The Wizard's Ward: Book One of the Guardian Trilogy

The Wizard’s Ward

Book One of the Guardian Trilogy

By Adeana Terrill

The Wizard’s Ward

Book One of the Guardian Trilogy

Copyright © 2012 Adeana Terrill

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-329-37591-8

Published by Lulu.com

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced, scanned, uploaded or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.a

All characters and events in this book are fictitious.

All resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidence.

Cover Design by Patrick and Adeana Terrill

Cover art by Deni Curtis

Dedication

For my loving husband Patrick

Whose wonderful help and computer skills

made this book possible.

Acknowledgments

Triece Bartlett - For working hard to get her book successfully E-published. Which made me totally envious, just kidding… kind of, and sparked me to turn from old methods of getting a book published and try E-publishing. And who helped me with information on how she did it… and where, Lulu.com. They helped me publish not only this eBook, but also a paperback version as well.

Thanks again Triece, and good luck with your book!

Katie Rupprecht - For catching my major errors… so you don’t have to read them.

Meagan Terrill – For missing out on mommy-daughter days, and so much more, while her mom was busy getting her book published.

Lulu.com – My wonderful Publisher- For making this book dream come true.

Chapter One

Mirshalla, focus harder, concentrate on the candle, on creating a small fire. See the wick smoke and light with a warm flame. He said patiently.

I raised my hand and snapped my fingers as I said Infernum!

I concentrated on lighting the candle as hard as I could while I did the gesture and incantation, but once again, I couldn’t make anything happen. I looked back at him, knowing I was disappointing him, but I couldn’t seem to help it. Although he never seemed upset by my failures maybe that was because I was just his ward and not his real apprentice, Tabinus, who was such a great student with great talent. I couldn’t understand why he continued to try and teach me when I obviously had no real magical potential.

I’m sorry Master Jesson, I really did try, I just can’t do it.

Jesson looked at me carefully with his blue eyes, the same color as his wizard’s robes he was wearing, before finally getting up and walking over to one of the nearest shelves that lined the walls of his workroom. The shelves were all stuffed full of books, tomes, scroll tubes, boxes and bottles full of spell components and other miscellaneous items.

The workroom itself was large, over forty feet long and thirty feet across. Besides the shelves there were also six large tables covered with vials, jars, mortars and pestles, and numerous other tools and items.

Stuffed under some of the tables were several large chests, full of more magical stuff, I wasn’t sure what all was in them. A few old worn rugs covered the area. There were no windows in the room, only two doors. The first leading back into the hall, the second leading into a room I had never been allowed into, and never given a hint as to what lay inside.

After reaching the shelf he scanned it for a moment then reached up and pulled down a small box covered in runes. He reached into the box and pulled out a golden locket. He held it tenderly in his hand, turning it over several times, as he studied it. Then he placed the box back on the shelf and looked at me.

This locket is a very powerful magical item Mirshalla, and very important to me. He looked at it again for a few moments, as if debating something with himself. Then he walked around behind me.

I am going to let you use this locket Mirshalla, but you must be very careful with it. Also, you are not to tell anyone else I have allowed you to use it, especially Tabinus. Here, hold up your hair so I can fasten this around your neck.

I reached back and lifted my hair and moved it to the side. It was waist length, so it was too long to hold up easily. He reached out and placed the locket around my neck and I felt his hands brush the skin at my nape as he fastened the locket. Then he took my hair from my hands and let it fall, smoothing its dark brown strands with his hands before he moved back to his seat. He looked back at the locket resting about midway down my chest and nodded with satisfaction.

The chain is long enough that you can wear the locket under your dress, close to your skin, and no one should see it. I want you to wear it always, take it off for nothing, unless I tell you to. He glanced to the candle and back to me as he continued to speak. For now, take the locket in hand and concentrate on starting a flame. Know that the locket is very powerful and it will easily allow you to start the flame, the trick is to keep from starting a bonfire. Now, as I said, concentrate on starting a very small flame, just a small one. And do not use the incantation or gesture, just trust the locket. And he began watching the candle, a strange smile on his face.

