Page 8 of Charmed

I stared at his face, now robbed of all its former confidence, weighing my options. I didn’t need any other spells to be convinced. The thought of healing Corbin was enough to capture my entire will; I’d go to any lengths to help him.

Yet I worried that the cost, even for something as precious as the chance to heal my dear brother, would be too high. Would even the promise of healing be worth the sacrifice of leaving my home? Turmoil swirled within me as I considered the cost of missing out on spending time with my family, being unable to comfort Corbin when he was distressed, missing out on watching him grow up, and helping my single mother—giving all this up for a merepossibility.

“Would I be required to train away from home?” I asked, hardly able to imagine what it would be like to be separated from Corbin long-term.

The wizard nodded. “Your training will occur at the capital.”

So far away. I bit my lip indecisively, wrestling with the decision, and noticed him watching me with an expression of patience rather than the eagerness he’d displayed so far. “I can’t imagine traveling so far from home, leaving my family behind. Do you have any younger siblings?” If he did, he might better understand my anxiety at parting from my own.

A strange expression flickered over his face, not quite anger, but a mix of pain and disappointment, with a hint of something that looked like foreboding. I half expected him to refuse to answer, but he nodded.

“Yes, I have a younger sister, though we’re not close enough for me to miss her in the same way you’ll miss your brother.” He cleared his throat. “While you would be required to live in the capital, that would grant you access to medicines that could aid your brother until your skills are up to the task.”

It was a fair exchange, yet even so I worried about living so far from the home, a nearly three days’ journey. I couldn’t possibly make such a drastic decision now, but did this wizard have the patience to give me the time I needed to consider?

One more question weighed heavily on my mind. “Why do you wantmeas your apprentice?”

The wizard smiled. “I’ll divulge my reasons in time should you accept the position. But beyond my own interests, you have the potential to become a great witch.” He glanced up at the starry night. “I’ll give you tonight to think on it and return in the morning to hear your decision. If you decide not to pursue this path and all it entails, I will leave you be.”

I raised my eyebrows in astonishment. “Will you truly give up?”

He held up his hands. “I have nothing more with which to persuade you. Allow this to be your first lesson in magic: it can never be used to rob anyone of their will. I will not force you on this path. If tomorrow you’ve decided against it, I will respect your wishes.”

And with these words he vanished once more.

CHAPTER3

Mother and Corbin’s rhythmic snores filled the long and restless night, a soothing lullaby that usually lulled me to sleep but which proved impossible tonight with magic’s firm grip over my thoughts.

The ability to heal my brother had acted as a key, unlocking the door I’d determinedly shut and inviting me to explore every possibility I hadn’t allowed myself to imagine should I become an apprentice. Now every wonder—from the practical to the fantastic—filled my mind, impossible to quench. When sleep finally lured me into its comforting embrace, magic filled my dreams in images of glistening light and vibrant colors, with Corbin at the center—healthy and whole, his smile bright and his face aglow as my powers filled his life with joy.

The image lingered as dawn arrived, confirming the decision my heart had made, even as sense prevented me from fully embracing it. These two parts of myself warred within me the entire morning, a distraction that didn’t escape Mother’s notice.

“What’s troubling you, Maeve?”

Her gentle voice tugged my focus away from the butter I was churning a little too intensely. I blinked hastily to chase away the thoughts of how magic would aid me in such a task and met her gaze, soft with concern. Her expression invited me to share my burden, even as I wasn’t sure where to begin, especially with the guilt accompanying my desires to learn magic when doing so would selfishly put my yearnings before the needs of my family. Even so, I desired to confide in her, desperate for Mother’s opinion on my struggle.

I attempted to sort out my tangle of thoughts, but had barely begun the arduous task when a knock suddenly sounded. I knew who stood on the other side, whether due to magical intuition or because the wizard I’d met had proven quite predictable.

Mother glanced towards the door. “Who could that be?”

I sighed. “I believe I know.”

Before she could question further, I hoisted the door open to find the very man I’d expected standing on the other side, this time in plum robes the exact shade of my favorite color, a change I suspected was a further attempt to persuade me.

“Let me guess,” I said by way of greeting. “Magic would have allowed me to open the door without needing to have risen from my chair. Or”—I allowed my imagination to lead me in a more satisfying direction—“perhaps magic could have acted as a shield that would have prevented you from disrupting our morning at all.”

Rather than the quip offending him as I’d secretly hoped, he only grinned widely enough to reveal an annoyingly attractive dimple. “It appears you’ve given the matter some thought. I’m glad you’ve considered all that magic can do to enhance your life.”

The last thing I wanted to admit was how much I’d done that very thing. “Your timing is rather inconvenient; I haven’t even discussed the matter with my mother.”

“Magical intuition rarely fails, leading me to believe that despite your insistences on the matter, I’m right on time.” He wriggled his eyebrows. “Does this mean I’m about to receive the answer I’m hoping for?”

I lifted my chin. “You assume my decision is favorable.”

“One can only hope.”

With a wink he stepped around me to enter the tiny kitchen. Mother’s chair tipped over as she hastened to her feet, her eyes wide as she took in the wizard. He swept into a proper bow in greeting, already behaving far more charmingly than he ever had with me.

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