Zealots and Zeniths by S. Usher Evans

Author:S. Usher Evans
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sun's Golden Ray Publishing

Chapter Thirteen

"Well, what the heck is it?"

In virtually no time at all, every citizen of Pigsend had come out onto the street, gazing at these strange glowing balls that had appeared out of nowhere. The younger children giggled as they chased the orbs as if they were common bubbles, and the older folk scratched their heads and pointed at them.

Sheriff Rustin had been summoned, not by Bev, but by the confused shrieks coming from the other citizens of Pigsend. The sheriff, who'd been suspiciously absent since Zed had come to town, poked at one of the glowing balls with his finger. It shimmied as if amused and bounced away.

"I've never seen anything like this before in my life," Earl said, holding his hands out to catch one of the balls. It landed softly then bounced away.

"Where's Bardoff when you need him?" Etheldra drawled with more than a little sarcasm.

"He's off studying in Queen's Capital," Bev said. Biscuit was by her side, awoken from his crumble-induced nap, and sniffed the air as if it were filled with freshly cooked bacon. His tail wagged so fast it almost disappeared. Definitely magical.

Allen came to join her, watching the bouncing balls with glee. "What a solstice, eh? Has anyone figured out what these are?"

Bev turned back toward the Weary Dragon, wondering why her long-term guests hadn't yet come out to see the excitement. Was it because they knew what was happening?

"Calm down, calm down." Zed strode down the street, his shiny boots reflecting the bright orbs. "Everyone go back to your houses. We'll be sure to handle this."

"What is this?" Allen asked, clearly the only one in town who could talk back to someone like Zed.

Zed turned to his son, who Bev wasn't sure he'd actually seen since he'd been back, and cleared his throat. "Nothing to concern yourselves with. We'll clean all this up. You'll be able to return to your evening activities in no time. But we will need you to clear out so we can work."

"How are you going to work if you don't have your potions?" Bev asked.

Zed glared at her, and a blush rose to her cheeks. She probably shouldn't have volunteered that information, but it had come out before she could stop it.

"I'm well-versed in how to undo magic," he said.

"I'm sure you are." Andres stood off to the side with Vellora, the latter staring at the orbs with a wondrous smile. Andres, on the other hand, had his stone-cold stare fixed on Zed. "How are we to be sure you aren't the cause of this?"

"And why would we cause this?" Zed asked.

Andres lifted a shoulder. "Since you won't tell the townspeople what this is, what's to stop them from guessing that you're responsible?"

Bev squinted at him. It certainly sounded like he was stirring the pot. And if he was hoping to avoid suspicion that he was in town to cause the queen's people trouble, he wasn't succeeding.

"I'll tell you what they are," Max said, his old voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

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