Briallen Bevin and the Clocktower Guard

Chapter 15: The Second Clue

Briallen and Lucan returned to the study room in the library where they'd left Amir and Lindsay, and were relieved when they saw the couple hadn't left yet. Briallen breathlessly told them everything that had happened, re-enacting most of it, while Lucan watched silently and nodded at certain points. When she finally finished, Briallen smiled and bowed, feeling quite proud of herself.

"And... is that why you're not wearing any shoes?" asked Lindsay, uncertain of what else to say or ask about their strange adventure.

"What?" Briallen looked down at her bare feet and groaned. She'd left her slippers back in the Room of Truth. She stomped her feet on the thin, old carpet of the library study room. "Those were my favorite..."

"Do you think all the clue pieces will be hidden somewhere in the school?" Lucan asked, looking directly at Amir. He played with the aragonite stone in his hands.

Amir put up his hands and said, "I don't know. But scavenger hunts usually get harder the further you progress, and I can't imagine there being many more rooms like the Room of Truth in the school. The only other one I can think of is the Room of Requirement, but unlike the Room of Truth, that's based more in legend than fact."

"Stories I have heard," said Lucan with a barely perceptible nod.

"Ain't we going to look at the next clue?" asked Briallen. She sat down next to Lucan with a plop. "Julian said it already appeared and I bet they're all working on figuring it out right now."

"We threw ours away," mumbled Lindsay, sounding embarrassed.

A little reluctantly, Lucan pulled the white card from his pocket and threw it on the table. His eyes kept fluttering closed and he was visibly tired but nobody took any notice of him. The four students leaned in to read what was written on clue card:

Boxer said, "I won't ask twice."

Tally cried, "But you weren't concise!"

Boxer said, "Fine, once more:

bring me something I'll adore,

it's round and gold, and small and light,

and can be found in lore's spite."

Tally cried, "But you weren't clear,

I don't know why you appealed me here!"

and Boxer said, "Why can't you hear?

Don't ask me twice unless you're sincere!"

They stared at the white clue card for what seemed to Briallen like hours. Then again, she'd thought she and Lucan had been in the Room of Truth for days, and was surprised to learn they'd only been gone a few minutes. She felt she couldn't trust herself with time anymore, not since she'd abused the time-turner. Lucan still refused to give it back, even though Briallen had shown him she was now using a day-planner and told him she'd taken the Verriatis Potion.

"Well, this riddle actually sounds less confusing than the first," said Lindsay, snapping Briallen away from her thoughts. "It already tells us what you're looking for... so, I guess you just need to figure out where it actually is."

"Lore's spite," mused Amir, leaning back in his chair. "In a book, maybe? You could easily hide something small between the pages of a book."

"There are millions of books in this library alone," Lucan muttered. He roughly shoved the white card back in his pocket, bending it a little.

"At least we can be sure the others are just as stumped as are," said Briallen, trying to remain positive. Finding the first clue piece had put her in a good mood and increased her belief in their ability to win this game. "I mean, if Amir doesn't know what the clue's talking about then I doubt any of them do."

Amir coughed over his embarrassment as Lindsay giggled and leaned over to nuzzle his neck and whisper something unintelligible in his ear that made him blush.

"If I do come up with a theory, I'll be sure to let you both know right away. But as for now..." Amir paused and waved his wand over the table. The parchments on the table rolled up into one large tube. "We should return these to the administrative offices before a professor or secretary notices they're gone!"

"And we need to drop this stone off with Reynard," said Lucan, standing up.

They all waved and nodded goodbye to one another. Lindsay and Amir left for the portrait hall exit, while Lucan and Briallen walked down to the first floor exit. Briallen had again forgotten she wore no shoes, only remembering once they were outside and on their way to the clock-tower. She yelped and he snickered every time one of her bare feet hit the icy pebble walk-way. They hadn't even reached the greenhouses before she made him run to the clock-tower with her so that she could warm her feet by Reynard's stove sooner.

Once inside, Briallen went straight for the small wood stove under the stairs, lied on the rug in front of it, and held her feet up in front of the grate. She sighed happily, wiggling her toes in the waves of heat exuding from the grate. Lucan watched, amused by her silly behavior, as he sat down on the sofa nearest the stove.

"Shouldn't you go get him?" whispered Briallen from the floor.

"I'm not going up there... and I'm sure he heard us come in," replied Lucan in a low voice. He stared down at the stone in his hand and flipped it over. It was a strange stone, and he wondered why Reynard would send them after it and why he wanted it, or if he even did want it. After what he's seen in the Dean's office, Lucan suspected Reynard's motives were less than innocent.

