The witchs apprentice, p.14
The Witch's Apprentice, page 14
The councillors look at one another and seem satisfied with my first statement. Judge Akpo nods at me and, in a kind voice, says, “Proceed, young man.”
I take a deep breath and think of what to say. “I’m only nine years old. I don’t know what it was like when the two realms were linked—when people and creatures could go back and forth. When I first met Ma last spring, she told me that magic was leaving Brooklyn, and that made me sad. But when the dragons were born, I offered to help Ma take them back where they belong. The thing is, as soon as we tried to do that, everything started to go wrong. I took two of the dragons back to Palmara, but my friend’s little sister stole the third one. She named it and fed it, and Mo started to grow. The transporters stopped working…. Ma fell into a deep sleep…. I didn’t know what to do. And then I met Blue.”
I turn and look at him, wondering once again if it’s a mistake to trust this man. I can’t bring myself to look at Ma right now, but I feel her eyes on me just the same. Part of me still wants to ask her for help. But I’ve started telling my story, the Supreme Council is listening, and I have to keep going until I reach the end.
“Everyone told me not to trust Blue—and that seemed like good advice at first. He’s definitely…different from the other practitioners I know. Ever since I met Blue, he’s had just one goal: to keep magic in our world. I know I’m just a kid, but from where I stand, that sounds like a really good idea.
“When you keep people apart just because they’re different, that’s not fair—and it stops us all from getting to know each other better. And if we don’t get to know one another, we might start to feel afraid of the things that make us different.
“I know that Sis is the Guardian of Palmara. She’s got a job to do. And there are a lot of things wrong with the world we live in. So many animals have gone extinct or are endangered. I don’t blame Sis for wanting all the magical creatures to live someplace better. But it’s true—they didn’t want to be sent back to Palmara.”
Blue nods approvingly at me and then sneers at Ma, so I hurry on. “But I also believe we could make this world better—safer—kinder to folks who are different than us. I mean, shouldn’t we at least give it a try?”
I hear murmuring behind me, and it gives me the confidence to keep going. “The thing is, meeting people like Ma and Blue has changed me—for the better. I’ve learned stuff from my granddad Trub, too, and I know I could learn a lot more if there was someone willing to teach me. Being close to dragons and fairies and this baby phoenix”—I pause to point at the tiny bird on my shoulder—“has changed me and my friends, too. We’re not just regular kids anymore. Kavita has started to look a bit like Mo, and she can even breathe fire! Kenny has started to levitate. He doesn’t have wings yet, but he thinks he can figure out how to fly. And both of them—they can communicate with their friends in Palmara. So even though Sis has sealed all the gates, we’re still connected to that realm.”
“And what about you, young man? Have you been changed by your exposure to the residents of Palmara?”
I look at Judge Osaka and feel a knot in my belly. Blue said all I had to do was tell the truth—the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
“Yes, Your Honor. I’ve been changed, too. This phoenix was born only yesterday, but already I’ve absorbed some of its power. I don’t know how or why—and to be honest, I could really use some advice because all of this is new to me. But if Sis were here, I know she’d want to take the phoenix away, when what I really need is someone to show me how to keep it safe.
“I don’t think Sis is a bad person, and I don’t know enough about your laws to say whether she’s guilty or not. That’s for you to decide. All I know is, this world belongs to all of us. The future is something we share, and everyone should have a say. One powerful person shouldn’t be allowed to build a wall that divides us. If we want to get along, then what we really need is a bridge.”
At first, I’m not sure what I’m hearing. A faint tapping sound starts slowly at the back of the room. Then it gets faster and louder, and by the time I turn around, almost everyone in the room is clapping. The sound is applause—and they’re clapping for me!
13
When the applause dies down, the first thing I do is turn to look at Ma. She nods at me, and I nod back. There’s something in her face that I haven’t seen in a while. I think it’s pride—or maybe it’s respect. Even though we disagree about the future of magic, I think Ma’s impressed with the way I delivered my statement. I’m proud of myself, too!
