Page 5 of Charmed

“I was beginning to wonder if you’d gotten lost.”

I startled at the now familiar voice and spun around to find the wizard leaning casually against an evergreen, arms folded and wearing his characteristic smirk.

I sighed. “I wondered whether you’d turn up.” I pressed my hand against my pounding heart, willing it to still.

“Oh?” He raised a single brow. “Magical intuition?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s nothing of the sort. Wizards are simply predictable.”

He shrugged. “Determinedseems the more apt description.” He straightened and glanced towards the sky to frown at the sun, much lower than when we’d parted ways. “It took you nearly an hour to traipse the woods, time wasted considering I was able to cross the same distance in mere seconds with a simple transportation spell.”

I did my best to contain my curiosity but it stirred to life at his purposefully cryptic words. Against my will the question tumbled out: “What sort of transportation spell?”

“There are many different types.”

He paused with a look inviting questions, and to my annoyance several simmered on my tongue. I hadn’t considered that multiple spells could fulfill a similar purpose. What nuances dictated the differences between the various transportation spells? But humoring him would only alert him to how much his offer tempted me, which would only encourage him; he was already difficult to resist as it was.

I took a steadying breath and calmly pushed these wonderings aside as I fixed an indifferent expression on my face. “It doesn’t matter that it took an hour longer; I had an enjoyable walk that your magic caused you to miss entirely.”

He blinked, as if he hadn’t considered this, and I departed with a triumphant smirk. He frowned after me but thankfully made no motion to follow as I entered the house.

Mother looked up from the pot cooking over the hearth with a welcoming smile, one I couldn’t return. Guilt twisted my heart at the sight of the nearly prepared dinner. That blasted wizard had caused me to neglect my chores and create inconvenience for my overworked mother.

“My apologies, I’m later than I promised.”

Relief softened her tight worry. “It’s no matter considering you’ve arrived home safely.” She cradled my cheek. “I hope you enjoyed your time in the woods.”

Enjoyablewas not how I’d describe today’s events, but I managed a smile as I set the basket down. “I gathered a lot of mushrooms. I’ll chop and roast them, then help with the bread as soon as look in on Corbin.”

I carefully took the flowers and headed for the adjourning room I shared with him and Mother. I knocked softly and peered inside, expecting him to be asleep as he often was in the late afternoon, only to find him sitting up in bed playing with his toy blocks atop the covers.

His tongue stuck through the gap created by his two missing front teeth as he smiled. “Maeve!”

His warm joy and the blessing of seeing him dispelled my lingering annoyance from the wizard, leaving only my adoration for my dear brother. I swept him into as tight of a hug as his little frail body could allow.

“It’s good to see you, Corbin.” I kissed his cheek before holding out the handful of bluebells. His dark eyes lit up.

“You kept your promise.”

“I’ll always fulfill all my promises.”

He reverently took the flowers and smelled them contentedly before carefully arranging them in the nearby vase with the others, most of which had already wilted, yet their color still brightened the otherwise stark room. The nightstand contained his collection of trinkets, which I did my best to contribute to with each venture outside—from flowers of various kinds, to uniquely shaped leaves, to pebbles, acorns, and pinecones that my brother never tired of playing with. Each offered him a glimpse of the outdoors he was often too frail to experience himself.

I settled on the bed beside him and stroked his hair before lowering my touch to his brow to check his fever. As usual his skin was heated, his usually dark complexion pale; no matter how much he rested, his precarious health never seemed to improve.

“How are you feeling?”

He offered a brave smile even as the corners of his mouth tightened, the sign of his almost constant pain, too acute for someone of his tender seven years to bear. If I truly had magic there would be only one thing I’d want to use it for. I closed my eyes, searching for whatever power the wizard claimed I possessed, as if a thorough search would allow me to find it, dormant yet ready to be of use…but I sensed nothing.

I opened my eyes with a quiet sigh and forced a smile. “Have you had a good day?” I asked gently.

He nodded even though I knew he’d likely been restless, as he usually was. “Will you tell me a story about your time in the forest?”

I nodded. “I had quite the adventure with a magical light that led me to a rather eccentric wizard.” I winked as if I was only spinning a fantastical tale, nevermind that had been exactly what had occurred. My heart warmed at his grin; at least I could help him in this way, no matter how small.

“What sort of magic did the wizard have?”

“He could talk to his tracking charm—a sentient yet slightly mischievous ball of light—and disappear…only to reappear a mile away.”

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