"I did hear ye! Louder than a pack of hippogriffs, the two of you are," Reynard grumbled hoarsely as he came down the stairs. His feet made no sound on the stone staircase. Briallen jumped up from the floor and stared at him; he looked just as he had the first time they'd met him, and even wore the same dusty tailcoat. The only time she'd seen him without his old tailcoat had been in her grandfather's office. He eyed her suspiciously. "What were you doing?"

"Warming my feet," mumbled Briallen, looking at the floor.

Reynard looked down at her bare feet, still wet with sleet, and waved his wand. A pair of old sneakers appeared on the floor in front of her. Without thanking him, Briallen took the shoes and sat down quietly next to Lucan. Lucan stretched out his hand holding the aragonite towards Reynard.

"Lovely, lovely," Reynard muttered under his breath as he snatched it from Lucan's hand and twirled in front of his eyes. His eyes snapped back to Lucan and Briallen as he said, "Well, what are you still doing here? Shove off! You've got another clue to work out, haven't you?"

Lucan and Briallen both jumped off the couch. While Lucan opened the door, Briallen hopped behind him as she put on the shoes Reynard had given her. Once outside they ran to the front of the castle, only stopping once they reached the statue of a stag next to the front doors.

"He gives me the heebie jeebies!" said Briallen, clutching her stomach. "Especially after that creepy statue..." She shuddered as she remembered the giant stone statue and its four faces. She looked up at Lucan to see if he agreed, but he was looking past her. Briallen turned around to see what had caught Lucan's attention.

Standing just outside the hedge maze were Gavin Ellison and Kara Price. Briallen watched as Kara rubbed and wiped her eyes and Gavin tried to wrap his arms around her. She pushed him away and shook her head and then ran towards Lucan and Briallen. She didn't acknowledge either of them as she ran into the school. Gavin began walking towards them then, his hands in the pockets of his trench coat and his head down.

"Briallen... feeling better?" Gavin asked while he was still a few feet away. She nodded and blushed. Briallen had told Lucan she'd taken a Verriatis Potion but she never told him how she'd gotten a hold of it, which she believed was why Lucan still hadn't return her time-turner - he didn't believe her.

"I'm good. How about you?" she asked, glancing at Bergamot's front doors. She was trying to discreetly ask about how he and Kara were doing. She was sad to see their relationship struggling.

"I'll be alright," he mumbled, kicking at the pebbles in the walkway. "Mrs Wadle wanted me to invite you to lunch."

Briallen nodded while Lucan stood silently, and uncomfortably, next to her. Gavin stared at him, and he stared back. She wasn't sure if Lucan was just trying to be intimidating, or if he was scared of Gavin, or if he was waiting for a dinner invitation as well. She chose the latter.

"Can he come with?" asked Briallen, pointing casually at Lucan. "He's working with me on the - the thing."

"Then I suppose he should come along. And I have another message for you. We can talk about it after dinner." Gavin had already turned away and begun walking to a carriage at the opposite end of the circular drive in front of Bergamot. It was a small cart, with one horse attached, and Briallen recognized it as belonging to Mrs Wadle.

"Are you allowed on school grounds?" Lucan asked Gavin with a slight bite, as he hopped into the back of the cart beside Briallen.

Gavin didn't answer but he did glance darkly back at Lucan, as did Briallen. He raised the reins and the horse took off down Rower's Road to The Village. Lucan and Briallen, who weren't wearing their winter cloaks, were freezing by the time they arrived at the Wadle house.

Mrs Wadle fawned over them the moment they walked through the door. Briallen didn't mind; she even enjoyed the attention as Mrs Wadle sat them on the couch, covered them with blankets, turned on her Wizard's Wireless to a station already playing holiday music, and fed them hot peppermint and licorice tea that made Briallen's fingers and toes tingle in a good way. By the time dinner was ready, both Briallen and Lucan were warmed up and in a good mood.

Over dinner Briallen explained to Gavin and the Wadles what had happened to her and Lucan in the Room of Truth, and she told them all about the Minister's visit a few days earlier and how the Minister checked Reynard's arm for the Dark Mark.

Mrs Wadle gasped and held her hand over her heart. "Oh, my dear! Perhaps this game isn't the best idea. And I don't like how Cal knows nothing of it."

"I'm sure he has an idea," said Mr Wadle, helping himself to another serving of lasagna. "He's the sort of man to know about all the things that go on in his school."

"Cal is too kind, he gives people too many chance... Really! Hiring a man suspected of being a Death Eater? I know You-Know-Who is no longer around but just because he doesn't have his Dark Lord to take orders from doesn't mean he's not trouble. That warlock may have never made it to America but his cronies and his ideas did. Those were hard times for everyone..."

Mrs Wadle's mouth was thin and her eyes glassy as she spoke about Lord Voldemort's affect in the United States.

"Are you a werewolf?" asked Lucan, blurting the question out. Briallen had noticed how he stared warily at both Mrs Wadle and Gavin throughout all of dinner, but she still couldn't believe he'd ask their host such a question.