The three members of the Supreme Council quietly exchange remarks. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but they seem to have come to an agreement. Judge Wa Ehi Hoci holds up his hand, and the voices buzzing behind me grow quiet once more.
“For centuries we have trusted in the Guardian of Palmara. The charges made against her are serious and demand a response. We will summon Sis to appear before the Supreme Council immediately.”
“That’s impossible. Sis cannot come.” Ma says this defiantly, without attempting to apologize.
Blue scoffs at Ma. “She will not come, you mean.” He turns to address the councillors. His tone is respectful, but his words are barbed. “This is not the first time Sis has flouted the conventions of our union. She clearly believes that she alone is above the law.”
“Sis is busy cleaning up the mess you created!” Ma fumes. “Many of the creatures you stole are unwell and must be nursed back to health.”
Blue ignores her and appeals directly to the Supreme Council. “Might I propose an alternative? Only one person can speak to what truly motivates Sis, and that is not her dear friend Ma. I wish to call a second witness, as is my right. I wish to summon the person who knows the Guardian best—her twin brother, Ranadahy. Better known to many of you as Ol-Korrok.”
The crowd erupts in cries of shock, outrage, and dismay. Chairs scrape and topple as some witches jump to their feet to object. The councillors try to calm the agitated audience, but their appeals can barely be heard above the din. I look over at Blue and see a sly grin spreading across his face.
Suddenly, a loud cawing adds to the chaos. People scan every corner of the room, searching for the bird. Then someone cries, “There it is!” and all eyes swing up to the chandelier. The dangling crystals tinkle as a large crow perches on the lower tier of the giant lamp. At least, I think it’s a crow. Its head and body are black, but the feathers on its breast and neck are white. The bird caws a few more times, and then the lights on the chandelier blink before going out completely. The wall sconces flicker as well but remain lit. The crowd murmurs anxiously.
Ma reaches for me. It’s reassuring to have her hand on my shoulder because seconds later, a rush of air pours down on us like rain. The phoenix huddles close, and I use my hand to shield it from the gust of wind. The downward force of air clears a space in the center of the ballroom, and as the chandelier lights up once more, the crow lands on the floor. It is the crow, but it isn’t. The moment its claws touch the floor, the bird spins and lengthens. In a flurry of black and white feathers, it morphs into a very tall man as I watch in awe. His skin is almost as dark as the crow’s black feathers, and his bald head gleams. The man turns slowly, looking regal in a floor-length robe made of black silk. White feathers sprout from his collar, and under his robe he wears a long white tunic covered in elaborate silver embroidery.
Blue clears his throat and announces, “May I present Ol-Korrok, brother of Sis and the rightful ruler of Palmara.”
Now facing the Supreme Council, the crow-man sweeps one arm back and bows so deeply that his bald head comes close to the ballroom floor. As he raises himself, his dark eyes fix on mine, and I shudder, recalling Kenny’s message from Jef: Beware the crow!
Ol-Korrok strides up what’s left of the aisle and effortlessly leaps onto the stage instead of standing before the councillors like me, Blue, and Ma. Somewhere behind me, I hear Mrs. Benjamin suck her teeth, and I don’t blame her. It does seem rather presumptuous to share the stage with the Supreme Council—especially when his unusual height allows him to loom over the seated judges.
“Were you not banished from Palmara a thousand years ago?” Judge Akpo inquires.
Ol-Korrok nods and dramatically presses his palm to his chest as if to soothe his aching heart. “I have been alone for so very long. It is a pleasure to be here with you all on this solemn occasion.”
For someone who’s been locked in a tower, the wizard has surprisingly polished manners, and he’s clearly at ease onstage. He moves and talks like an actor, waving his arms and twirling his cape for effect. I can tell Ma’s not impressed, but everyone else seems mesmerized—including me.
