Karmagha

Love and Chase

Forgus entered the library only to find Ella sitting all by herself. She’s reading ‘The Ultimate Book of Spell’ written by Miranda Goshawk.

He went to her and said, “Can I join you?”

“Sure, you can.”

“What are you up to?”

“Trying to understand Hobert’s magic.”

“That’s a simple thing to do.” He stretched his wand towards the book on her hand, performed a smooth swish and flick movement and said, “Wingardium Leviosa.”

The book was elevated to the mid-air above her head, then he began to toss it back and forth. She tried to take the book but was unable to.

“Stop it!” she said, “I’m reading this book, hand it back to me!”

He refused, kept on swinging the book around the library. It obviously turned to a ‘chase and catch’ something. The joy in his heart knew no bound; she kept chasing it breathing heavily. He tossed it close to one of the shelves, she leapt to take it and landed on the floor after hitting herself on the shelf. Forgus saw the books about falling on her, rushed to her rescue but unfortunately, it fell on both of them. Helpless on the floor, the struggled to get up but had not strength to push off the books. Mr. Sarma who secretly watched them came to their rescue. They all arranged the books back to its place.

“You’re so annoying. What’s hard to let go?” she said.

“I’m sorry, I never knew it will fall out this way.”

He held her hand to calm her down but she shook it off and quickly left the library. He looked round the library and found out that no one else was dear, then he took a deep breath. He followed her but was drawn back by Mr Sarma.

“Let her be. Speak to her later” he said.

***

“My King, word from the inner prison: Evelyn is not there anymore.” Shammah said.

The King jerked and said, “What happened?”

“She broke out of the cell; we cannot ascertain how possible that could be.”

“What about the guards?”

“They are all dead safe for one who went on an errand for me. He returned only to find others lifeless but Evelyn gone.”

In fury, the King rose up and said, “Search the whole kingdom and bring her back to me.”

“Yes, my King.”

He went out, assembled six warriors on horseback and said “Search the whole land for Evelyn the sorceress and bring her back alive.”

It seems like a convoluted task, bringing Evelyn back to the palace alive would require a sorcerer and not mere warriors. The fact they are not required to kill her is something that made them wandered on the way. What if she tries to kill any of them, won’t they kill her first?

They got to a point, one of them said, “Let’s split up so it can be easy for us. The both of you should head to the right, you two go to the left while you and I will head straight.” As they were about leaving, he said, “Search diligently!”

Shammah was at the field where he discharged them alongside his beast. He took stones, throwing them one after the other then lifted up his eyes when he heard the neighing of horses.

“Sir, we’ve searched the whole land these three days; there is no trace of Evelyn.”

***

In the eventide, Ella went into the convention; climbed the stage. She was alone in the hall. Forgus had trailed her to the place, hid himself to watch what she is up to. She placed a wood on the floor, stretched her wand towards it. Her heart’s beat was faster than normal.

She made a slash and flick movement with the wand and said, “Wigarim Liviose.”

The wood was still latent, no sign of motion.

“What am I not getting right?” she said to herself.

Forgus, where he was said, “She’s eager to learn. Only if she got the pronunciation well, that object would be in the air.”

She tried it again but all to no avail. She sat on the floor, took a deep breath, recalling the first time the spell was introduced to them by Miss Kemmy.

“I’ve gotten it!”

She got up, did the same movement with her wand and said, “Wingardium Leviosa. It worked! It worked!” In the euphoria of this, she leaped for joy and began to dance. A noise from behind drew her attention. “Who’s there?”

Forgus came out and said, “Ella I’m…” she walked out, then he raised his voice and said, “sorry!”

***

“Wake up boys. It’s time to practice.” Thomas, one of the fifth stage assigned to Forgus’ room said.

They all got up, tidied the room, took their bath and went out to the field putting on the cloth Miss Kemmy gave to them. Other stage one students came for the practice, a tutor for each room.

“We will run from this end to the other end. Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Arrange yourselves behind this line.” He paused for a while, “On your mark, get set, ready, go.”

They began racing; Forgus was in the fourth place. He sighted Ella, dashed his foot to a stone and was on the ground in no minute time. Thomas took a cloth, tied it round his knee to prevent the bleeding.

He turned to the boys now gathered around him and said, “Lesson one: don’t ever get distracted while performing a spell otherwise you will fail.”

***

Forgus took his food and sat next to Ella in the confectionary hall and winked at her. Joseph watched them closely. She stood up, took her food to the other side of the table.

“What’s wrong with them?” Martha said.

“I’ve no idea.” Joseph replied.

Forgus used his wand to raise the refined floor in his plate and directed it to her plate; she sent it back to him. They continued doing this while the other students kept wandering at them. Joseph then intercepted it into his plate. Linus also tried the Hobert’s magic with Joseph’s food.

“Keep it down!” Joseph said.

Linus refused. Then he raised the jar of water on the table with his wand, used it to hit him. He stood up, went to where he was and gave him a slap on the head. Linus stood up and retaliated while landing Joseph to the ground. He did not give up but grabbed him from the leg and brought him to ground. The broken pieces of the jar pierced them. Joseph was on Linus giving him a blow when Anglo came to separate them.

“Both of you should meet me in the office.”

***

Forgus entered the library when the sun was intense. He found Ella reading, he wanted to leave but she said, “Come and join me.”

They looked into the book together for some minutes. “Flicking the wand in a wrong direction can make the spell fail” Ella said.

“That’s why this sorceress could not perform the spell” Forgus said.

“She thought the spell don’t work not knowing she’s at fault.”

“Also, not pronouncing the words well will result to the failure of the spell.”

“So, you watched me all through that day, but I got it afterwards.”

“Sure, you did.” They both smiled, stood up and walked towards the door.

Ella turned to him and pecked him. “Don’t do that again.” She left him there.

He jumped up, raising his hand as one who had won a trophy. With heavy smile on his face, he turned and saw Mr. Sarma also smiling who gave him a thumbs up.

***

Evelyn went to Amsnath, the kingdom northward of Karmagha. Walking through the midst of the multitudes, she entered into her apartment. She had raised an altar with stones, poured animal blood on it and decorated it. She placed Forgus’ cloth which she stole from the palace the day she tried to kill him on the altar and laughed out her heart.

“It’s time to search for you Chosen one and end your life. Karmagha, especially the royal family must pay for what they did to my family.”