A Tale of Magic... (17 page)

“And
I
was one of the brightest lights?” Brystal asked.

Madame Weatherberry nodded and pointed to the northeast corner of the Southern Kingdom on the map.

“Do you see this cluster of small lights here? Those are the girls at the Bootstrap Correctional Facility. But these
larger
lights, slowly moving away from the others, represent you and me.”

Madame Weatherberry touched the smaller of the two, and as if written by an invisible quill, the name
Brystal Evergreen
appeared beside it. Then she tapped the bigger star and the name
Celeste Weatherberry
appeared next. Brystal was awestruck as she looked over the map—she hadn’t known so many fairies and witches existed in the world. Now that Madame Weatherberry’s point had been made, she rolled up the map and placed it back in the compartment under the armrest.

“Do you have to follow the king’s instructions?” Brystal asked. “Surely he wouldn’t notice if you recruited one or two extra students along the way.”

“Unfortunately, it’s best if I do,” Madame Weatherberry said. “I’ve been down this road many times before. If we want acceptance in this world, then we must be very careful about how we
seek
acceptance. No one is going to respect us if we cut corners or cause problems. I could have snapped my fingers and transported all the girls out of the facility, but it would only have caused people to resent us more. Hatred is like fire, and no one can extinguish fire by giving it fuel.”

“I wish hatred was fire,” Brystal said. “People like the Edgars and the Justices deserve to be burned for how they treat people.”

“Without question,” Madame Weatherberry said. “However, we cannot let
vengeance
motivate us and distract us from doing what’s right. It may seem like justice, but revenge is a double-edged sword—the longer you hold it, the deeper you cut yourself.”

Brystal sighed. “I just feel so bad for those girls at the facility,” she said. “Every time I close my eyes I see their faces in my mind. I wish there was a way we could help them.”

“But we
are
helping them. We may not save your friends today or tomorrow, but with patience and diplomacy, we can make a
lasting difference
, so girls like Pip are never sent to places like the Bootstrap facility ever again.”

Brystal understood what Madame Weatherberry was saying, but her plan seemed too ambitious to work. The world would require a tremendous change of heart to accept magic, and she couldn’t picture the world changing
that
much.

“I’m sorry, but it feels like an unrealistic goal,” she said. “I’d like to imagine a world where fairies can live openly and honestly, where they can live happily without fear or persecution, but I can’t.”

“Every accomplishment in history started as an unrealistic goal,” Madame Weatherberry said. “A prosperous future is built by the persistence of its past—and we can’t let doubt hold our persistence hostage. What I’m suggesting isn’t certain, and it isn’t going to be easy, but we have to at least
try
. Even if we fail, every step
we
take forward will be a step our successors won’t have to take.”

Although she still felt a bit cynical, Brystal was inspired by Madame Weatherberry’s passion. She had never imagined a future for herself that involved a school for magic, but in many ways, Madame Weatherberry was offering her the purpose and future she had always dreamed about. Whether they successfully changed the world or not, a life devoted to helping people and developing her magical abilities was infinitely better than living in the Bootstrap Correctional Facility.

“It sounds like an adventure,” she said. “I would love to join your academy of magic.”

“I’m delighted to hear it,” Madame Weatherberry said. “Delighted and relieved—unicorns
hate
changing direction mid-journey.”

“Where is your school?” Brystal asked.

“It sits in the southeast In-Between, between the Southern and Eastern Kingdoms,” Madame Weatherberry said. “Don’t let the location worry you; the academy is very well protected. I spared no expense to keep it safe. But first we’ll have to make a brief stop so I can get your parents’ permission to take you.”

“What?”
Brystal exclaimed. “But why do we need their permission?”

“The king was adamant that I get approval from my pupils’ guardians,” she said. “And as I explained, it’s important we follow his wishes.”

Brystal had suspected Madame Weatherberry’s plan was too good to be true—and now she had proof. Just as she had started looking forward to a new life at the academy of magic, the rug was pulled out from under her and her high hopes came crashing down.