"Lucan!" scolded Briallen before offering Mrs Wadle an apologetic and embarrassed grin.

Mrs Wadle put down her knife and fork, wiped her mouth delicately with her napkin, and then looked Lucan directly in the eyes. Briallen had only met the old woman twice before but she'd seemed very kind and friendly and so she didn't recognize the taut look on the old women's face and what it meant.

"Now look here, young man: I don't know what that awful grandfather of yours has put into your head but I've met your mother and I know how polite and well-mannered she is. So I can't believe she'd approve of you, as a guest in my house, being so rude to me and asking such a private, personal question that is absolutely none of your business. I think you'd do well to keep your mouth shut for the rest of your time here, if you can't be a polite and reasonable young gentleman," said Mrs Wadle in almost a whisper.

Lucan gulped and stared down at his plate while Briallen stared at the old woman, shocked by how hateful she sounded.

"Iris," said Mr Wadle cautiously. "Why don't you and I get these kids a slice of that delicious pumpkin pie you baked this morning."

Mr Wadle's distraction was unnecessary, however, as Mrs Wadle had already calmed back down to her normal cheerful self and chirped, "Absolutely! That sounds just lovely!"

While the Wadles busied themselves serving dessert, Gavin pulled a folded letter from his shirt pocket and handed it to Briallen. "I don't know much about this game you two are playing, but our friend seems familiar with it."

Briallen opened it and leaned closer to Lucan so he could read it with her.

I'm sure you and your partner will find the answer to the first riddle

on your own, however the second riddle may prove more difficult. I am

not allowed to tell you exactly where to look - the hunt prevents me

from doing so now matter how much I want to - but I can offer you

another clue: The Library of Firsts. That is where you should conduct

your search. I know you're clever enough to find where to go from there.

And remember - he may not know his master still lives but he continues

his work in his name. As always, be careful.

"Who sent this? And how do they know what we're doing, or that the second clue hints at its piece being in a book?" asked Lucan, sounding concerned.

"The game you play is not just any game - it's the hunt. Many have heard of it, but few have seen its trail. Our friend is one of the few. He tried to keep the trail hidden but the thief was desperate and ruthless and managed to uncover it," explained Mrs Wadle solemnly as she placed a plate of pumpkin pie in front of everyone at the table.

"Why is everybody speaking in riddles?" cried Briallen, pounding her fist on the table. "I want a straight answer!"

"The hunt prevents us from telling you anything directly," said Gavin. "I actually just told you the true name of the game, but I'm sure all you heard is 'the hunt.' I've tried writing it down, but the letters change. I've tried to tell you the truth but my words are changed."

"Is this the work of the Ministry?" Lucan asked with a roll of his eyes. "It sounds like something the Department of Dangerous Esoterics or the Department of Mysteries would do."

"Likely," mumbled Mr Wadle, his mouth full of pie. Mrs Wadle shook her head at her husband.

"What's The Library of Firsts?" asked Briallen. She got the feeling she was the only one at the table who didn't know.

"It's the very first library our founding fathers built when they arrived in this country hundreds of years ago. It holds the first edition of almost every book ever written by a witch or wizard," explained Gavin. "It's been moved around a lot but now it's at the Ministry of Magic."

"Well, why do we need to go there then? The clue doesn't say the item is in a first edition book."

"A lot of the books there only have the one edition."

"No one has answered my other question yet," cut in Lucan. "Who sent this letter?"

"He's asked that we keep his identity a secret for now. He can't let on that he's helping you or knows what's going on here, and he has his own problems to worry about right now," said Mrs Wadle. She was getting snippy again. "But he knows what he's talking about. He's the one who got us the recipe for the Verriatis Potion so that we could make it for poor Briallen, here."

The old woman patted Briallen's arm in a loving manner. Lucan wasn't pleased with the answer he received but he didn't dare ask Mrs Wadle anymore questions, and was silent until they left. Gavin was the one to take them back to school in the carriage again. Lucan jumped out as soon as they stopped and looked back to make sure Briallen followed him. She took her time getting out of the cart so that she could give Gavin a hug and say goodbye. Lucan, suspicious, watched as Gavin whispered something in Briallen's ear and she nodded.

Once she'd hopped out of the cart and waved goodbye to Gavin once more, and they were walking to the front doors, Lucan muttered, "I don't think he's allowed on school grounds."

"Just shut up, Lucan!" spat Briallen. "You've been nothing but a jerk tonight! And I want my thingy back - tomorrow morning!"

"Fine! And I want you to finally explain to me what is going on with the Wadles and Gavin, like how long you've been talking to them about our secret game!" Lucan snapped back as they walked into the entrance hall.

