Winter of the Ice Wizard - Mary Pope Osborne [5]
“What do you want us to find?” asked Annie.
The Ice Wizard grabbed the black patch covering his left eye. He yanked it off, revealing a dark, empty socket underneath.
“Yikes,” Annie said softly.
“I want you to find my eye,” the Ice Wizard said.
“Oh, man,” said Jack. He was horrified.
“Are—are you quite serious?” said Teddy. “You want them to find your eye?”
The wizard covered his empty eye socket with the patch again. “Yes,” he said. “I want Jack and Annie to find my eye—and bring it back to me.”
“But—why?” said Jack. “Even if we found it, we couldn’t make it work. We’re not medical experts or anything.”
“And anyway, why can’t you get your eye yourself?” said Annie. “You’re a wizard!”
“DO NOT QUESTION MY ORDERS!” the wizard roared at her.
“Hey, don’t yell at my sister!” said Jack.
The wizard raised a bushy eyebrow. “You are brother and sister?” he said.
“Yes,” said Jack.
The wizard nodded slowly. His voice grew softer. “And you protect your sister,” he said.
“We protect each other,” said Jack.
“I see,” whispered the wizard. Then his voice turned gruff again. “Long ago, I traded my eye for something I wanted very much. But I never got what I wanted. So now I want my eye back.”
“Who did you trade with?” asked Annie.
“The Fates!” said the wizard. “I traded with the Fates! But they cheated me! And that is why I sent for you and Jack. You must go to the Fates and find my eye, and you must go alone.”
“Why alone?” asked Jack.
“Because only mortals can undo a bargain with the Fates,” said the Ice Wizard, “not wizards like me—nor seal girls, nor the sons of sorcerers, like your two friends.”
“But Jack and I succeeded in our other missions because Teddy and Kathleen or Morgan and Merlin helped us,” said Annie.
“What kind of help did they give you?” said the wizard.
“Well, mostly magic rhymes and riddles,” said Annie.
“Ah. Then I shall do the same,” said the wizard. He thought for a moment, then leaned forward on his throne. In a growly voice, he said:
Take my sleigh
And find your way
To the House of the Norns
In the curve of the bay.
Pay them whatever
They tell you to pay.
And bring back my eye
By break of day.
The wizard reached into the folds of his ragged robe and pulled out a thick string with a row of knots. “This wind-string will speed you on your journey,” he said. He tossed the string to Jack.
What’s a wind-string? Jack wondered. And who are the Norns?
Before Jack could ask any questions, the Ice Wizard pointed at him. “Now listen carefully to this warning,” he said. “Beware the white wolves of the night. They may follow you on your quest. Never let them catch up with you. If they catch you, they will eat you!”
Jack felt a chill run down his spine.
The Ice Wizard picked up a carved wooden stick from the floor beside his throne. Its smooth, polished wood glowed in the moonlight.
Teddy gasped. “ ’Tis Merlin’s Staff of Strength!” he said.
“Indeed,” said the wizard. He turned to Jack and Annie. “Go now and find my eye,” he said. “Or you will never see Merlin and Morgan le Fay again.”
“What have you done with them?” cried Annie.
The wizard stared at her coldly. “I will not tell you,” he said. “You will see them again only if you return my eye before the break of day.”
“But—” said Annie.
“No more questions!” said the wizard. “Be on your way!” Before any of them could speak, the Ice Wizard slashed the air with Merlin’s Staff of Strength and shouted a spell—“OW-NIGH!”
A flash of blue fire shot from the end of the staff. In an instant, Jack, Annie, Teddy, and Kathleen found themselves outside the palace in the freezing night.
Jack sat on the frozen ground. Annie, Teddy, and Kathleen sat nearby. They were all too shocked to speak. The night was quiet. Overhead the full moon shined brightly, and a few cold stars twinkled in the clear sky.
Finally Annie broke the silence.