Page 25 of Charmed

I slammed the spellbook shut, earning not only its disgruntled ruffle but Wizard Alden’s notice. His eyes widened. “Do you know how to read?”

“Of course,” I snapped. I paused, trying to think of something I could add to give him a clue as to my identity, but before any ideas came to me, the wizard nodded, eyeing me with interest.

“It appears my communication spell was quite thorough.” He looked a little puzzled by this, but shook his head and continued. “This makes you a much more interesting enchanted object. I wonder if I can claim your ability to read as a separate charm, which means we only need one more.”

“You’re assuming I’m willing to cooperate.” My voice came out a little more sharply than I intended, but my inability to communicate as I wished was frustrating.

More importantly, if he didn’t possess the necessary skills to help me, I had no further reason to stay. Whether it was as a frog or a human, Iwouldfind a way to return to my brother and remain by his side until he got well. Wizard Alden would eventually realize my fate after his competition ended and he returned home to find me missing, which would finally allow him to provide the assistance I needed. While waiting would prove inconvenient, being a frog hardly mattered when Corbin needed me.

I scanned the clearing for the direction that would most likely lead me home, but it was impossible to gauge beneath the darkness, so I chose one at random to more quickly escape the prince; I could be more selective come morning. I hadn’t gone far when I was plucked mid-hop by the wizard himself.

“Please, you mustn’t leave. I need you for my entrance challenge.”

“That’s of no concern to me.”

“Even though my earning a position on the Enchanters’ Council would grant me access to the advanced magic currently beyond my reach…including that of human transformation?”

I stilled. “Would you truly be able to turn me into a human should you win?”

He nodded. “The arrangement is mutually beneficial, considering my learning such a difficult spell would provide me a solid foundation for the more advanced studies my new position will require.”

I searched his grey eyes—they’d taken on a light shade of green today to match his robes. Heappearedearnest, and while the man had often frustrated me with his habit of withholding information, he’d neverlied, giving me hope I could trust him.

A possibility suddenly occurred to me. “Does this advanced magic include…spells of healing?”

I held my breath as he considered the matter. “Does healing magic also interest you?”

I hoped this interest of mine would guide his thoughts towards his apprentice who’d also been intrigued by the healing arts. But either his mind was too occupied with his own interests for him to make the connection, or he hadn’t cared enough about my background to remember.

“I believe there are some particularly powerful ones,” he said in answer to my confirming nod.

I couldn’t speak, too overwhelmed by the visions suddenly flooding my mind, all of Corbin as he ran around playing with the vibrancy of a normal child rather than the frailty that had consumed him his entire short life. Healthy, well,whole. Though I hesitated in delaying my return to my brother’s side, at least the time away would allow me to find a way to prevent him from suffering from poor health ever again, a more powerful wish.

“If I agree to help you,” I said slowly, “you must promise to not only do all in your power to turn me into a human, but grant me access to this healing magic.”

“I promise.” He extended a finger, I rested my tiny green hand over the tip, and we shook on it.

By this time the light of early dawn had begun to tinge the horizon, drawing Wizard Alden’s gaze to the sky. “It’s nearly morning. That doesn’t leave us much time to arrive at the competition. Unfortunately there’s no time for rest, but lack of sleep is nothing that a simple rejuvenating potion can’t cure.”

He procured a bottle from one of his many pockets and downed its contents in a single swig. Surely even the most potent potion couldn’t make up for a proper night of rest; the prince’s need I’d witnessed in the weeks of my apprenticeship to push forward in his ambitions bordered on unhealthy. Yet that didn’t suppress my desire to send that very potion to Corbin to use for the many nights sleep eluded him, or for Mother who faithfully gave up her own rest on those nights to soothe him.

Eyes brighter after his dose of energy, the wizard began to flip through the spellbook with renewed vigor, searching for a third enchantment. He repeatedly shook his head, muttering about lacking the necessary time or skill for each. Finally he paused to thoughtfully study a page before lifting his gaze to give me an appraising glance.

“This is something a friend and I used to do when we were young, more as a prank than for actual magical benefit, but I wonder…”

He returned to the book and I hopped closer to peer at the page entitledBasic Telepathy.

“The more advanced spell that would allow two people—or rather twoentities—to truly wordlessly communicate is beyond my capabilities…beyond almostanyone’scapabilities. But this temporary spell will allow me to send you animpressionwithout speaking, although it will only last for a few hours.”

He once more busied himself in the book before picking me up and once again cast a spell. This time the effect, while still noticeable, was much milder. I frowned up at him, wondering how exactly the charm worked. Before I could ask, I felt the strange sensation of prodding in my mind, followed by the distinct image of a small, buzzing black insect. I gave a startled jump before saying, almost involuntarily, “Fly.”

Alden beamed. “Excellent. I can’t send any complicated messages, but a simple impression seems to work.”

Wizard Alden hastily packed the supplies he’d used to complete the first challenge before using the map’s guidance to draw another portal, this one much more carefully than the first he’d created for me. The completed portal glimmered invitingly, beckoning us to enter.

He wasted no time carefully placing me on his shoulder and tucking the spellbook beneath his arm. I clung to his collar as he stepped through the sparkling light; an airy, floating sensation prickled my warty skin as the magic swallowed us up. Miles melted away with a single step, so that when the light gradually faded, new surroundings came into focus.

Dawn cast a sheen across a vast clearing, empty save for the crowds of enchanters all dressed in flowing robes in an array of colors. Even with my less attuned powers I sensed the magic filling the air, humming in the presence of so many talented wielders, as palpable as a soft breeze.

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