Page 2 of Charmed

As if the observation finally warranted a proper greeting, he swept into a bow…yet he still didn’t divulge his name.

I ventured forward, gaze fixated on the golden glow. “Might I try communicating with it?”

Amusement twitched his lips. “If you’d like.”

I wasn’t entirely certain what to do, only that the experiment intrigued me. I tucked my basket more securely into the crook of my arm and extended my hand. Like the first time my touch had grazed the light, it was warm and tingly…but another puzzling sensation mingled with the others. It took me a moment to pinpoint the elusive feeling: a sense of purpose—and even a bit of mischievousness.

“Is the light obedient, or does it have a mind of its own?”

His eyebrows rose in astonishment at my observation. “So you can hear it after all. Unsurprising, considering you followed it here.” He glanced at the light. “It appears you found something of interest after all.” He gave it an affectionate pat.

The light ruffled, as if pleased with itself…at least that was the emotion I sensed from it, not in words as the wizard had explained, but as if the emotion seeped beneath my skin, allowing me to feel some semblance of it myself.

What had the light supposedly discovered? Surely he couldn’t be referring tome. I was as interesting as any other peasant girl—which was to say: not the least bit interesting at all.

The wizard seemed to think otherwise, appearing not merely intrigued by the woman his light had summoned but as if I was the very person he’d been searching for. He examined me with a studious air, as if I harbored a myriad of fascinating secrets.

I shifted beneath his perusal, suddenly self-conscious—my shabby and patched dress, my dirty bare feet, and the leaves that had tangled in my fluffy black hair as I chased the light through thick trees. I tried to pluck them free and smooth out the wrinkles in my skirt; his lips twitched but he was polite enough to pretend not to notice.

Considering how closely he studied me, it felt only fair to examine him in return. I’d never encountered a magical being before and found myself mildly disappointed. I’d always imagined their magic would be as discernible as any of their other features, but other than his attire, he appeared entirelyordinary…save for the otherworldly aura that cloaked him like his flowing robes.

My stomach twisted pleasantly as my gaze flickered over his features. Whether his appearance had been enhanced by his powers or he donned a magical disguise, I couldn’t deny the man was handsome—a dimpled chin, wavy brown hair, and large grey eyes that looked almost green to match his emerald robes, a vibrancy that contrasted with my own drab attire. An air of mystery shrouded him, as did the confidence he wore like the power emanating from him.

Fascinating.

He noticed my staring and lifted a single eyebrow in question. My cheeks heated and I dropped my gaze. “My apologies, I’ve never met a wizard before.”

“Technically I’m not afullwizard, considering I’m still in training, but for all intents and purposes I consider myself as such. The journey to mastering the magical craft is a long yet thoroughly enjoyable one…hence I’m here to practice.”

Practice what?I ached to ask, but before I could decide whether I should, he continued. “As well as to search for something.” I was curious what a wizard hoped to find inside a seemingly ordinary forest, but I doubted he’d divulge the details of his purpose after he’d already withheld his name.

I examined the light with increased interest. “Is this a tracking spell to help you find whatever it is you’re looking for?”

He rolled it across his knuckles and I watched in fascination as beams shot randomly around the clearing. “Tracking is only one of many things one can accomplish through such a simple spell; magic is obedient to those who understand it…when it’s not being mischievous.” He smiled fondly at the light before, in an instant, it vanished, as if he’d tucked it inside an invisible pocket. “What I initially came to the forest for is of little consequence considering I’ve found something much more valuable: an apprentice.”

I blinked. “An…apprentice?”

He nodded. “Magic is quite rare, yet you appear to possess it.”

It took a long moment to decipher his meaning. An incredulous laugh escaped before I could contain it. “I don’t possess magic.” Surely I’d know if I did, considering such a possession would undoubtedly make life much easier.

“You’ve already demonstrated several times that youdo—following my magical light, entering a clearing protected by an enchanted shield, and showing the ability to communicate with it.” He lifted a finger to count off each point as he made them.

“Of course I followed it; it’s not everyday one stumbles across a sentient bulb of light that leads them to a wizard.” A magical being I was beginning to believe was rather eccentric after all.

“That alone proves your abilities—only magical beings can notice magical things.”

I opened my mouth to respond…only to snap it shut when words weren’t forthcoming.

Whether his magic alerted him or he simply had a keen intuition, he sensed I needed more convincing. As if searching for additional evidence, he cast his gaze around the clearing before it settled on my basket. He plucked a mushroom and held it aloft, twirling it by its stem.

“These mushrooms are enchanted.”

My mouth fell agape. “Arethey?” I’d been gathering this particular mushroom for years. A flare of worry suddenly swelled. “They’re not poisonous, are they?”

He chuckled. “Not to worry—they’re enchanted, not cursed.”

“How could such a thing grow within an unenchanted forest?”

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