“No doubt you have heard many unfavorable things about me. It is true that I was forced into exile by my impetuous sister. For what crime, you ask? Nothing more than a sincere desire to serve Palmara and its precious residents. Once I was thrust out of her way, Ranabavy—or ‘Sis,’ as she came to be called—then proclaimed herself Guardian. It pains me to say it, but she has worked diligently ever since to destroy the ties that kept our realms close for thousands of years.”
“Liar!”
Ma spits the word at the man onstage, and he responds as if struck by a poisoned arrow. His theatrics are a little over-the-top, but the audience is riveted by his performance.
Pressing the back of his hand to his brow, he laments, “So many hearts have been hardened against me! I realize that to some, my banishment must seem justified. To some, the truth is too much to bear.” He pauses to stretch out his hand to Ma. “Believe me, madam, I understand your pain. Like you, I love my sister dearly, and it broke my heart when she seized Palmara for herself. I come before you now not to beg forgiveness, for I have committed no crime. I ask only that you consider this modest proposal.”
Judge Osaka clears her throat and says, “I must ask, sir, that you address the councillors directly and not the witnesses.”
In a whirl of silk and feathers, Ol-Korrok spins to face the Supreme Council. “Of course, please forgive me. Sadly, I have spent too many years in isolation and have forgotten the conventions of polite society. My suggestion is this: since Sis will not subject herself to interrogation in this realm, why not send an emissary to Palmara?”
“An excellent idea!” Blue exclaims.
Ma frowns, but the councillors look intrigued.
“And what exactly would this emissary achieve?” Judge Wa Ehi Hoci asks.
“Well, the role of any ambassador is to represent abroad those who remain at home. What we need now is a sincere person of impeccable character who can negotiate with my sister—make her see that it is in the interest of both realms that the gates remain open. I have seen here today a model diplomat, someone who is earnest in his belief that our world, once unified, could prove hospitable to all living things. It is with complete confidence and no reservations whatsoever that I nominate…Jaxon.”
Before I can even register the fact that Ol-Korrok is pointing at me, Ma shouts, “Absolutely not! He’s just a child.”
“Ah, but Jax is no ordinary boy,” Blue quickly counters. “The phoenix has endowed him with special abilities. Plus, he has already been to Palmara and is known to Sis.”
Sis definitely knows who I am, but would she be happy to see me again? I doubt it—especially if my mission is to convince her to let her precious creatures return to our world.
“Would I have to go alone?” I ask.
“You’re not going at all, and that’s final,” Ma barks at me.
“Madam, your resistance to this honest initiative puzzles me. Are you suggesting that my sister might harm the boy?” Mischief gleams in Ol-Korrok’s eyes.
“I’m suggesting no such thing,” Ma retorts. “If you’re so keen to communicate with your dear sister, why don’t you appeal to her yourself?”
The wizard hangs his head and is so overcome with emotion that he can barely speak. He rolls his lips in and holds up his finger, asking us for time so he can compose himself.
“Nothing would make me happier than to be reunited with my estranged sibling. I wish I could convey the devastation of having my beloved sister—my twin, my other half—so cruelly severed from my life. But if I were to appear in Palmara now, I fear Sis would be ruled by passion and not by reason. What we need is someone less threatening, who would go in a spirit of reconciliation, not confrontation.”
Ma jerks her thumb at Blue. “Why not send him? He’s clearly been your minion for some time now.”
Blue looks down his nose at Ma and in a snooty voice says, “As Ol-Korrok just explained, the ambassador must be someone Sis will receive with open arms. I’m not likely to receive a warm welcome from the dragon lady.” He then turns to address the councillors more respectfully. “I propose that Jax be sent to Palmara with his friends—they, too, have been blessed with extraordinary abilities. Together they would make a formidable team.”
“This is not a game,” Judge Akpo reminds Blue. “Can you offer any guarantees regarding the safety of these children?”
The question was asked of Ol-Korrok, but he sweeps his hand toward Blue as if to say, “After you.” Blue isn’t smiling, but there’s something in the arrangement of his face that makes me feel like he’s smirking inside.
