With no warning, Coralis bent down and scooped up Brianna. She squirmed in his grip and was about to clamp down on a finger when she saw the deadly scowl on his face and thought better of it. “That’s the first wise decision you’ve made since I met you,” he grumbled. “And you!” he addressed Molly. “Get rid of the buffoon upstairs so we can discuss this matter in comfort … please.”

When Coralis removed the time-freeze, the patron’s stew promptly spilled in his lap, courtesy of Coralis’s earlier prank with the spoon. Molly was still mopping up the mess when Coralis emerged from the basement, followed by the trembling form of Henry holding his sister.

“Mmmm. That smells delish!” Brianna’s whiskers twitched happily.

Coralis growled and led them to a booth.

“If it’s any consolation,” said Molly, “the boy appears to be a vegetarian.”

“Humpf,” he grumbled, but appeared pleased by the information, and Henry suspected that Coralis himself was a vegetarian. “Drink this.” He handed a glass of yellow liquid to Henry. “It will help calm your nerves.”

Henry quickly ran through a list of yellow fluids in his head, trying to determine whether he should obey. Was this a test of some kind that would establish him as an apprentice?

“Drink it!” Coralis bellowed.

Henry jumped, then quickly swallowed it in four gulps. The mixture was surprisingly tasty. He licked his lips. The accident had done for Henry’s senses what it did for Brianna’s mouth. All five were elevated. “Lavender, I believe, with a twist of peppermint leaf. Safflower would give it the color.” He glanced nervously at Coralis, hoping he hadn’t messed up.

A cagey smile crossed the Wand Master’s lips. Henry relaxed.

“Let me see your wand.” A light sparkled in Coralis’s eyes.

Henry sensed another test. He reached into a hidden pocket on the inside of his jacket where he kept his wand. The second he touched it, he began to glow even brighter. Henry winced—not from any pain, but because he didn’t know how Coralis would react to seeing how badly he had failed. He quickly put the wand back in his pocket. “I’m afraid I’m not getting along with it too well these days.” He lowered his head.

“Yes,” said Coralis thoughtfully. “We shall need to tend to that first, won’t we. Why don’t you tell me what happened.” He looked at his watch. “I believe we have time. Start with the day Randall delivered the wand.”

“Randall?” Henry asked.

“The falcon,” Coralis clarified.

“Pretty smart bird,” said Brianna, making Henry smile.

“Not as smart as he thinks,” said Coralis.

Molly served a round of herbal tea, Brianna’s in a bowl.