Chapter 9

The next day, which was a Saturday, dawned quite quickly. Caulin showered, dressed up and made to the out. Paige gave instructions to Benito regarding the flowers the second swimming pool.

“Beautiful day, mom,” Caulin greeted.

“How was your sleep?”

“Fitful.”

He answered brightly.

“Professor Gael will be here at 4:00 pm. You shan’t keep him waiting.”

“For sure,”

“Your launch pack is on the dining table. Fetch it quickly.” Caulin did as said.

“I’m grateful to say the least, mom.”

“Yes, don’t forget you can’t use magic in the out. It’s dangerous.”

She said. Caulin left immediately.

“Not even before Jesi, alright?” She shouted after him.

            Caulin walked really fast along the silent bushy path. For a moment he wondered why his mom had chosen to situate her house in such an isolated area. It was way away from the main town and people. Paige Granger instead preferred a hilly environment where rivers and a few mountains were the dominant features. Probably she didn’t want the town folks to know she had magic to avert her lynching, Caulin thought the place wouldn’t be the same in such a short time.

            It will be developed soon most definitely. As he proceeded in his arduous walk, he noticed an owl staring at him from a branch. He recognized it as the owl he had seen in school when Professor Shade Quist examined the yellow leaves. Why was he seeing this owl over and over again? It flew away once Caulin gazed at it, quite weird. Caulin walked pass the point they had met Marimon. He recalled his mother’s old friend, Delaney Hunows. They used to come hunting for birds and to catch the best insects. But as he was growing he cultivated an untold hatred for animals that Jesi felt was in spite of him.

            Soon he arrived at Jesi’s. He was already set by the time he got there hence; they left for Ariadne’s.

“Hey man, how is your mom?”

Jesi demanded, unlike him.

“Perfect, why do you ask? You seldom do that.”

Caulin muttered.

“Caulin man, let me ask you this,”

He said,

Jesi had dreamt of one day finding out the truth about his old friend pertaining to his having of magic and involvement in wizardry.

“Caulin, how will you feel if you are told never to use magic on the out when you have a great volume of it?”

Jesi asked.

Caulin frowned expectedly, he least thought such words will emanate from the mouth of Jesi.

“Shut your gob already!  Told you I lack magic. What’s that for?”

“Are getting aerated? Answer me just the same.”

“You really want to know. Stop making instances with it as if I really have magic. It feels like mockery, trust me.”

“You know just well that it isn’t mockery. Why are you so secretive?”

“I have only a secret and I told you that numerous times already.”

“Which was that?”

“My desire to be a wizard,”

He said.

“Caulin dear, what if I told you I found things out for myself. And I know the secret you’ve been keeping from me.”

“Blow, Jesi! What has come over you yet today?”

“I was in your house yesterday. I say it all bro, you flew home a bird through your window,”

He said.

Caulin gazed at him and looked like he wanted to say something. Jesi raised a hand, signaling him to keep silent.

“The spider you almost killed in your bed room was me. You know what? You cannot always follow what your mom tells you. You will rot at her apron string if you continue to heed headlessly her decrees. Deny it again!”

Jesi spat.

“Do you have any idea what you are accusing me of? It is ridiculous.”

“Come on brother, you won’t give up your lies just yet.”

He said in a surly manner.

“Have you taken into consideration the advisability of your indictments? It’s irksome and I can’t take it any longer.”

Caulin said angrily.

“You slowed down on the road yesterday to verify if anyone was around before you turned into a bird. An owl to be precise; but you weren’t fast enough; I had already climbed onto your shoes before you took off.

Caulin made a face and stopped to fix a gaze on Jesi. He looked fierce, really fierce.

“What else do you know about me then?”

Caulin queried. It was obvious he would give up the constant lies.

“Your mom is one of the mighty witches in Deruthe. And I have a feeling she has got a lot to do with the Worlg runner.”

Jesi said.

“Who is that?”

“It’s another name with which The Escapee Magrid is addressed.”

“I never learned of that.”

“Honestly, what you’ve been doing to me is maladroit and clumsy. How can you keep me in the dark for such a long time? Twelve years, Twelve years Caulin. How could you be so callous and inhuman?”

Jesi said. Caulin nodded at his words, he looked a bit repentant.

“Let’s get going. We shall be late and Ariadne may get mad.

