AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It seemed an age since the day I received the invitation to take a job as chief manager at MacLeod. It had been one filled with excitement and anticipation. It was hard to believe that the salary, the location, and the dream job were all on the level. Well, there ya go. Matters of magic are rarely what they seem.
Still invisible, I safely ran through a stretch of piney woods, taking one footpath after another until I ended at an overgrown section where I followed a deer path to a clearing.
I looked across the meadow of tall yellowed grass and wildflowers of every shade and for a moment, all I could do was stare. It was breathtaking.
I looked off into the distance and saw the highest of the foothills where Devin said his cave was carved out, and wondered how I would make it before dark.
“Hallo,” said a small voice.
I looked in the direction of the little girl’s voice and found her getting up from where she sat in the grass. She looked to be about ten, with long black curly hair, olive tinted skin, and bright hazel eyes. I saw at once the silver sparkle that surrounded her small frame. She was a young witch.
“Hello,” I answered, and smiled.
“You must be her,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Must I?” I teased. “And who would…her be?”
“The witch causing all the problems. I heard Mama say it isn’t your fault and that, as usual, the Elfin are being unreasonable. Papa wants peace, but he said we have to stand our ground. We can’t be blamed for witches arriving from other realms. It is what he told the Elfin.”
“I see. I am very sorry for this trouble. If I could repair it, I would, but they won’t believe I am a witch from another realm.”
“I know. I listen to everyone going on and on when they don’t know I am there. I am ten…going on eleven. I would handle this matter very differently,” she said in such a grown-up voice I almost laughed, but thankfully, I controlled myself.
“And how would you handle it?”
“I would call for a meeting on neutral ground, just like my hero James the Star Setter of the Star Setter series,” she said. “I have read all the Star Setter books and I’m waiting for the next one.”
“Ah, and then at the meeting, what would you do?” I asked. She was precious.
“I would tell them the truth and ask them if they wished to go to war on a lie,” she said.
“Very wise, but sometimes older people are not so wise,” I said.
“I know, especially because they are suspicious of our magic.” She shrugged.
“It has been very nice talking to you…er…”
“I am Rosie,” she said. “And you are?”
“Bobbie,” I said.
“I like that,” she said, looking at me with that open manner of hers.
I touched her nose and sighed. “I love talking to you, Rosie, but I have to go, as I have a long way to travel.”
“Why don’t you just witch there?” she asked.
“Witch there?” I puzzled.
“You know, use your magic? Don’t you have traveling magic in your witch land?”
I laughed. “Yes, but I am afraid the only form of locomotion I know carries a purple smoke and I don’t want to be followed,” I told her truthfully.
“You don’t want to be followed by the Elfin,” she concluded with an understanding nod. “So cloak your smoke,” she said simply, and giggled. “That rhymes.”
“Cloak my smoke?” I asked of no one in particular as I hit my forehead. “Of course. What is wrong with me?”
“Some of the time, ups don’t think,” she said knowingly.