I enclosed the locket in my hand and immediately felt the magic running through it, the tingling causing my fingers to tighten slightly. I had felt magic before, lots of times, but this magic felt different, more… real? I felt so nervous, I hoped I wouldn’t break the locket somehow, or start a huge fire. I looked at the candle and concentrated, just as I had so many times before, but without worrying about timing it with the incantation and gesture. I focused on the locket and its slight tingling sensation. I thought about using the slight tingling to create a slight flame. I focused on the wick, on making it smoke and…

Suddenly a bright flame burst forth on the candle, and Master Jesson actually jumped to his feet. He watched the flame for a moment then grabbed me and picked me up and spun me around before setting me down again. Not bad for a thin, white-haired man over fifty that rarely did anything more strenuous than lifting spellbooks. He had a proud and ecstatic look on his face as he gazed at me.

Very good, very good. Master Jesson said, and then he walked over and snuffed out the candle. Now you must do it without holding the locket. Place it under your dress and feel the magic against your skin. You do not need to touch the locket, simply know that it is there. Feel it against your skin, focus on the slight tingling sensation. Focus from where it touches you, concentrate and light the candle again.

Master Jesson walked back to stand near me and watched me patiently as I tucked the locket into my dress. Without holding the locket in my hand, it took several attempts but I finally did it. I felt the tingling from the locket resting against my skin, I concentrated, and suddenly the wick burst into flame and the candle was lit.

You see, I told you, you could do it! He continued to smile down at me from his five and a half foot height, as he spoke. Alright, you have learned to use the locket, but now you must learn to make it appear as if you are doing it on your own. Take your right hand and snap your fingers, while you say ‘Infernum’.

I did as I was told, feeling silly since I wasn’t really doing the magic.

Why can’t I do normal magic without using the locket? Tab doesn’t need the locket. Don’t I have any true magic of my own? I couldn’t keep the doubt and uncertainty out of my voice. I hated to disappoint him, and I knew if I was weak at magic, it would disappoint him. Surely I wasn’t so inept really, was I? I could do one thing…

He looked at me thoughtfully for several moments before he finally spoke.

I never said you didn’t have magic of your own… you do. I am simply telling you that when you do use the locket, you must make others believe that it is you doing the magic. If they don’t believe the magic is coming from you then they will begin looking for where the magic is truly coming from and that will lead them to the locket. The locket will allow you to do magic you would not normally be able to do, it helps power the spells so you can cast as if you were more powerful and more fully trained. It will also allow you to cast without all the trappings that most spells require: no gestures, incantations or components. It will help you with your own abilities by getting you used to feeling the tingling of magic as it flows through your body and making your mind and body more receptive. But the locket is only to be a tool to help you learn. You will still need to train and practice, both to use the locket effectively and to improve on your own personal magic. He smiled slightly. You know you have magic my lovely one, but you are more aligned to dispelling. Your strength lies in canceling magic, not in creating it. I have explained this to you many times. Learning to cast and use other types of magic is simply a lot harder for you, but you do have the potential. The locket will simply enhance your potential. I am proud of your dispelling abilities Mirshalla. You surpass Tabinus at dispelling things, but I want more for you. Do not misunderstand me; I am not disappointed in you, not at all. I am very happy with you my little one and I will continue to be no matter how well you do magic.

He leaned over and kissed me on my forehead then pulled back and glanced toward the candle again. He raised his hand and pinched his fingers… and the flame was snuffed out.

Now let’s try the combination again.

We practiced several more times, until I made it look as if the word and finger snapping were causing the flame.

You’ve done very well today Mirshalla, but now it is time for you to go to bed and get some sleep. Keep the locket on and hidden, do you understand?

I nodded and smiled. I was feeling happy and a little proud.

I understand Master, I understand. I had finally done something, well almost, that Tabinus had been able to do for six years, and at sixteen, he was only two years older than I was.

Since I did it, can I stay up a little longer like Tabinus does? I asked, hoping his good mood would let me stay up later so I could practice some more. I wanted desperately to brag to Tabinus about what I had just done but I knew Jesson wouldn’t allow it.

I don’t think so, at least not tonight. Now kiss me good night my little one, then it’s off to bed. He leaned down and gently kissed me on the cheek and turned his face as I kissed him back.

I knew it was no use asking again, he still treated me like a four-year old. Still, that was better than how he treated Tabinus sometimes.

As I walked down the hallway to my room I passed the open door to Tabinus’ room. The room was still lit by his lamp and he was sitting at his small table, pondering over a large tome. His short straight black hair was hanging slightly forward but not enough to block his vision. He was tall for sixteen, just over six feet, but now he looked slightly hunch-backed as he was leaned over reading.

His frame was not as thin as Master Jesson’s was, but he was certainly not built like any of the guards Master employed either. His complexion was pale, but not just from lack of sun, he was naturally fair, and I knew he was studying the tome with dark gray eyes.

