Page 14 of Charmed

I blinked at him. “Then what should I call you instead?PrinceAlden?” The tentative title felt awkward on my tongue.

“Just Alden will do.”

My eyes bulged. “I…couldn’t possibly do that, Your Highness.”

He frowned. “But you did before.”

“Well, circumstances were different; I didn’t know who you truly were.”

“You did: I’m Alden, Wizard-in-Training, and you’re my apprentice. Nothing has changed.”

Except for the fact I now knew him by hisrealidentity as the sole prince of our vast kingdom.

At my continued hesitation he sighed, the sound resigned. “If you insist on titles, then I’d prefer eitherMasterAlden orWizardAlden. Our magical agreement makes those most appropriate; your position as my apprentice supersedes that of being my subject.”

Unfortunately I couldn’t disagree with this logic. Referring to him asMasterfelt a bit much, which left only one remaining option. “Wizard Alden,” I conceded.

He smiled to himself, seeming pleased by the address. “Excellent, so the matter is settled…or perhaps not.” He slowed to face me. “There will be no curtsies, bows, addresses ofYour Highness, or any formalities whatsoever. Is that understood?”

My brow furrowed. “But…then how should I treat you?”

“As you always have.” Grumpiness hardened his tone. “I wish you hadn’t found out as it makes things needlessly complicated; we don’t have time to waste on royal protocol if you’re only going to apprentice with me for a year. The only matter of significance in our arrangement is that I’m your magical tutor. If my title makes things too complicated, then your apprenticeship ends here.” By the fierceness filling his expression I realized he was serious.

It wasn’t until he gave me an out that I realized just how desperately I wanted this opportunity. For as long as I’d resisted this path, now that I’d chosen it nothing would compel to me give it up…neither his position nor my grudge against him for withholding it. A flicker of anxiety in the prince’s eyes betrayed his act of sternness; he clearly desired this as much as I did.

I hesitated before nodding reluctantly. “Very well…WizardAlden.” I didn’t offer any word of complaint, even as I fought the impulse to apologize in a way he’d undoubtedly disapprove of. When I made no further argument his shoulders relaxed and his easygoing manner returned.

“Thank goodness we got that tedious business sorted.” Satisfied, he closed the remaining distance to the building just up ahead with long, purposeful strides. “This is the magical chamber where we’ll be spending the majority of our time and where you’ll conduct your studies.”

At our approach, the door opened of its own accord, as if attended by an invisible servant. My eyes rounded as I stepped inside the stone chamber. The room was large and airy, lit by swaths of natural light tumbling through the windows and many floating candles that flickered to life upon our entrance.

A myriad of books stacked haphazardly greeted me and I took in a breath of amazement at the sheer extravagance, curious to explore their titles; perhaps I could find some new stories to share with Corbin. My eyes were next caught by the number of magical items scattered about the room and I yearned to better examine them, but before I could study any of the enchanted objects with any detail, a book that had been lying dormant in the corner suddenly stirred to life and soared towards us, flapping its pages as if agitated.

I took a step back, startled, but Wizard Alden chuckled as he gave it a reassuring pat. “My apologies for being late, but thank you for tending to things in my absence.”

The book nestled its spine against his hand rather affectionately before tilting itself in my direction with an almost inquisitive air. The wizard motioned towards me.

“This is my new apprentice, Maeve. You can show her around while I meet with my parents. Please treat her well.”

The spellbook didn’t seem inclined to perform such a menial task. It gave an annoyed ruffle but Wizard Alden ignored its silent complaint as he swept over to a nearby bookcase sagging beneath the weight of hundreds of magic books, muttering to himself as he browsed.

“If only I had time to study why I got the portal’s configuration wrong before I meet with Mother and Father…” With a sigh he carefully selected a worn volume and handed it to me. “While I’m gone, your first assignment is to read this. It’ll cover all the basics to provide you with a solid foundation that will be essential in learning to cast spells. I’ll answer any questions you might have when I return; hopefully the information is straightforward so I have time to deduce the error in my portal.”

His robes billowed as he strode determinedly towards the door. He paused on the threshold to glance over his shoulder, a concerned look crossing his face as he found me tracing the title embedded into the leather cover.

“Youcanread, can’t you?”

“Of course I can.” I might be a common girl but I at least possessed that qualification.

He nodded to himself. “My parents are both very involved in ensuring literacy for all our subjects, which will make my job easier.”

He departed. The door closed without assistance behind him, leaving me standing alone in a foreign environment, surrounded by magical knowledge and enchanted items I had no idea what to do with.

I glanced uncertainly at the spellbook floating nearby. “His Highness promised me a tour…?”

In response, the spellbook quivered slightly as if snorting in condescension, then floated towards the hearth, where it settled itself comfortably like a cat stretching itself out for a nap. It appeared that the tour would have to wait. It was likely for the best; it’d be much more productive if I could ask the prince—wizard,I hastily corrected myself—my questions that were sure to arise…if he’d be willing to take time away from his own pressing studies in order to answer them.

With a sigh I curled up in a chair near the fire and eased the book open, prepared to settle in for a long stretch of reading before His Highness returned…only to be bombarded with page after page of archaic language and complex diagrams I couldn’t even begin to decipher.

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