Page 190 of The Warlock's Trial

Autumn’s brow furrowed. “You’re not suggesting I came looking for the Mortana Wand. What use would I have of it? I didn’t know you’d passed the trial, Lucas.”

There were very few people I trusted in this world, and Autumn was certainly not one of them. I turned toward Chloe and Talia. “Read her mind. See if she’s telling the truth.”

The girls lifted their Wands in unison, and Autumn didn’t even flinch. “Do what you must,” she said. “I am telling the truth.”

The ends of the girls’ Wands glowed, and they spoke an incantation. They appeared in a trance-like state for only a moment before Talia opened her eyes and said, “Autumn is being honest with you. She didn’t know about the Mortana Wand. She came to apologize.”

“I came to tell you I was wrong,” Autumn said softly. “My master may have found clarity in death, but when he was here, he left me to fend for myself. I had to find strength in myself, and there are times I find that I’m still searching. For so long, I blamed him for that, and I used my pain to convince myself that what I was doing to help you, or not help you, was justified. I thought that if I had to figure things out on my own, then you could, too. Now I see that the system failed us all. It was not Edgar’s fault, but my choice alone to withdraw. I could have put an end to this cycle, and I chose to not only allow it to continue, but to participate in its process.”

She sighed. “I came to say I’m sorry. I understand that you have moved on and there is nothing more I can teach you, but if there’s one last thing I can do for you, I’d like to heal this wound I’ve caused.”

The pain in her eyes was all too familiar. She may be older than me in years, but there was a part of her that was still a hurt child, the one who had been left behind. She was not the reaper master I thought was meant to teach me. She was still a Reaper’s Apprentice, even though I—her successor—had become a master. Our roles had been reversed, which meant that perhaps I had something to teach her now.

I realized then that she hadn’t come to ask for my forgiveness, but for my compassion.

“It means a lot to hear your apology,” I said. “I owe you one as well. I could have reacted with more kindness when we met. There are clearly many layers to this story, and perhaps I haven’t given you the space to tell it fully. I hope you can forgive me.”

“You don’t have to ask my forgiveness, because there is nothing to forgive you for,” Autumn said kindly. “Your reaction was well warranted.”

“Maybe we can start by mending things over dinner,” I suggested.

Autumn smiled. “I’d like that very much.”

I reached out my hand, and Autumn took it. With my invitation, she stepped through the ward. Miles and Grant pocketed their wands, as did Chloe and Talia. Professor Warren shot me an encouraging smile. It was clear he thought I was doing the right thing.

When we entered the house, Marcus was crying. Nadine sang him a song as she rocked him, but she quieted when she heard the door. Her eyes locked with Autumn’s, and she nodded kindly. “Welcome to our home.”

“Thank you all for inviting me in,” Autumn replied.

“Dinner’s almost ready.” Nadine gestured toward the dining room. “Please, have a seat.”

Marcus continued bawling, and Nadine’s attempts to calm him weren’t working.

“He probably has a dirty diaper. I can go change it,” Mandy offered as we started gathering around the table.

“It’s no trouble, really,” Nadine insisted.

Mandy sighed. “You don’t have to do this alone, Nadine. We’re all here to help. You brought me in at my lowest point and showed me so much kindness. I’ve felt nothing but useless these last few months. You need to be here for Lucas tonight. Let me help with Marcus.”

Nadine gently placed Marcus in Mandy’s outstretched arms. “Thank you for the help.”

We all gathered around the table, while Mandy went upstairs to change Marcus. I sat at the head of the table, with Nadine on one side of me and Autumn on the other. We started passing the food around and filling up our plates.

“Lucas, can I ask you something?” Autumn asked.

“Sure,” I told her.

She passed me a basket of dinner rolls. “What was the Warlock’s Trial exactly? How did you pass?”

I swallowed my bite of food before answering. “It’s not a trial in the sense of a ceremony or some big display of magic. It’s about learning what death means and the role you play in it as a reaper. I had to figure out that death wasn’t just an end to create new beginnings, but part of the journey.”

“That’s quite insightful of you,” Autumn remarked before taking a few bites of food.

I kept my eye on her. I could sense the wounded child I’d seen earlier, but she had wisdom in her eyes, too. It was like she’d figured that one out long ago.

“What do you think is holding you back?” I wondered as I scooped up a green bean.

Autumn pressed her lips together. “Honestly? I don’t think the Reaper Order wants me.”

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