“It is not what you might think,” Coralis said. “It was good news, which your mother has decided to deliver in person.”

Henry thought back. Around the start of his third month at the castle, there were subtle changes in Coralis’s demeanor. The Wand Master began showing up for breakfast. He offered lively conversation and occasionally even harrumphed in between bahtzen bizzles. Henry had assumed a time of mourning had passed and accepted it without question, happy to think the Wand Master might soon take over as his full-time mentor. But perhaps there was more to it.

His eyes roamed the large room and settled on something in the far corner that hadn’t been there this morning. It was an object covered in what appeared to be a bedsheet. A statue, perhaps? Had his mother taken up sculpting? Why would she bring it with her instead of shipping it? The sheet moved ever so slightly. He frowned and looked questioningly at his mother, whose face lit with a teasing smile.

“Bahtzen bizzle! I cannot stand dramatics!” Coralis strode to the corner and whipped off the shroud to reveal two young girls.

“Serena!” Henry rushed forward before skidding to an awkward stop.

“Oh for goodness’ sake, Henry.” Serena closed the gap and wrapped him in a bear hug, which he eagerly returned. His smile stretched from ear to ear.

“Are you here to stay?” he asked hopefully.

“Yes!” she shouted, and hopped in place. “I nagged at Joseph so much he finally gave in.”

“That’s awesome!” Henry gushed. “I can’t wait till you see—”

“Ahem.” The second girl rolled her eyes. She stood with arms crossed over her chest while impatiently tapping her foot. She looked to be about his age. Long auburn hair framed a face that was both familiar and not. She fixed her gaze on Henry, and a mischievous smile tugged its way into the open. With a slight turn of her head and flip of her hair, a streak of blue came into view.

“Brianna?” he whispered in shock. His mother laughed and clapped her hands like a grand play had come to an end. “But . . look at you … you’re … older!”

“Seriously, Henry?” Had her voice changed, or was it just that he hadn’t heard it coming from something other than a hedgehog for so long? “That’s the best you can do? What about beautiful? Effervescent? Dazzling?”

“Vain?” Coralis suggested.

“But how?” As much of the impossible as Henry had seen, this topped all of it.

“The Navajo woman did it,” Lois said joyfully. “She finally managed to restore Brianna. Isn’t it marvelous?”

Henry was still stumped. “She certainly is … older.”