"Teach me the Fusion Spell," Chandra's new student requested.

The older woman stopped in the middle of the history lesson she'd been delivering. "What?" she demanded. "What for?"

Renee sat at her Encantus table, chin resting on the heel of one hand. "This is boring. I want a challenge."

"Well," her teacher huffed, "I'm sorry you find my class so dull. How would you like a little quiz so I can see how much you've been paying attention?"

The girl shrugged. "If you want. I dinna care about history, though, nae even the history of magic. I want to learn how to do it, not how it started."

"Well, if you really want to learn the Fusion Spell, I suggest you ask your master or the Blakes. They were there at the beginning, when the spell was still new. How much of that history do you know?"

"As much as you do, I suppose," was the unassuming response. "I've read what's in my Encantus, but there's nae much there. It jus' says...well, you know what it says. You have your own Encantus."

"True, but they're not all alike."

"They aren't?" This was something new. Renee sat up, her curiosity piqued. "Why not?"

Chandra shook her head. "See now? If you'd been paying attention, you would have known why not. Just to reiterate, then: every sorcerer has his or her own Encantus, specially tailored for its user. They all have the basics, of course, but the more advanced sections–certain spells and their explanations–only include what the sorcerer should be able to do. For example, no Merlinian has dark magic in his Encantus, and nobody but Dave has the Rising Spell, because he's the only one who can do it."

"Morgana could do it," her descendant proclaimed proudly. "Horvath tol' me so."

"Only if someone else created the Forbidden Realm," corrected her teacher, who knew more of Horvath's history than did his own apprentice. "Originally, she planned to have Horvath make it, but then things changed, so she used Veronica instead."

"But still..." Renee wasn't about to concede that her own family lacked sufficient power.

"How much do you know about it, really?" Chandra asked her straight out. "You've lived here long enough to have some idea of what happened with Morgana, and to have picked up something about both spells. Tell me, how much history do you know?"

The girl sat back. "Wow, you weren't kidding aboot that quiz, were you?" The other just stared at her expectantly, waiting, until she bowed her head in assent. "Awright, but don' expect me tae keep things neat 'n' tidy. I'm jus' goin' on the bits and pieces I've learned, nae like I've read it all in a book somewhere."

"Go on, then."

"Well," she began, "I've figured out that Morgana was the Merlinians' worst enemy. Seems she was Merlin's strongest apprentice, but then he wouldna teach her everythin' he should have. She didna take kindly to bein' held back..." Just like me, she thought. I know I can do more, but they won't tell me how. "So she left him and started her own school. She wanted to prove to Merlin that she was as strong as he was, but he didna like having competition. He took new apprentices, the elites, to try tae stop her, but she had enou' supporters to fight him off. Plus, she was under the non-aging spell jus' like him and his elites, so Merlin couldna jus' wait a few years for her to die off. She held her own against him."

Chandra nodded. "Mm-hmm, that's basically what all of us Morganians were taught. And what do you think of those elites now, Renee? Do you resent them for taking Merlin's side? Has your master told you of his role in the story?"

"I dunno," the young sorcerer admitted. "The Blakes seem nice enou', so I canna really think they're stingy like Merlin, but maybe they jus' trusted him too much, without knowing the other side of the story, Morgana's side. As for Horvath, I like that he gave her a chance, 'stead of jus' blindly followin' what his master tol' him. Now that the war's over, it's okay that he's friends with the Merlinians again."

"Are you aware of Balthazar's early training under Alvar?" queried Renee's trainer, somewhat cautiously for fear of revealing more than Horvath would like.

Her student noted her reluctance, and filed it away for future consideration. Her mentor had been right to warn her against trusting anyone else, she thought bitterly. They were keeping things from her, obviously, even those who had been Morgana's disciples. Did the blood of Merlin's old enemy still frighten them so much? Well, Renee would show them, in time. With the spirit's help, and the aid of the power growing within her womb, she would become stronger than any of them. She would be their new leader, and no one would ever look down on her again. She smiled to herself in anticipation of that day.

"Well?" Chandra prodded.

