Familiar Travels_In the World of the Federal Witch Read online

  Jeremiah had succeeded in getting Dora to move to a chair by the small kitchen table. Still continuing to talk to the frightened woman soothingly, he was busy making tea. TT felt a small surge of magic as he prepared the cup of tea. Watching closely, she noticed that when Dora held the steaming cup in her hands and inhaled its aroma that she immediately started to relax. The woman’s shaking sobs had quieted, and she just looked tired and worn out by life.

  Carefully watching her distress level, Jeremiah said, “Now that things have quieted down, how about if we sit down and figure out what’s going on. We can think about what we can, and choose, to do about the situation. Nothing needs to be in a rush, so let us allow our minds to work.”

  Turning toward the Familiars and the children, Jeremiah motioned for them to join the adults at the kitchen table. The elderly Witch seated himself and absentmindedly accepted the large alleycat onto his lap. The two small children shared the remaining chair, and TT chose to sit on the kitchen windowsill where she could see both the room and look out onto the street in front of the building if she chose.

  Jeremiah started out the discussion, saying, “I understand that you are in danger from a group that I don’t know anything about. I realize it may cause you some distress, but I need to know everything you can tell me about these people. That way I will be able to decide how to protect you and your children.”

  Dora raised her tear-streaked and flushed face to look at the older man. She was still obviously frightened, with a trembling mouth and white-rimmed eyes, but she spoke calmly in answer, “Brendan, my husband, was hired by a friend of my mother’s employer. My Brendan had some minor talents when it came to reading things. He could put his hand on something and know where it had been and who had handled it. He was studying to see if he could get his Magic Certificate so that he could take a job at one of the better shops that sell magical items. It was very difficult for us to pay our bills while he was going to school, especially with two children.” A small flash of sorrow traveled across her face and dried up her voice.

  Jeremiah made encouraging sounds, but Dora did not go on until the little girl slid off of her chair and put her arms comfortingly around her mother. Taking a couple of deep breaths, Dora continued.

  “Brendan only worked for them for a couple of days when he came home saying that he was planning on quitting. He wouldn’t tell me why, but he looked exhausted. It was as if somebody had sucked all the energy out of him, leaving him shaky and sickly. I thought he was coming down with something, so I made him sleep on a bed on the floor.” Tears started to drift down her face again, in silent witness to regrets of actions passed.

  After a moment, she continued, “He would not tell me what it was all about and when I pushed, he got angry with me. The first time in our whole married life that he became angry with any of us. It frightened me, and the kids were crying.”

  Jeremiah asked, “Do you remember the name of his employer?”

  “Grunwald, Henri Grunwald.”

  TT could tell from Jeremiah’s expression that the name was not unknown to him. However, the elderly Witch did not interrupt Dora’s painful recounting of events. Instead, he made a hand gesture, inviting her to continue.

  “Brendan left for work the next morning but did not come home on time. It got later and later, and I was getting very worried. Finally, there was a knock on the door. When I answered it, it was a messenger in the Grunwald livery with a note. The note was from my husband’s boss saying that Brendan was delayed at work and might be very late. That I was not to worry.”

  There was a pause as Dora obviously struggled to remember things. Jeremiah waited patiently for her to collect her thoughts and was rewarded when she continued, “Brendan did not return that night or the next. By then, I was frantically worried. I was ready to go to the police when another messenger in livery brought me a note that was signed by my husband. It said that to complete the magic working that they were attempting, he was going to have to be absent for a while and that he had asked for his boss to deliver his pay to me directly. He assured me everything was well and that I was not to worry.”

  Dora had a strange expression on her face, and Jeremiah picked up on it immediately. He asked, “Why did this make you uncomfortable? Was there something in the note that worried you?”

  “Yes. Brendan and I promised when we first got married to never tell each other that there was no reason to worry. He always said that when you told someone that there was no reason to worry that it meant just the opposite. It was a way of saying that there was great danger and you should be worrying and planning an escape.”

  Chapter 11 – Arrangements

  It’d taken a while, but eventually, Jeremiah had gotten Dora’s fears calmed, and the situation sorted out. It appeared that Brendan’s boss was a known practitioner of “shaky” witchcraft. The distaste on Jeremiah’s face when he said that concerned TT considerably.

  Rather than tell Dora that her fears were unreasonable, Jeremiah seemed to share them. Looking around the small apartment, the older man asked the woman, “Is there anything in here that is irreplaceable?”

  Looking startled, the woman responded, “I don’t think so. My children, of course, but we didn’t have that many belongings.”

  “Good. I suggest that you go and quickly pack up the items that you want to take with you. When we are ready to go, I can cast concealment on two of you and disguise one of the children as the lad that frequently helps me carry things when I go shopping.”

  TT interjected, asking, << What is it that you fear? >>

  Jeremiah answered slowly,<>

  Dora rose to her feet with determination. Taking a deep breath, she stated in a firm voice, “Then, we had better go gather belongings. I don’t know where you’re going to take us or what is going to happen to us, but what choices do we have? I don’t believe that Brendan is able to help us right now and I need to protect the children.”