“We should turn around,” Brystal said. “My father is a very well-known Justice in the Southern Kingdom. He had me sent to the Bootstrap Correctional Facility as a personal
favor
, so no one would ever find out I was arrested for magic! He’ll
never
let me attend your school!”

Madame Weatherberry waved her hand like Brystal’s concern was a harmless fly.

“Don’t worry, dear, I’m very persuasive,” she said. “I managed to get the king’s blessing—how hard could a Justice be? We’ll have a nice chat when we see him this evening.”

“This evening?” Brystal asked. “But my family lives in Chariot Hills. It’s a two-day journey.”

Madame Weatherberry was charmed by Brystal’s obliviousness and a coy smile grew on her face.

“Actually, unicorns make better time than average horses,” she said, and gestured to the window. “Take a look for yourself.”

Brystal had been so wrapped up in their conversation she hadn’t taken a glimpse out the window since they left, but when she finally did, her mouth dropped open. The golden carriage was moving through the Northeast Plains at lightning speed. The dismal land zipped past her window so quickly it was all a blur.

“I think I’m going to like magic,” she said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle this,” Madame Weatherberry said. “Trust me.”

She offered Brystal her hand and helped her to the ground. They approached the front door and Madame Weatherberry gave it a cheerful knock with her gloved left hand. A few moments later, Brystal heard her mother’s footsteps in the entryway behind the door.

“I’m coming! I’m coming!” she grumbled. “What can I do for—”

As soon as the door opened, Mrs. Evergreen shrieked and covered her mouth like she was seeing a ghost. Brystal was taken aback by her mother’s appearance, too. She noticed that the circles under Mrs. Evergreen’s eyes had grown darker and her bun was pulled even tighter. Clearly, doing all the household chores without help had taken a toll on her.

“Hello, Mother,” Brystal said sheepishly. “Surprise.”

“Brystal!” her mother cried. “What in the Lord’s blue skies are you doing here?”

“It’s a long story,” she said.

Before Brystal had a chance to explain, Mrs. Evergreen threw her arms around her daughter and hugged her so tight she couldn’t breathe.

“I didn’t think I would ever see you again,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Your father said you were caught conjuring magic at the library! I didn’t believe it—I told him there had to be a mistake! My beautiful girl couldn’t be capable of such a thing! Then your brothers told me about that awful trial! I swear, if I ever see that Justice Oldragaid I will strangle him until he’s a normal color! They said the High Justice sent you to a facility in the Northeast to be cured. Have they cured you already? Is that why you’ve come back?”

Brystal winced at her mother’s wishful thinking—it wasn’t going to be easy for her to hear the truth. Mrs. Evergreen was so pleased to see her daughter that she hadn’t noticed Madame Weatherberry or the golden carriage until now.

“Um… who are you?” she asked.

“Hello, Mrs. Evergreen, my name is Madame Weatherberry,” she said. “Forgive me for showing up unannounced. I was given permission by His Majesty to remove Brystal from the Bootstrap Correctional Facility for a special project I’m developing. May I have a word with you and your husband to discuss it?”

“Oh?” Mrs. Evergreen was surprised to hear this. “My husband only had one trial this afternoon, so he should be home momentarily. Please, come in and I’ll make some tea while you wait.”

Mrs. Evergreen escorted Brystal and Madame Weatherberry to the sitting room and then stepped into the kitchen to make tea. As Madame Weatherberry looked around, she was tickled by the Evergreens’ mismatched furniture and wallpaper.

“Your house is so
thrifty
,” she said.

“My father isn’t a fan of extravagance,” Brystal said.

“It shows.”

Mrs. Evergreen returned to the sitting room with a tray of tea.

“Please, have a seat,” she said while she served them. “I imagine you’re both very tired from your journey. Your father said the facility is all the way at the tip of the Northeast Plains.”

“Actually, the trip flew by,” Brystal said with a nervous laugh.

“How long are you staying?” Mrs. Evergreen asked. “Your brothers usually don’t get home from the courthouse until late. They’ll be sorry if they miss you.”

“I can’t imagine our conversation with Father will last very long,” Brystal said. “We’ll probably be on our way shortly after he arrives. Please give Brooks and Barrie my love.”