I also knew if I ever wanted to be a great wizard I needed to be more like Tab, I needed to study, study, and study some more. But, unlike Tab, I didn’t get punished if I didn’t study, and I just didn’t seem to have the real desire to be a great wizard like Tab did. I stood in his doorway for a moment longer, watching him, but he never noticed. There was little to distract him from his studies in the room. It was furnished only with a small bed, his lamp, a chest for his few personal belongings and a rug under the table and two chairs. Since most of Jesson’s keep was built on the inside of the mountain, rather than the outer cliff edge, poor Tab didn’t even have a window to look out of… but then neither did I.

I turned and continued down the rough-hewn stone hallway until I reached my room. Once there I took in the difference.

My entire room, which was three times the size of Tabs, was covered in soft woven rugs, and my bed was huge, with many more blankets and pillows than Tab had. The bare stone walls of Tabs room had been turned into drape and tapestry covered walls in my room. I had a larger table and four chairs, several lamps and my own fireplace, hearth and woodbin. I also had a chest, almost full, of toys and stuff as well as a large standing wardrobe, stuffed with clothes, and shoes and other things. The room was decorated mostly in pinks, with touches of yellows, greens, and reds, and the occasional flower patterns on tapestries and some rugs. It was a bright, warm, and friendly room, completely different from the mostly brown and gray starkness of Tabs room.

I have wished more than once that Tab and I could get along better. We might be friends, if Master would only stop treating us so differently. But because he does, Tab resents me and dislikes me, and seeks every opportunity to be better than me and show me up. I know it is his way of seeking Masters approval, but it is also his way of trying to get back at me. That, of course, simply makes me get mad at him, so we pretty well dislike each other.

I closed the bedroom door and changed into my nightgown, making sure the locket was safely tucked underneath. My nightgown was of soft, thick, cotton in a pretty shade of pink with white lace trim and small white buttons from neck to mid-chest. I got into bed knowing I was too excited to sleep. I had done so much today. So much I couldn’t talk about to anyone except Master Jesson, and he already knew. It was exciting but disappointing as well. I expected to stay awake for hours yet… surprisingly, I was wrong.

Chapter Two

Hey dimwit. Want to see the new spell I learned? Tab asked me as soon as I entered the dining hall for lunch. That makes over fifty spells I can cast now. What about you, have you reached three or four yet?

I hated him, I really did.

Jesson told us we were not to talk about our training. I walked over and sat across from Tab where Tomas, who was waiting patiently to begin serving, had laid out my plate.

You know Jesson only says that because he must be disappointed in your progress and doesn’t want everyone to know how miserable you’re doing. Tab said cruelly.

I dropped my eyes and looked at the plate. I truly hated him, but I have to admit he might be right. I was just lousy at magic. If I didn’t think it would disappoint him even more I would just tell Master Jesson that I wasn’t interested in learning magic anymore. But he did give me the locket to wear so maybe… just maybe… something would happen soon.

I smiled brightly as I looked up at Tab, which caused him to suddenly frown. Then I smiled at Tomas.

What are we having today Tomas?

He smiled back at me and it even reached his warm brown eyes. Poor Tomas, he was getting so old with the gray hair and wrinkles, goodness he must be over eighty. His hands shook sometimes as he served the food and once he even spilled some mutton stew on his black and white serving uniform. I hope I never get that old.

We are having grilled halibut steaks with sliced potatoes and jakamar roots cooked in sour cream and goats butter and some fresh apple wedges.

Sounds good. Will Master be joining us for lunch today?

Tomas shook his head. No, my lady. He sends his regrets but he has an experiment in progress and cannot leave right now. I will take some lunch to his workroom shortly. He served my food then served Tab and poured us both a large glass of tickleberry juice which, despite the name, did not tickle as you drank it. I was told it got its name from when people picked them or something like that. But even though it didn’t tickle I still loved the sweet pink juice.

Will that be all for both of you?

I’m fine thank you Tomas.

Everything’s fine Tomas, you can go now. Tab said and I could see a curious gleam in his eyes. I think my smile had disturbed and confused him and now he intended to find out what was going on.

Tomas gave us both a little bow and left the room. I ignored Tab and studied the room as I ate.

It was about twenty feet wide and almost forty feet long with a ten-foot high ceiling. The stone walls had been lined floor to ceiling with stained mahogany which also matched the doors and several small sideboards that lined the room’s walls. The floor was done in a deep brown marble stone and three large chandeliers lit the room. The dining room table was about eight feet wide and thirty feet long made of stained and polished mahogany and surrounded by thirty-two matching mahogany chairs. It looked perfect for entertaining… except Jesson never entertained.

