Oscar and the Magi: Epilogue
The big grey car whispered through the snowy streets, gleaming in the lamplight. Oscar sat in the back, sandwiched between Maggs and Ridley, while his Uncle Rufus sat in a small jump seat opposite them.
It had started to snow again, gently, the flakes falling soundlessly against the windows. Oscar stared out at the streets, empty except for scurrying figures, black against the quiet white.
“At least I got to do one spell before it all ended,” said Oscar
“Ah, but it hasn’t all ended,” said Skelton, “In fact, it’s only just begun.”
“It’s only the Magi that have ended,” said Maggs.
“But it was the Magi who did the magic,” protested Oscar.
“Only because they were the only ones who could,” Uncle Rufus gestured out of the window, “Now anyone can. This morning the weather forecaster on the news was blaming this cold snap on Spirits. We’re living in a whole new world, now, with magic everywhere.”
“But I thought that you needed the Great Work to command spirits,” Oscar turned to Ridley, “I thought it was impossible without it…”
“Not impossible,” she replied, “Just harder. There were Magi before the Great Work and the Royal Brotherhood, remember, and there are still some who have kept the ancient skills alive,” she smiled over at Skelton, “Your Uncle is going to be very much in demand, I think, teaching people how to do magic again.”
“Will you teach me?” Oscar leant forward, eagerly.
“I think we all know who’ll have the last say about that,” said his Uncle, peering out of the window, “We’re here. Stop the car, please. Ready, Oscar?”
“I have to say goodbye to Maggs and Ridley, first…”
“It’s not goodbye,” Maggs hugged him fiercely, “It’s just a ’see you soon’. You have to visit a lonely old lady, it’s your duty.”
“I will, I promise, and you too, Rid… Mistress Marion…”
“I think you can just call me Marion, Oscar and… oh - don’t squeeze so hard, it’s still tender…”
“Sorry, I forgot…”
“Well, at least don’t forget to visit, will you?”
“Of course I won’t… Goodbye…”
“See you soon, remember? See you soon.”
Out of the car he and his Uncle crunched over the snow, through a rattley gate and up to a blue front door.
“I will see you all again soon, won’t I?”
“Of course you will - we’re all going to be very busy trying to set things to rights and we’re going to need all the help we can get. Us ex-Lord Protectors will have to stick together, you know?” Uncle Rufus smiled down, “We’ll see what your mother says.”
“She’s going to be really cross with me, isn’t she? I mean I did run off without telling her…”
“I shouldn’t imagine she’s going to be that pleased with me, either - but I don’t know if she’s really scarier than the Erl King or the White Dragon…”
“Oh, she is,” Oscar squeezed Uncle Rufus’ hand, “But don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”
“Thank god for that,” said Skelton, and rang the bell.
Oscar’s mother was cross with both of them, but only because she had been very, very worried and she was really very happy indeed to have Oscar home. And, after everything, he was very happy indeed to be there, too.