Septimus Heap, Book Six_ Darke - Angie Sage [87]
Marcellus looked shocked, but he quickly recovered himself. “You must leave the Code to its fate. You must go back to the Wizard Tower.” His voice shook with urgency. “You must not lose that too.”
“I shall lose neither.” Marcia flared angrily. “Just watch me.”
Marcellus and Marcia were now more than halfway down Wizard Way. Only a hundred yards or so in front of them, the wall of Darke Fog rolled slowly toward them. At the base of the Fog a line of Things stretched out, shifting and blending in with the Darke, loping slowly forward, pulling the Darke Domaine with them.
Merrin was heading erratically for the Fog. Spinning around to check that Marcia and Marcellus were still watching him, flashing rude signs, screaming obscenities, he drew ever closer to his Darke Domaine.
Marcia focused hard on Merrin, gauging the distance. Muttering the words for a Fast Freeze, she raised her arm and a streak of ice-blue light left her hand and arced into the air. It landed with a brilliant white flash in the middle of Merrin’s back. He staggered forward and gave a loud cry.
“Good shot,” muttered Marcellus.
Marcia grimaced. She had never before performed Magyk behind someone’s back. It was considered the lowest form of Magyk, but now was not the time for such refinements. She had held back from Freezing Merrin, assuming she would get him to the Wizard Tower and deal with things there. Freezing someone was dangerous and not to be undertaken lightly. But now, with the lives of everyone in the Castle at stake, Merrin’s safety was no longer a consideration.
Slowly Merrin turned around. Outlined in a blue-white crackle of the Freeze trying to take, he shivered and shook as though caught in an icy blast—but he did not Freeze. He stared at Marcia for some seconds, as though his brain had slowed and he was trying to work out what had happened. Marcia returned the stare, waiting impatiently for the Magyk to take effect. In the frost of the spell, Merrin shone out against the Darke Fog, but slowly he began to shine a little less. Horrified, Marcia saw the icy brilliance fade and Merrin shake himself, throwing off the Freeze like a dog throwing off water.
Marcia’s Magyk had failed. It was then that she really understood what she was up against.
Marcellus stepped up beside her. “You must go now,” he said quietly.
“Yes. I know,” Marcia said, but she did not move.
Merrin was ecstatic—he had defeated the ExtraOrdinary Wizard. High on success, he turned to the line of Things and yelled, “Get her!”
Marcellus saw three Things step forward as one. He saw them take another step and that was all he waited to see. He grabbed Marcia’s hand and ran, dragging her up Wizard Way, not daring to look behind. Breathless, they reached the Manuscriptorium, where Jillie Djinn was patiently, vacantly, waiting.
Marcia recovered her senses. She wheeled around to see how far away the Things were and saw to her great relief that they had barely moved. An encroaching Darke Domaine takes a lot of energy, and the Things were slow and ponderous. Knowing that it could do no more than cause a brief delay, Marcia threw an emergency Barrier across Wizard Way, then with the Chief Hermetic Scribe sleepwalking between them, she and Marcellus set off toward the Wizard Tower.
At the Great Arch an extremely anxious Hildegarde was hovering, waiting for Marcia’s return.
“Madam Marcia! Oh, thank goodness you are here!”
Marcia wasted no time. “Is Septimus back?” she asked.
“No.” Hildegarde sounded worried. “We thought he was with you.”
“I feared as much.” Marcia turned to Marcellus and laid her hand on his arm. “Marcellus. Please, will you find Septimus for me? And keep him safe?”
“Marcia, that is why I came to the Manuscriptorium. I am looking for him. I will not stop until I find him—I promise you.”
Marcia gave Marcellus a strained smile. “Thank you. You know I trust you, don’t you?”
“Well, I never thought I’d hear you say that,” said Marcellus. “Things must be bad.”
“They are,” said Marcia. “Marcellus, if . . . if anything happens, I give you