“I will,” Mrs. Evergreen said, and then looked her daughter up and down with concern. “Oh, Brystal, what have they done to you in that facility? You’re practically skin and bones! I hope they’re helping you at least—you know—with your
condition
.”

“Ah… not exactly,” Brystal said.

Before she elaborated, their conversation was interrupted by the sounds of her father’s carriage pulling up to the house. Brystal took a deep breath to mentally prepare herself for what was to come. A few moments later, Justice Evergreen entered the house and charged down the hall—he hadn’t even seen his daughter yet and was already in a temper.

“Why is there a ridiculous carriage and four flamboyant horses outside our house?” he shouted. “What will the neighbors think if they see the—”

As the Justice barged into the sitting room, Madame Weatherberry and Brystal rose from their chairs to greet him. It took a few seconds for Justice Evergreen to recognize his daughter, and once he did, his face turned bright red, his nostrils flared, and he growled like a defensive animal.

“What is she doing in my house?”
he barked.

Mrs. Evergreen jumped in front of her husband and waved like a clown distracting a bull.

“Please don’t get upset just yet,” she pleaded. “This woman has removed Brystal from the facility with permission from the king.”

“The king? What could he possibly want with her?”

“I don’t know, they just arrived,” Mrs. Evergreen said. “Give them a chance to explain.”

A few deep breaths later, Justice Evergreen had taken a reluctant seat on the sofa across from his daughter. Madame Weatherberry extended her arm to shake the Justice’s hand, but he didn’t accept the gesture.

“Justice Evergreen, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she said. “My name is Madame Weatherberry. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.”

“Get to the point,” he ordered.

“Ah, I see you’re a man who appreciates a good summary,” Madame Weatherberry said. “Very well, I’ll make this short. I’m here because King Champion has given me permission to open an academy. I’m traveling through the Southern Kingdom to recruit students. But my academy isn’t your typical school; it’s an academy for very
special
children with very
unique
abilities.”

Mrs. Evergreen clapped her hands in celebration. “Why, that’s wonderful! His Majesty wants our daughter to join a special school!”

“What do you mean
unique abilities
,” the Justice asked suspiciously. “I sincerely doubt you’re recruiting academics or athletes from correctional houses.”

“Well, if I may be completely transparent with you,” Madame Weatherberry said with hesitation, “it’s a school for
magic
.”

Brystal could practically hear her father’s heartbeat as his blood pressure soared.

“Excuse me?”
he roared.

“I’m calling it Madame Weatherberry’s Academy of Magical Endeavors and Philosophy, but don’t get attached to the name, it’s still a work in progress,” she explained. “I promised His Majesty that I would get permission from my students’ parents before recruiting them. So if you don’t have any objections, I’ll ask you to sign Brystal’s permission form.”

Madame Weatherberry pointed at the tea table and a golden document appeared with a long-feathered quill beside it. The Justice and Mrs. Evergreen both jumped at the sight of magic in their own house.

“All the details are spelled out on the form if you’d like to take a moment to read it,” Madame Weatherberry said.

Brystal knew her father was already upset, but seeing the permission form infuriated him so much he turned the color of a tomato. He seized the form from the table and ripped it into shreds.

“How dare you disrespect me with such a request!”
he yelled.

“Actually, Justice Evergreen, it would be more disrespectful if we
didn’t
seek your approval,” Madame Weatherberry said. “You see, I want everything about my academy to be handled tastefully and properly, and that starts with how I acquire my students. Our objective is to show the world that the magical community is much more decent than—”

The Justice was enraged by her words and knocked over the table with one angry swipe of his arm. The teacups hit the floor and shattered into pieces.

“I would rather see my daughter rot in jail than turn her over to the likes of you!” he shouted.

“There’s no need to make a mess,” Mrs. Evergreen said. “Let’s all take a deep breath and I’ll get us some more tea.”

Mrs. Evergreen scooped up the broken teacups and the shredded permission form into her apron and hurried into the kitchen. Brystal closed her eyes and pretended she was somewhere else. It didn’t matter how many deep breaths her father took; she knew he would never change his mind. But Madame Weatherberry wasn’t ready to give up.

