All is quiet is the tower, but there is furtive whispering in the corner.
“Are you sure this is the right tower?”
“Of course.” There is an uncomfortable silence. “Okay—I think so. The note was very vague.”
“So is Headmistress.”
A shrug of acknowledgement.
“Are we sure about the time?”
“Yes.”
“Oh. Is she usually late?”
“Oh, no.” Another uncomfortable silence. “Well, actually yes. Usually. But she’s reliable.”
A slow 30 seconds pass.
“Any chance this could be a trap?”
“What? Oh—oh no. Of course not. That is, um—“
There was a loud POP, a plethora of smoke and the distinct smell of brimstone. For a moment, a tall figure imposing figure appears in the smoke, four eyes gleaming eerily. After a moment of suspenseful silence, in which no breathing can be heard, a great deal of coughing encompasses the room. As the smoke clears, the tall imposing figure with four eyes is revealed to be, instead, the rather stout figure of Headmistress Featheringill with Toady perched in mortal terror on her head beneath the hat.
“Oh, for sweet pity’s sake—get down, Toady. You’re making a spectacle of yourself.”
“This from a woman who had to travel by stink-stone because she’s used up all her travel passes on Transport Interdimensional,” Toady muttered disgustedly. Shakily, he manages to disengage from his mistress and hop to the floor. Adam and Izzy are staring uncertainly at Headmistress Feathergill, who smiles a benevolent smile at them.
“Sorry to be so late,” she murmured. “We—“ She casts a stern eye at Toady. “We had a few transportation difficulties, so we’ll just move right along. I assume you got my note, yes?” Without waiting for a reply, she is moving toward the door. “Now—I’m in hopes that Christy has also received my note. I need her ingredients to enchant our weapons, and I won’t say no to potions help. I always was a disaster in the cauldron. Sad to say, we’re in for a bit of a nasty fight, but I’ve never know a U-mun yet that won’t squeal at the smell of brimstone.” She casts Toady a reproachful look and sniffs at him. “Two bats with one stone, and all that. Ready, um, gentlemen?” She charges out the door, with Toady and the two bewildered would-be warriors at her heels.