I wasn’t quite finished with the story I was telling by the time 2025 ended and so decided to continue it until it reached an ending point. Then I will start a new one. Besides, I kind of want to see where Penelope ends up. And so we have…
Day 218: Michaelson frowned and Penelope wondered if he was going to start talking about evil magic again.
Michaelson frowned and Penelope wondered if he was going to start talking about evil magic again. “When did Jerome acquire this?” he asked.
“Twenty-five years maybe twenty-six,” Lenore said. “Why?”
“That was about the time the attack on the emperor was being planned,” Michaelson said. “They had ways passed the non-magical locks, and then they were stopped by a mage who worked as a policy advisor.”
They all looked back down at the charm.
“The non-magical locking symbols would be easier to recreate,” Lenore said slowly. “They take lest time than the magical defenses to set in place. If they lost this charm and still wanted to go through with their plan on a deadline, they might not have had time to recreate the magic sections.”
Michaelson nodded. “Can you get more exact dates as to when the charm was won?”
“I might be able to,” Lenore said. “We all keep journals and diaries. Jerome’s would have been added to the family library as a matter of course. Normally they are used to talk about magical training and abilities so the generation that comes after will be more prepared, but Jerome had a habit of adding everyday things. He might have mentioned it. Especially if he wrapped it with a note and hid it away.” She shrugged. Or he could ave deliberately not mentioned it because he thought it was dangerous.
“Dangerous to get both him and my mother killed,” Penelope said.
“If it was part of the planned attack on the emperor then it is quite dangerous,” Michaelson said. “I don’t think all the conspirators were rounded up. It was before my time of course, but I think some slipped the net, so to speak.”
“Perhaps another conversation with Peter is in order,” Lenore said.
“I believe it is,” Michaelson said. “If you could search the journals quietly and let me know if a more exact timeline could be put together I would appreciate it.”
“Of course,” Lenore said. “Charms aren’t my specialty, though. You may want to check in with someone who can give you a better timeline as to how long something like this may have taken to create.”
“I will, but I will find someone who can be cleared of all potential involvement before I do,” Michaelson said. He gestured to the charm. “May I take this in?” he asked.
Penelope nodded. “I certainly don’t want it.”
“And you should be spending your time healing,” Lenore said. “Not worried about things like this. Although I will admit the mystery part is a bit fun. Until it turned serious of course. Now we leave it to the professionals.”
“I think I can do that,” Penelope said.
“Good, then we will leave you to rest. Read and heal, my dear, that is where you need to focus your energies. Penelope nodded.
Ten til Midnight 