  Gathering the two children to her, she headed off with the rapid stride, issuing low-toned instructions to the youngsters as she walked.

  Once Dora and the children were out of the room, Jeremiah looked at the two Familiars. << I fear that we are in for a confrontation. My foresight is bringing the images of a possible battle, one which I may win but might also send me into the arms of death.>>

  A raw sound of protest was ripped out of Davin’s throat, but before he could continue Jeremiah silenced him with a gentle hand. << Keep quiet, dear one. That is not the choice I am making now, so we need to use subterfuge and illusion to supplement the frailties of my older body. >>

  TT interrupted, << I am very sorry, but I’m confused. I don’t understand what is going on. I would normally leave it alone for now, but I think somehow it’s important for me to know. >>

  << I concur little one. It sounds like this Henry is draining low-level magic users in an attempt to do a large working. He has repeatedly tried to gain a Familiar and has never been able to successfully bond with one. Instead, there have been rumors of magically-talented people that have disappeared around him for a long time. Unfortunately, no one in the magical community could prove anything. If he is friends with the Lady Rosemary, that would explain how he’s managed to go unpunished and unchecked for this amount of time. >>

  << Does this sort of thing happen frequently? I’ve never heard of magic users that sucked each other dry. >>

  Davin answered before his Witch could, saying << It is a danger to both magic users and Familiars. There are always people that are trying to be successful by stealing wealth, livelihood, and even the energy of life from others. They think it will make them more powerful or get them powerful sooner. >>

  << That’s barbaric! It’s an affront to magic and lacks even basic decency! >>

  << I
know. Every magical practitioner must do what they can to stop it. However, that is an ethical position for general thoughts, and we are faced with a specific problem. We have to take an assessment of our forces right now. On their side, they have a powerful French nobleman with probably hundreds of guards, footmen, and other lackeys. On our side, we have two Familiars, two children under the age of 10, a non-magical female human, and an elderly Witch. >>

  Refusing to be discouraged by Davin summary, TT responded, << Okay. I get that we have them outgunned, so what’s your strategy? >>

  Surprised into uttering a strange sound that sounded like a cross between a hiccup and a chirp, Davin immediately started to attack a leg in desperate need of grooming as his Witch laughed out loud in delight.

  <<<>>>

  While Dora and the children finished packing, Jeremiah and the two Familiars came up with a general plan. As soon as Maddie had finished helping her mother pack, Jeremiah cast a spell on her that would change her appearance to the image of the young lad that frequently helped carry Jeremiah’s packages. In this case, Maddie’s greater height fit better into the persona that she would wear during their evacuation of the apartment than her smaller brother.

  The old man thought that it would be too risky to try to conceal Phil under the curtain of someone else’s spell. His early ability to mentally communicate with the Familiars was an indication of both his emerging power and the sporadic nature of it. If his magic were to flareup while they were within sight of the Grunwald people, any hope that they had of escaping under the veil of illusion would be gone.

  Instead, Phil and his mother, Dora, would be concealed under a tight vision and magical containment shield. Hopefully, that would keep any possible enemy from detecting the turbulent magic field that was developing around Phil.

  Jeremiah explained to the Familiars that the spells needed to be subtle and difficult to detect. <>

  As Jeremiah started to work on the illusion that would cloak Maddie, Davin quietly told TT, <>

  <> was TT’s response.

  The premonition of doom and sense of urgency that was pushing the old Witch was intensifying. TT could tell by the tenseness of his shoulders and the way that he asked Dora if there was anything they could do to help speed things up. When the woman had responded that they would be done in just five minutes, the Persian saw some of the tension leaving the old man’s shoulders.

  Concealing her amusement, TT turned to look out the window. She could hear the final preparations for departure being made behind her but knew that she had nothing to add. Watching the traffic on the street below her idly, the Persian cat noticed a pattern that started to disturb her.

  Cats are predators, and they stalk and toy with their prey. The small groups of strange men that were appearing in the street below reminded her of group hunts, where some of the hunters were visible while others were hiding in the shadows. The fur on the back of her neck raised and she could feel her tail twitch in a prelude to action pattern.

  << Jeremiah, I think we have a problem. There are men that are similarly dressed starting to show up on the street below, and none of them are looking each other. The pattern is too weird to be sure, but I think time just ran out. >>

  Davin jumped up on the windowsill next to the smaller cat. Glancing outside, the experienced feline fighter immediately reinforced TT’s suspicions, << Jeremiah! They’re closing in, and we have to leave right now. I mean, right now! >>

  The elderly Witch glanced once at his Familiar in surprise and immediately turned toward Dora and Phil. “Hold still for just a moment,” he commanded. There was a small flash, and the mother and son disappeared. Mattie was already disguised with the seeming of the little errand boy, but TT heard her sharply indrawn breath when her mother and brother became invisible.

