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It stood much as they had left it. The spiders had been busy, and a profusion
of webs decorated the sheltered places under the eaves, in the doorway, and in
some of the windows. But the sturdy structure had not burned or fallen down.
It hunkered up against the bracing rocks against which it had been built,
facing the forest and the rest of the world with thatched defiance--the only
real home any of them had ever known. It at once drew them on and repelled
them.
It was fitting that Oskar, having watched over the front door all his adult
life, should be the one to push it open. How much easier, he reflected, to do
so with hands than with nose or paw. But not necessarily as satisfying.
Considering how long the house had been empty, they found the interior in
surprisingly good condition. Plenty of dry food remained in the pantry,
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undisturbed and unfouled by weevils. But the small crunchy bits of dried and
processed protein no longer appealed to Oskar and his feline friends, nor the
barrel of assorted seeds to Taj. As for Samm, having gorged recently on
meatfruit in the Kingdom of Purple, he felt no urge to eat again so soon. In
that respect he was alone.
For years they had watched Master Evyndd prepare meals for himself. They had
eaten human food during their arduous trek through the kingdoms of light. Now
they set about improvising what they could from the available stores. The
result would have appalled a genteel gourmet, but it filled their bellies and
assuaged the ache that had begun to grow there.
It was very late on the morning of the following day when they finally awoke
from a long-overdue sleep. Samm would have dozed on had Oskar and Mamakitty
not pounded on his shoulders and slapped his face until he finally opened his
eyes.
"Sssorry," he mumbled as he rose to his feet. All night long, he had slept
with the white radiance held close to his stomach to ensure its safety. "It's
easier to shed one's skin than an old lifestyle."
They cleaned themselves, using the rainwater shower and towels instead of
tongues and paws. Then, with Samm carefully carrying the lambent white orb,
they went looking for Taj. They found him standing and waiting for them on the
front lawn.
"How many times I sat in my cage, gazing out at this vista"--he turned to his
refreshed and ready companions--"watching you play on this lawn, Oskar, while
Mamakitty and Cezer and Cocoa chased bugs and chipmunks and the occasional
ball of discarded wizard shine, while I was stuck in my cage, singing. Or
studying."
"I can sympathize." For a snake, Samm was unusually compassionate. Except when
he was swallowing someone. "Apart from the singing part, of course. Not that I
couldn't sing," he added in response to their disbelieving stares, "but no one
wanted to hear me. My kind aren't celebrated for harmony."
Apprehensive but game, Cocoa eyed the familiar. "There's no use in putting it
off, Taj. What do we do now?"
This morning, the songster looked older than his years. Try as he might, he
could not escape the feeling that the ultimate responsibility for the success
or failure of what they were about to attempt was his. With a deep sigh, he
extended a hand to Samm.
"Give me the white light."
The giant passed it over. Taj held it lightly in his open palm. It was warm,
but not unpleasantly so, and weighed, according to his best estimate, less
than nothing.
"Gather around."
Cezer frowned at him. "What for? You're the wise and powerful familiar, not
us."
The songster smiled at him. "Did you think the Master set you all on this
quest to keep me company? Just as we were all part and parcel of his life, so,
too, are we parcel and part of his magic, even though he has gone from us. For
an enchantment this profound to work, it requires input from every one of us."
The swordsman shrugged and stepped forward. "If you say so." He eyed the
shaggy-haired dog-man standing next to him. "Just don't ask Oskar to pee on
me, okay?"
"That's close enough. Now join paws--I mean, hands." Self-consciously, the
members of the little company complied. Taking a last look at the clouds (and
hoping it was indeed not his last), Taj began--not to speak, which skill had
never been his forte, but to sing.
"Strength of serpent, circle round this space." Next to Mamakitty, Samm
stiffened. A cold breeze sprang up around them; a small wall of conjoined
atmosphere.
"Swiftness of cat, bar evil's trace." The breeze grew stronger. A strange
tickling sensation prickled Cocoa's skin. Blinking against the rising wind,
she saw that everyone's hair was standing vertical, as if the current of air
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