Evening shadows crept into the woods and filled the corners. Electrum sat waiting on a large mushroom with his chin in his hands.
There was a flash of light as Silverthorn flew into the clearing and landed next to him. “The ship is not there.”
“Perhaps he moved it.” Electrum said.
“I looked last night, and I looked tonight. It’s just not there.”
“Then the cloaking has worn off and everything has dissolved.” He would have to tell Simon the tapestry was gone. At least it hadn’t fallen into the wrong hands.
“Did the boy show yet?” Silverthorn asked.
“It’s early.” As he feared, the human boy was turning out to be unpredictable.
“He didn’t show last evening,” Silverthorn said. “Maybe he’s not coming.”
“Relax,” Electrum said. “Give him time.”
“It’s getting late. Something must have happened to him. Maybe something ate him on his way to the woods.”
“That’s a cheerful thought.”
“Maybe he dissolved with the ship. It’s maddening,” Silverthorn said. “We’re less than a week away from the eclipse and no closer to locating the changeling plant.”
Electrum gritted his teeth. “You’re counting on a plan that depends on the whims of a human and a cat that just learned to talk.” Silverthorn was no more logical than the boy and cat. Maybe Trevor wasn’t going to come back to the woods. He stood up and straightened his hat.
“I can’t stand the waiting,” Silverthorn said.
“You’re jumpy. You need more sleep.”
“I can sleep later.”
“Don’t you have military drills with Sterling tomorrow morning?”
“I don’t need military training.” He clenched his fists, but his voice trembled.
“We need to play the game, Ralphie. Sterling isn’t stupid. We don’t want him to be suspicious or watchful.”
“I’ll go to class,” he said softly, “but I am going to be a merchant.”
Before Electrum could argue, he heard voices and rustling in the leaves.
“Slow down, Brownie. It’s dark under the trees, and I thought I heard talking.”
“I can see perfectly well,” Brownie said. “The fat one is on a mushroom and the little one is pacing up and down between the leaves.”
Electrum jumped up scattering sparkles everywhere. “Fat indeed! I am the proper size for a pookah.” What an impertinent cat.
Trevor slid off the cat’s back and tumbled into the tall grass. When he got to his feet his jeans had green stains on the knees.
“Where have you been?” Silverthorn said. “Where were you last night?”
“Being just a few inches high is miserable,” Trevor said.
“What’s wrong with your size?” Silverthorn said.
“It’s okay for you. You’ve got wings. I ran into a spider. Then I shrank half way across the field on the way here and couldn’t see over the pumpkin vines. Did you figure out how to unenchant me?”
Electrum still didn’t have any answers, but he didn’t want to alarm the boy. “I have found some references to it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be difficult.”
Silverthorn interrupted. “The eclipse will be here in five days and twilight is darkening. We have to prepare our plans. Have you scouted out the garden yet? Did you find the changeling plant?”
“Well, I didn’t really make it into the garden, but Brownie did.”
The cat’s eyes took on a dreamy look. “Tender, juicy leaves. Pungent, but delicate flavor. The smaller leaves were especially fragrant.”
Silverthorn raised his eyebrows. “I see the job has not been distasteful for you.”
“Quite pleasant except for that selfish overstuffed monstrosity, Big Yellow. And his Pekinese partner is positively psychotic.”
“So you just need to get past the two animals,” Silverthorn said.
“And Mrs. Hayworth,” Trevor said. “She doesn’t miss much.”
“We need a distraction,” Electrum said.
“Something to occupy all three guardians while you and Brownie slip in and gather some leaves,” Silverthorn said.
Trevor gasped and his eyes got wide.
Electrum smiled as sparkles dribbled off his hat into his hand. He rubbed them between his fingers. This was something he could handle. “Perhaps a trade. I’ll give them a piece of my mind in exchange for a piece of the plant.”
“You mean like you did with my parents?”
“Precisely. Let’s start with the cat. Let’s see…a little poetical justice.” He snapped his fingers. “You and Brownie will appear fearsome and ferocious. He will be terrified of you.”
A big grin spread over Trevor’s face. “Can you do that?”
“Are you sure that will work?” Brownie said.
“Yes, certainly. Then the dog. They aren’t very bright. An overpowering desire to find a bone that he buried might work. A rancid, sinewy delight.”
Trevor made a face. “What about Mrs. Hayworth?”
“I think she just needs to get some sleep. All that gardening can be very tiring. Weary muscles, drooping eyelids, comfortable place to sleep.”
“So how does it work? Will you just fly over and sprinkle dust on them?” Trevor asked.
Electrum couldn’t chance being seen by the woman. It might put the gates at risk. “I’m a pookah, not the sandman,” he replied. “We need someone of your stature, height actually, to administer the dust. You can do it before twilight when you’re normal size.”
Trevor looked alarmed. “I can’t just knock on the door and throw dust in her face.”
“We’ll come up with something. There’s still four days before the eclipse.”
“You’re going to find out how to unenchant me, aren’t you?” The boy’s voice quavered.
“Of course, I am. Maybe I’ll even have news for you tomorrow night.”
As Electrum flew after Silverthorn he realized he might need to ask for help on finding the answer for Trevor. Maybe Simon could help.