Page 9 of The Black Witch

“It’s just all sofast.” I sniff back the tears. “I want to go, but... I’ll miss you. And Isabel, too.” Isabel, perhaps sensing my need for comfort, jumps onto my lap, purring and kneading me.

And I don’t want you to be lonely with me gone.

“Oh, there now,” my uncle says, as he hugs me tighter. “Don’t cry. I’ll take good care of Isabel, and you’ll see her soon enough. You’ll be back before you know it, with tales of allsortsof grand adventures.”

I wipe at my tears and pull away to look up at him. I don’t understand the urgency. He’s always been so reluctant to let me go anywhere, always wanting to keep me here at home. Why has he made such a quick decision to finally let me go?

Perhaps seeing the questions in my eyes, my uncle lets out a deep sigh. “Your aunt can’t force the issue of wandfasting as long as Rafe and I are here, but shecanforce the issue of schooling—unless I choose first. So I’m choosing. I’ve some contacts in the University’s apothecary school, so it was no trouble finding you a spot there.”

“Why don’t you want me to apprentice at the High Mage Council with Aunt Vyvian?”

“It doesn’t suit you,” he explains with a shake of his head. “I want you to pursue something...” He hesitates a moment. “Something morepeaceful.”

He looks at me meaningfully, like he’s trying to convey a secret hope and perhaps an unspoken danger, then he reaches down to pet Isabel, who pushes her head against him, purring contentedly.

I stare at him, confused by his odd emphasis.

“If they ask you,” he says, focused in on the cat, “I’ve already wandtested you, and you have no magic.”

“I know, but... I don’t remember.”

“It’s not surprising,” he says, absently, as he continues to stroke the cat. “You were very young, and it wasn’t very memorable, as you haveno magic.”

Only Trystan has magic, unlike most Gardnerians, who have no magic, or weak magic at best. Trystan haslotsof magic. And he’s trained in weapon magic, which is particularly dangerous. But since my uncle won’t allow wands or grimoires in the house, Trystan’s never been able to show me what he can do.

Uncle Edwin’s eyes meet mine, his expression darkening. “I want you to promise me, Elloren,” he says, his tone uncharacteristically urgent. “Promise me that you won’t leave school to apprentice with the Mage Council, no matter how much your aunt pressures you.”

I don’t understand why he’s being so grave about this. I want to be an apothecary like my mother was, not apprenticed with our ruling council. I nod my head in agreement.

“And if something happens to me, you’ll wait to wandfast to someone. You’ll finish your education first.”

“But nothing’s going to happen to you.”

“No, no, it’s not,” he says, reassuringly. “But promise me anyway.”

A familiar worry mushrooms inside me. We all know that my uncle has been struggling with ill health for some time, prone to fatigue and problems with his joints and lungs. My brothers and I are loath to speak of this. He’s been a parent to us for so long—the only parent we can really remember. The thought of losing him is too awful to think of.

“Okay,” I say. “I promise. I’ll wait.”

Hearing these words, some of the tension leaves my uncle’s face. He pats my shoulder approvingly and gets up, joints cracking as he stands. He pauses and puts his hand affectionately on my head. “Go to University,” he says. “Learn the apothecary trade. Then come back to Halfix and practice your trade here.”

Some of the creeping worry withdraws its cold hands.

That sounds just fine. And perhaps I’ll meet a young man. I do want to be fasted, someday. Maybe, after I’m fasted, my fastmate and I could settle here in Halfix.

“All right,” I agree, bolstered.

This is all sudden and unexpected, but it’s exactly what I’ve wished for. Everything will work out for the best.

“Get some sleep,” he tells me. “You’ve a long ride ahead of you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” I say. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night. Sleep well.”

I watch him leave, his shy, friendly smile the last thing I see before he gently shuts the door.

CHAPTER FOUR

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