So how many spells do you know? Tab asked worriedly.

I deliberately smiled at him and slowly shook my head.

I’m sorry Tab but you know I can’t discuss that with you. Master Jesson would be quite upset with me if he found out. There let him deal with that. Now he could wonder if Jesson thought Tab was better than I was, or if it was the other way around.

Tab began frowning as he ate and for once I managed to have a peaceful lunch when Jesson wasn’t present. I’d have to try and phrase things as well in the future.

I finished lunch and went into the library. It was a large room but only about half as long as the dining room and lined with bookshelves full of books, scrolls, maps, and just about any type of material that might contain some information. He even had a few clay tablets. In the center of the room was a large table, several chairs and another large chandelier for light. I pulled out some of Jesson’s maps and a book and took them to the table to study. I loved to look at all the faraway places and imagine one day I might go there. Sometimes it was really hard to imagine though. I had never been anywhere except this stupid keep. I had never seen a real forest or swamp or even an ocean or lake. The only glimpses I had were from pictures in some of Jesson’s books. And the only information I had was either from Jesson’s books or from asking the other residents of the keep, most of whom had lived other places before coming here. Even Tab had lived in a farming village not too far from a forest and a river before he came here. One day I would see these things too.

I was looking at a book with a map of the kingdom of Keer, the most magical kingdom in all the realms, when Master Jesson entered the library.

Good afternoon Mirshalla. Are you ready to continue your lessons?

Yes, Master Jesson. Too bad he was talking about my educational studies not my magical studies. Jesson was more concerned about me learning the things every lady should know, and then some, than he was about me learning magic. I guess he figured I was never going to make it as a wizard so he was getting me ready to be a good wife.

He walked over and glanced at the book I was looking at. And what are you so interested in today my dear?

I was looking at a map of the kingdom of Keer.

He paused for several moments before he spoke again.

The kingdom of wizards. I’ll have to update my information and maps I see. That is an old book. A king hasn’t actually ruled the kingdom for almost fifty years. Any particular reason for your interest?

It’s just a place I’d like to see one day, it sounds fascinating. But, if there’s no king, who rules?

It is currently ruled by a council of the Dukes of the kingdom, all wizards. The last Grand Wizard King was killed in an attempted overthrow by several of the Dukes of the kingdom. Since then Grand, High, and lesser wizards have been fighting over who would be the next king, or even if there should be a new king. There are many different groups and factions, it is a kingdom in turmoil. He reached out and took the book from me and closed it. Perhaps in another twenty-five years it will be a place worth seeing again. Now get your book on mathematics and we’ll begin your lesson.

I sighed and got my mathematics book. I would have much preferred to hear more about Keer, or even study geography or my other languages: Elven, Varalon or Keerian. I was not a math person, but I put my nose to the grindstone and studied.

* * *

Very good Mirshalla keep concentrating.

I couldn’t believe it. I was moving a mug across the room from one shelf to another without even touching it! Jesson called it a Telekinesis spell and with the help of the locket I was doing it! This was great! Alright that is enough for today you may set the mug back on the table.

I saw the mug and I imagined pulling my hand with the mug in it back towards me and carefully setting the mug down on the table.

I did it!

And very well I might add. All right, for now I want you to continue practicing the two spells I’ve shown you and next time I’ll show you the more powerful versions. I also have something I’d like you to do. He walked over and picked up a large tome off the next table. This is my backup spellbook, it contains a copy of all my important spells in case something were to happen to the originals. Normally it is trapped with spells but I have removed them so you may look at it. I want you to go through the book and make a list of what spells most interest you and which ones you would like to learn first then second and so on. You can study it as well if you wish but for now I am more curious about your interests and what direction your training will progress in from here.

I took the heavy tome from him. This was great. Up until now, he hadn’t even had me start a spellbook of my own. This definitely gave me hope.

Thank you Master Jesson. I carried his spellbook back to my room and began to look through it. I began by flipping pages rather hastily just to see what they were like. That’s when I realized just how many spells must actually be in his spellbook. It was daunting. I sighed and closed the book. Then I opened it to the first page and began to scan the spell title and description.

* * *

I concentrated and pulled my power. I focused on my power and the tingling feel of the locket. I pushed my power outward and watched as a large pile of wood suddenly burst into flames. Wow! This was the first time I had started a fire this large. Most of today we had been working on a fireplace sized fire but Jesson thought that before we finished for the day I might try something harder and it had worked. Great!

