It was 3:45 a.m. when Cassandra arrived at the designated location. She had driven for more than two hours straight since the encounter with the state trooper. There hadn’t been any incidents ever since. She and her son had remained silent during the last two hours of the trip. Eddie was restless, perhaps too traumatized to fall asleep. All he could do to block out the horrific recent event was to focus on something else. He thought of reaching for his backpack but knew he’d be scolded even if he attempted to unbuckle his seat belt.

Eddie peered out the window, glancing at the pavement’s central yellow lines. His tired eyes darted at the backwoods of Kentucky. This would be his first trip visiting his grandparents and staying over the summer, or until further notice. Eddie wasn’t too sure if attending school would be safe anymore. Eddie could recall the events of his final school day at Kings Elementary. The trip from Michigan to Kentucky made his stomach churn. He was out cold for most of the day. His throat felt dry, and he asked his mother where they were.

He was more hungry than weary. Only thing he had eaten in the last twenty hours was a pair of mouth-watering Hostess sponge-cake Twinkies. He wondered if the ancient wizard and his friend Jacob were okay. He pushed those thoughts aside when Cassandra made a sharp left turn off the pavement and onto a narrow dirt path leading into what looked like the wilderness in the dark. Soon they would come upon his grandparents’ farmstead or what they called the Kentucky preserve. The SUV was bobbing owing to the bumps in the road. As they and the SUV made it in one piece through the woods, they came across a split, dome-like high hill that had a valley in the center, vaguely visible in the dark.

The path continued into the valley and beyond. The valley was so narrow that both sides of the SUV were less than six feet away from the jagged walls. The dirt road zigzagged until it straightened for another eight paces. As they made it through the valley, the dirt path widened a bit. There was a pickup truck ahead of them. The person inside signaled Cassandra to follow, waving a flashlight. On both sides of the dirt road were erected galvanized fences. Each side had multiple warning signs.

PRIVATE PROPERTY

NO TRESPASSING

ALL TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED

“What are Grandma and Grandpa like?” Eddie asked, breaking the silence.

“You were just two years old when they last saw you. Their house rules are very strict. Behave, and you have nothing to fret about.” Her smile vanished. “Let it be a warning. Grandma has zero tolerance for disobedience.” Cassandra glanced at him from the corner of her eye and smiled. “Brighten up, my boy. Can’t have you pouting all summer long.”

Eddie sighed, as his mother made another left turn. He vaguely could see the farm plains with several oak trees around a swamp pond with several geese swimming. His eyes widened at the spectacular site with interest.

Maybe this trip will not be that bad after all, he said to himself as they passed a barn just fifteen yards to the right.

The barn was no doubt ancient for its structure, but renovations kept it in top condition as it could ever be. Just fifty yards ahead of them was an old manor that looked like it was constructed in the 1800s. The pickup truck parked along a logged fence. Cassandra parked the SUV right behind it. She turned off the ignition and stepped out to meet the driver. Just before Eddie stepped outside, a scrawny man in his fifties came out in the open to greet them.

He was covered in sweat, dirt, and grime. He was holding a hoe in his hand.

“Walter!” she exclaimed.

“Welcome back, my lady. I never imagined we’d meet again under such dire circumstance.”“I am sorry for all the boat load of trouble.”

“No, No. It will be my pleasure to train and have him under my tutelage.” Eddie stood there and watched on with curiosity, as his mother and the man embraced one another. Perhaps this man could be his grandfather or an elderly uncle of his. Cassandra beckoned him to join them. The porch lanterns from the manor made visibility more amiable. The man wore a plain white T-shirt and faded blue jeans that had tears from being worn out over the years. The man turned to face Eddie sternly and looked at him with curiosity.

“Well, look at you.” He continued, patting Eddie on the shoulder, “There was a time that I used to hoist you over my shoulders when you were just an infant. Pity how times have changed.”

“Hi,” Eddie said shyly. He reached to shake the man’s sweaty hand. “I am Eddie Ferguson! Believe it,” he exclaimed proudly.

“Walter Cunningham. Nice to meet you too lad.” He hunched. “Say, there’s no mistake about it. You have your father’s boisterous spirit and your mother’s eyes.” His eyes looked past Cassandra to an elderly couple that was approaching ever so slowly. “Best that I should get back to work before Grandma starts to throw a fit.”

“Nice meeting you too, Walter.”

They watched Walter disappear into the cornfield.

“Cassandra,” a voice called from beyond the porch. “Is that you?”

Eddie turned to an elderly woman with slender, white mane and wearing a kitchen apron.

“Yes! It’s just me and the boy.” Cassandra said and hugged the woman that Eddie assumed to be his grandmother. “How rude of me to drop in at such a wrong time.”

Grandma’s frail hands clamped on Cassandra’s shoulders, soothing her. “Nonsense. You two had me worrying.”

“Where is Stan?”

“He just left an hour ago in the Nexus. He’s going straight to the embassy to consult with ministers and to rally reinforcements from the guild.”

“By himself?” Cassandra asked with disbelief. “What about Dale and Wilbert?”

“Dale flew to the Australian preserve a month ago, and Wilbert is currently off the preserve, scouting for enemy approach.”

“I see,” Cassandra sighed. “Any word from the HQ?”

Grandma’s face became sullen and she shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Last contact was two months ago. Just before you came, Walter tried contacting the main office of the CIA. As expected, the CIA claimed they never heard of the GoM division being part of that organization. Good thing he used a landline off the preserve.”

Cassandra thrust out her lips, “We must assume the very worst. The CIA has been compromised.”

“Leave it at that.” She hugged Cassandra one final time and then her eyes landed on Eddie. “Oh my, you have grown up. Come. Don’t be afraid to give your grandma a hefty hug.”

Grandma gave him a nice squeeze. He could smell the cosmetics and nice perfume off her. She held him by his shoulders. Eddie’s heart squeezed as fresh tears rolled down her rosy cheeks.

“You look so much like your father did at your age,” she sniffled. “I’m glad that you are okay. Come. You two must be hungry and weary from your long journey.”

Eddie could not disagree with that. He was so famished that he felt like he could eat a humpback whale. They followed Grandma to the porch.

“Well there is a dire issue, and it’s owing to unforeseen circumstances. Woden has been petrified by Shadow Imps.”

“Oh my,” Grandma clutched her hands as if she was in agony. “Has he passed on? Stan will be saddened by this news.”

Cassandra shook her head, “Not for the next twelve months if we don’t reverse the spell. I’ve brought him. The spell was intended to incubate Eddie.”

“I have the recipe for the potion. It will take time for me to go through my alchemy bible for the required ingredients. In the meantime, come inside. I’ve prepared breakfast.”