Over the next few days, Meleri showed rapid improvement. It didn’t take long before she could do simple spells without mishaps at all. Compared to my own fumbling, having a teacher made a clear difference. As she and Bahruun returned from yet another session, I noticed Tobin exiting the trees. “Oy there, kiddo! It’s finished!” He waved as he maneuvered between the various ponds towards the house.

  He bounced onto the landing and grinned as he pulled the broom from his storage pouch. It was a well-crafted thing, one of, if not his best work so far. “Nice work, Tobin. I am certain Meleri will like it.” The brownie’s bearded grin grew even wider. “Speaking of which, where are the kids?” As if in response, there was a dull boom in the distance.

  “The training field. Meleri has advanced to more advanced spells.” Tobin looked towards the trees. “Must be loud if the sound dampening can’t cover it.” I shrugged. “I created the wards to block the noise of witchcraft gone awry, which is far less noisy than someone throwing fireballs and lightning bolts around.” Tobin nodded as he pulled out his pipe. “That makes sense. You got a light?” I glanced over at him. Then after a moment of consideration, I snapped my fingers. “Much appreciated.”

  As he began to pat the pipe, the door opened, and Millid arrived with a tray of tea. “Here you go Lady Morgana. I brought some tea for you and your guest.” I took the cup and took a sip. “This is great, Millid. Thank you.” Millid grinned and offered a cup to Tobin as well, who took a sip from it and nodded. “Indeed, not bad, not too sweet, not too bitter. A difficult balancing act, that.”

  Millid seemed quite pleased and took the final cup before plopping down on the edge of the landing. “Boss should be done with the lesson soon. Oh, Lady Morgana I prepared a quick snack for everyone, since Meleri is usually famished when she returns from her lessons.” Tobin glanced over at Millid.

  “That’s mighty thoughtful of you, kid. Say I can’t recall seeing you around before. You’re another stray Morgana picked up?” Millid looked at the brownie, and Millid’s spiky, quill-like hair bristled with energy arcs of yellow energy. “I’m no stray old man. I’m Boss’ familiar, Lady Morgana hired Boss to be Meleri’s teacher.”

  Tobin blinked a few times. “I see, my apologies. It was presumptuous and thoughtless of me... Oh right, introductions. Names Tobin, again forgive the tardiness, have a bunch of things on my mind.” Millid eyed him for a moment. “I am Millidtraskyrhinkarghavigiwarkudkvilnalrivik, but friends call me Millid.” Tobin blinked for a few moments. Then, after a brief pause, he burst out laughing. “Well then, I hope you don’t mind if I call you Millid, after all, any friend of Morgana’s is a friend of mine.”

  Millid eyed him for a few moments before nodding. “Alright then, and apology accepted.” Millid gave Tobin a toothy grin and then resumed drinking tea. We spent about fifteen minutes chatting before Bahruun and Meleri arrived from the trees and walked across the swampy ground towards the house. Meleri skipped up the stairs and gave Tobin a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Hi Tobin, how are you?” Tobin grinned up at her. “I’m doing great, and I came here to give you a lil something.”

  He got to his feet and pointed Meleri towards the broom leaning against the nearby railing. Meleri’s friendly smile widened as she hurried over. “Is… is this mine?” Tobin gave her a single nod. “Aye, as soon as yer sister pays for it, that is.” He gave me a knowing look. I took a deep breath. “How about I deal with the second half of that payment over lunch? Millid made it for us, and it would be rude to let it go to waste.” Bahruun’s expression lit up at the mention of Millid making lunch. Someone was a fan it would seem.

  As we walked inside, I pondered whether it would be safe to tell Bahruun and Millid. Were they close enough friends? In the end, I decided that yes, yes they were. The story itself made Bahruun nervous, while Tobin seemed like he finally got the last piece of a puzzle to fit. “Was always something… off about you, something I couldn’t put my finger on. Regardless, I don’t care either way, you’re still a friend of mine. And seeing as Bahruun and Millid aren’t vanishing or have not otherwise been vaporized, I’d say they are safe too. Wouldn’t yap about it to others though.”

