Forgotten Magic

Chapter 20

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I think it's only right that Varian tell this part of the story...rather than me.

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A murmur ran through the village as I examined the rocks.

"Take ease, friends," I heard my father say. "Our situation may seem dire but we mustn't lose hope."

I shivered. I couldn't believe he was still lying.

"But what are they?" I heard Adam ask. "Where are they coming from?"

"I've been studying these rocks," I interrupted. It was time the people got the truth. "And I think I discovered a vulnerability in their alchemical makeup." A couple of the people around me must have been eyeing me warily.

"Son," I heard my father say to me. "I told you. Leave those rocks alone."

I looked up. "Yeah, I know I know. But something has to be done and I think I may be onto a solution."

"Something is being done," my father announced. "In fact I plan to travel to see the king this afternoon about this very matter."   

Well...to say the least, I got excited. "Oh...well, um, then can-can I come with you?" \

He considered this for a moment. "Ahh, very well. You can travel with me."

"Really?" I smiled. "Yes! Yes!" I pumped a fist in the air. "Road trip!" And I did a little victory dance, if I'm being honest. "Varian and Dad going to see the king!" I laughed. "I will pack ham sandwiches."

"Yes," my father agreed. "In the meantime, stay away from those rocks," he warned me.

"Uh...okay but, um, that's getting harder to do by the minute." I drew attention to the thirty or so rocks that had grown just in the time of our conversation.

. . .

"I can't believe it!" I was pacing my lab, running my hands through my hair as I talked to Ruddiger. "I-I can fix things...I can fix things between me and my dad. Rapunzel and I can figure it all out. We can fix it all! Finally!"

Something shattered. I looked up. Ann was standing in the doorway. Shards of a broken plate lay at her feet. Her expression-shock.

"I...was just bringing you a snack," she snipped. "Thought you might want something. After you skipped breakfast with your dad and I. Now I know why, huh?"

"Ann...Ann, it's not like that," I said cautiously.

"You know, Rapunzel promised me the same thing," she said. "She told me we'd figure it out together. Well..." She turned her back on me. "Have fun. Don't bother...'filling me in on things' when you get back. I don't need it." And she walked out.

. . .

"Okay Dad, what's our strategy?" I asked as we waited in line to speak to the king. "I mean I tried to get a sample of the rocks to show the king but they just won't cut...-"

"Son? Wait here while I speak to the king," my dad told me.

"Dad, I think I should go in there to help explain the scientific po-" I began, a bit confused.

"Varian, children have no place in court," he told me slowly.

"But I-I'm not a...child..." I murmured as he walked in. I quickly turned and scrambled to find another way to eavesdrop.

"Quirin, my old friend!" King Fredrick greeted. "What brings you from Old Corona village?"

'"Your majesty." My dad bows. "Old Corona is facing...quite the dilemma,"