The Search for the Shadowsoul, page 7
“If you don’t like it, we can find something else—”
Forest hugged Percy’s thumb as hard as he could (which wasn’t very). “It’s the best name a sugar glider familiar could ever wish for!” he said vehemently.
“One more question.” Percy peered at Forest. “You’re not secretly working for anyone on the Round Table, are you?”
Forest let go of Percy’s thumb. “What’s the Round Table?”
“I’ll tell you later.” Percy smirked. Lord Vinneas and Lady Phelia would be having conniptions that he’d escaped without taking the vows.
Part of him still wondered if it was wise to bring Forest along, but the furry not-familiar was almost crying from joy. Besides, it’d be better to keep him where Percy could see him, just in case. Surely Neci would approve of this strategy.
“So then. Forest.” Percy cleared his throat. “I’m on a quest. Know much about those?”
“Oh, sure! I know all about the Septimum Genus and Iggy and Dame Neci—”
“How?” Percy asked.
“Everyone knows—um, I mean, it was very important to the Aether that I be prepared! To be a good familiar! And I’ll be a very, very good familiar, I promise!” Forest pleaded with such earnestness, the wizard’s heart twisted a little.
He set the sugar glider on his shoulder. “All right, then, Forest. We’re in this together. Hold tight.”
Percy summoned another gust of Air and sped on.
* * *
While Merlynda snuck out of the manor and Percy dashed through the forest to meet his not-familiar, Neci the Ardent, Knight of the Most Honorable Order of the Faithful Dagger, was having a dismal day. Rather than defeating rogues, or rescuing a kidnapped duke, or even just offering knightly courtesies, she was minding her parents’ flagship shop at the Avonshire market.
Her fingers itched near Faithful. It had taken some doing, but her parents had finally acquiesced to her wearing the dagger at all times. (The fact that Faithful always returned to its sheath when they tried to remove the weapon and put it “somewhere safe” also wore down their resolve.)
Neci’s parents had never envisioned their only daughter as a knight. They had envisioned her as carrying on the family root vegetable business. It is a hard thing, to learn that those we love have different dreams than those we’ve imagined for them. But it is the truest love to accept them as they are now, and to love them just the same. In this regard Neci’s parents were trying.
Her Ye Knoble Knights Decoder Ring with Customizable Crest was proudly displayed on her finger. Having the gryphon crest so visible was a good reminder of her knighthood vows. She didn’t need the reminder, but it was nice to have all the same.
It is difficult for an eleven-year-old girl who prefers adventures to patiently mind a shop, so she was passing the time by reading her new favorite book, The Compendium of Knights and Their Noble Deeds, volume 2. Her parents had gotten it for her on her most recent birthday, after combining their new knowledge of who their daughter was with discovering last year’s gift (a trowel) buried in the garden.
Her bookmark was an unofficial trading parchment for the Ye Knoble Knights Defend the Civilized World game, custom-made by her friend Batu. It depicted her, holding her dagger, and was labeled Dame Neci the Ardent. She hoped she might one day be worthy of an official trading parchment, but this gift was a cherished possession, and using it as her bookmark meant she saw it every day.
An elaborate sign above the shop boasted NO MAGIC POWDERS, POTIONS, OR SPELLS, along with their company slogan: NATURALLY EXQUISITE CULINARY INGREDIENTS. Neci had been named for this slogan, which caused no small amount of teasing among the lesser-mannered of Avonshire’s youths. They often refused to pronounce her name correctly, and invented wild variants. (NEE-see, the proper pronunciation, really wasn’t that difficult, in the good knight’s opinion.)
The bell next to the sign jingled. With effort Neci tore her eyes from her book and glanced up. She was just getting to the part where Dame Joi (the strongest human knight to ever live) saved King Arthur (Merlyn’s favorite goat) from a cursed meadow. Her face split into a grin. “You’re back!”
Then she caught sight of Merlynda’s breathless demeanor and Iggy’s sullenness.
The knight snapped her book shut. “What happened?”
“A new quest,” Merlynda said.
“Excellent. What is it?”