"Oh!" The girl shook her head, remembering the question. "Um, a little," she allowed. "I know Balthazar was the doctor's apprentice at Morgana's school. Then he met Veronica and switched sides tae be with her. Alvar was killed in battle, but then Merlin did The Rising to bring him back. It didna work out so well, though, so they kept him prisoner at the castle until Merlin died and they couldna keep him there any longer."

"And do you know how Merlin died?"

"Morgana." Her scion couldn't hide the hint of pride in her reply. "She beat him in a fight. He never should have tried to keep her down." Her face clouded then. "After that...I'm nae sure wha' happened. I think Balthazar and Veronica tricked her somehow, an' she got pulled into tha' Grimhold thing. Even so, she was able tae get hold of Veronica an' bring her in with her. My Encantus says Veronica used the Fusion Spell–firs' time anyone used it on a person–but Morgana was stronger, an' she took over. They were stuck inside the Grimhold together, so Morgana knew Balthazar wouldna destroy it. She knew he'd have to open the thing eventually tae let them both out. Morgana's very smart."

"Yes..."

"An' now, Veronica's free, so I'm guessin' that Morgana is, too, even if it's on'y in spirit form. What wi' Balthazar and Veronica and Dave all teamed up again' her, she prolly decided to lay low for a while, let everyone think she was gone."

"You don't think she is?"

"'Course not. Everyone knows spirits don' die. Nae, she's still around somewhere, even in your time in the future."

"Interesting." Chandra made a mental note to tell her colleagues of Renee's unwavering avowal. "Does Maggie think that, too?"

"I dunno," answered the young brunette. "I never asked."

"So anyway," Chandra went on, "do you know how Morgana escaped the Grimhold, and what happened afterwards?"

Renee's eyes narrowed. "Why do you ask?" she wanted to know. "Why don' you tell me what you know for a change?"

"I wasn't there when it happened," was the smooth reply. "All I know is what Horvath, and then the others, told me. However, I'm the teacher here. I'm the one who's giving the quiz, not you. If your information is wrong, I'll correct it as much as I'm able. Otherwise, you'll have to ask your master."

Glowering, the reluctant student repeated what Horvath had seen fit to reveal. "He let her out, Master Horvath did. She still had hold o' Veronica. She wanted to do the Rising, show everyone she was as strong as Merlin. From what you say, though, she needed a Merlinian. Horvath was supposed to help her, but I guess he couldna do it anymore. It'd been too long. They made Veronica help her instead. Then Balthazar showed up, tryin' tae interfere, and Horvath had to fight him to keep him away. He was winnin', too, until Dave drove up an' used a dirty trick to knock him out. By the time he woke up, Morgana was gone, and on'y the three Merlinians were left. They were still enemies then. He left while he could, hopin' to get a message from Morgana, but he never got one. Tha's why I figure she's layin' low."

"So you don't know whether Morgana succeeded with the Rising or not?"

"I suppose not," Renee shrugged, "since there were nae other sorcerers there after the fight. Too much interference, no doubt, or she would have done it for sure."

"Yes, I believe you're right. What else have you heard about the spell?"

"Tha's it. It needs a Prime, in the Forbidden Realm. Merlin did it with Alvar, and Morgana would have done it with others if the Merlinians had jus' left her alone. It on'y brings back the dead sorcerers you want, but they'll be practically immortal like Alvar was until...well, I guess until the non-aging spell wears off. It's a great spell, really useful, but hardly anyone can do it."

Chandra nodded. "True enough, except for one thing. There was one successful Rising, the way it was meant to be used." She paused, debating the wisdom of telling her pupil more. Renee was waiting with intense interest: the girl wouldn't be satisfied until she knew. Her teacher sighed and continued. "Dave used it on Balthazar. That's when Alvar became normal again, as well."

"Dave? He's...he's already done it?" She was impressed in spite of herself. "When? How?"

"As I said, I wasn't there. Horvath didn't see it, either. I only heard about it from the others. It was during that fight after Dave knocked Horvath out, when he and the other elites were fighting Morgana. Balthazar died in that fight, Renee. Dave used the spell on him after it was over."

