Chapter 59
“I should have known your father would’ve kept an alter hidden somewhere,” Isobella grinned as she walked into the secret room.
Seraphina briefly glanced up from the grimoire she was reading.
“Good morning, are none of the others with you?”
Isobella shook her head. “No, I thought it best to let them sleep, it’s still very early. Here is the coffee you had Achilles make.” She placed the tea tray down on the old wooden tabletop.
“So, what have you discovered?” Isobella took one of the cups of coffee between her hands allowing the hot liquid to warm her up. She leaned forward to see what Seraphina was huddled over.
A wide grin spread across Seraphina’s face as she turned the book around and pointed at the spell written.
“I had a vision and it led me here. Look, see! It’s a spell! What has not been lost but taken.” She tapped her finger against the weathered page again. “All we need is sodalite stone, fennel and juniper!”
Isobella grimaced, “The fennel and the juniper are easy enough to acquire though… I’ve not seen or heard of a sodalite stone in centuries Seraphina…”
Seraphina’s grin didn’t falter even slightly.
“I know which is why…” she trailed off as she searched around the table.
Producing a different grimoire from a pile of opened books, she pointed to another page.
“A manifestation spell,” Isobella gasped.
“Seraphina, this spell… the toll it takes on one to perform it his astronomical.” She shook her head from side to side.
“Then who better to perform it than a dragon?” Seraphina countered.
Isobella’s cheeks flushed red as she met Seraphina’s gaze.
“We must consult with the others, it is a dangerous spell and this is something that needs to be agreed upon Seraphina.”
Seraphina pulled on her lip as she thought over Isobella’s words. A rush of courage bubbled up inside her, she straightened her shoulders back and met Isobella’s gaze with a fierceness she was unfamiliar with.
“Consult with the others if you must but, understand I will do this with or without your help. Come sunrise, those children will be back with their parents, on my honour.”
Isobella nodded to Seraphina before closing her eyes. Raising her arms, palms up, she began to mumble as her eyelids flickered as though she was dreaming. A white light emanated from her fingertips and seemed to engulf her whole body in a faint, ethereal glow.
Placing her hands back onto her coffee, she opened her eyes and gave Seraphina a small smile.
“They are on their way.”
“Well, are you sure there isn’t a Sodalite stone in here? Seracian was a collector of rare objects.” Oisin mused as he walked around the perimeter of the room, meticulously studying the contents of the shelves.
“No,” Isobella shook her head, “I tried sensing for it and I can’t find anything.”
“Seracian wasn’t a novice Isobella, something of that value and rarity is likely to be glamoured,” Seamus snorted.
Seraphina titled her head to the side as an idea began to form in her mind.
“Well, why not just cast a syphoning spell on the room? Anything hidden or glamoured will be revealed surely?” she voiced her thought to the room.
A chorus of slow nods followed her words.
“You know what, that may actually work! Well done little dragon,” Seamus bumped his shoulder into her.
“Little dragon?” Seraphina arched an eyebrow at him.
Seamus rolled his eyes in response.
“You have your father’s ego, that’s a given! You may be a Princess and a mage and a big bad dragon but, you’ll always be my little niece Seraphina.” Seamus’ purple eyes bore into her with all the warmth of familial love.
A slight smile spread across Seraphina’s mouth. It wasn’t often that her parents were spoke of, the topic elicited too much pain but, it was nice to be likened to her father. She felt a sense of tenderness and familiarity towards him that she hadn’t before.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to face the other mages, her aunts and uncles, with a determined look in her eyes.
“Let’s get syphoning then.”
Oisin and Seamus talked Seraphina through how the syphoning spell would work when casting in on a room, rather than a person or individual object, whilst Isobella and the other made the necessary preparations.
The syphoning spell itself was rather simple but, the precautions and preparations they were making to ensure that any blessed or charmed artifacts would remain untouched by the spell was proving to be lengthy and laborious.
“It’s a shame that you can’t summon your visions at will,” Oisin sighed.
Seraphina’s head snapped to face him.
“Is that possible? To have visions at will?” Shock rendered on her face.
“Yes and no,” Oisin furrowed his brows together. “Your father could summon a vision but, they often took him by surprise too.”
“Once this is all over, could you teach me how to hone my powers?” Seraphina titled her head.
Oisin cast a sad smile in her direction.
“I would love to Seraphina but, we have been your burden for far too long now. We must move on once this is over.”
A frown marred Seraphina’s face. “You are not a burden; you are my family and I would very much like it if you were to make this your permanent residence. I know you have remained travellers for the sake of your safety but, I swear to you, you will always be safe here.”
Seamus and Oisin smiled at each other before turning their attention back to Seraphina.
“We’ll have to discuss it with the others but, I’m sure they would be delighted to stay. Thank you, Seraphina,” Seamus bowed his head slightly.
“Alright, we’re ready now,” Isobella stepped out of the room, wiping a handkerchief over her sweat dampened forehead, a wide grin on her face. “Let’s find this stone and return those children home.”