It was Tabby who got them all back on track. “Ignatius came back sometime last night. He opened a door or a portal or whatever right here in the living room.”
“He did?” Lois asked, standing up now.
“Did he find the Gnome? Any news about the music box?” Salem inched closer to the couch and leaned his elbows on the back of it.
Tabby shook her head, one hand settled on her chin, deep in thought. “No, no—”
“He was with a dark witch, or at least she looked dark. Didn’t give off the kind of vibe you two give off,” Claire said, pointing to Agnes and Lois. “But she was nice enough.”
“What else?” Agnes asked.
“Something about a dragon and a seaside town where the Gnome was at. They were going to rescue him and the townspeople from the dragon, and then hopefully unlock whatever secrets they need to get into that dead place…you know, where Duke was at,” Claire went on. “But that was the last time that we saw them. Anyway, who is this lady who kicked me? I’m—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Salem said, standing straighter and putting his arms up. “What did you say? A dragon?”
The girls nodded.
Oh, no, this is not good, Lois thought. Not many have faced a dragon and lived to talk about it.
“It was only last night,” Tabby said, but she saw, as did Claire, the pained, ashen expressions on the witches’ and wizard’s faces.
“One night here is much longer there,” Salem explained quietly. He turned to Lois. “I had thought that maybe he was taking his time and training Maria. I never knew about any dragon…”
“Yeah, something like a Rogue and Dragon Tongue,” Claire said, remembering.
“Oh, no,” Agnes said. “The Rogues have been gone for centuries. If the Dragon Tongue are back and plan to raise one…”
“They’ll raise them all,” Salem finished.
Lois put her wand back in her pocket, stretched her arms high above her head, and laced her fingers together. They cracked loudly.
“Did you hear what town, girls?” she asked.
“Ashland…or Ashtown?” Claire said. She furrowed her brow, trying to think.
“Ashbourne!” Tabby said. “It was Ashbourne. I remember because I thought they said Airborne, then I thought of dragons flying, airborne, but ash like fire, and—”
“Okay, Tab,” Claire said, “enough with the mnemonic devices.” She rolled her eyes. “She used to do this in high school. It was so annoying.”
“Well, her annoying tendencies may have just saved your friends’ lives,” Lois said. “Thank you both, and I’m sorry about kicking you in the ribs.”
“No problem,” Claire said, waving a hand.
Lois turned to Agnes and Salem. “You know what has to be done.”
They nodded gravely.
“It will not be an easy task,” Lois said. “Hardly ever is, and I wish I could come with you.”
"You can't?" Salem asked, disappointed.
"I can't," Lois answered. "But if you run in to trouble, you know how to reach me. I have duties to perform at the PDA, and a husband and a partner to get back to or they'll have my head."
Salem nodded. He understood. Agnes stepped forward and hugged Lois. Salem joined in, too.
“We’ll succeed because we are stronger together, Lois,” Agnes said, smiling somberly. "Don't you worry."
"Oh, I know you will," Lois replied. “Just like the old days.”
“Wait, you’re going after them?” Claire asked Salem, interrupting the farewells.
Salem, looking at her, nodded.
“Then we’re coming, too. Right, Tab?”
Tabby didn’t even hesitate. The run-in with the Arachnid was the furthest thing from her mind, though the pain was still present. “Yeah, count us in.”
They could tell by the set expressions on the girls’ faces that there was no denying these two Earthlings.
Ah, well, what better group to save the day then these four? Lois thought. It will all be okay. I'm here if they need me.
Chapter Fifteen
Maria opened her eyes to see a deep orange, flickering light bouncing through the cave’s exit. She didn’t know how long she’d been asleep, but it felt like more than an hour; her body was reinvigorated. She shot up from the rock, not even waking up the snoring Sherlock, who was sprawled out on his back, before rushing to her grandfather.
“Maria!” Gramps said. He did not look much better, but he was alive, and that was all that mattered.
She hugged him and laughed.
Sherlock perked up, rolling over. He rose like he had in the days of his youth and bounded over to Gramps and Frieda.
Oh, my GOD! I thought I was never gonna be able to listen to you snore again! What would I have done without you?
“He says he missed you and he’s glad you’re back,” Maria told her grandfather.
“I’m glad I’m back, too, Sherlock, and I’m glad you’re back. Never run off like that again, my dear friend,” Gramps answered.
I won’t! Never again, I promise. I just heard a Raffin growling, and a bunch of squirrels chittering all mockingly. I couldn’t help myself.
Maria didn’t have to tell Gramps what he said. She saw him read it in the Bloodhound’s eyes. “It was not an easy journey,” he said, turning to look at Maria.
“You’re telling me,” Maria said.
“We saw terrible things,” Freida took Gramps’s hand and squeezed.
“So did I,” Maria said. She wanted to tell them all about the Trials of Antenele, but knew it was not the time. There was a town possibly under siege by a dragon; people needed saving there, and from the world in between. Maybe when this was all said and done, she would speak of it—though she never wanted to relive that terrible experience.
“I’m just glad we are all right,” Gramps said. He brushed Maria’s hair away from her face, and then turned to walk down the mountain pass.
“Wait, Gramps, don’t you think you should rest up a bit?” Maria called after him.
He smiled and looked up at the towering white tree with its full red leaves. “I shall rest enough when I am dead. Come on, you three, we are not far.”
They went on.
By the time they cleared the mountain, Oriceran’s two moons were high
