exploratory kidnapping

[alicornucopia]

In this room are two women, one gray and sixty years old, one just thirty and red-haired, both wearing elaborate outfits. The younger casts a spell.

In this room is now also a third person. (On whom the elder woman promptly also casts a spell, which she had at the ready.)

Comments

[alicornucopia]

"Fena says that English doesn't have a word for it yet besides generically 'magic', but that Draconic has been calling what you do 'ialdae'," says Terali.

[missnicegirl]

"That's pretty!"

[alicornucopia]

"I thought so too!"

[missnicegirl]

Matilda continues to learn witchcraft. A few times she suspects she is glimpsing some wizardry, but it never quite solidifies for her, so she doesn't mention it yet.

Two weeks into September, she arrives for a lesson on a weekday afternoon and immediately says, "You have to summon Miss Honey! I think she's been kidnapped!"

[alicornucopia]

"What? Oh my goodness," says Terali. "All right, out you get, I'll get Kerah and she'll do it so we can use the same circle." Terali runs off to find Kerah.

[missnicegirl]

Matilda stands next to the circle and frets.

[alicornucopia]

Terali brings Kerah. Kerah summons Miss Honey.

[missnicegirl]

"Oh - oh good," says Miss Honey. "Oh dear."

"Was it the Trunchbull," says Matilda, not quite inflecting the question.

Miss Honey nods.

Matilda turns to Terali. "Send me back, please, it's important."

[alicornucopia]

"We could just summon whoever this is into a warded circle, and help deal with her," Kerah points out.

[missnicegirl]

Matilda hesitates, but then she shakes her head. "I don't want her knowing about Elcenia. She has magic too, she kidnapped Miss Honey with it. I'll have to deal with her myself."

[alicornucopia]

"Matilda, you're seven," says Terali. "I'm sure we can deal with her, especially if you tell us what she can do."

[missnicegirl]

"Oh dear," murmurs Miss Honey.

Matilda shakes her head impatiently. And vanishes in a flicker of light.

[alicornucopia]

Kerah looks at Terali. Terali shakes her head. "I didn't unsummon her!"

[pythbox]

"Matilda's magic can learn things," Miss Honey points out quietly.

[alicornucopia]

"Is there still an active summon -?" wonders Terali; Kerah casts an analysis to check whether Terali still has one in progress.

[pythbox]

There is not still an active summon.

[alicornucopia]

"I could summon her again," says Terali, when this result turns up. "But she might just leave again. Isn't there any way to get her to let us help?" she asks Miss Honey.

[pythbox]

"I don't think so," says Miss Honey. "She is extremely independent. And it might be... a bad idea to interrupt her while she's in the middle of dealing with Miss Trunchbull." She shivers slightly when she adds, "I agree with her that bringing Miss Trunchbull here would not be a good idea."

[alicornucopia]

"You want us to leave your seven-year-old daughter to fight someone who managed to kidnap you with the use of ialdae?" says Kerah.

[pythbox]

"I think she'll be just fine," says Miss Honey. "She did perfectly well last time."

[alicornucopia]

"Last time?" says Terali.

[pythbox]

"When she originally discovered her magic, and no one else knew it existed, she used it to trick my aunt into running away. My aunt was... a very unpleasant person who treated the children at the school badly, but I couldn't do anything about her. Matilda could. Matilda did. And now my aunt has some magic of her own, but Matilda is much better at it."

[alicornucopia]

Terali frowns. "Even if she's capable of it, seven years olds in combat situations doesn't sit well - we don't send mages her age in dangerous situations even fully activated -"

[pythbox]

"I understand," says Miss Honey. "But this isn't a matter of sending her anywhere. She went on her own. I know better than to try to stop her, that's all."

[alicornucopia]

"And you don't think she should be interrupted, and you don't want us to summon your aunt?" confirms Kerah.