Merlynda groaned. “Percy.”
“Merlyn’s goat, again?” Neci exclaimed.
Merlynda launched into the story, then trailed off after a few sentences. “You can’t understand a word I’m saying, can you?”
Neci shook her head. “No, but I had no idea you did such an excellent fireworks impression.”
“Drat the vows of secrecy,” Merlynda spat. “When we find Percy, he can tell you all about it.”
“Let’s try ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ ” Neci suggested. “Did Percy take the vows?”
Merlynda shook her head.
“Did he get snatched through another mysterious portal?”
Merlynda shook her head again.
“Well, that’s something.” Neci slid her book into her satchel. “Where is he?”
“In the Howlwyn. We’ll need Fang. How soon can you leave?”
Never, Neci thought, since she was grounded until she died because of their last adventure. She ached to help her friend, but her parents had only just begun to heal from the last time she’d disappeared to go off after Percy.
She clutched Faithful’s handle. Her parents had bought her The Compendium of Knights and Their Noble Deeds, volume 2, hadn’t they? They were trying, and she needed to try too.
“I can’t,” she said, knowing it would break Merlynda’s heart and hating that it would. “I’m sorry. You know that all I want is to go off and adventure, but my parents—”
“Are very fond of their only daughter,” a deep voice said from the back room.
Neci spun around as her father stepped into the shop. His dark beard was finely trimmed, and his skin was a few shades lighter than Neci’s. He’d clearly overheard everything.
“Good afternoon, Lord Ardent,” Merlynda said. She tried to ignore the hope crumbling inside her. Lord Ardent would forbid Neci from joining the wizardess, and probably alert Mother. “I believe you’ve met Iggy?”
The wyvern had decided, as a special favor to Neci, that the Ardents could call him Iggy.
“Did I hear that your brother is missing again, Merlynda?” Lord Ardent asked.
Merlynda felt her throat catch, but nodded.
“And he’s in danger?”
Merlynda nodded again, vigorously. Even Iggy joined in.
“And your parents know?”
A third nod, though Merlynda didn’t add any details about the rescue arrangements. She’d need to excuse herself before Mother found her. She shoved aside the thorny guilt that rose at the thought of Mother being stuck at the manor instead of her, but at least she and Father would be safe.
“Take Fang,” Neci offered. “I’ll pack some of her favorite treats.”
“I’ll pack the treats,” Lord Ardent said. “You pack everything else you’ll need.”
Wizardess, wyvern, and knight blinked at Lord Ardent. “Sorry?” Neci squeaked.
Lord Ardent wrapped his daughter in a hug. “This is a temporary suspension of your grounding. I know we can’t keep fighting your nature by keeping you here in the shop, and your friends need you. I’m proud of you for honoring your punishment by saying you wouldn’t go, Neci. You’re as noble as any knight from your stories.”
Neci’s eyes shone, and she hugged her father back hard. He’d said he was proud of her! And was letting her go on a quest! “What about Mother?” she hazarded.
Lord Ardent kissed his daughter’s head. “I’ll worry about Mother.” He gave Merlynda a stern look. “She’s going to write every day, understand? You can magic the messages to our kitchen.”
Neci gasped. “You’re asking for magic?”
“I won’t pretend to like it. And I’m not going to ask why Merlynda did an exemplary goose impression earlier.” He smiled fondly at the friends. “But I may have read some of your books, to try to understand you better. Magic is a recurring theme.”
Merlynda grinned. “Consider the daily Septimum Genus postal service in business.”
5 In which Percy sits with things
The wizard and the not-familiar journeyed on. Percy picked his way through the trees, which were denser and more threatening than he felt the Howlwyn should be. The trunks were dark and thick, and some were covered in long, spiky thorns. He steered clear of the obviously magical trees. Even as the Hollower he’d avoided the wild magics, which mostly minded their own business so long as they weren’t disturbed.