That was wonderful Mirshalla. Jesson said with excited approval in his voice as he watched the fire burn.

I had only had the locket for two weeks but Jesson said I was making great progress.

He picked up a mug of water from the table we were sitting at and began casting. At the end of the spell he tossed the water from the mug at the fire and it suddenly extinguished. Only the burnt wood and the residual smoke rising out the open windows told that a fire had recently been burning.

Wow! Can I learn that spell next Master?

Jesson hesitated a moment, then shook his head.

I think that spell is still a little too powerful for you to learn yet, even with the locket. Perhaps in a month or so you can try it.

So I can start fires, I just can’t stop them once I start them. That didn’t sound too safe to me, but I guess magic just works that way.

I looked around the room again as Jesson began casting another cleanup spell.

I finally did it. I finally got to see behind the door in Jesson’s workroom. Now that I had the locket and was really learning magic, Jesson had finally taken me beyond that door.

The door had actually opened to a set of stone stairs leading down. The stairs had ended maybe thirty-feet down where a corridor went about ninety feet and had two doors on each side. The area was lit by magical light and the walls seemed almost metallic. This definitely didn’t look like the rest of the keep and judging from the angle of the corridor from the stairs I had a feeling we were actually deeper into the mountain but still near one of its cliff faces.

We had passed the first set of doors and finally entered the door on the right side of the corridor near the end. The door seemed to be solid steel but Jesson had turned the knob and pushed it open with ease.

The room was huge almost twice as big as the dining room and the ceiling was maybe thirty feet up. It was made completely in that same metallic like stone except for ten windows that lined the far wall. There were five about twenty-five feet up and five at normal window height, they were all spaced equally from each other and the corner walls and all were open at the moment. The view outside; a flat, but rock-strewn, prairie land with trees in the distance

Near the center of the room, on the floor, was a gigantic pentagram in a circle actually carved into the stone that was maybe thirty feet in diameter. The center is where Jesson set up the piles of wood for me to burn. That entire side of the room had nothing else. This side, closest to the door, had shelves of spell components along the wall furthest from the circle and two average sized tables and four chairs closer to the center of the room. They were covered in wizard tools and equipment just like his regular workshop and it was at the table closest to the door that we had been sitting.

I waited until he had finished his cleanup spell and all the burnt wood and smoke within the circle suddenly disappeared before I spoke.

What’s in the other three rooms Master?

The room directly across from this one is another magical workshop and the other two are storage rooms for most of my magical components. He looked up at the windows near the ceiling. Top windows, close. And all five windows closed and latched. Bottom windows, close. And they did the same. It had worked just the same when he had opened them except he had said open instead of close of course. We are done for the day Mirshalla, come, let’s go get some dinner.

That sounded good. I had actually worked up an appetite.

What spells have you been deciding on learning next? Jesson asked as we walked back to the dining room.

Well, I don’t know how powerful they are but these are the ones that have caught my eye so far, although I am still not very far through the book. I looked at the ground suddenly embarrassed. I know I should study more and spend more time on the book…it’s just… it’s so boring sometimes…and…

That’s alright little one. I understand and I don’t want to pressure you. You are not my apprentice and I don’t expect you to accomplish what Tab accomplishes. He has had much more training and still receives more because he is my apprentice. You are my lovely and talented ward, whom I am honored to teach in all things, not just magic. You have the gift and I’m glad I can help you recognize and use it but it’s all your choice and you can work as hard as you want or give it up tomorrow. It’s true it might disappoint me a little if you wanted to completely give it up but taking your time or learning only what you’re really interested in is far from giving it up. I glanced up at him to try and read his expression. He seemed to mean everything he was saying, especially about being disappointed if I completely gave it up. Fortunately, the way I was feeling now, I definitely wanted to learn more… hopefully I’d even be able to show up Tab once or twice in the process. I smiled at Jesson. How could I not when he was so wonderful?

"I do want to keep learning, I was just afraid you were upset that I wasn’t studying more or learning faster. I’m so relieved you’re not. Anyway, these are the spells I currently have my eye on the most: Clairvoyance, Invisibility, and Water-breathing. I think those would be fun and interesting.

Clairvoyance, Invisibility and Water-breathing. Very interesting choices indeed and I think you can learn them without any problems. First however, you must finish learning the higher versions of the Telekinesis and Fire spells, you are getting very close so probably not much longer.