"What secret game?" asked Hayden, popping up unexpectedly from somewhere behind them.

Briallen spun around, shocked. She looked behind him. The only logical place Hayden could have come from was the bench next to the front doors. Beside him stood the petite Belphoebe Astley, who wore a small, sly smile. Briallen had never actually spoken to either of the Astley sisters but she still loathed the both of them. As her eyes went over Belphoebe and took in the girl's whispy blonde hair, large blue eyes, and porcelain skin she thought, It's not natural to look that perfect... The sisters' lack of flaws made her uneasy.

She whipped her focus back to Hayden and hoped she hadn't stared at Belphoebe for long. With what she hoped was mild annoyance, she said, "Just a silly initiation type of thing that Mr Teaberry is putting us through." What she had just said made no obvious sense and she knew Hayden wouldn't believe it. "Were you waiting for me?"

"Yes! Bella told me you disappeared in a carriage with Stone and I was worried! He's bad news, Briallen... you know why I hit him that day." He whispered the last few words, in an obvious attempt to keep Belphoebe from overhearing him.

Until now Briallen had thought Hayden was trying to avoid getting her in trouble by not mentioning to anyone he hit Lucan because the Platt boy drew the Dark Mark on her... but now she doubted that idea. And it made Briallen angry. Lucan smartly walked away after giving Hayden the nastiest look he could muster and disappeared down the corridor that led to the dungeons. Hayden nodded to Belphoebe and, clearly disappointed, she left them alone as well.

"You do know Carey Stone has always been suspected of being a Death Eater, right? In the name of Merlin - Lucan proved his grandfather is a Death Eater by drawing that mark on your arm!" whispered Hayden in anger and, Briallen detected, fright. "He knew exactly what it looked like!"

"And so do you, apparently! Since you, you know, recognized it in the first place! And I know Lucan can be mean and jerky sometimes, but he's not evil; he's my friend!" Briallen growled.

This statement seemed to infuriate Hayden and for the first time the pink tinge in his cheeks wasn't because of an embarrassed flush, but due to anger. Luckily Toby walked out of the dining hall just then and said, "Hey, Briallen! I was just talking with Noah and..." He paused and looked from Hayden to Briallen, both of whom looked very angry. "Am I interrupting? I could just - I can wait-"

"No, you're fine, Toby," muttered Hayden.

Toby nodded but Briallen could tell her friend didn't really believe Hayden from the look on his face. Still, he approached them and smiled genially at them both and continued with what he was saying before, "So I was just talking with Noah and he mentioned he gave you tickets to a Quodpot game... do you have enough for me?"

"Yeah," said Briallen, trying to smile. "He gave me a whole box! So that's me, my parents and my grandpa, and Hayden, and you, and Marisol..."

"Marisol can't go. She already asked her parents but they told her they're going to Puerto Rico for winter break to visit family. One of her aunt's just gave birth to twins or something."

"I don't know if I can make it either," said Hayden quickly.

"I'll just invite Lucan then!" responded Briallen just as quickly. They glared at each other while Toby watched and waited for another fight.

But Hayden just shrugged and mumbled, "I'll go to the game." He leaned over suddenly and gave Briallen an apathetic kiss on the cheek. "I've got a study group for Humanities now. I'll see you at dinner."

"Alright," said Briallen with a careless shrug of her own. Once he was out of sight she turned to Toby. "He's crazy! Did you know he was waiting for me? It was like something out off one of those made-for-TV movies: 'Jealous boyfriend stalks girlfriend!'"

"What do you expect, Briallen? He's been in love with you for a year, God knows why, and he finally gets you to go out with him and you're always mean! You don't even want to hang out with him."

"His idea of 'hanging out' is sneaking away to a closet to make-out, Toby. I didn't think that's what having a boyfriend was all about, and I really don't like how he's always pushing me... He's pushing me to make-out, he's pushing me to relax and meditate, he's pushing me to drop Lucan as a friend. It just makes me so angry sometimes!" She shook her head and stomped her foot.

"Lucan's your friend now?" Toby asked, frowning.

"Not you too, Toby! Please!" she begged as they started to shuffle up the grand staircase.

He put his hands up. "You already know what I think of him... so what are you doing now?"

"I think I'm going to go study." She paused to sigh. They walked past the poetry-reciting suit of armor who was currently entertaining a group of first years with an exciting poem about Robin Hood. The poem reminded her of Hayden. She scowled at the suit of armor, even though it couldn't see her. "Without Quodpot practices I have more time for classes and I really need to get my grades up. Did you know you can get kicked off the team if your grades are too low?"

"Most schools have that rule. It doesn't seem to worry Marisol, though," said Toby. "But she's a Wenlock."

"Of course," said Briallen.

She stomped the rest of the way to the Withers common room, ready to put the drama of the day behind her.