Chapter Eighteen

The huge, brilliant hall was airy and filled with light – just as seen in most houses by ten around the lateness of morning. The whole hall reeled under the heaviness of Walain’s imminent apprehension. Berkoff, the wizard engulfed in technology and its appropriate usages helped inconceivably by managing to hack into the camera recordings of the Government such that, from the hall they could view all the actions of Blarders and get prepared for them.

            As for Walain himself, he was at least appreciative he’s got quite affectionate people to fight his fight for him. However his only uncertainty pertained to whether or not Delaney and his crew would be able to save his +damned life from the wizarding world of Jergeg; having breached one of their most important regulations.

            With an impatient sigh, Walain turned his attention to the white scroll in his hands. Berkoff was asserting his claim even now, and Erhan was hard-pressed to divert Jergeg’s collectors into nothingness. The collectors were those assigned to bring back the breakers of the laws with which they governed themselves. The sun was dropping bits and bits of its stinging power into oblivion and Delaney all these while sat staring out the window for a long time, indulging in a quiet fantasy which vacillated between the current problems they had at the time and the ones yet to crop up.

            He suddenly blinked and came back to normal awareness as a disturbance in the main hall caught his attention. Berkoff had received a message from one of his informers that in the next hour Blarders will be on the shores of Delaney’s home. He had sent it in a form of a letter adjuring he and his crew to play their all cards really well otherwise fall to the strong and alluring nature of Jergeg’s plot to grab a hold of their fugitive; Walain of course. The small letter was delivered by an enchanted crow with three eyes. They were used to give out messages in times of need and anonymity. And Berkoff always did his best to preserve the anonymity of his infiltrator informant sandwiched among the ignorant members of the Agency.

The crow had screeched terribly after dropping the scroll before the front door of Delaney’s. And as it flew opposite the direction of the huge building, it exuded the cry of an owl which resonated severally for a few seconds. Walain who had also heard the screech wondered how it was able to hoot as owls do. Immediately he distinctly recalled reading about the birds that were half an owl and a crow. They were originally called Hurfs. Martheu was quite amazed for it was the first time he had set eyes on a Hurf.

            With and expectant glance, Walain had held the white scroll, a bit transfixed especially after getting to know it was sent from an informer of Berkoff’s infiltrating the Agency. The strong sunlight had done a real good job by dimming the color of the paper but apparently, that did nothing to fade the content of the letter and its tone of urgency.

            Thus read the letter.

“Hey dudes,

                        Just totally discovered the virgin plans of the Agency, took me no time at all! Blarders is going to flood your shores any time soon; presumably an hour from now. It wasn’t hard at all to find out their plans. As of now, I’m making out some files which links McHale to one strange company at the outskirts of town. He’s got a lot in the dark. It is called the Transgold Consortium. Those chumps really gotta update their firewall, it is some outdated Stone Age tech they’ve got running there. Follow up any time you so wish but watch your back coz there are really smart asses in this Agency. My girlfriend is pregnant and I decided to name my son after you. Funny, isn’t it? See ya.”

Your grace,

Simoor

…………………………

“You never told us you got an informer infiltrating that Agency huh?”

Erhan demanded.

“Now you know. Now you know how awesome I am don’t you? I am simply the best you can find. Don’t you agree with my awesomeness, dudes?”

Berkoff remarked proudly.

“Ah! He always gets to brag,”

Walain expressed.

“You of all people should know that I deserve without apology the greatest applaud. You should not make me change my mind about helping you at all.”

Berkoff said smartly. Walain nodded understandably putting the letter away as it had already been read. Berkoff rolled his blue eyes and moved towards Delaney with a wry smile on his face. Erhan who was an expert with potions started to make a few arrangements regarding the weaponry with which to launch a counter attack on Blarders. As everyone prepared in readiness for Jergeg to arrive, Paige came visiting Delaney Hunows with an issue pertaining to the queer goblet meant for accessing the Azkamort spell book. She had initially postponed the receiving of the goblet from Walain for reasons which apparently were personal to her. Why on earth she delayed the goblet and why she was visiting, Delaney and his crew could not tell.