Caulin said softly as if nothing had happened.

“Trust me I am your best friend, a good one at that and I know it when you start to act weird that something has gone wrong. Golly, you wish to tell me about your powers but the fear of your mother’s anger has always held you back. I can’t believe you were prepared to live your life in fear just because of the words of a woman.”

“I understand just how you feel about this but I had my reservations. I would have told you soon anyway.”

“Aye,”

“Yes I am serious. I sporadically get mad at Paige for placing me in the bondage of not using magic in the out. She believes I might not be smart enough and will get caught. That’s all,”

Caulin said dolefully, getting enlivened quite astronomically.

“Wow, you’ve given up at last huh? I’m sure Paige will give you a good hiding by the time you get home. You will probably cower in the corner, gibbering with terror,”

Jesi joked.

Caulin found a pretty moderate stone that looked like a sorcerer’s; gibbering a spell, he raised it and frightened Jesi with it. Jesi laughed; Caulin laughed too having got a burden off his shoulders.

“I never would have felt happy like this if not for you bro, you are a genius somehow.”

“Do you know the main reason why she restricted you that way?”

Jesi asked.

“Not slightly, I can’t tell,”

He said.

“Now you know I am a wizard, let’s get properly conciliated and never should we keep secrets from each other.”

Caulin said repentantly.

“That’s exactly what I needed to hear long time ago. I trust you therefore trust me alternatively and all will be fine.”

            They shook hands vigorously and scooted to Ariadne’s.

“I do love you bro,”

Caulin confessed wholeheartedly.

“I love you so badly too. We can get along better if nothing qualifies to be called a secret between us. Get it?”

“Sure, man,”

He said.

“Incredible, I feel emboldened now that you know what has once been a secret in my heart. And I appreciate how you managed to find out, you are at least able comprehend the complexity of my situation. Thanks dude.”

“You don’t say!”

Jesi said joyously.

“You boys kept me waiting for nothing huh? You should respect time from now on, get it?”

That was Ariadne who came rushing towards the boys when she caught them in sight.

“Hi Adne, how are you doing?”

“What do you expect? I’m so much feeling happy you’ve come as you said. You were late anyway.”

“Yes you are right. But it was for a good reason that we were late. I will personally tell you at the perfect time.”

Jesi elucidated.

“Tell me now,”

“I just said later,”

Jesi defended.

“But I insist, never put your skin into trouble by keeping me in suspense again. I hate suspense alright? Even Hormil knows that.”

Ariadne said and pulled her hair back.

“You look more beautiful when you make your hair this way. I peculiarly prefer it that way.”

Caulin complimented. Jesi looked away but said nothing. Adne coughed.

“Get away from me, you flatterer!”

Ariadne joked.

“Shall we get going to the river, it shall be jolly relaxing and we can discuss how we can uncover Professor Quist and his possible affiliation with The Escapee Magrid.”

“Damn yeah, bro, it will be great time to talk.”

Ariadne was a type that seldom moved around with boys but Caulin and Jesi were definitely an exception. For the first time in her life she felt extremely safe and comfortable in the company of the boys. She placed her arms ludicrously around the necks of both boys as they moved along. Soon, they were at the river side which was not so far from their homes.

The beauty of the river embraced them affectionately. Ariadne spread her picnic mat on the ground a little close to the water. The Gore Trio sat and made in the beauty of the river.

“I feel good today.”

Caulin said and smiled broadly.

“Well I feel impregnably sweet now with my new close friends.”

            A thought struck Caulin as he felt a bit bored. He checked Ariadne and she wasn’t looking.

“Shailin Loroxbout,”

He muttered.

A considerably small sized boat invaded the shore on the rocks near the water. Jesi of course, noticed it and dissolved into raucous laughter.

“What’s that for, Jesi?”

Adne asked when she noticed him laughing so loudly.

“Aye, what do you mean?”

“You just laughed like a dog for goodness’s sake.”

“Oh, okay; if you say so. It’s your call anyway,”

Jesi said innocently.

“Is that a boat? It’s incredible!”

She remarked. Not waiting for the boys’ opinion, she run to the boat to examine it as if she could control it anyhow.

“Let’s mess up her mind or get her scared. What do ya think bro?”