Forest rode on Percy’s head, chattering away about all the adventures they’d have, and all the magic they’d do, and did Percy have anything he wanted to share to help them bond quicker, maybe some insights into how Iggy and Merlynda had become so close, or perhaps Percy’s deepest fears, or secrets he hadn’t told anyone, and wasn’t it just grand being on this journey together? Did adventures have hot baths? What was Percy’s favorite color? Favorite food? Favorite sound? (Bright cornflower blue, spiced tea, and the patter of rain falling on tree leaves, respectively; Percy declined to share his fears and secrets.)
Forest’s enthusiasm annoyed Morgan enough that she retreated into whatever corner she lurked in. Percy wished he could shut her out at will, but he’d take what he could get.
He needed to think. He needed to plan. He needed food, as he’d hardly eaten anything that morning before visiting the Round Table, and questing apparently worked up an appetite.
“And then,” Forest was saying, “the Aether said, ‘Young familiar, it’s time,’ and I said, ‘You’re the Aether, you know best!’ And— Wowie, was that your stomach?”
“I haven’t eaten today.”
Forest perked up. “Our first spell! We can magic you some food!” How exciting this would be!
Percy rubbed his neck. “It’s not a good idea to magic food from nothing. Something about the Aether getting out of balance? Or draining the user’s magic for a while? Merlynda explained it once, but I don’t remember.”
“Aw, c’mon! You’ve done loads of hard spells before. If anyone can do it, we can.”
Percy’s stomach rumbled again. Summoning food wouldn’t kill him, but if he didn’t eat, he’d eventually starve. Before the Omnivia, trying a spell like this would have been a lark. “All right, then.”
Forest dropped onto Percy’s shoulder and struck what he thought was a dignified pose. “One magical familiar, coming right up!”
Percy found a non-spiky (and nonmagical) tree to sit against. “Maybe an apple, to start?” It was more complicated than a gust of Air, but how hard could it be? “That should be simple.”
Forest jumped onto Percy’s knee and squeezed his eyes shut. “Apple. Got it.”
The wizard reached into the Air, and pushed past it into the Aether—
Trying a little magic finally, are we?
Percy started, a shower of sparks flashing all around him. Forest bolted into Percy’s collar, quivering. “Guess I don’t know my own strength yet. Being fresh from the In-Between and all.”
Percy stood, shaken. “That must be it.”
Shame twisted through the tangled feelings inside him. He’d almost hurt Forest with his magic. Summoning only Air was fine, but he’d avoided doing much more than that since the Omnivia. “Maybe we’ll be able to forage something.”
“Where are we going?” Forest had been so focused on getting to know Percy that he hadn’t even asked about their quest! He’d have to be more aware, if he was going to be a good familiar.
“I need to find the Horn of Beckoning.”
“I know all about that!” Forest climbed out from Percy’s collar and onto his shoulder. His eyes darted rapidly back and forth, unfocused. “It’s a little horn, but makes a big sound, and when it’s blown, it summons everyone attuned to it.” Forest leaned forward so he could see if his new wizard was pleased.
Percy eyed Forest. “How do you know that?”
“I’m a magical items expert,” Forest answered proudly. “I know all about them. From, you know, being in the In-Between for so long. And the Aether preparing me to be your familiar and everything.”
“The Horn makes people magically appear?”
“It’s more like they’re… compelled?” Forest’s face scrunched up while he thought. “Whenever the Horn is blown, anyone attuned to it feels the pull, and knows where to go. And there’s a ritual that bonds people to the Horn, sort of like how you and I are going to bond since I’m your familiar!” Forest grinned, pleased with himself.
Percy picked his way over a large root. “Where’s the Horn of Beckoning now?”
“It doesn’t work like that,” Forest said. “I only know what the items do, and sometimes what they’ve done. But the Horn is usually in the northern Howlwyn. Really far north. It belongs to a bird-watcher.”
“A bird-watcher?”
“Yep!”
If Forest really was a magical items expert, that could be useful. Percy decided to test the sugar glider. “What can you tell me about scrying shells?”
Forest’s eyes moved from side to side again. “Scrying shells are just regular shells until magic crabs live in them. Then when the crab gets too big, it goes away to find a new home, but leaves some of its magic behind.”