  Handing one of the bags the belongings to the disguised little girl, Jeremiah threw another spell on the bag. It now looked like a bag of books stuffed randomly with the spoils of other shopping. Keeping up a low-voiced encouragement, Jeremiah shepherded the group, both visible and invisible, out of the apartment and into the hallway. Pausing just a moment to cast a spell back into the apartment, he and Davin got them down the stairs. TT heard the door behind them close and wondered what made that happen. Not wanting to distract anyone, she resolved to hold that question for later. That would be a useful spell.

  Instead of heading directly for the front door, Jeremiah directed them into a side hall that ran parallel to the street in front of the building. Moving down that hallway for about 50 feet, he stopped in front of what was obviously the end of the hall and the side of the building.

  << What happens now, Davin? >> TT asked.

  << Shush! This is more spellcasting than he normally does in a week. He’s going to try to teleport us all out to the building’s side so we can look like we came from a different direction. Now be quiet so we can concentrate! >>

  TT wisely stayed quiet.

  There was once again that sparkly feel to the air as Jeremiah’s magic quietly and subtly created a tunnel through the side of the building and out into a deserted alleyway. Quickly moving through the temporary portal, TT was not surprised to feel the spell come down abruptly. When she didn’t hear Jeremiah’s voice immediately, she looked back in concern but was partially reassured when she saw that the elderly Witch had leaned against the wall of the building and was petting his Familiar. Davin had jumped up on a broken crate that was sitting in the alley so that his Witch didn’t even have to bend over to touch him.

  The small Persian could feel the waves of energy that Davin pushed toward his Witch. She could also sense the edges of the love and respect that flowed between the two of them. That is how it is supposed to be, thought TT. I hope that I can learn to do that someday.

  Sneaking toward the mouth of the alley, TT risked a quick peek around the corner. She was surprised to see that Jeremiah had moved them not just outside the wall of the apartment building but a full block away. Realizing that this would help to further misdirect any suspicion, the Persian cat was even more impressed with the forethought and strategic approach of the old hedge Witch and his Familiar.

  Jeremiah’s voice directly behind her startled TT. “Okay, everyone, listen up. Those of us that are visible are going to proceed as if coming back from shopping. The two invisible humans should stay between Davin and me. People normally don’t mess with the Familiar, mostly because he looks mean when he wants to. In this way, you’ll be protected from accidental bumps. TT, unfortunately, we are going have to do something about your appearance. I’m either going to have to carry you or we are going to have to disguise your coat.”

  TT immediately responded, << Conceal my coat as you need. Vanity was the first sacrifice I made, but it will probably not be the last.

  The small Persian felt a brief, amused chuckle in her head from Davin as Jeremiah quickly transformed her look to that of a calico. It was an easy concealment because her once plush coat was more straggly now, and the texture matched “alleycat” more than “pampered Persian.” Also, it helped that color changes were easier than shape alterations. TT didn’t want to wear Jeremiah out any more than this whole effort was already doing. She was just profoundly grateful that he was there to help.

  Looking down at her own leg, she was startled by the different coloring but thought it was strangely attractive. Holding her tail at a jaunty angle and trying to pretend that she was a hale and hearty little cat, TT trotted alongside Jeremiah as he proceeded down the road. The old man adopted a semi-absent-minded manner and begin to talk to the urchin beside him. His constant chatter was a clever concealment of communication and misdirection.

 
Coming closer to the group gathering in front of the apartment, TT could feel the tension in her body rising as her breathing increased and the carefree illusion became harder to maintain. Blessed with a Familiar’s enhanced hearing, TT was conscious of the comments that spread out from their passage like ripples on the water.

  “… Batty old man but harmless.”

  “I’ve seen them all over town with that little kid carrying all sorts of bags and boxes. There’s nothing to worry about, he would not notice anything even if we explained it to him.”

  “We are waiting for the boss. He wants to make sure those kids don’t escape because he needs them…”

  TT was glad that Dora had not heard the last comment. Although the woman had kept her hysteria under control, the Persian cat did not know how she could have heard that comment and not reacted.

  Walking past the group and hearing the comments was only one side of the stress that pounded fear and uncertainty into TT’s bones. With her heart in her mouth, the Persian found that she was holding her breath as they walked past the gathering thugs.

  But no one stopped them. The waiting men didn’t even bother to accost the old man in his shopping and wandering. Slowly, ever so slowly the partially-concealed party made it past the building front and further along the street by another half a block.

  Shouting and increased movement signaled the approach of an opulent automobile. The car was a low-slung, chauffeur-driven roadster with a tasteful coat of arms painted on its sides. Coming to a stop, the chauffeur quickly scrambled out to open the door for an impressively-dressed nobleman.

  TT gasped in astonishment. She recognized that man. He was one of the people that had attended intimate parties with her Witch. Her former Witch, she corrected herself. She had never liked him and now was more worried than ever about the children’s father. If this man had any control over Brendan, the chances of his survival were not high.