No Quest For The Wicked

“I don’t understand the reference, but we do believe that wizards have lost their way and should return to their roots.”

Minerva raised an eyebrow. “And what the blazes does that have to do with your spying on this company and interfering with our efforts to retrieve the Eye of the Moon?”

Instead of answering her, Grace turned to Merlin and said, “You were one of the true wizards who created the magical foundations, and we knew that when you came back, you would restore things to the way they should be. But instead, you did this.” She gestured disdainfully at the executive office, with its telephone, computer, and conference table.

She turned to Owen. “You’re just as corrupt—even more so, because you were the one to corrupt Merlin, teaching him your wicked modern ways, infecting him with technology. And you were punished for it. That’s why you lost your magical powers. Impurity must be punished!” Her voice grew shrill as her fervor overtook her reserve. “But we will purify the magical world!” As if realizing she’d said too much, she clamped her lips together and stared straight ahead.

Merlin leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “Normally, I am very tolerant of other approaches to magic. There is certainly merit to the old ways, and it is good for us to remember how to work pure magic without the need for technology or other tools. But this isn’t the time for a philosophical discussion. I want to know what the brooch has to do with this and why you’re interfering with our efforts to contain it.”

“I’m not seeing the link between the brooch and magical purity,” I said, shaking my head. “Why would anyone want to stir up that kind of trouble?”

“Remember Bobby Burton, the volunteer fireman back home?” Granny asked me.

“The one they caught setting fires because he wanted to play hero and be seen putting them out?” I turned back to Grace. “That’s it, isn’t it? Your people stole the brooch from the gnomes, not Sylvester. Your plan was to create a threat to the magical world by setting that brooch loose, and then your people could swoop in when Merlin’s team failed to save the day, proving that the old ways are the best and discrediting Merlin as a leader in the magical world—maybe then with your leader having the brooch so he can solidify his power.”

“Only, everything would be ruined if we got there first and prevented the trouble, so you had to make sure that didn’t happen,” Owen said.

Grace tried to remain stoic, but she had a terrible poker face. She winced every time someone said something that must have hit close to the truth, which was as good as a confirmation.

Minerva turned to Merlin. “She came to work here very soon after the customer conference last summer when we officially announced your return. They must have planted her then to spy on you. I’m sorry, I should have seen this coming. After all, that’s my job.” She then asked Grace, “Did your people have the brooch then or were you merely being put in place to be useful someday?” Grace’s lips twitched, and she bit her lower lip.

Owen faced Grace and said, “But do you really understand what you’re dealing with in the Eye? How could you be so sure that you’d be able to save the day? What if you couldn’t?”

“I created it, and I wasn’t able to develop a way to resist or counter it,” Merlin said. “I am concerned that this plan was poorly conceived, and that may put all of us at risk.”

Grace went a little paler, and I noticed her throat move like she was swallowing a lump. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and upper lip, but she didn’t answer.

“There were people at the restaurant who didn’t seem to be affected,” I said. “I thought they were immunes, but they succumbed to the elves’ spells. And they had a similar dress sense, as I recall. Is color wicked, too?”

Grace glanced down at her clothes, then cast a meaningful look at my outfit. One corner of her mouth turned up slightly, and I felt myself redden. On the upside, I figured I might be able to infiltrate their organization if it came to that.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of the good old days,” Granny said. “But there’s something to be said for indoor plumbing and electricity, and magic’s no substitute for either.” She used her cane to leverage herself out of her chair. “And I’ve heard enough of this. We’ve got a plot to stop and a brooch to snag. Let’s go, kids.”

Owen and I glanced at Merlin, who nodded and said, “Now it is even more imperative that you obtain the brooch first and keep their plan from coming to fruition. I will brief Sam and Mr. Gwaltney about the opposition, and we will continue trying to get more information from Miss Spencer.” Grace went a little paler at that.