Vega Jane and the End of Time by David Baldacci

Author:David Baldacci [Baldacci, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Macmillan

27

A STRANGER IN OUR MIDST

I used a variation of the same series of spells that I had employed to provide wands to all the formerly enslaved in Greater True and then transport them to Empyrean. I sent a wand wire ahead so that the others would be expecting us.

As I began to incant, I saw John looking at me curiously. When I reached the peak power of the spell, a huge dome of blue light descended upon all those who had fled there. I connected this dome to my golden tether, which I had reattached to Delph, Petra and Seamus. Finally, I uttered, ‘Pass-pusay,’ and tapped my wand against my leg.

The next moment we were all standing in the front lawn of Empyrean.

‘Quickly now,’ I said. ‘Inside.’

The door opened and everyone, people and creatures and those in between, like the hobs, were herded inside.

Inside, I left Pillsbury and Delph in charge, and took

John up the staircase.

‘Where are we going?’ he said, resisting a bit.

‘You’ll see,’ I replied.

I threw open the door to the room and pulled John in behind me.

Our mother looked up from the book she was reading, while our father lay swaddled on the bed.

The book fell from her hands as she stood, rushed across the room and embraced her only son.

‘John, John,’ she said, weeping.

I stepped aside and took it all in.

John patted her on the back, and I could see his features soften.

She stepped back to look at him.

‘My, you’ve grown so tall. Just like your father.’

John looked over at the bed, and his features turned to dismay.

‘That . . . that is Father?’

Mother nodded.

‘Vega told me he has been injured but that a cure is being worked upon.’

‘That is so, John. And we all pray that it will work.’

John looked at me. ‘Who is working on the cure? You?’

I shook my head. ‘Astrea Prine. The former Keeper of the Quag. Astrea is a very powerful sorceress. She is concocting the incantation, but she says that Mum has to actually perform it.’

‘This Astrea Prine did not stop the Maladons from destroying the Quag and Wormwood,’ John pointed out.

I could not argue with that, and I didn’t. ‘She is still the best chance we have to bring Dad back.’

John drew close to the bed and looked down, his expression more curious than concerned. ‘What happened to him, precisely?’

‘A confluence of two spells that struck each other before impacting him. That was why the result was so unforeseen.’

To my surprise John nodded. ‘I have read of this.’

‘You have? Where?’

‘In books provided to me by Morrigone.’

‘Her spirit is here, as I told you. She will be happy to see you, I expect.’

John showed absolutely no interest.

‘You have not even told me how you found him, Vega,’ said our mother.

I explained in a very few words. ‘We were lucky,’ I said. ‘He more found me than I found him.’

‘But you kept your promise. You brought him back to us.’

‘I should like to meet with this Astrea Prine,’ said John.

‘Follow me,’ I said.

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