Chapter 11: Wizard’s Winter

The next morning the three ladies prepared a wonderful breakfast and the children ate with vigor. Eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast fortified the youth. Lyra, Mary and Verna watched the children eat so fervently that they feared there wouldn’t be enough food for Markus’ breakfast.

The night before had not been revealed in its fullest state to the children. In their youth, the magic they have wouldn’t be ready for use by them. What skills they already displayed was more than many magic folks would have wielded as an adult.

Outside the sun was shining and the storm that raged in the night was no longer and issue. Markus stood outside just taking a moment to collect his thought. Inside the house was three little ones that needed help. He shook his head from side to side as he thought about being hunted as a child. One thing that was clear, there was a reason they were so prized by the church. With a deep breath, he opened the door and a stream of morning sun silhouetted his frame as he step through the door.

“I was going to run into town today and it would have been a nice ride. The sun just sparkles over the fresh snow. However, you three has caused a big stir and I have to go to the wizard’s council today instead.” Marcus scooped some potatoes onto his plate, shoved a piece of toast in his mouth as he loaded his plate with food.

Lyra walked over to the table and filled his cup with the dark brew of coffee. “We have to be there in two hours. Verna and Mary will be well protected. The shields are in place and I was told that some wizards are guarding the forest. I am not sure why we need to be there but I guess there will be something we need to know.”

Markus reached into his pocket and pulled out the coin from his pocket. He turned it over and over in his hand looking at it’s rude stamp of the spider and the spider web on the other side of the coin. He placed it on the table and slid it over the table to rest in front of Peter.

”Dragonfly gave this to me the night you arrived. He had pledged to protect you. You know, his kind have their own magic. Apparently, he will feel when danger is near you. If it does come near, he will come to help. I must warn you though, he will not help unless you are about to be killed. His kind usually do not work well with humans.” Marcus took another bite off his toast and chewed slowly as he watched Peter turn the coin over and over in his hand.

Peter studied the coin and Sarah leaned over to peek at it too. He began writing Markus a note, “My dad had one of these in his pocket at all times.”

”Well, I am not surprised. The way that Dragonfly was so insistent that you receive this one shows how important it is. Keep it in your pocket at all times. This is not a toy.” With a side glance, he watched Peter tuck the coin into his pocket.

“Markus, he didn’t rescue my dad.” he wrote. Peter looked at the man with tears in is eyes.

”Let me make this clear my boy, he did his best to get there in time. He arrived at the moment when the gun released. Witnesses said the men came in and ruined the village and left quickly. I guess the event happened so quickly, it is obvious, that they planned the attack. Dragonfly had said that there was no hope. However, he was there for you and he saved you.” Markus took a slurp from his cup and studied the boy.

The dirty dishes lifted from the table and floated over to the sink. Verna waved her wand and the faucet turned on and dish soap was added to the water. Chavo and Sarah got up from their chairs and walked over the the sink.

“I wish we knew how to do this. We would have had dishes done in no time if we knew how to do this.” Said Sarah. “Day after day, I stood at that sink scrubbing dishes.”

Lyra excused herself from the table so she could get ready to go to the meeting of wizard councilmen and councilwoman. Marcus rose from his chair, kissed his wife, and went to shower. The children gathered themselves in front of the fire and passed the coin back and forth.

“This is an unusual coin.” Sarah said as she handed it back to Peter.

Chavo reached out his hand as if asking for the coin. “May I see it for a moment?”

Peter handed over his coin to his new friend. Chavo turned it over and over in thought. “Can you feel it?” Handing the medallion back to his friend. “It vibrates a bit.”

Peter steadied his eyes on the rock for a moment and closed his eyes. After a moment, his eyes sprang open, and he smiled at his friend. He placed the coin into his pocket and wrote, “It does vibrate. It feels like it is alive.”

*********

The cabin sat in a valley. Around the forest was a ring of foothills, behind them laid stiff cliffs that led to a mountain like hills in the distance. The winter months allowed Ralph to travel easier through the woods for food. He settled down on the top of the hill and pulled burrs out of his white fir.

Below in the valley, laid the cabin where Markus an Mary lived. He watched his friend exit his cabin and he and his lady friend disappear in a snap. For a moment, he watched the movement of the people standing at the door. There were many people he did not know waving goodbye to Markus and friend. He watched the three young children walk back inside.

Jack had traveled to talk to him in the middle of the night to ask him to keep an eye on the cabin. The yeti blended in with the snow and no one had seen him sitting there. He chuckled to himself and thought, “It wouldn’t matter, they will not remember they saw me anyways.” The forest is filled with wizards who delete yeti sighting memories. The wizards don’t bother Jack for he had special permission to work with the Yeti.

Ralph settled into his resting place and waited. What he was waiting for, He did not know. Jack was clear that everyone in that cabin needed to kept safe. He was a magnificent beast and he was willing to do this chore for his friend. After a night of travel, he needed rest.