Caulin suggested garishly, obviously not going to allow anything dim his enthusiasm. Caulin Joined Ariadne at the boat.

“I don’t know why I didn’t see this boat here earlier; I have to be more observant.”

She said.

“Well, those pretty eyes of yours might have skipped it. My word, I feel like going out in the boat for a while,”

Caulin said pretentiously.

“Shall we go then?”

Jesi said.

“No, thanks,”

Ariadne objected.

“I would rather play and swim right here. The water is calm for now.”

She added.

“Listen, we won’t go far out on the river. Don’t be afraid, you can trust me can’t you? I will protect you, promise,”

Caulin said.

“Oh blabber, thanks again for your offer. I am already having fun on land, go out to water if you so care. Let me be, I hate to get sick on water.”

She remained obstinate.

“But I made a promise, Adne.”

“Alright, I give up. But don’t forget your promise.”

She said with mixed feelings.

“We shall be back as shortly as we can. We shall swim afterwards.”

Caulin presented, smartly of course. Caulin felt delighted at his boat, if only Ariadne had known! Caulin thought.

            Ariadne, with the help of Caulin got into the boat while it was still on the rocks. Caulin and Jesi therefore were faced with the pain of having to push the boat on to the water.

“Treat me like I were a princess; push!”

Ariadne teased.

            The water was quite deep at the sides of the rock so the boat slid in without hardly any sound. Ariadne breathed, harboring the fear that the water might carry the boat away while she was in alone. Caulin and Jesi piled into it and took the rears.

            With scarcely any intricacy, they rowed the sexy new boat away from the rock and out into open water. There and then, they were welcomed with the seemingly herculean task of putting up the sail without the help of an adult.

“It ought to be quite simple for us,”

Caulin panted, tagging at numerous ropes.

“I’ve done this before and it was jolly good. But I had had the help of an adult friend,”

Caulin revealed.

            This time they were alone and no one was available to render any help, if they got into a muddle. Jesi felt the only alternative was to use his power to get what he wanted. In a few minutes they had the sail up. Ariadne was nearly knocked overboard but fortunately got caught by the ropes. She expectedly got furious.

“You did that on purpose, Caulin,”

She indicted; Caulin was by this time struggling to get free from the ropes.

“Just you apologize, Caulin; it isn’t advisable to play silly tricks on board.”

Jesi said seriously.

“But I still saved you anyway”

Caulin defended.

“I threw the rope at you. You should be grateful but instead you are scolding me.”

He said.

“It’s alright guys, we are here for fun.”

Jesi said. Ariadne coughed.

            Jesi suddenly got caught in a rope that seemed determined to hang him.

“Help me Caulin,”

“Take the tiller, Ariadne,”

Caulin instructed.

“I will get him out.”

“Thanks.”

Jesi said when he finally was able to extricate himself from the stupid rope he got entangled with.

“I seem to have undone many ropes,”

Caulin admitted.

“Sorry for that blunder.”

            They laughed like nothing had happened. Caulin had first laughed, and then Jesi. Ariadne couldn’t understand completely, all the same she laughed. It seemed to them like the wind filled it and the boat started to rush along. Caulin was undoubtedly elated to be able to use magic without Paige Granger to say a fat juicy NO!

            Far out on the river nature had piled very huge rocks in the middle so that it was impossible to see the behind of it. Caulin thought one day he would go behind it, explore and make very good plans.

            Jesi looked looked across the river to where the huge rocks were piled. It looked strange in the water having been there for ages perhaps. Suddenly Caulin made huge fish make out and splash hurriedly in the water. Great deal of water of course, got them wet. It was quite inevitable.

“Gosh! Did you see that? It was awesome.”

Ariadne said, gratified.

“Aha, it is most spectacular.”

Caulin would not quit the pretense.

“Konami Maha...”

Jesi muttered meticulously. The boat suspended a little above the surface of the water. It could no longer touch the water but was moving interestingly. They progressed, still keeping Ariadne in the dark. Caulin and Jesi enjoyed that very much; working with magic alternatively.

            Soon, Ariadne started to be a little suspicious of something fishy when the boat bounced onto the surface again.

“Hell, what was that. Does that mean the boat had been above water or what?”

She deduced, commencing to quiver. None of the boys uttered a word.

“Say something you idiot!”

Ariadne raged.

