The Sorcerer's Tome

Chapter 16: Home

Twenty minutes later, when Garren returned with his crystal, he found a table had been set in the Well Chamber, and Rita, Val, Albert and Tom were sitting enjoying some fresh bread and cheese and warm spiced mead in the pleasant warmth emanating from the Well of Fire. Maya had gone to help her mother collect her belongings from the dark room at the back of the monastery where she had been held since being kidnapped by the Guardians several days ago. Maya still felt responsible for the horrid things that had happened to Tom and the others, so was pleased for an excuse to keep out of the way.

"Albert," Garren said ravenously tucking into a chunk of the crusty bread. "What made you come crashing through the doors when you did?"

"Well, my boy," the old man began. "You have Rita to thank for that really. She called me on that mirror contraption and told me you were going to get yourselves into a spot of bother and would need our help. Fortunately, I had just finished fitting my 'tireds' to the road train. By the way young Tom, that was an inspired idea you had there. I inflated tubes of thick rubber and secured them to the wheels with metal bands. Wonderful. So much quieter and it's not such a bumpy ride now."

"It's Marj, you have to thank, not me," Rita added. "She managed to send a message to my Witch's Crock. That's when I called Albert, and we came puffing to the rescue."

"How did you get the drawbridge down?" Val asked.

"Little things like drawbridges don't slow witches down for long, deary," Rita chuckled. "Thought the Guardians would have been a bit of a problem though."

Garren filled Rita and Albert in on the departure of Balfour's army of gord and Guardians and how Lyca and Dan had followed.

"I wonder what happened to them monkey chappies that went with 'em," Rita mused. "All the Guardians here have gone back to normal now Balfour has lost his power."

"I wonder what has happened to Balfour," Val said. "I would be much happier if he were under lock and key, where we could keep an eye on him."

Everyone nodded their agreement.

"Still, he wouldn't be a match for our young hero, here. Eh, lad?" Albert said.

"You have been very quiet, Tom," Garren said. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Tom said. "Just trying to get my head around everything. Three days ago, I was an ordinary guy having a laugh with my mates, and now I am supposed to be some sort of master of magic. How am I supposed to decide what magic is too dangerous to be used if I don't even know anything about it in the first place? How do I stop bad magic from being used?" He looked desperately at Garren for answers. "I just want to be normal again."

Garren felt pangs of sympathy towards the confused boy, understanding his anxiety. "Sometimes, people are put into situations which they never sought and certainly did not desire. It is how we handle these situations that define us, and it is often the case that the least likely of people, when placed in these positions, discover qualities they never knew they possessed and excel. The magic knew you were a morally upright person, who would never put your own interests above those of others. That is why it knew the key was safe in you. It also knew that you would be able to continue the work of the Tome, or it would not have transferred its power to you.

"You may not know your own potential, but you may be certain that the magics do."

"As for not knowing anything about magic," Rita added. "You have a try. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if you could turn this loaf of bread into a dish of sweeties. Go on, have a go."

"That's not a good idea," Tom said. "I usually go a bit over the top, when I try magic."

"If I got the right end of me broomstick, I think you will find it a whole lot easier to control your power now," Rita grinned and winked at him.