Septimus Heap, Book One_ Magyk - Angie Sage [141]
She opened the book to check that the spell had worked. Marcia was pleased to see that the first and last pages of the book were bright red, exactly the same color as Boy 412’s hat. Written on the first page were the words: APPRENTICE DIARY.
“There,” said Marcia, closing the book with a satisfying thump and turning the silver key in the lock. “It looks good, doesn’t it?”
“Yes,” said Boy 412, bemused. Why was she asking him?
Marcia looked Boy 412 in the eye.
“Now,” she said, “I have something to return to you—your ring. Thank you. I will always remember what you did for me.”
Marcia took the ring from a pocket in her belt and placed it carefully on the desk. Just seeing the gold dragon ring curled on the desk with its tail clasped in its mouth and its emerald eyes shining at him made Boy 412 feel very happy. But for some reason he hesitated to pick it up. He could tell there was something else that Marcia was about to say. And there was.
“Where did you get the ring?”
Immediately Boy 412 felt guilty. So he had done something wrong. That’s what it was all about.
“I—I found it.”
“Where?”
“I fell down into the tunnel. You know, the one that went to the Dragon Boat. Only I didn’t know that then. It was dark. I couldn’t see. And then I found the ring.”
“Did you put the ring on?”
“Well, yes.”
“And then what happened?”
“It—it lit up. So I could see where I was.”
“And did it fit you?”
“No. Well, not at first. And then it did. It got smaller.”
“Ah. I don’t suppose it sang you a song, did it?”
Boy 412 had been staring intently at his feet up until then. But he glanced up at Marcia and caught a smile in her eyes. Was she making fun of him?
“Yes. As it happens, it did.”
Marcia was thinking. She said nothing for so long that Boy 412 felt he had to speak.
“Are you cross with me?”
“Why should I be cross with you?” she replied.
“Because I took the ring. It belongs to the dragon, doesn’t it?”
“No, it belongs to the Dragon Master.” Marcia smiled.
Boy 412 was worried now. Who was the Dragon Master? Would he be angry? Was he very big? What would he do to him when he found out he had his ring?
“Could you…” he asked hesitantly, “could you give it back to the Dragon Master? And tell him I’m sorry I took it?” He pushed the ring back across the desk toward Marcia.
“Very well,” she said solemnly, picking the ring up. “I’ll give it back to the Dragon Master.”
Boy 412 sighed. He had loved the ring, and just being close to it had made him feel happy, but he wasn’t surprised to hear that it belonged to someone else. It was too beautiful for him.
Marcia looked at the Dragon Ring for a few moments. Then she held it out to Boy 412.
“Here”—she smiled—“is your ring.”
Boy 412 stared at her, uncomprehending.
“You are the Dragon Master,” said Marcia. “It is your ring. Oh, yes, and the person who took it says to tell you he’s sorry.”
Boy 412 was speechless. He stared at the ring lying in his hand. It was his.
“You are the Dragon Master,” repeated Marcia, “because the ring chose you. It doesn’t sing for just anyone, you know. And it was your finger it chose to fit, not mine.”
“Why?” breathed Boy 412. “Why me?”
“You have astonishing Magykal power. I told you before. Maybe now you’ll believe me.” She smiled.
“I—I thought the power came from the ring.”
“No. It comes from you. Don’t forget, the Dragon Boat recognized you even without the ring. She knew. Remember, it was last worn by Hotep-Ra, the first ExtraOrdinary Wizard. It’s been waiting a long time to find someone like him.”
“But that’s because it’s been stuck in a secret tunnel for hundreds of years.”
“Not necessarily,” said Marcia mysteriously. “Things have a habit of working