Percy hadn’t known that. “How about Elemental Stones?”
More eye darts. “Elemental Stones are formed when highly compressed elemental magic meets the correct conditions while simultaneously overlapping with a corresponding elemental trigger, but even when all conditions are met their formation is super-duper extremely rare.”
That about covered Percy’s understanding of Elemental Stones. He was inclined to believe that somehow Forest was a magical items expert. And even if the sugar glider was lying about being a familiar, he was earnest in providing information. Percy couldn’t see him being a malevolent servant of the Round Table. “And what about Shadowsouls?”
Darting eyes. “Ooh, those are tricky. Mostly they aren’t real, but when they are real, it’s not what you’d expect. But they do bad things because people before them did bad things because the people before those people did bad things…”
Forest didn’t seem to know anything more than the stories, so Percy let the sugar glider’s chattering fade into the background. If Forest said the Horn of Beckoning was in the northern Howlwyn, then north they would go. Of course, with the trees blocking the sun, he’d first have to figure out where north was.
After a while he found a small clearing where the late-afternoon sun shone through. He stuck a twig into the ground, placed Kipling’s bracelet at the end of its shadow, and sat down to rest. His stomach ached. He distinctly remembered Merlynda and Neci saying they’d found berries on the first day of their quest.
When Percy had been the Hollower, he’d had Morgan’s amulet, and Vis, and power. He’d been unstoppable. Now he was waiting for a stick’s shadow to tell him which way was north, and he might perish from hunger.
A gentle press on his mind, edged with malice.
I can help with that, you know.
I’d rather choke on nettles, thanks.
“Has the shadow moved?” Percy asked Forest after a few minutes.
Forest scurried away from the ants he’d been contemplating and over to the stick. It was for the best. If his wizard didn’t have anything to eat, it was hardly fair for him to. His little tongue stuck out of the side of his mouth as he examined the shadow, then he pointed. “A little that way.”
Percy pocketed the bracelet, picked Forest up, and then dragged himself to his feet. They’d been mostly heading in the right direction, at least.
Crack!
The sound of something breaking was followed by a muffled shout.
“Is it vicious ne’er-do-wells?” Forest whispered.
Percy’s stomach growled again. Whoever it was, maybe they’d have food. “No idea, but we ought to investigate.”
Percy crept as quietly as he could toward the noises. Forest leapt onto a tree and scurried up its trunk. So much for being Percy’s familiar and having adventures together.
The wizard paused when he found the source. There was a path (at last!), and on the path was a cart, laden with crates and barrels and pulled by a single enormous fuchsia bird, big enough for a grown human to ride. Its legs were like small tree trunks, attached to a brightly feathered round body. Its long neck reminded Percy of Fang, but he wanted nothing to do with the huge, sharp beak.
One of the cart’s wheels was broken. An elf sat beside it, eyes closed. He wore a simple muted tunic over dark trousers that blended in well with the surrounding forest, had short black hair that stuck out around his pointed ears, and light brown skin. He looked the same age as Percy, but age was hard to tell with elves.
Percy watched for several moments, but all the elf did was sit and breathe. It didn’t seem like something to interrupt.
He’s weak and distracted, Morgan whispered. Overpower him and steal the cart.
Percy ignored her. If anything, it appeared the elf needed help.
The elf muttered in a language Percy didn’t recognize. After a few more deep breaths, his brown eyes opened. “Right. Right, we sat with it.” Traces of an accent gave the elf’s voice a pleasant lilt. “Now look at the problem. Maybe thank the wheel for breaking, instead of getting mad at it. We’re not dead or anything, and we’ve got a head start….”
The elf trailed off, clearly still upset. So much for his pep talk.
Percy hesitated. What if the elf had seen the fairy leaflet?
“YAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” A tiny cream-colored blur shot out of a tree.
The elf leapt up in surprise and caught the sugar glider full in the face.
Forest scrabbled around the elf’s head. “Brigand!” he shouted. “Fiend! You shall be vanquished!”
“Gah!” cried the elf, slapping at Forest.