"An' he succeeded where Merlin and Morgana failed..." Renee murmured as if to herself. No wonder her master had called Balthazar's pupil unbeatable. A twinge of jealous resentment tickled her mind, and her naturally competitive spirit embraced it. If Dave can do it, then so can I, she vowed. She would find a way, someday.

"Anyway," Chandra went on, "you were interested in the Fusion Spell. Have you heard or read any more about it?"

The girl's lips curled upward. "Oh, yeah," she acknowledged. "On'y one other time it was used on a person, an' it was Morgana again. Balthazar took her soul from Veronica, but she was too strong for him, too. Tha's when she got free."

"So I take it you want to try it yourself?" guessed her teacher. "On a person? Animals are much easier, you know." Such information was included in every Encantus, as this level was theoretically attainable by even normal sorcerers. Indeed, animals, which lacked the immortal soul of humans, were the usual subjects of the spell in practice. The sorcerer still had to master the basic skill of rending his own soul from his body, and then directing it into the body of his subject, but at least he didn't have to fight the other's soul to gain possession. More difficult still would be what Veronica had done: tearing an enemy soul from its body and fusing it with one's own. Veronica had paid dearly for that, a potent warning to any who might think to follow her example.

"Human fusion isn't something to be taken lightly," Chandra warned, as if she knew her student's thoughts. "First of all, no ordinary sorcerer even has the power to do it, as far as we know. We have enough trouble with animals. Not even Horvath ever succeeded with a person."

"He tol' me he dinna want to, that it would be a demotion to join someone else. He jus' uses his cane when he wants to control a human."

Her teacher laughed. "Of course he would say that," she said. "That's what he told all the Morganians. You think he's going to admit any weakness? Not likely."

"Oh."

"Then again..." Chandra went on thoughtfully, "he may have a point. The only two people who ever did it had rather strong motivations. That might just be the deciding factor; well, that and the inherent power to begin with. Before Veronica proved it could be done, the spell was just a theory."

"Like your theory of creating a wormhole that you can control."

"Huh? Oh, yeah, right." There were some similarities, now that she thought about it. Hopefully, her current project wouldn't exact so steep a price if the theory turned out to be right.

"I have the power," Renee pointed out. "If I bring an animal, will you teach me the Fusion Spell?"

"Well..."

"Please?"

Chandra threw up her hands. "Fine. I can't get you beyond animals, but I can at least teach you the basic principles. You wanted a challenge? You've got it. Bring one of the servants' pets, but make sure you let the owner know it won't be harmed. Humans tend to become far too attached to their animals."


"A raven? How splendid."

Renee basked in her mentor's approval. She grinned at the bird, perched upon the brass rail at the foot of her bed, but it only stared back at her with bright and curious eyes. Could it hear what she heard, the spectral voice of her Nana rising from the book beneath her fingers? It gave no sign; but then again, how would she know?

"I'm glad you like it," she answered. "I had tae use my ring tae get it away fro' its owner. Old man's a bit o' a grouch, loner an' all. None o' the other servants like him. Edgar here's his on'y friend. I 'spect nobody'll mind us usin' his bird for practice. They prolly hope we end up killin' the thing."

The spirit of Morgana echoed her amusement. "Not today," came the reply. "For now, we need it. We will learn the spell together, you and I. Until I find a suitable...er, willing human to serve as my host for a while, this bird will be my eyes and ears, and my hands if necessary. I will see this Merlinian castle for myself."


Renee and her avian companion became frequent visitors to their neighbors in the castle. While Horvath was away, they traveled with Chandra when the older sorcerer went there for her research project, and they were back every weekend for the group's regular gathering. The Merlinians grew used to their young friend's new pet, though they could do no more than tolerate its presence themselves.

"It's not exactly my idea of warm and fuzzy," Dave explained at dinner, carefully keeping his eyes averted from the bird glowering like a gargoyle on the back of Renee's chair.