“Mr. Hunows, Mrs. Granger, the mother of Caulin, the handsome boy, is here to see you. She begs a word urgently. May I let her in?”

Martheu had said to his boss in response to the clear call of Paige. She had come with three of her men, obviously for the purpose of protection and maybe to make her feel like the real Paige Granger she had always wanted to feel. Paige, dressed in a long black cloak gave a sigh and lowered her eyes, subdued. She had sank her eyes severally under the aegis of the thought that she had still not been able to delve into the vastness of the Azkamort spell book after three months of grabbing a grasp of it. What a shame that was to her; the woman that gets whatever she desires in the shortest possible time.

All her workers knew part of it, at least. It could never had been had to guess the kind of woman Caulin’s mother was. The many workers she had had talked many times before, if only hypothetically, about the practical considerations of Paige’s monstrous behavior towards all her foes. Simone, one of her girl servants never quite said a thing though she was mostly scorched beneath the piercing rage of Paige, but it was clear, at least, as a girl, she herself had received some kind of tutorial about what to do or say in the presence of Mrs. Granger. Perhaps that was how come all of Paige’s workers carry her image around with extremely high esteem; otherwise heads rolling on spikes will be out of any possible options.

“It doesn’t matter anyway,”

Delaney finally murmured.

“Do let her in for I long to see her too.”

Delaney instructed. Martheu rushed back to the main entrance to deliver the welcome of the visitor.

“Are you sure you want to meet that hideous witch? We have no time for frivolities.”

Erhan pricelessly admonished.

“I know that. Sometimes thinking about her makes me almost wish I were dead already!”

He spat. Erhan gave off a silent laugh.

            As the bitter words left the lips of Delaney, the shocked Martheu was on his feet and darting across the large floor that separated him from Delaney, grabbing his wrist in pain. Paige had been vexed by Martheu’s utterances such that she gibbered a spell and threw him onto the hard ground with a single gesture of her hand. It hurt very much and Martheu gasped aloud with the pain.

            Instantly, Walain was kneeling beside Martheu and shoving his sleeve, pulling off the glove he wore and running gentle fingers over the now swollen flesh.

“How did this happen? Are you alright?”

Walain murmured, turning the forearm and drawing in breath as he spied the blackness spread along the inner side.

“Why did you have to speak to her that way? Have you no idea the kind of person she is?”

Martheu swallowed hard and tried to pull away, obviously feeling like an animal caught in a trap. He cast an enraged gaze at Paige Granger but that didn’t help by assuaging his hurt in any way. He looked away to Walain when Paige walked straight to Delaney and halted before him.

“Leave me alone. Please. What difference can it make to question me? That witch completely deserves the horrid prison of Magridinol!

Martheu cursed.

“Can you not say that Martheu? At least while she is still here and listening. It can mean your life!”

Walain snapped, holding him with his arms.

“What did you tell her anyway?”

Walain insisted.

“…that I can’t wait for her to drop dead already!”

Martheu revealed.

“And that Caulin will be the one to kill her for her evils.”

He added.

“But how could you say that? You were only instructed to let her in and then you go to do something else!”

Walain found himself saying.

“Have you much pain?”

Walain asked. Delaney Hunows wrenched his gaze free with a gasp and nodded, staring unseeing the ground.

“I – can’t close my hand anymore, either,”

Martheu who was engulfed in so much pain managed to whisper.

“I can’t hold anything at all, and I can’t…”

            Though Martheu struggled in pain, the thought of sinking a sword into the heart of Paige flashed into his memory again. But choking back a sob, he shook his head to clear the image from his mind.               

            There were no choices for Delaney to make at the time. He glanced at Paige who smirked at the spectacle and patiently waited for her to state her reason for her presence in his home. Until now, he never thought of ending the life of Paige before her concrete blackness will soar all above the wizarding world of Deruthe.

