“I see.” She squinted into the morning sun. “Well then, perhaps you would like to make your own stew tonight.”

He dismissed her hollow threat with a wave before continuing his walk.

“He seems slightly less grumpy these days,” Henry said to Gretchen as he ran his hand through fresh rosemary to release its aromatic scent. Coralis had insisted that before Henry could begin his apprenticeship in earnest, he needed to immerse himself in the wonders of the natural world—as transcribed by the Wand Masters.

Upon returning to the castle three months earlier, Coralis laid down the ground rules for beginning Henry’s training—all with Gretchen. For the first month, he never caught even the slightest glimpse of the Wand Master. Despite his queries, Gretchen protected the old man like a fox protecting her den of pups. “Someday you will understand,” she said mournfully.

But he did understand. The loss of Randall had taken its toll on Coralis—a two-fisted blow to his self-confidence and his ego. By the second month, the Wand Master appeared just often enough to chastise Henry for falling behind in his studies. Though how Coralis could know how his studies were going baffled him. At times he suspected there were hidden cameras. More than once, Gretchen caught Henry making faces and sticking out his tongue at paintings or at corners of the ceiling.

His time in the garden with Gretchen was his favorite. Her knowledge of plants and herbs was more thorough than any textbook, and had Henry believing she must possess the reincarnated soul of a medieval healer.

The reading assignments, involving books from Coralis’s private collection, were more difficult. While Henry was experienced in using the ulexite translator, he struggled over the meaning of ancient phrases. But he plowed onward, understanding the importance of every shred of knowledge.

Yet more than once, his mind wandered to thoughts of Serena. Henry suspected Coralis had his reasons for leaving her behind, but he couldn’t help feeling that they would benefit from studying side by side. He wondered what she was doing right now …

“That is not a weed, young man,” Gretchen chastised. “Sometimes I don’t know where your head goes.”

“Sorry,” Henry mumbled as he replanted the seedling he’d just torn from the ground.

“Apprentice!” Coralis yelled down. “Report to the dining room at once!”

Thankful for the interruption, Henry rushed to his feet.

He arrived to a meeting already in progress. The first surprise was seeing Lois. “Mom! When did you get here?” He hurried into her arms for a hug and squeezed, nearly lifting her off her feet.

“Oh my! Coralis, have you been sending him to the gym every day?”

“Not hardly. The boy has the energy of a sloth. The only workout he gets is eating, and of that he never tires.”

He motioned for them to be seated. “Recently, I received word from Joseph that there had been a development.”

Henry groaned.