"It's different," the girl agreed happily. "Like me," she added. Casually, she lifted a strip of meat in her fingers, up to the level of her shoulder, and the raven snapped it eagerly into its beak. The creature cawed for more.

Veronica changed the subject. "You're due soon, aren't you?" she asked rhetorically. "Have you seen the father at all since...?"

"Yes," answered both of the questions. "I am, and I have." She smiled but said nothing more.

"Does he know?"

"Not yet. I've nae been in town for months, since Maggie asked me to stay home." The smile was gone. Maggie's sister had acquired a reputation that reflected poorly on the family; and, by extension, the entire household, including the new doctor and his practice.

Veronica shook her head. "You really should tell him, Renee, as soon as possible. This is his son, after all. Even if you don't want anyone else to find out who he is..." She suspected that this was for the man's sake, that society would find his indiscretion unacceptable. He was probably married, and quite possibly a public figure with much to lose. The thought of her fellow sorcerer resorting to blackmail was disquieting, to say the least. "He should know," she continued. "Surely, you can make arrangements without anyone getting hurt."

"Nae, I can't." Renee shook her head. They'd had this conversation before, and it had been just as fruitless then. The pressure was mounting for her to confess–gentle pressure, but unrelenting–but she wasn't ready, not yet. She wasn't sure she would ever be ready.

With a sigh, the other woman let the subject drop. "Agatha's first birthday is coming up next week," she noted instead. "We plan to celebrate with all the children from both our estates. We'll have pony rides and a flying carpet along with magic tricks. Would you like to be in charge of any of those things?"

That was better. "Aye, I'll control the carpet." She bobbed her head happily at the thought.

"Good. Please, though, leave Edgar at home. We don't want to frighten the children."

Renee looked uncertain at this request, but at length gave her tentative assent. "He's my friend," she explained. "I dinna want him to feel left out. Still, I suppose jus' the one day, I can leave him at the manor, if ye really think I should."

"Will the pony rides be magic?" Ben chimed in hopefully. "I want magic ponies." He hadn't forgotten his first ride with Dr. Masters.

Alvar glanced at the boy's mother for her approval. She stayed pointedly neutral, which he took as permission. "Yes, Ben," he replied. "Magic ponies, too."

"And our Londoners promise to be back by then, as well," added Chandra. "Horvath seems really eager to give Agatha this surprise birthday present he got for her."

Dave couldn't help but ask, "Any idea what it is?"

"Not a clue. He just says it's for his favorite little sorcerer."

"Hmm, I'm afraid to even guess." He scanned the room to find the others nodding in agreement or grinning like himself–all but Balthazar, that is, who was making his best attempt to feed his daughter without getting the mashed potatoes all over her face.

Agatha wasn't cooperating. When she wasn't trying to stand up in her high chair, she was busy swatting away the spoon in her father's hand. The wooden tray in front of her was already half-covered in rejected food. Balthazar, however, was just as stubborn as she. He refused to give up the effort.

"Um, Balthazar," Dave suggested, "I don't think she's hungry."

"Yes she is," insisted the other with a note of frustrated determination. "She's just trying to be the boss here, that's all. See how she keeps reaching for the milk on the table? She wants that, all right, but she's not getting it until she eats her dinner. I am not going to let a one-year-old order me around."

Dave shrugged. "Good luck," he offered. Turning to Veronica, he asked, "Can't you talk to her? How come she only acts up when we have company?"

"She misses her godfather," replied the baby's mother. "She recognizes all of us here, but Horvath is missing. She doesn't understand why he isn't with us. As for me trying to explain it to her, I'm afraid I can't, any more than anyone else can. She's too young to grasp the concept; there are no words to bridge that gap. I understand her, but she doesn't understand us, not yet."

"Okay, she misses Horvath. Does she miss Becky, too?"

Veronica frowned. "It's strange," she allowed. "Becky...she's like the servants. Agatha knows her in the same way, just someone who lives here. It's as if she's picking up our sorcerer signatures, those of us with the gift, and that's what she actually recognizes."

"Wait a minute. Are you saying that Agatha knows whether someone is a sorcerer, even without a ring?"