We reached the dining room and I smiled to see the sullen look on Tab’s face as Jesson and I walked in together. Suffer baby, suffer.

Chapter Three

‘Danger, I feel danger… getting closer, and closer. Master!’

I awoke to find myself dripping sweat and feeling so worried and afraid I could hardly believe it. I was actually shaking with fear… but I couldn’t remember what I was so afraid of. I lay in bed trying to remember but I could recall nothing about my dream. Finally I got up, put on my slippers and robe and left my room.

I went down the hall to the wash room. The room was larger than Tab’s bedroom. It had a sunken bathing area that would magically fill and empty, soapsuds and all. There was a magical chamberpot that emptied as well as cleaned you, I was told that the servants actually had to wipe… ugh, what a revolting thought. But I was heading for the vanity that was against the center wall with its large mirror and small basin and pitcher of water. Also some brushes, combs, and other odds and ends a person might need to be clean and presentable. The pitcher poured warm or cool water depending on the command word you said before you poured it.

Surprisingly, only the two washrooms that were in the family area of the keep were magical, all the others were normal, mundane. That meant that this washroom that Tab and I shared, carefully trying to avoid each other, and the Master’s were the magical ones.

I always thought it odd that he didn’t make the servants and the guards washrooms magical or any other rooms in the keep for that matter. A magical fireplace or kitchen sink just seemed to make sense. But Master always said that if you make your home too magical it makes it easier for others to find you… I had thought that odd but when I asked about what he meant he told me it wasn’t important and not to ask him again… so I haven’t.

Once I reached the washroom I poured cool water into the basin and washed my face and neck, trying not to get my nightgown wet. It calmed me. I looked at myself in the mirror and watched as the paleness that had been there fled, and I felt refreshed when I finally went back to bed.

* * *

I remember I had worried about going back to sleep but the next thing I knew Elda woke me as she placed my breakfast on the table, then moved to rekindle the fire in the fireplace. I yawned and stretched, then slowly climbed out of bed. A glint of gold caught my eye, and I realized that the locket had fallen out of my nightgown and was visible to anyone who cared to look. Quickly, I grabbed it and stuffed it back into my nightgown, glancing over to Elda, who luckily was still adding wood to the fire and had her back to me. I hated buttoning the nightgown all the way up as the neck was too high and nearly rubbed my chin. Still, I knew I would have to start wearing it that way so the locket didn’t accidentally fall out again.

I didn’t understand why Master had been so… strange about this locket, after all, he had given both Tab and me magical anklets to wear. I had had mine for as long as I could remember, and Tab had received his the moment Master had accepted him as his apprentice, almost seven years ago.

Oh well, maybe he didn’t want Tab to get anymore jealous than he already was. Master has actually seemed to notice the bickering and intense mutual dislike that has been occurring lately. He hadn’t noticed too much before because he had spent most of his work time with Tab, in the workroom. I hadn’t decided to learn magic until almost two years ago. I had only rarely gone into the workshop before that so Tab had his own secure place in Jesson’s life.

Now I was Jesson’s ward and his kind-of apprentice. I got to spend time with him when he was relaxing or teaching me reading or other lessons, usually in my room or the family parlor. And then I got to spend time with him learning magic. Even a lot of my early magic lessons were not done in the workroom. I remember he asked me several times when I was younger if I wanted to learn Magic, but I didn’t really want to. I preferred looking at his wonderful maps, and reading all the different kinds of books he had. I dreamed of seeing the world and having fun, I certainly didn’t want to live forever in a dark keep pouring over magic books all my life. It was only as Tab tried to grab more and more of Master Jesson’s time and attention that I finally asked to learn Magic, to try and get back at Tab, and to try and keep Jesson’s love and attention. Then things started getting worse between Tab and me after that.

Since I started using the locket and making Master even happier with me, the relationship between Tab and me has become even more hostile and tense. I can get Master’s attention with but a word, while Tab is lucky if he isn’t beaten for slacking. If I didn’t dislike him so much I might feel sorry for him. And the fact that try as I might I haven’t been able to do anything magical at all, except with the locket, other than dispelling. Tab has always enjoyed watching me fail in the past. Even now I know that his jealousy over my new magic is wrong. I feel like I’m cheating by using the locket, but since it pleases Master Jesson, I have no intention of stopping.

Thinking of that, I hurried to finish my breakfast. I wanted to practice some more. I was determined that one day I would cast real magic all on my own. That and practicing would mean spending time with Master Jesson… and annoy Tab.

*