“Long time no see, Delaney! I came to see you,”

Mrs. Paige Granger urged softly, the voice boring into his brain.

“What is it you really want from me?”

Delaney asked.

“I want another chance, I suppose,”

Paige whispered after a moment, dropping her head to hang on her neck for a second, no longer minding that Martheu was in anguish; thanks to her.

“What do you mean by another chance?”

“A chance for us to talk about relevant issues. I don’t understand why you stopped Walain from getting me the goblet I demanded. You’ve even succeeded in corrupting him Del, someone has got to pay for that mess. You did warn Leila Hagridar about my plans for her and she is putting up a childish plan to kill me. Above it all you are seeking to draw Kartemis from his stupidity too. Am I right, Hunows?”

She said coldly.

“I’m amazed, believe that!”

Mr. Hunows declared.

“What an acknowledgement vibrant dude? You really should be amazed. Have you ever asked yourself why I chose to hate Leila and her family?”

She asked coolly.

“Tell me then. Oh! I just remembered, I don’t give a hoot about that.”

Delaney retorted, confidently as expected by his crew.

“You’ve become incredibly rude in spite of yourself. I explicitly recollect you been very bashful like a bird just fallen into water. You were very timorous and you could not even talk back at me. What made you this way so soon?

”

“Ah, funny joke you got there. Have you ever thought about why goddess Vol Hox have said nothing to you just yet?”

“Yes, and it’s because she is afraid of me. Have you forgotten who I am? I am the spouse of Drakeizar, the deathly wizard that broke out of Magridinol. I have got powers Hox has never seen.”

She said intrepidly.

“Oh! Another funny joke. You want to know why I tried to protect Leila. It’s because she has always been a good friend of mine and I will not watch her fall prey to your Dark Arts.”

“I have always known that you wanted to marry that woman before Kartemis made the move on her. You are protecting her for love.”

Paige admitted.

“Whatever you say witch, I don’t give a hoot!”

Delaney spat.

“Well then, you will soon give a hoot when I kick your ass to hell!”

Paige reacted.

            Delaney, breathing a short spell that he would be able to stand the excesses of Paige Granger, he extended his right hand to the graceful shoulder of the woman. Delaney had about seven people behind his back willing to fight his battle. Out of that seven only Berkoff had no magic. He was actually a Lermil whom Delaney had managed to sway to work for him.

Paige conjured a wonderful seat and made herself very comfortable. As Delaney wondered what she might do next, she broke into a small but triumphant smile which was only skillfully kept from being mirrored in the faces of the men she came with. Delaney noticed Paige’s face go pale as the hollow footsteps of a woman came to an abrupt and an ominous halt on the staircase.

Berkoff, ignoring the footsteps, moved toward one of the set desks and grabbed a short gun manufactured in the wizarding world of Jergeg. Berkoff pointed the gun at no one in particular but telling by the look on his face and the direction of his cursory gaze, Paige Granger might possibly be the one to suffer the bullets. Martheu was already infuriated by the happenings and Walain wasn’t exactly sure of what to think.

The rest of the people were hushed in fear as Berkoff finally raised the gun at Paige accompanied by a young threat of death should she not leave immediately. And then the silence was broken by the clatter of steal on the staircase.

Rising quite majestically to turn and face her challengers, Mrs. Granger swiftly appraised the significance of the gauntlet now resting on the lowest of the staircase, then moved confidently to the edge of the hall.

“But you know what? After everything you’ve done to me, there is one more thing I really want.”

Paige Granger demanded, an aura of quiet power overshadowing her anxiety; what Martheu had said concerning how Caulin might kill her one day baffled her a lot. And she was fighting relentlessly to render the conspicuousness of her nervousness futile.

“What is it you want again, Paige?”

“Your death, Hunows,”

Mrs. Granger replied, curtseying mockingly.

“Is that so much to ask? I have killed many people to get what I want and you will be no exception.”