  Bahruun looked up from his plate and directly at Tobin. “Oh, I have no interest in telling this tale to others. I’d be branded a madman. If I’m honest, I’d be half tempted to call you mad myself if it weren’t for the absurdly advanced magic around your home. The teleport ban alone is something that’s beyond anything I have ever seen.” I gave him an inquisitive look. I was positive I hadn’t told him about that.

  Upon seeing my expression, he shrugged. “I tried to show off the Blink spell, but it fizzled, something that can only happen under a dimensional anchor effect. I asked Irenji about it, and the wolf told me the effect stretched for quite a distance in all directions around your house. You would have needed a massive totem or obelisk to create such an effect, especially one that has, if Irenji is to be believed, been there for over a century now. And yet there are none. Add that the effect cannot be felt through standard magical senses, and you have something entirely unprecedented. That alone lends credence to your claim.”

  He refocused on his sandwich, and for good reason, these were tasty. Not my usual fare as these were made with loaf rather than bread, but still excellent. I looked over to the side where Midnight, Winter, Soot, and Irenji were all enjoying various ground meats. “I take it you’re the one who was doing the cooking between the two of you, Millid.” Millid nodded. “Boss gets too focused on his work, so if I didn’t make the food he’d forget to even eat.” Millid gave Bahruun a worried look.

  Meleri, meanwhile was already finished and was glancing towards the door. It didn’t take a genius to guess why. “No need to wait around the table on our behalf, sis, though I do request you don’t just go flying off into the unknown just because you can. You’ve depleted most of your mana reserves, and while the mana potion you drank before eating might ease some of that, it’s not a perfect solution.” As I spoke, Irenji looked up from his empty bowl. “I’ll look after her, since I’m done eating anyhow.” I gave him a grateful nod.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Speaking of which, I should probably see about the other half of your payment.” I got to my feet and walked over to the pantry. “It’s nothing fancy I’m afraid, just some wine I picked up a few years back from Appleridge on a whim. It’s good though.” I came back with the wine bottle and handed it to him. He looked at the amber-colored liquid within. “If it’s even half as good as what you make it’ll be a great joy to drink this.” He looked tempted to open the bottle immediately, but after a quick glance at the clock, he just stowed it away.

  “In that case, you have nothing to worry about. Alder’s a great brewer in his own right. Speaking of Appleridge, you should be hearing from them one of these days with an offer to buy some fruit for your own brewing if you haven’t already.”

  Tobin looked up from the bottle. “I have actually, so that was your idea, eh? Their selection of produce is incredible. I already have the first order down, and I’ll be making my way over to the farm to pick it up once I leave here. And on that note, if I want to be home before sundown I should get going. See you later, kid. As for you two, nice to meet you Bahruun and Millid. Take care you two.”

  I wasn’t sure if it was because he wanted to taste the wine immediately or if he was actually strapped for time. Then again, walking to Appleridge would take quite some time, so it was hard to say. Well, it didn’t really matter. “See you later, Tobin. Take care, and don’t go pinching fruit from their fields, as that it will get you banned for life!” He just waved it off as he left. “Friendly old chap, that Tobin.”

  Bahruun got to his feet as well and stretched. “Although a bit too fond of wine, perhaps?” I shrugged. “He has always liked wine and other drinks like it, but I wouldn’t say he’s drinking too much. He has his priorities straight in that regard. Will he enjoy it if he can? Sure. But it doesn’t have a hold over him, if that’s what you’re worried about. He is more than able to decline if he feels the situation calls for it. He’ll likely grumble about it, but he can and will.” Bahruun nodded as he bent down and picked up Millid, who squealed in delight. “That’s good. Well, the two of us will be taking a small walk into the forest to the east, let Millid feel some solid ground under her feet and get some digging done. We should be back in an hour or two.”