“Not necessarily, it could have been that the water was very deep at this side so it sank in a bit. It may be anything else all the same.”

Caulin lied brilliantly living no room for a premature suspicion.

“I think she is scared already.”

Jesi said.

“No I am just fine.”

Ariadne said valiantly.

            Not satisfied, Caulin cast his eyes to the huge pile of rocks and gormlessly caused three to fall splashily into the water. The boat almost capsized but Jesi fortunately was able to shift it away when the water became turbulently shaky. The water trembled constantly, making the boat move about in a random kind of motion, apparently incapacitated in controlling herself.

            Ariadne had been screaming her lungs out all this while and two more rocks fell into the now boisterous water. One of the stupid rocks almost tactlessly landed on the kids but Jesi magically sailed it northwards.

“Get me outta here. I can’t stand it anymore. This damn place is haunted. It’s all damned! Get me outta here.”

She screamed terribly.

“Shut that gob up!”

Caulin shouted.

“You don’t shout so much on board, it’s piercing my thing and you are ruining my fucking concentration,”

He said.

            Jesi tried again,

“Mak-Loristo”

The whole place became dark so that it became difficult to see ahead clearly. The sky had been enchanted to look like it was in the night. Stars glittered all around and evidently, Ariadne was not supposed to enjoy this scenery. She shut her eyes and started to weep. The wind became strong and mad. It in effect, swept the tender boat far out behind the pile of rocks. Caulin’s eyes now adjusted to the darkness and could see quite better. By the time the boys realized they were miles away from the shore.

            “What a great river this is!” Caulin gaped.

Following the lot, a haze unobtrusively invaded the water. Apart from the darkness, nothing, absolutely nothing could be made out with the eyes. Ariadne cried the more, cowardly; trembling arduously. She heard the thundering of the waves beating against the rocks. It was most exhilarating to feel the up and down movement of the boat. Then suddenly in a supernatural instant, a small Island loomed up. Caulin muttered something and the day sky returned. The haze too disappeared.

            Ariadne, feeling the calmness opened her eyes slowly and slowly and she breathed in the light of the day. By this time the waves had become unexpectedly tame and relaxed. Adne caught the boys laughing at something and she couldn’t tell why.

“You did that finally right?”

Jesi said to Caulin.

“Yeah I made it all,”

He answered, panting and perspiring.

The boys rowed the little but sexy boat onto the sandy shore of the little gloomy isle. They kept well out of the current that swept towards the isle. It was quite easy to haul the boat a little up the beach; though it consumed most of their strength, Jesi employing his amazing knack of hauling did it all perfectly.

“The trees are great here,”

Caulin said once he had taken a few breaths to calm his bulging nerves.

“You failed your promise you silly hick.”

Ariadne said angrily.

“It is not our fault that the waves brought us here. Do I qualify to be called a hick for what nature ensured. It’s a pity,”

Caulin said.

“I’m sorry for calling you a hick but you have to understand that I am mad at you. You brought me to this enchanted place I have never been to in my graceful life. If only you hadn’t set set sail!”

She lunged out.

“What could I have done tell me! The harm has already been caused will you stop apportioning tactless blames?”

Jesi retorted.

“But I did ask you not to embark didn’t I?”

She said in reply, shrilly. She pulled her hair back, which had now gotten damp from from the splash of water.

            She felt really nervous and had a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Her hands suddenly became cold and clammy.

“Come on Caulin, you brought me to a haunted isle of gloom to have me killed. The night sky, the waves, the haze-my goodness, I hate you Caulin; and you Jesi I don’t want to see you again ever in my life.”

“Enough! You don’t understand a thing Adne do ya?”

Caulin said aloud.

“Tell her Jesi, she needs to know anyway,”

Prompted Jesi.

“You can do same too, don’t tell me you are sacred of Ariadne.”

“I am hardly scared I tell you. Ariadne, all that happened wasn’t from any hunted stuff as you thought. It isn’t from any dark force whatsoever. Jesi and I did it all because we have good magic and are top class wizards. Aha, yes, we are wizards. That is the truth.”

Caulin dropped it and moved toward Adne. She was by this time leaning against a rock that stood innocently a bit near the shore.

“You mean to tell me that you two are wizards of Deruthe. You took an illegitimate advantage of my ignorance to play tricks on me.”

