Septimus Heap, Book One_ Magyk - Angie Sage [96]
“How’s Marcia today?” Silas whispered.
“She’s been better,” said Alther grimly.
“I really think we should let Zelda know,” said Silas.
“Take my advice, Silas, and don’t go near that Rat Office. It’s been taken over by DomDaniel’s rats from the Badlands. Vicious bunch of thugs. Don’t worry now, I’ll think of something,” said Alther. “There must be a way to get her out.”
Silas looked dejected. He missed Marcia more than he liked to admit.
“Cheer up, Silas,” said Alther. “I’ve got someone waiting for you in the tavern. Found him wandering around the Courthouse on my way back from Marcia. Smuggled him out through the tunnel. Better hurry up before he changes his mind and goes off again. He’s a tricky one, your Simon.”
“Simon!” Silas broke into a broad smile. “Alther, why didn’t you say? Is he all right?”
“Looks all right,” said Alther tersely.
Simon had spent nearly two weeks back with his family when, on the day before the full moon, Aunt Zelda stood on the cottage doorstep Listening to something far away.
“Boys, boys, not now,” she said to Nicko and Boy 412, who were having a duel with some spare broom handles. “I need to concentrate.”
Nicko and Boy 412 suspended their fight while Aunt Zelda became very still and her eyes took on a faraway look.
“Someone’s coming,” she said after a while. “I’m sending Boggart out.”
“At last!” said Jenna. “I wonder if it’s Dad or Marcia. Maybe Simon’s with them? Or Mum? Maybe it’s everyone!”
Maxie jumped up and bounded over to Jenna, his tail wagging madly. Sometimes Maxie seemed to understand exactly what Jenna was saying. Except when it was something like “Bath time, Maxie!” or “No more biscuits, Maxie!”
“Calm down, Maxie,” said Aunt Zelda, rubbing the wolfhound’s silky ears. “The trouble is it doesn’t feel like anyone I know.”
“Oh,” said Jenna, “but who else knows we’re here?”
“I don’t know,” replied Aunt Zelda. “But whoever it is, they’re in the marshes now. Just arrived. I can feel it. Go and lie down, Maxie. Good boy. Now, where’s that Boggart?”
Aunt Zelda gave a piercing whistle. The squat brown figure climbed out of the Mott and waddled up the path to the cottage.
“Not so loud,” he complained, rubbing his small round ears. “Goes right through me that does.” He nodded to Jenna. “Evenin’, miss.”
“Hello, Boggart.” Jenna smiled. The Boggart always made her smile.
“Boggart,” said Aunt Zelda, “there’s someone coming through the marshes. More than one perhaps. I’m not sure. Can you just nip off and find out who it is?”
“No trouble. Could do with a swim. Won’t be long,” said the Boggart. Jenna watched him waddle off down to the Mott and disappear into the water with a quiet splash.
“While we’re waiting for Boggart we should get the Preserve Pots ready,” said Aunt Zelda. “Just in case.”
“But Dad said you made the cottage Enchanted after the Brownie raid,” said Jenna. “Doesn’t that mean we’re safe?”
“Only against Brownies,” said Aunt Zelda, “and even that’s wearing off by now. Anyway, whoever is coming across the marsh feels a lot bigger than a Brownie to me.”
Aunt Zelda went to find the Shield Bug Preserves spell book.
Jenna looked at the Preserve Pots, which were still lined up on the windowsills. Inside the thick green gloop the Shield Bugs were waiting. Most were sleeping, but some were slowly moving about as if they knew they might be needed. For who? wondered Jenna. Or what?
“Here we are,” said Aunt Zelda as she appeared with the spell book and thumped it down on the table. She opened it at the first page and took out a small silver hammer, which she handed to Jenna.
“Right, here’s the Activate,” she said to her. “If you could just go round and tap each Pot with this, then they’ll be Ready.”
Jenna took the silver hammer and walked along the lines of Pots, tapping on every lid. As she did so, each Pot’s inhabitant woke up and snapped to attention. Before long there was an army of fifty-six Shield Bugs waiting to be released. Jenna reached the last Pot, which contained the ex-millipede.