The Orchard of Hope by Amy Neftzger

Author:Amy Neftzger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: hope, fantasy, magic, wolves, gargoyle, quest, gargoyles, the kingdom wars
Publisher: FOG INK

Chapter

14

Watching, Waiting and Scrying

“He didn’t see you,” Moss insisted. “He couldn’t have. It’s impossible.” He waved his hand in the air dramatically with each statement. He looked as if he was erasing an imaginary chalkboard. Moss appeared even sillier because he was wearing a green and purple striped sock over one ear and a red and white polka dot sock over the other.

“But Maggie and Kelsey could hear me when I carried the flame,” Nicholas said. “Maybe I was impressing myself into the sorcerer’s laboratory without realizing that I was doing it.”

“I can’t hear you,” Moss replied as he leaned forward. “Talk louder.”

“Perhaps it’s the wool socks, sir,” Nicholas said as Newton slowly raised his eyebrows and nodded.

“Nonsense. I rarely use my feet to listen.”

Nicholas gave up trying to reason with Moss and repeated his statements in a louder voice. He also spoke more slowly to make sure Moss heard him.

“Could I have been impressing myself into the sorcerer’s lab without knowing what I was doing?”

“No,” Moss replied. “That’s far too difficult. You’ve never been to his lab or met him. It would take a far greater power to impress yourself on the unknown.” Moss stroked his green beard and then quickly glanced at Nicholas before adding, “No offense.”

“None taken,” Nicholas replied. But he did feel as if the sorcerer had seen him. Perhaps he hadn’t seen Nicholas specifically, but the sorcerer knew that someone was watching him. “Although, if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not spy on the sorcerer again.”

“Scry, not spy,” Moss retorted. “It’s not the same thing, and we will have to scry on him again. We have no choice.”

“Isn’t there something safer we could try, instead?” Nicholas clasped his hands together in his lap. His palms felt slippery as they met.

“Safe doesn’t always get results, and we need results if we’re going to win this war. This isn’t just about us, you know. It’s about the whole kingdom.”

Nicholas thought through the situation. He tried to think of a way to convince Moss that this wasn’t a good idea when he remembered something Newton had said.

“Aren’t gargoyles very good at scrying? Couldn’t we have Newton do this?”

“Leave me out of it!” Newton exclaimed as he took a few steps backward. “That’s not safe at all — for any of us!”

“Why?” Nicholas asked. “Why is it OK for me to do this and not you?”

“Because the sorcerer knows him,” Moss explained.

Nicholas was shocked. “How?”

“Some other time. Right now we have work to do.”

Nicholas felt an imaginary lead weight in his stomach fall to the floor, pulling his spirit down with it. Not only was he doing something he dreaded, but he also felt that it was too invasive and that the sorcerer knew there was someone watching. Besides, the sorcerer’s castle was a very creepy place to be, even if you weren’t actually physically there. The atmosphere could be felt, and it was disturbing. Nicholas always had the impression that something was wrong – or about to go terribly wrong – when he was scrying there.

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