Magyk

The day after Stanley the Message Rat leaves Aunt Zelda’s cottage and begins his journey back to the Castle, the Big Thaw begins. The Supreme Custodian has Stanley locked in a cage because he refuses to reveal the location of Aunt Zelda’s home. The Big Thaw frees the Marsh Python, which is hungry after being trapped so long under the ice. Meanwhile, at the Castle, DomDaniel and his Magogs board his ship, The Vengeance. The Supreme Custodian forgets to lock Simon’s door, and the young man escapes. Alther helps Simon and Silas reunite.

Aunt Zelda senses an unfamiliar presence in the marshes and sends the Boggart to investigate. He drags himself back to the cottage, his “fur dull and matted with blood” (362). Boy 412 decides to give Aunt Zelda the dragon ring in the hopes that it will help her save the Boggart’s life, but he’s distracted when the Witch declares that the Boggart has been shot.

Aunt Zelda digs the lead bullet out of the Boggart and bandages the wound. The children take the jars containing the Shield Bugs outside and stand guard. Boy 412 remembers his Young Army training and vigilantly waits for a sign of an approaching enemy.