“Ooh,” Gelbus said, his ears perking up almost like Sherlock’s sometimes did. Maria thought maybe they were spending too much time together, and smiled. “We can ask the Light Elves. I may not have much clout with the Gnomes in the library anymore, but your grandfather was quite close to E’olin.”
She nodded. She remembered the two of them bantering back and forth. If she could convince just a few of the Light Elves to join with them, they’d be much better off than they were before.
“I’ll go to them,” Maria said. “Sherlock and Gelbus can come with me. Frieda, do you think you’re up for asking the rest of your tribe for help?”
Frieda’s face blanched. “I don’t know, Maria… The dark witches are not ones for battle.”
“Even when it’s against a common enemy?”
“I cannot say for sure. I suppose I can try, but if they say no, you can still count me in. I will do it for you and those lost in the world in between, and, of course, Ignatius.”
Maria beamed. The one arm she had draped around Frieda’s shoulder was joined by the other, and Maria wrapped her up in a hug.
When they parted, Maria asked, “Is there anyone else who would join us?”
Gelbus and Frieda looked like they were thinking deeply, while Sherlock followed a bobbing mote of light that was undoubtedly some odd kind of firefly. When it got close to his mouth, he snapped at it, missed, and his jaws clicked together.
Of course, there was one answer to who they could bring to the battle as an ally, but it was so obvious that they’d overlooked it. The elephant in the room had become the Rogue Dragon in the room, and it wasn’t Maria, Gelbus, or Frieda who brought the idea of the dragon up.
I hate to say this, Sherlock said, as he snapped at the firefly again, but what about that dragon? I’ll admit, the beast scared the crap out of me—but Ogarlic, or whatever, could help us.
“Odarth,” Maria whispered, both realizing her oversight and correcting Sherlock.
“Odarth,” the others said, a tinge of fear in their voices.
“Leave the dragon up to me,” Maria said. “We’ll split up and meet back in this very clearing. Hopefully with a larger army.”
“Split up?” Gelbus asked. “You know we can’t open portals, Maria.”
Frieda grinned. “She is more powerful than even she realizes. She’ll send us on our way, and we’ll find our own way back.”
“You sure?” Maria asked.
“Yes. The head witch of our tribe has the ability to open portals, as do others, though I’ve never learned the magic.”
Maria nodded. She was sure she could open portals for them. It seemed like an easy feat to do whenever she wanted, now that she’d already managed once. It was a good feeling.
“Gelbus. Do you think E’olin will open a portal for you?” she asked.
“I think E’olin would do anything, if it’s for Ignatius Mangood’s family,” Gelbus replied. His face was serious; there wasn’t a touch of a smile on his features.
“Okay,” Maria said, “then it’s settled. Are you all ready?”
They nodded. Sherlock raised his front leg and Maria shook his paw.
Maria closed her eyes and focused on the magic that was so prominent on Oriceran. She was about to try to open two portals at once, when she heard the crackle of a portal she had not opened herself.
Maria’s eyes snapped open, and there, amid a ring of gold sparks, stood her two best friends. A mix of elation and sadness settled in her stomach. Elation because she was always happy to see Tabby and Claire, but sadness because, as much as she knew they wanted to help, this entire forest oozed danger. Seeming prepared for said danger, her best friends carried three swords that they’d taken from Ashbourne, looking like true warriors.
“Tabby! Claire! What the hell are you guys doing here?” Maria asked. Before the portal they’d come through closed, she caught a glimpse of Salem’s house. “Agnes?”
Claire grinned sheepishly before she realized Sherlock was lapping at her hand, covering her fingers in a sheen of slimy dog drool. “Yuck, Sherlock! Quit it!”
Better tell her to get used to that if she and I are still going to Dog Prom.
“I’m not telling her that,” Maria replied. She turned back to Claire and Tabby. “I—uh, I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting you guys.”
“You think we’d let you have all the fun while we’re stuck in Ohio?” Tabby asked. “No way.”
“Yeah, you’re not getting off that easy,” Claire added.
“But why three swords?” Maria wanted to know.
Suddenly another portal opened, spraying gold and lighting up all of their faces.
Oh, no, who could that be? She put one hand on the hilt of her sword while the other found the bag containing the music box. If the war started early, she was okay with that. She was ready for a fight.
The young man landed on the grass, heaving, his face sweaty and pale.
“For him,” Claire answered, pointing a thumb in the direction of the new arrival.
“Joe?” Maria said, breathless.
She rushed to Joe’s side and put her hand on his arm, feeling the sweat and the coolness of his skin, to make sure he was real. He looked up at her, blinking when she touched him.
“Oh, yeah,” Tabby said. “He insisted.”
“Yeah, used his police interrogation skills on us,” Claire said with a frown.
Joe laughed, then looked as if he was trying to hold down vomit. “It’s hardly interrogation when you spill the secret the second time you’re asked.”
“Nicely; you asked nicely the second time,” Tabby corrected.
“Exactly. Nicely,” Joe said. He tried to stand up, but he hadn’t gotten his portal legs under him yet, and Maria had to stop him from falling over. “Thank you,” he said.
Maria smiled and pulled him close. She was glad to have him in her arms again; glad to be in his, too.
“Well, that certainly beats Greyhound, but I’d still take flying coach next to a couple of people who are