            Paige added and smiled sweetly, and Erhan with the others on Delaney’s side glared defiance at the strange evil woman.

“I honestly do not find your humor amusing, Paige,”

Delaney said to Paige coldly.

“And your manners are distinctly lacking in allowing your three men to come armed into this place. We don’t actually have even an ounce of fear for you as others do. In fact, have you no respect for the proprieties of the people you wish to rule in this wizarding world. I thought you had the desire of becoming a goddess.”

“Watch how you talk to me bitch!”

She spat.

“I honestly wished your son, Caulin was here to see your turbulent behavior. Since he was a child you’ve been hiding your true self from him forgetting he will get to know some day.”

“I can’t wait to sink a sword into your heart Delaney.”

Paige confessed.

“What then are you waiting for? I swear that you will die before me. Maybe I will be there to help Caulin terminate your damned life and have you thrown into the deathly prison of Magridinol.”

“You surprise me Delaney, my claws are way deep in Caulin and he will never betray me you should know that by now."

     The footsteps that came from the staircase belonged to Leila Hagridar. She had come come see Delaney Hunows for a talk regarding the goblet only to find her greatest adversary present in Delaney’s house. Sinking deliberately into her wits, she opted not to enrage Paige by raising a single word at her. But just watching her vicious face could do absolutely nothing to stop her from taking an action. She scanned her face and could tell how shocked she also was to see her in Delaney’s house. Nevertheless, Delaney remained oblivious to the fact that Leila was present and focused his spiteful gaze at Paige just in case she pulled a surprise attack. She had done it before and undoubtedly she could do it again.

“Hey guys, we have about half an hour to make ready for Jergeg.”

Walain announced, realizing the sudden shift of attention to Paige Granger.

“What do you have to do with Jergeg?”

Paige demanded ignorantly, Martheu sighed exasperatedly.

“How could you forget that Walain, from wherever you got him from was form Jergeg? They are coming for him owing to the fact that he is said to be fugitive.”

“Are you going to allow it?”

Paige asked expectantly. Delaney blinked and said.

“Unlike you, we’ve got a passionate hearts and we made his fight ours.”

            Leila paced towards Erhan and sneezed deliberately, she had sensed something coming. Mrs. Granger noticed the sudden change of attitude in Leila and made up her mind to give her just what she deserves. Although Leila hadn’t yet done anything to get her pissed off, she always had a genuine cause to get mad at her. The time for Jergeg to launch their attack was drawing near and Erhan particularly was already having her magic wand at hand just in case…

            Not many people in the wizarding world of Deruthe used wands to perform their magic. Most of them felt the used of wands were quite antiquated hence, preferred the employment of body gestures to get their powers effected. As of when Caulin was nine, he loved the use of wands but opted to annul his use of it owing to his pride of thinking he was too old to further his wand use.

            Anyway, how to use your magic depended on the whims of whosoever was concerned.

            The scene wavered and dissolved at that, much to Delaney’s regret, and for an indeterminable while he simply stood straight a little sadly in an obvious state of disconnection, only dimly aware of how close the collectors of Jergeg were to their shores.

            Leila apparently had no inclination to close her eyes or even blink, move or even to think. From where Leila stood, she could imagine her power surging through every nerve and sinew. That was quite strange but she was sure a great energy was filling her to overflowing and then opening her to fill even more. Her determination grew so intense that she began to tremble. Then suddenly she was aware of very cold hands on both sides of her face, and Walain’s voice gently bidding her to regain her composure in an apparent readiness for Jergeg. Leila managed to make her dry throat contract and swallow, but quite unfortunately she still seemed to be disoriented for a moment and could not quite seem to bring Walain into focus.

“I – you...”

Leila murmured.

“Are you alright? I think you must have gotten lost in thoughts.”

“Did you dream? I did.”

“You are dreaming with your eyes wide open? This is not the time for that Leila, Jergeg is almost here and you would have to help us fight them. Be sure to unleash all your powers on them if necessary,”

Walain said and moved away.