“The youngsters can only be in jeopardy if Sis’s integrity is in question. If the esteemed members of the Supreme Council truly believe that the Guardian would endanger innocents in order to hold on to power, then I cannot in good conscience permit the mission to proceed.”
“Sis wouldn’t harm a hair on their heads, and you know it,” Ma says angrily.
It’s clear she understands the game Blue is playing. Ma doesn’t want me to go to Palmara, but she also doesn’t want to admit that Sis can be dangerous when she’s mad. Finally, Ma sighs and says, “I will go instead of the boy.”
Blue’s mouth falls open, and for the first time, he doesn’t have a ready response. He sputters for a moment but gathers his thoughts after Ol-Korrok glares at him.
“An ambassador must be impartial—your loyalty to Sis would cloud your judgment.”
“What would you know about loyalty?” Ma snaps. “The boy is my apprentice. It is my duty to guide and protect him.”
“Were you protecting him when you deliberately withheld the summons sent by the Supreme Council? If I hadn’t run into Jax by chance yesterday, he wouldn’t have known about the trial at all!” Blue exclaims dramatically.
Shocked by the accusation, the councillors frown at Ma. “Is this true?” Judge Osaka demands.
Ma looks at the floor, and I speak up to save her the embarrassment of admitting the truth. “I am no longer Ma’s apprentice.” I feel a quick stab of pain in my heart but manage to go on. “I’ve learned a lot from Ma, but it seems that becoming a witch isn’t my destiny after all.”
Judge Wa Ehi Hoci nods at me. “Do you willingly agree to undertake this mission on our behalf?”
I swallow hard and say, “I will accept this mission if my friends can accompany me. Blue’s right—we do make a great team.” I’m not sure if ambassadors have to take a vow, so I just add, “I promise that I will do all I can to convince Sis to reunite the realms.”
Judge Akpo beams at me. “Then go with the blessing of the Supreme Council.”
“We wish you every success, young man,” adds Judge Osaka.
The three judges rise and leave the stage as the audience applauds.
“Young man,” I hear Ma mutter to herself. “He’s just a boy!” Then she flings a finger at Blue and hisses, “This is your fault, you weasel. If anything happens to those kids, you’ll have ME to reckon with.”
Still onstage, Ol-Korrok exclaims, “Marvelous!” With a thunderous clap of his hands, he concludes, “It’s settled, then. Blue will see that our new ambassador has everything he needs, and I will go ahead and prepare the bridge.”
“What bridge?” Ma asks warily. “Sis shut down the portals and closed all gates between the two realms.”
Ol-Korrok just laughs. “She certainly tried, bless her.” Then the smile slides off his face, and his dark eyes flash at Ma. “But where there’s a will, there’s always a way.”
With that ominous warning, the wizard raises his fist above his head, snaps his fingers once, and spins himself into a black tornado. Within seconds, the black-and-white crow rises from the top of the swirling column. The bird squawks loudly in Blue’s direction and then flies out of the ballroom, leaving a single black feather to slowly drift to the floor.
Familiar ringed fingers reach for it and offer it to me. I climb down from the witness box and accept the feather from Vonn. “Did you know Ol-Korrok would be here today?” I ask, glancing at Vonn’s matching tattoo.
He nods and steps aside as Quayesha rushes up to hug me. Dutch shakes my hand next, but when I turn to Ma, she just frowns and walks away with Mrs. Benjamin whispering in her ear.
I blink fast to clear the tears that rush to my eyes. “Guess I’m going to miss the gala tonight,” I say with a wobbly smile.
“Just give her time,” Dutch says, nodding in the direction Ma went. “She might not like it, but eventually Ma will accept the ruling of the Supreme Council. She has to.”
Quayesha puts her pointy fingernail under my chin and lifts my head so she can look me in the eye. “You know what I love most about the world of magic?”
I shake my head, and Quayesha leans in closer. Her breath smells like grape bubble gum.
“There’s room for everyone—and that includes you, Jax. Just ’cause you’re not in our coven doesn’t mean we won’t look out for you.”
