THE NEXT DAY, WELL-RESTED, the group of friends bounded up the path to the laboratory and its tower, which was now overgrown with thick grapevines from the spell Rubicas had read.
Inside, the lab was abustle with activity. The old sage and his assistant seemed to be everywhere at once. From time to time, one of them would call out a number or a name. The other would agree, and Rubicas would hurry over to a high lectern carved out of marble. Without bothering to perch on the stool behind the writing table, the sage picked up a stylus, dipped it into an inkpot, and scribbled a line or two on a parchment scroll. Apparently, they had not stopped working on their ideas in all the time since the companions had set off on their training voyage.
While Vic and his friends waited for Rubicas to notice them, Orpheon gave a warning shake of his head. The bearded sage held up one finger in their direction, as if to press it against their lips for silence, then dashed back to his writing desk and skritched furiously at the scroll.
After what seemed like an eternity, the sage finally lowered his finger. He stared at the scroll a minute longer, then smiled up at the visitors. “Welcome back. I’m glad to see you survived. All of you.”
“It was a close call,” Tiaret said.
Vic walked to the wall aquarium and stared at the four aquits swimming about. Remembering everything the Walrus had been through, he said, “Now I can see why these little guys think the open sea is too dangerous.”
Orpheon glanced sidelong at the tank, and a brief grimace flashed across his face. He stayed pointedly on the other side of the room.
The sage tugged at his white beard, and his gray eyes lit with enthusiasm. “Hmm, while you were gone, we had a breakthrough — a new sort of spell that could well protect Elantya. Would you like to see? It is only a small spell so far, you understand. It may take months, even years, to expand it sufficiently, but it has the potential to shield Elantya from all attackers.”
“Congratulations!” Vic said.
“That is a bit premature,” Orpheon muttered. “We have not tested it yet.”
“Hmm, testing. Would you like to assist us? It should prove quite enlightening,” Rubicas said. The companions quickly agreed. He picked up the scroll, with its silvery ink still wet, and strode to the center of the chamber.
Sharif and Vic moved forward, jostling each other in their eagerness to see, but Orpheon said, “Stand back. I will let you know when you can participate.”
They were even more confused when the handsome apprentice handed Gwen a curved scimitar, then gave a javelin to Vic, throwing stones to Lyssandra, and a sling and several sharp-edged crystals to Sharif. Tiaret already had her dragon’s eye teaching staff. Orpheon showed them where to stand so that the five of them were spaced evenly apart facing the master sage.
Looking at his sharp javelin, Vic asked, “So, uh, this is the first time you’ve ever used this spell?”
“Yes. Let us see if we succeed.” Facing his armed helpers, Rubicas began reading from the scroll. It took almost a full minute for the sage to finish reciting what he had scribbled down. He blinked. “Well? Did it work?”
“I don’t see anything,” Gwen said, “so I would deduce that the spell was a flop.”
Rubicas raised a bushy white eyebrow. “Hmm. The eyes see only what may be seen.”
Vic muttered to Lyssandra beside him, “I hope that’s not one of Elantya’s best proverbs — I’m pretty sure we all knew that.”
The sage’s lips curled in amusement. “Very well, then you and your companions may join me on this side of the room now.”
Curious and confused, they all walked toward Rubicas. Vic had taken no more than three steps when he smacked into something solid and unyielding. He yelped, then reached out to feel an invisible barrier. “Cool! It’s a forcefield, like in Star Trek.”
“A shield, yes,” Rubicas said.
“Oh, now I can see it,” Gwen said, sounding embarrassed for having missed something so obvious. “It’s clear but all shimmery.” Intrigued, Tiaret tapped the barrier with the dragon’s-eye stone at the end of her teaching staff.
Vic rubbed his bruised nose. “Yup. It’s like dad always says about problems — you just have to look at the situation from the right angle.”
“Try your weapons. See if you can touch me.”
Gwen poked at the shield with the point of the scimitar while Vic prodded it with his javelin. Tiaret showed a great deal more enthusiasm as she swung her teaching staff, clearly confident she could halt the blow in an instant if something went wrong. The dragon’s-eye stone bounced off the shield.
“Excellent,” Rubicas said, standing behind his protection with his arms crossed. “Marvelous.”
Lyssandra’s throwing rocks had no more effect. After placing a crystal in his sling, Sharif swung vigorously and let the projectile fly directly at the sage. It ricocheted off the shield and hit the nearest wall before falling to the floor, just missing the bank of aquariums. The languid glow eels shone brighter in alarm. The aquits swam away, miming scolding gestures.
Looking smug and satisfied, Orpheon hurled a heavy crystal against the invisible wall with all his might. The assistant genuinely looked like an enemy trying to hurt the master sage, but the spell field rebuffed his attack.
Now convinced he would cause no real damage, Vic stepped back to throw his javelin, which struck and clattered harmlessly to the floor. Gwen took a firm two-handed grip on her scimitar and swung it harder, again to no effect. The blow sent a jolt up her arms, and she dropped the thrumming blade.
“Splendid. I believe this spell will be more than capable of defending us from merlons!” Rubicas raised his hands and said, “A’o’ah, S’ibah.” The shield dissolved. He walked toward them, and nothing stood in his way.
While the sage seemed exceedingly pleased with what he’d accomplished, Orpheon was more of a wet blanket, as usual. “This small test scroll was extremely complex. Expanding the shield into a dome with an effective radius will be a much more difficult task.”
The old sage scratched his left eyebrow. “Hmm, there must be a way. If we make use of large resonating lenses… or amplification rods. Or both! Yes, that is indeed the necessary next step.”
Lyssandra’s cobalt-blue eyes lit up. “Master Rubicas, several of those are kept in the storage tunnels beneath the city. My father was in charge of the Elantyan anniversary celebration two years ago. I remember where he put them and could get them for you right away.”
“Children should not be going down to the —” Orpheon began.
“Excellent, Lyssandra.” Ignoring the sour warning, Rubicas set the spell scroll aside on his work table. “We have no time to lose. You will need all your friends to help you carry the resonating lenses and amplification rods — and be careful.” He grabbed his assistant’s sleeve. “Come, Orpheon. We must speak to the Pentumvirate immediately. This could be our best chance to save Elantya.”
Leaving the draft spells on the table, they all rushed out of the laboratory.