“We still would have told you all the same. I am sorry. Maybe we shouldn’t have done that at all.”

Caulin said.

Ariadne moved to the water and squatted near it so that she could see her reflection. Thinking loud, she came back;

“So, you fooled me?”

“Not really Adne, you don’t have to make a fuss over this little thing. Actually this was to measure your strength when it comes to uncovering secrets. Some can be really horrid than this you know.”

Caulin tried to explain as best as he could.

“Look here Adne; I vehemently believe we shall accost strange truths that will take our breath away in our adventurous feat to expose Professor Shade Quist. I was just ascertaining how hugely you could condone the excesses. You cried for goodness’ sake.”

Caulin added confidently.

“Aye, I see that. But the point is; I scarcely thought you guys had magic,”

She said with intense surprise. She began to smile radiantly, pacing up and down. Caulin walked to her and kissed her on the lip. Adne spat an awful word at him which made him ache.

“You son of a bitch! How dare you?”

Shad said.

“Sorry, girl, you can kick my ass later but for now…”

He stammered.

“I can’t believe you just did that. Tell me why you idiot!”

“Calm down Ariadne, he was just expressing joy of some sort. Forgive him now or it annuls our mission to ‘you know what’.”

That was Jesi interceding.

“Is that true Caulin?”

She demanded.

“That what,”

Caulin said innocently.

“Stupid boy, that you are showcasing ecstasy?”

“Ehm, believe me when I say I am sorry. I just did it without thinking anything. That is how I am; I love to be kind of plain."

“And just what do you mean by that? Are you trying to say you are falling for me or what?”

Ariadne barked. Jesi coughed coldly and sneezed afterwards. He stood silent as the two seemingly love birds played guilty and innocent respectively. Without wanting to spoil the moment, he sashayed to the river and dipped his feet I it as if to disinfect them of germ and pathogens. Cocking his head to the side, he saw the Adne still mad at Caulin for what he had done.

“I don’t know Adne, but it feels like it. Forgive me for that anyway,”

Caulin said.

“Gosh, you should rather kiss my ass because that is the last thing I want to do right now. We are friends only because of the Demon, Drakeizar; otherwise you are a punk who deserves to go to hell!”

She shouted and wiped her lips vigorously. Caulin was evidently embarrassed and felt as stupid as usual. A thought struck his mind and he started to utter the words that crossed his mind immediately.

“Let your feminine features take a puzzle

As I prevent affections from streaming down the drain

Rough winds may seldom cease to see a hustle

But thy spring of beauty shall never fade

It’s a pleasure to let my words caress you

As long as May lives in the blue,

My days will always be for your do.”

Caulin had constructed another poem for the girl he was trying to woo.

“You are damn crazy! Your words should caress me? Well, sorry to disappoint you because they don’t.”

“Sure they did, they always do girl.”

Jesi said, walking in their direction. He stood contentedly near the rock away from Ariadne, studying the change in the young girl. He noted with approval that she had set aside her anger and was quite brightening up in the face of Caulin’s gloomy poetry.

“I know that anytime you feign anger, you first bite your lower lip. You didn’t do that when you last quarreled with Hoffery Rannistar, the boy chasing you all over campus. That anger was genuine but this one, I’m convinced it’s just an awful affection.”

Jesi said. Caulin and Jesi exchanged triumphant glances, and Jesi signaled Ariadne not to worry and that all will be fine.

“Look, Caulin, try to avoid the euphemism. What do you have to tell me?”

Adne asked.

“Miss Rooney, let’s not let our emotions overrule our rationale behind this union. We are here for something. Let’s get it,”

Caulin said and Jesi wondered why he had changed so suddenly.

“Oh really…”

“Take your time Ariadne, you make me nervous sometimes.”

Caulin said.

“Sorry, my pet,”

She replied good-naturedly.

“But it looks like I have anticipated this day for months now, I’m anxious to be off. You know how I detest waiting.”

She added quickly, smiling enigmatically.

“Yes. But wait, what does she mean by that?”

Caulin said, referring to Jesi.

“I know what she means by that. I only hope you are not too disappointed. Even though this upstart princess seems not to have control over her feelings and desires, I bet good times are almost catching up with us,”

Jesi philosophized. Adne rose from the rock she squatted on distractedly.