  That gave me an idea. “Say I have an idea for the two of you. I am quite certain that the Fauns over at Appleridge would be delighted to have Millid helping with the plowing of their fields.” Millid lit up at the idea, but I could see Bahruun looking rather uncomfortable. “Don’t worry I won’t send you there on your lonesome. Let’s take the carpet. We can pick up Tobin along the way and have Meleri tag along on her new broom, make a small trip out of it.”

  Bahruun looked from me to Millid then took a deep breath. “Fine, since it would make Millid happy, I don’t see why not. Besides, with you there vouching for me, I am unlikely to get a crossbow bolt in my face. Right?” I offered him an uncommitting shrug. “I wouldn’t worry about that, since they got a new shepherd with a massive hound of some kind. They’d probably just sic the dog on you to save ammo.” I winked to show it was a joke.

  “Meowstress, can we come along too? I don’t feel like house sitting.” I pondered it for a few seconds. “Sure there’s more than enough space on the carpet, so why not? Will you be joining us, Ivy?” Ivy looked up from where she was still eating. “Sure, if Soot’s going, I’m going since I’d be bored out of my wits if I were to be left alone here.” I looked over at Soot, who was finishing up his bowl of meats and veggies.

  “Well, I could use some fresh air and stretch my wings, so guess we’re coming with.” He swallowed the last piece of carrot and then helped Winter get some ground meat out of her feathers, much to her delight no doubt. I nodded and walked over to the corner where I kept the flying carpet. “Well, flying trip it is. Soot could I bother you to fly ahead and find Tobin so we can pick him up as well?” He clicked his beak and then looked over to Ivy, who downed the rest of her sandwich and glass of water, and then the two of them flew off.

  As we exited, we could see Meleri zoom around the marsh while squealing in delight, with Irenji running after her, panting happily. “Hey Sis, come over here for a sec.” She turned and zoomed over and then stopped just above the landing platform. She was really getting the hang of the broom. “Yeah, what’s up?” I rolled out the carpet. “I figured I’d take Bahruun and Millid over to Appleridge to give Millid something to do while you and Bahruun spend most of the day studying magic. And I figured you wouldn’t mind tagging along on your broom for some extra training.”

  Meleri flew another circle on her broom before pausing again as Irenji caught up. “I don’t mind at all. Hey, Irenji, we’re taking a trip.” The wolf nodded. “I heard. Just let me dry off my paws and I will take the carpet.” I rolled the carpet out, and Bahruun and put Millid in his lap, with Irenji, Winter and Midnight joining him soon after. Meleri looked puzzled as I remained standing. “We’re waiting for Soot and Ivy to return with Tobin to save him the walk.” Meleri nodded slowly. “I see.”

  It took only a few minutes longer for Tobin to return along with Soot and Ivy. “So you got business over at the farm, eh? Lucky me, I guess. Although I can’t say I have ever flown before.” He looked at the carpet with a bit of reluctance. “Oh, come now, Tobin, it will save you literally hours of walking. Besides, flying is great, and you can’t fall off, so it’s perfectly safe.” Tobin plopped down on the left side of the carpet. “Alright then. By the way, good thing you got me back here. I plumb forgot to give your sister this.”

  He tossed Meleri a small belt pouch. “Yer own storage pouch. It’s not as ludicrously large as that of your sister, but large enough to hold the broom, your shopping and any other necessities you might have a need of on a day-to-day basis.” Meleri attached it to her belt. “Thanks, Tobin appreciate it.” She gave him a brilliant smile, and the old brownie grinned back. “Yer welcome. Now then, how bout we get this thing off the ground before I get cold feet?”

  I sat down and willed the carpet into the air slowly, then once we were clear of the porch roof pushed it up further. Soot landed on my lap with Ivy riding his back. “Mistress, we’re running low on walnuts. Think you could grab some more while we’re at Appleridge?” I reached down and scratched Soot below his beak. “Of course I can.” Meleri ascended beside me, now seeming slightly less confident now that the ground was much further down. I gave her a smile. “Alright, sis, see if you can keep up.” With that, I made the carpet do a U-turn and set off towards Appleridge.