Chapter Eighteen: For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow
Guardians of the Twilight Lands -- The Sixth Book of Unexpected Enlightenment
As they entered the gym for the Knights of Walpurgis meeting, Rachel passed Mylene Price who was coming from the pool, accompanied by her otter. As Rachel and Gaius walked by, Mylene called out behind her, “Rachel, wait up!”
“I’m going on ahead,” said Gaius, “in case Vlad needs help with setting up. You talk to Price.”
He gave Rachel a kiss on the cheek and sauntered off. Rachel turned toward the pale redhead in pigtails, who gave her a big smile.
“How are you feeling, eh?” Mylene asked in her light Canadian accent.
“Much better, thank you,” Rachel replied. “You were a great help.”
“I’m so glad. You did me such good—I’d been so ill for so long! I’d like to think I could do something for you.”
“I was overjoyed to help.” Rachel smiled kindly. She paused, recalling her conversation with Mr. Tuck, and then asked casually, “Has your father learned any more about how that wraith managed to move about undetected.”
Mylene’s expression became grim. “We haven’t been able to find another one.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” asked Rachel.
Mylene leaned forward, lowering her voice. “Don’t spread this around, but we don’t yet know if we can detect them. And by we, here, I mean anyone—my father, the Mounties W Division, the Wisecraft—anyone!”
Rachel nodded slowly. That was in keeping with what Mr. Tuck had told her.
Mylene’s expression grew more serious. She asked, “Rachel, do you know why you could see the wraith preying on me, when no one else did?”
Rachel did know, but she did not want to say. She looked wide eyed and said nothing. After a moment, she asked, “How about Dr. Mordeau’s cloak? Where those wraiths, too?"
“Yes, but a different variety of wraith than we have ever seen.” Mylene’s already pale face grew paler, showcasing her freckles. “This is the one thing my father’s tremendously concerned about: how what happened to me might happen to others if we can’t find a method for detecting these new varieties.”
Rachel shifted her weight uncomfortably. If she did not tell now, she might be putting others in danger.
“Your shadow was askew” she said. “It didn’t fit your body. I must have noticed it earlier, but it didn’t really sink in until I thought about it that night.” She blurted out the last part quickly as she did not want to have to explain why she could recall things later that she had not noticed the first time around. She did not like to reveal her perfect memory to others.
“Shadow askew, eh? All right! I bet my father can work with that. After all, when it comes to wraiths, he’s the best there is! No wraith can get the best of him forever. Thank you.”
“Does your father have any leads?” asked Rachel curiously.
Mylene frowned. “Not really. Or rather, no leads that make sense.”
“Oh?”
Mylene leaned close again and spoke in a hushed voice. “He says both the invisible wraith and Dr. Mordeau’s cloak remind him of the work of the Necromancer.”
A chill ran along Rachel’s spine. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. “Claudius Stark? My father and James Darling captured him!”
“I know,” Mylene grinned, “That raid’s famous. My favorite issue of James Darling, Agent comics.” She lowered her voice, which wobbled slightly. “Do you think Stark could be commanding these wraiths from beyond the grave?”
Rachel thought about this. “I don’t think the Necromancer’s dead. I believe he was sentenced to Thero-Pen.”
“The Thero Penitentiary?” Mylene’s pupils grew wide. “I would not wish that on a sick tick.”
“The Wisecraft didn’t dare kill him,” explained Rachel. “It’s thought he had access to Morgana La Fay’s copy of The Book of Going Forth by Day. If so, he might be more dangerous dead than alive.“
She thought but did not add: Don’t worry. Gaius says there’s no afterlife, so you’re safe.
“So it’s not him. That’s a relief ,” said Mylene. “But then, who sent the wraiths?”
“I don’t know,” said Rachel, “but I can tell you one thing. Do you remember from your favorite comic who the Necromancer’s partner was?”
“Of course, the Serpent Master, Eliaures Charles. But he was captured, too, right? During the same raid?”
Rachel nodded,” I wonder if Mr. Charles left something made by the Necromancer in the hands of his daughter. It would explain her cloak.”
“His daughter?” asked Mylene.
Rachel spoke grimly. “Our old math tutor, Dr. Melusine Mordeau, is the Serpent Master’s daughter.”
* * *
The Knights of Walpurgis met in the gym. The enormous chamber was brightly lit and smelled of freshly laundered sheets. To one side were dueling strips—long foam mats set apart by wooden posts imbued with protective enchantments. The Knights sat on the other side around the massive wooden table, long enough to seat at least forty. This was the first meeting of the Knights since the confrontation between the crown princes of Bavaria and Transylvania on the dance floor. Everyone watched Dread and Romulus closely, hoping for some hint of how things stood between them; however, neither prince so much as glanced at the other.
Vladimir Von Dread called the meeting of the Knights of Walpurgis to order, noting that they would not meet the next week, due to spring break. He reminded everyone that this evening they would finally be voting on who was to replace the graduating Urd Odinson as his second-in-command. The candidates were Freka Starkadder and Gaius Valiant.
Von Dread sat at the head of the long table, his black leather-gauntleted fingers steepled in front of him.
“When deciding for whom to vote,” Von Dread declared, “do not allow your choice to be swayed by sentiment or by baser motives. The Knights of Walpurgis exists to help us grow stronger by sharing our knowledge, because knowledge is power. Power is needed if we are to protect the weak and keep our loved ones safe. Pick the candidate whom you judge to be more able to banish chaos and uphold order. The future of the Knights depends upon your choice.”
Lacy Farnsworth, a pale ginger whose family owned the multi-million dollar Full-Moon Fabrics, raised her hand. She spoke with a Texas twang. “Your highness, are the rumors true?” she gazed down the table toward Romulus. “Are you free of your engagement and on the market again?”
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