Wait a minute. What am I doing?

"Cornelius." I said, my voice firm.

He looked at me.

"Give me one chance."

Again I surprised him. "But-"

"Look, I'm not usually this direct. In fact I never am. I understand I don't really know what you guys do here, but I do know it's important . . . and I want to help."

He looked at me hard for a moment. "You know, you remind me of myself when I was younger." His face softened and he held up a finger. "You get one chance, one. And that's it."

I yelped and jumped on the spot. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I threw my arms around him, then went bright red and backed off.

"Sorry."

He laughed. "You know what? I completely understand."

I beamed a while, unable to keep a straight face. I couldn't believe I'd said, what I did, later I'd probably have a panic attack, but it didn't matter, I was happy now.

Cornelius dropped his face in his hands. "Thoran is going to kill me when he finds out." He looked up "Wait a minute. He doesn't really need to find out right away."

"He doesn't?" I asked.

"No." He began pacing. "If we can take a few weeks to train you, get you caught up on the history and schematics of our operation, maybe even teach you some of the language. Well, you could become a valuable asset, which I think might make Thoran a bit more . . . agreeable about the situation."

My stomach lurched with excitement. "Training! Really?"

"Oh, yes, but we'll need someone to do it, someone good." He tapped on his lip. "I won't be able to. If I'm not around that often, Thoran will surely notice. The next best artisan is Ikovos. He also knows plenty of the language and history."

"Artisan?"

"Oh, um . . . a magic user."

My jaw dropped. "Ikovos can use magic?! He didn't tell me that. Does he control fire like Jaden?"

Cornelius shook his head quickly. "Oh, no, no, no. Ikovos is a defense artisan. He uses healing and protecting magics, disabling ones at times, but never anything like Jaden's."

I cocked my head. "So what is Jaden?"

"Well, among other things-" he chuckled "-he's an offense artisan. They use fire, like you saw, to attack enemies or enchant weapons. Thoran's offensive too, but it is a rarer ability, only a few here have the makings of it. At any rate, you will be learning defense with Ikovos."

There's no way he just said what I think he did.

"Wait a minute. I'm going to learn to use magic?"

I watched his head go up and down, but it wasn't quite computing.

"Well . . . " He sucked in some air. "That's not completely accurate. You see most aren't even able to use it. You'll get the chance to though, it would certainly be a plus with Thoran, we have almost as few defense artisans as offense."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I'd gone from thinking magic was a myth, to seeing it for myself, then finally to finding out it was real in less than a day.

And now I am going to learn it? Stars danced in my eyes. I had to lean against the fence to keep from falling over.

"Whoa, what's wrong with her?"

My vision cleared and I saw Ikovos holding the reigns of two horses. One was black and one was brown. They were lean, sleek, and looked like they could get anywhere fast.

I released the fence and glared at Ikovos. "Why didn't you tell me you could use magic?!"

A smile spread wide across his face, and he leaned back on his heels. "Well, I guess I just didn't think to bring it up."

Cornelius rolled his eyes and held out his hand. "Reigns please."

The smile vanished. "Oh, come on, Cornelius, the least you could do is let her stay a couple of days to rest up. I mean she obviously doesn't want to go home yet. You know just because Thoran says something, doesn't mean it's right . . . this just isn't fair."

He finished with a huff. I was impressed if not a little embarrassed. Cornelius just looked at him.

"What's not fair? The fact that she's going to stay, or that I wanted the reigns?"

"Well the fact that . . . wait a minute." He stared off for a moment then looked to Cornelius, then me, then back to Cornelius again. "She's staying."

"Yes-" big grin "-but Ikovos, this is not a party, this is serious," said Cornelius. "And you aren't to tell anyone, not even Jaden."

Ikovos's smile grew. "Ah-ha! Who's in the know now Jaden?" We both stared at him and he cleared his throat. "Promise . . . how did you change his mind anyways?"

My mouth tipped. I tried to think of something witty to say. Only when I pictured myself saying them I almost laughed out loud. I just shrugged, smiling to the older man.

"Now, will you please give me the reigns?" asked Cornelius.

Ikovos handed them over.

"Good. I'm going to go tie these fellows up in the woods, if Thoran sees them back this soon he's sure to suspect something. Ikovos, you can take Eve back to the study and, if you would like my dear, begin training."

