, Simon," Marcellus said eerily. "I fear you may be in danger."
"I thought you said I was safe here?" Simon said accusingly.
Marcellus looked sadly at Simon. "I did too."
"What do you suppose I do?" Simon asked.
"You need to leave. As soon as you can."
"And what about Luce?" Simon asked anxiously.
Marcellus's sad gaze did not leave Simon's eyes. "You must leave her. She'll only-"
"She's pregnant."
Marcellus looked up suddenly at Simon. His mouth gaped open, speechless.
Simon nodded his head, knowing how much of a shock this must be to Marcellus.
"Yesterday," Simon shrugged. "I just found out yesterday." Slowly, Simon sat down into a chair. He laid his head into his hands and sighed, overwhelmed by everything that was going on.
"What do I do Marcellus?" Simon asked, almost pleading. "What would you do?"
Marcellus looked down at Simon. He looked like an abandoned dog and Marcellus was not making anything better. Quite frankly, Marcellus didn't know what he would do. Finally he made his decision.
"Go to the Port tomorrow tonight. I'll have a boat ready for you." Marcellus said as he began to make his way out the door. "And take Lucy with you."
And with that Marcellus left the house, leaving Simon all alone in the Darke.
Septimus shut the door behind him as he and Merrin walked out of their safe house in the Farmlands. They had spent the past few days in there analyzing the information Marcellus had given them and what their next plan of action should be. It was now the third morning since their meeting with Marcellus.
"So we have to head toward the Border Mountains?" Septimus asked, staring down at the map as he followed behind Merrin.
"Yes, Septimus," Merrin grumbled, annoyance clear in his voice. He continued walking through the soft layer of snow and frost on the ground. "We discussed this earlier, old friend."
Septimus looked up quizzically. "Friends," He scoffed. Merrin however heard but decided to ignore it.
"I'll go through it again with you," Merrin said. "Marcellus had first noticed that things were not right at the Port. Odd parts were being shipped out of it, and it seemed to be on purpose. Marcellus was called in to check on it and he told 'em it was fine. But he knew it wasn't."
Merrin continued his pace as the two began to trudge along uneven terrain. "Then what?" Septimus asked.
"Naturally," Merrin continued. "Marcellus looked into it. He soon found parchments outlaying the design of some sort of weapon. Now why would anyone want to build something like this? Looking through the Port records, Marcellus soon found all the parts were being shipped to somewhere in the Border Mountains."
"But no one lives there." Septimus pointed out.
Merrin stopped and looked at Septimus, a big smile on his face. "Isn't that the question, then? Who's ordering the supplies for a weapon to a place no one lives? A mystery indeed."
Merrin continued his walk, heading toward a forest.
Septimus however hung back, his head wrapped around what he had just heard. Someone was planning to build a weapon in the Border Mountains, a place completely desert of life. Who could be able to orchestrate that? But there was a bigger question on hand.
"Wait a second, Merrin." Septimus said. "Who's been supplying the materials?"
Merrin stopped dead in his tracks. He hadn't thought about that. Surely it had to be someone from the Port. But who?
"I-I don't know." Merrin said, after some time. He turned around to face Septimus again. "This isn't one person then is it?"
Septimus slowly shook his head. "I'm afraid not. To build these parts, you need factories."
"And factories need workers." Merrin finished for him. "Workers who know what they're doing."
Suddenly it dawned on both Septimus and Merrin the gravity of what they were dealing with. This was not one man. It was a full on mission.
"We need to tell Marcellus." Septimus said.
"We can't go back," Merrin replied, aghast. "We need to find who is doing this. And that's in the Border Mountains."
Septimus stared at him open-mouthed. He was completely lost in what to do.
"Someone has to know about this, Merrin." Septimus told him.
Anger rumbled in his Merrin's eyes. "We have to stick to what we were given, Septimus! What if the materials were already shipped? What if the weapon's already made?"
Septimus gritted his teeth. "The Castle is in danger. There are people there I love. But of course you wouldn't know anything about that, now would you?"