“Sir, I understand your
passionate
opposition,” she said. “You think I’m trying to take your daughter to a despicable place and teach her despicable things, but you’re only imagining this because your perception of magic is flawed.”

“I am a Justice of the Southern Kingdom, Madame! There is nothing flawed about my perception!”

“And in your impressive career, I’m sure you’ve presided over many cases that were caused by an unfortunate misunderstanding. I assure you, magic is like one of these misunderstandings. In fact, it’s the single greatest misconception of our—”

“Magic is an abomination in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of the Lord! Do not insult my intelligence by pretending otherwise!”

“Justice Evergreen, you of all people know that the laws and religion of the Southern Kingdom have altered over time to reflect the opinions of those in power. Magic is a victim to that tradition. What the world thinks is a dreadful and wicked sin is actually a beautiful and nurturing gift. Your daughter is blessed with a very rare and powerful talent. In recent weeks, she has shown
remarkable
potential, and I believe my academy would be a wonderful opportunity for her to develop—”

“I will not have my daughter tarnish my good name by practicing magic!”

“But the king himself has approved my academy. It may cause some awkwardness at first, but in time, your daughter’s magic will be a source of great pride for you. One day, the whole world may know her name and look up to her as a symbol of kindness and compassion. Her reputation may very well exceed your own and she could become the most admired Evergreen to ever—”

“ENOUGH!” the Justice yelled, and jumped to his feet. “I will not hear another word of this nonsense! You will take my daughter back to the Bootstrap Correctional Facility where she belongs at once! NOW GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!”

Justice Evergreen stormed out of the room, but before he entered the hall, he turned back to Brystal to give her one final, scornful glare.

“I should have let them execute you,”
he said.

Her father’s words shattered Brystal into more pieces than all the teacups he had knocked to the floor. Once Justice Evergreen was out of her sight, it took Brystal a few moments to regain her senses. Madame Weatherberry shook her head, appalled by the Justice’s cruel remarks.

“Well,
that
could have gone better,” she said. “Don’t lose hope just yet, Brystal. We’ll find a way around this.”

Brystal appreciated Madame Weatherberry’s optimism, but she knew there was nothing she could do that wouldn’t break her promise to the king. Without her father’s permission, her only option was to return to the facility.

“It was a mistake to come here,” Brystal said. “We should leave.”

Brystal and Madame Weatherberry showed themselves to the front door. As they stepped outside and headed for the golden carriage, Brystal’s spirits were so low she was afraid she might sink into the ground. Just as she was about to climb into the carriage, Mrs. Evergreen emerged from the house and ran after her daughter.

“Brystal?” she called.

“Mother, I’m sorry I didn’t say good-bye,” Brystal said. “I didn’t want to see your face when I told you I—”

“Here,” Mrs. Evergreen said. “Take this.”

Her mother discreetly slid a folded piece of paper into her daughter’s hand. Brystal opened it and couldn’t believe what she was looking at. Mrs. Evergreen had sewn together the permission form and
signed the bottom of it
!

“Mother!” she gasped. “What have you done?”

Mrs. Evergreen pulled Brystal into a tight embrace so she could whisper directly into her daughter’s ear.

“Keep your voice down in case your father is listening from inside,” her mother said. “The form says it only requires the signature of
one
parent. I don’t care what your father thinks; you’re
my
daughter, too, and I will not stand the thought of you getting worked to death in that awful facility. Now, you go to that school and make a life that
you
can be proud of. Get as far away from here as you can and find the happiness you deserve. And please, for your own sake, don’t come back to this miserable house again.”

Before Brystal had the chance to respond, Mrs. Evergreen released her daughter and hurried back inside the house. Brystal was left speechless by her mother’s actions. She couldn’t think, she couldn’t breathe, and she couldn’t move—she just stayed perfectly still and stared at the house in shock.

“Brystal, are you all right?” Madame Weatherberry asked. “What happened?”

“My mother just handed me a new life,” she said.