My head bobbed up and down.

"Wait, I'm training her?" asked Ikovos.

Cornelius nodded. "All part of our master plan."

"Sweet, I'm up for that," said Ikovos.

He says sweet?

Cornelius started heading towards the woods with the two horses. He stopped short. "Oh, and can you get the horses in a few hours and bring them back to the stables?"

"Sure, but where are you gonna go?" asked Ikovos.

He started walking off again. "I have some errands. I'll leave them by the riverbank."

"Okay then," said Ikovos, he had to yell for Cornelius to hear it. He turned to me. "Well, he got in a weird mood all the sudden."

"Yeah . . . kinda peppy," I said.

"But serious." We both nodded.

"I still can't believe you're staying."

I met his smile. "Me neither . . . what was your plan anyway?" I asked.

He pursed his lips. "It was definitely a last resort option."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Let's just say it involved baggy clothes and a good pair of scissors."

I winced and grabbed a strand of hair protectively.

Ikovos did a palms-up.

"Okay, so . . . I just realized Cornelius didn't tell me what to train you in," said Ikovos.

We had just gotten back to the study. I had resumed nibbling on my croissant and Ikovos was standing in the middle of the room.

"Well, I know he mentioned history and also how you guys run things here," I started. "And, you might not believe this, but, he actually said I should start learning magic." Even as I spoke the words, they surprised me.

"Wow, really? He must really like you."

I smiled.

"He's right though," said Ikovos. "I get the feeling you'd be good at it, and Thoran won't be able to resist another artisan." He scratched the back of his head for a moment. "I have to tell you though, I can't say I've ever heard of a girl being able to use magic."

Once again, zeal for the defense of my sex rose up within me. "It might help if you knew some girls."

Ikovos grinned. "Finally breaking through the wall, am I? You know you're kind of sassy when you're not being shy."

I went a little red and bit off a piece of my pastry. His grin widened.

"In my defense I do know some girls, I'm just not around them that often . . . or ever. Except for Sophie."

"Sophie? So there's another girl here?"

He shrugged. "Woman actually, she cooks, been here as long as I can remember. She's pretty old."

"So, she just cooks for you guys?" I asked.

He nodded. "Most people think so. But it's just a front if you ask me."

"For what?" This whole place was just one big mystery after another.

"I have no idea. It's just a feeling. She knows Thoran to well, they're almost always together."

I considered this and, before I could stop myself, a series of possible explanations ran through my head, all extravagant and highly improbably, of course.

"Anyways," he said. "Where were we?"

"Training."

"Right. We have about two hours and then I'll need to get the horses. We should start with our operation. It'll be good for you to know what we're really doing here."

"Sounds good to me."

Two hours later my excitement over staying had doubled. I was on a bit of a talking overload though . . . I was used to being alone most of the time.

"You look like you could use a break," said Ikovos.

I shook my head. "No, this whole thing is still so amazing to me, I want to know everything. That is, unless you're tired?" I waited expectantly.

He raised an eyebrow. "You're one of those kids that liked going to school, aren't you?"

I made an innocent face. "Maybe."

He laughed. For a guy he had a pretty high voice, or at least a light one. When he laughed though, it was deep and throaty. It made me suspect he was a lot rougher than he might like me to believe.

"I've got an idea." He stood up. "Why don't we grab some books and explore the area a little. We could even pick up the horses then too, if you like."

In my town horses were few and far between. Sheep are the big thing there, and, don't get me wrong I love sheep, I just love horses too.

"You don't think Cornelius would mind if I left?"

Ikovos thought about it. "Probably, but as your trainer I can overrule him."

I smiled. "Good enough for me." I stood up and cringed when I felt my hair fall onto my neck. I quickly searched the room.

"What?" asked Ikovos.

I leaned to one side. "You don't happen to have a hair-tie do you?

He looked at my hair, then to me. Narrowing like I was from another planet.

Outside it had gotten a little colder and the sun had moved closer to the horizon. We'd started walking in the same direction Cornelius had taken the horses, and were now in a denser part of the forest.

"So Thoran didn't start the group?" I asked Ikovos as we moseyed along the path.