"Yes, we believe so."

Balthazar added without turning from his futile task, "Too bad she couldn't have been born a thousand years ago. It would have saved us a lot of guesswork, and a lot of footwork too."

"What about Ben?" came a quiet inquiry from the redhead across the table. Maggie wanted to know, needed to know, but she dreaded the possible answer. "Does he have this...signature you speak of?"

"I'm not sure. Let's find out." With that, Veronica rose and lifted the wet washcloth from the table beside her daughter's cup of milk. Her husband sat back, obviously glad of the reprieve from his battle. He could now withdraw without having to admit defeat. The baby raised her arms toward her mother. A minute later, with face and hands freshly washed, she was carried around the table to the boy who waited on the other side.

Veronica rested her free hand on Ben's dark mop of hair to focus her child's attention. "Agatha, who is this? Do you know who he is?"

The little girl just blinked. She was capable of speaking, if only at a rudimentary level, but she said nothing now.

"Who am I, Agatha?" her mother urged. "Tell everyone who I am. Who am I?"

"Mama," answered the child, quietly as if she were revealing a vital secret.

"And who is that?" Veronica nodded to Balthazar.

"Dada." Slowly, Agatha's shyness was receding. Her voice was a little louder now.

In turn, the baby named the others in the room at her mother's prodding. "Day" was her term for Dave, "Pa" for grandpa Alvar, "Aggie" for Maggie (laughing at the similarity of the other's name to her own), "Ahna" for Chandra, and a somewhat uncertain "Nay" for Renee. "Nay?" she repeated with a frown.

The pregnant girl was suddenly nervous. She stood and headed for the doorway. "'Scuse me," she requested. "I have tae, um...tae visit the loo," she claimed before making a hasty exit.

Veronica stared after her, wondering. "It's the baby," she decided. "Agatha's picking up the baby's signature along with Renee's, and it's confusing her."

Dave was impressed. "Wow, that's one powerful talent your kid's got," he remarked to his master. "So Renee's kid is gonna be a sorcerer, too, eh? Agatha knows already. What's she gonna be able to do once she gets her sorcerer ring?"

"We'll see," Balthazar replied. "Okay, now what about Ben?"

Veronica asked her child again, and again her child was silent. Instead, Agatha gave a huge yawn and leaned against her mother's side. She rubbed her sleepy eyes.

Maggie let out a breath of relief. "Well, it looks like Ben takes after his father," she said. "He has engineering talent, but no magic. I'm so glad."

Ben didn't look glad, though. "No magic?" he lamented. "I want magic. Teach me some?" He looked to Alvar, ignoring his mother's disapproval and putting the doctor in a tight spot.

Fortunately, Balthazar came to his master's rescue. "We can't teach real magic if you don't have it already," he explained, "but we can teach things that look like magic." He winked at Dave before looking back at the boy. "Tell you what: you can impress your friends at Agatha's birthday bash next week. I'll teach you a few 'magic' tricks for some little girl's tea, or birthday, party. We'll start with a deck of cards."


"I'm nearly ready," the spectral voice announced. "Next time you go to the castle, I'll be with you."

Renee felt a thrill of something–excitement? fear? admiration? She couldn't say—and her hand trembled upon the open page. Edgar the raven shifted nervously from one leg to the other upon her footboard, shying away when she reached out to stroke his glossy head. He'd felt the attempts at control over his mind and body, growing ever stronger, and something within him sensed that the next attempt would succeed. Only the power of the girl's sorcerer ring held him here still.

"The party," said Renee. "It's jus' a few days away. But I canna take you with me; Veronica asked me to leave the bird here."

"Then I'll follow on my own. Look for me when you get there, and we can meet somewhere private. I know I'll be able to take over the animal by the time that day comes, maybe even as soon as tomorrow."

"You can do it that soon? I canna even get out o' my own body yet."

Laughter filled her mind. "I have the advantage, child," she heard. "I'm already a master...and I have no body to leave."

"Aye, 'tis true enough. Someday, I want tae be a master jus' like you."

"You will be, child...and it will happen sooner than you think."