Bazza'Jo

Chapter 14

Raina outlined her plan to Kal on their way back to her aunt's cottage. He was skeptical, but Raina wouldn't hear a word that wasn't "okay" or "we'll do it". In the end, Raina knew, what he needed was someone to make what he wanted to do anyway happen. He needed someone to untie his hands.

The journey was slow and laborious. Night was full upon them and the moonlight didn't filter well through the dense forest. Raina was nearly blind, and Kal politely kept her speed despite the urgency they both felt. They eventually spotted the cottage, and through the big windows into the well-lit living space, where, there in the living room, sat Julia and Nana Lalia.

"Oh no!" Raina hissed. "Kal, stop, stop. Shhh, over here. I've got to hide!" Kal instantly vanished behind a tree.

"What is it?" he muttered in a low voice.

"My Nan! She must be here to take me home! Oh no, oh man-"

"Your Nan?! We're leaving the country to face near-certain death and you want to hide from your Nan?!" Kal sounded half confounded and half amused. "I have to see the woman that can scare Raina Monkeybottom. Just let me-"

"No! Come back here, she'll hear you!"

"Lalia?! Your Nan is Lalia Khazim?" Kal had leapt ahead to a tree closer to the cottage and was squinting into the light. "Oh man, suddenly you make a lot more sense, girl!"

"You know her? I don't suppose you can make her-"

"'Make'? Lalia?" Kal snorted. "You've got to be joking. Why don't I just 'make' the sun rise right now? No way. You had the right idea hiding in a copse." He chuckled. "That woman answers to no one. Not even her brughar. That's me, by the way. Lalia's my father's cousin."

"Shoot!" Raina carefully moved closer to where Kal was half-hidden. She studied the scene in the cottage as her eyes adjusted to the light. "All right, I have a new plan. I don't see Ibli. With any luck, she hasn't been sent home. Here, follow me." Backing away from the building, Raina led the way around the back. The lights were on in the glass greenhouse too, and Raina could see a small figure moving about the plants. After pausing a minute to make sure it wasn't Septimus, Raina gestured to Kal to follow her and she approached.

Lurking outside the greenhouse, Raina began to wave frantically at Ibli. She and Kal jumped and shook their arms in the air for some time, but the girl didn't seem to notice them. Finally, Raina grew impatient enough to tap the glass with her fingernail. Ibli immediately looked up, startled.

"I didn't See you coming!" Ibli sounded pleased as she opened one of the windows to speak to them.

"Shhh!" Raina ducked down and hid again, as if Lalia would come bursting into the back room at any time. Kal watched her with his usual bemused grin. "You picked a great time to lose your superpowers, Ibli. Look, we need your help! Can you come out? We need to talk."

"Yes." Ibli turned and started towards the front room.

"Waitwaitwaitwait!" Rain hissed. "I mean secretly! Argh, Ibli, for the love of anything, keep quiet!" Ibli responded by rolling her eyes and continuing towards the door. Kal leaned over and whispered in Raina's ear:

"I guess stubbornness runs in the family, hey?" Raina hit him on the arm and he feigned injury.

Ibli stopped at a Baz plant on the way to the door, and quickly popped a few grains in her mouth. Raina watched her Cast a moment, but nothing happened. Then Ibli left the greenhouse and entered the front of the house.

"What is she doing?!" Raina whispered near-hysterically. "She's going to give everything away!" Kal just shrugged. They couldn't do anything but wait.