Merrin breathed heavily, his eyes now wide open. "People you love? Like who? Jenna?"
Septimus cocked his head, wondering why he said it like that.
"You think I didn't about you and your sister?" Merrin smirked. "What you do behind closed the doors?"
The blood began to boil in Septimus. How did Merrin know? No one was supposed to know! Soon, any thoughts of saving the Castle were dispelled. Now it had become personal.
Merrin continued his taunts. "You and Jenna have always been doing it haven't you? Late at night, when everyone's asleep. And then the two of you begin fuc-"
Septimus punched Merrin square in the face, stopping him from continuing. Merrin fell to the ground. Septimus came over him and began to pummel Merrin with his fists.
"Aargh!" Septimus yelled, punching Merrin again and again.
Merrin kicked Septimus in the shin and held up his hands to stop Septimus. Merrin pushed the Wizard over and pulled him up. Septimus let go of his grasp and try to nail another punch on Merrin. Merrin however proved himself the more skillful fighter and easily grabbed his fist and slam him over to the ground. Septimus lay there, groaning.
Merrin towered over him, breathing heavily. "I always knew Sep. Jenna was-"
Merrin yelped. An arrow hit him straight in his arm.
Septimus looked up, staring confused at the arrow protruding from Merrin's arm. "Merrin?"
Merrin acted fast. Merrin quickly fell to the ground and pushed Septimus closer to the forest.
"Quick. Hide! Don't use Magyk!" Merrin quietly shouted. Septimus shuffled over into the darkness of the Forest branches. Merrin lay where he was.
Septimus watched, unmoving as two figures came over and picked up Merrin. The man hung limp in their arms. One of them placed his fingers over Merrin's neck.
"Dead," he said to the other figure. Two worked together and dragged Merrin over to a dark horse. They plopped him and got onto their own horse.
"You think he'll be happy with one?" Septimus heard.
"He only needs one." The other man responded, with a gruffy voice. Soon the two sped off on their horses.
Seeing that everything was clear, Septimus slowly got up. He looked around him and saw he was alone. Who were those men? And why had Merrin not done anything?
Septimus rubbed off the dust and looked over to where the Border Mountains loomed. To where Merrin was taken.
He sighed, realizing he would need to help Merrin. He clenched his fists as he thought about what Merrin said. No one knew about him and Jenna. Or so he thought.
Which made him wonder.
Was Jenna safe too?
Jenna was at that moment waiting for a meeting with the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, Marcia Overstrand. The Queen stood quietly in the Great Hall of the Wizard Tower and greeted the many Wizards and Wizard Apprentices who passed by her. Finally, Marcia came down the stairs.
"Hello, Jenna," Marcia told the Queen respectfully. "What brings you here today?"
Jenna smiled, happy Marcia didn't seem to be that snappy today. However, her smile did not last long as she got into why she was here.
"Marcia, I believe the Castle may be in danger," Jenna told the Wizard in front of her quietly.
Marcia looked up at the Queen, worry in her eyes. "What do you mean Jenna?"
"I have reason to believe someone maybe planning an attack on the Castle, soon." Jenna continued. "And I believe it may have something to do with Marcellus."
Marcia looked back at Jenna. She was now the same height as Marcia and had a strong persona around her. A softness entered Marcia's eyes as she recalled the days of innocence when Jenna was but a child, scared and helpless. How much she had grown over the years. She was now strong, mature, and independent. Nothing could stop her now.
"Doesn't it always?" Marcia responded, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Shall we talk about it with him?"
Jenna smiled. She had hoped but knew that Marcia would be able to help her. If Septimus could not, Marcia could. Jenna had felt alone now with Beetle angry with her and Septimus somewhere far away. But now it seemed Jenna finally found someone she could trust. A friend.
"I think that would be lovely," Jenna smiled.
"Let's not waste any more time, then." Marcia replied as she turned to the doors of the Wizard Tower.
Whispering the password, the doors opened to the Wizard and the Queen.
And together, the Queen and Wizard walked out, poised and ready for any danger that may come their way.
The Castle was in good hands.