until those stitches come out. But, you know Allegra always welcomes company on the beach.”
Adrian went to get the others and everyone came inside. They decided, in light of Kaelen’s injury, to spend the rest of the afternoon inside the parlor. Nana offered to read aloud the latest letter she’d gotten from Uncle Sebastian. “It would seem,” she said before beginning, “that someone hinted rather strongly that he doesn’t write often enough.”
Moira blushed as Nana gave her a significant look.
Nana laughed and read:
Dear Bethany, Lavinia, Adrian and Moira,
I do hope this letter finds all of you in good spirits. I’m having a fabulous time down in southern Sanalbereth. It has been quite an adventure I can assure you. The climate here is so very nice. It’s no wonder Lucian’s grandparents decided to move down here. By the way, should you see him or dear Allegra, please tell them that I say hello. Anyway, I do love this area. It’s quite beautiful and filled with interesting places to go and things to see. I rather think I could build a little cottage here and live out my days quite happily.
“No he couldn’t,” Adrian interrupted. “Uncle Sebastian hates staying in the same place long.”
“Shh,” Moira chided and Nana continued.
This week I will be in Rendorlin. There’s a very quaint little village in the very most southern tip of the province that has a most fascinating summer festival every year. Per your recommendation, I am staying at The Dancing Fairies. The proprietress is a charming woman. But Bethany, you did not tell me all the details of your last stay. As soon as she found out I was related to you she told me all about your kindness and generosity. Really, sister, and you say I keep secrets. She has been most obliging and is quite an interesting person. There’s something familiar about her but I can’t quite place my finger on it. I need you here, Bethany. You and your fairy senses could probably help this old fool figure things out.
Be watching your mail for a package to arrive. I’ve sent gifts for everyone and even a little something for my future niece and nephew. I suppose it may be a little early, but I consider them family already, having spent the trip to Biberseth with them when taking Moira and Adrian back to school. They are really such charming people. I hope to meet their parents soon.
Again, I do hope that you are all well and happy. I expect you’ll be going to the seashore again this year as you have told me about the last couple of years. If you see or do anything interesting, you must be ready to tell me all about it on my next visit. No, I shan’t tell you when I’ll come again. It would take all the fun out of it.
Ever Yours,
Sebastian
“He should sign them ‘Your Mysterious Uncle’,” Adrian joked as Nana folded the letter and put it back in its envelope.
Everyone laughed and they chatted long into the afternoon about Uncle Sebastian and his many adventures until evening fell and Cook announced that supper was ready. They went into the dining hall where steaming bowls of shark fin soup sat waiting along with fresh-baked biscuits, a green salad with shrimp and a bowl of sliced melon. For a long while the only sound in the room was the clanking of silverware as everyone enjoyed their sumptuous meal.
Just before Adrian’s family returned to Lictthane, a package arrived at the castle. Inside were the promised gifts from Uncle Sebastian. Each person was given their package and Kaelen was surprised to see that there was even a small package for him. They all opened them at the same time. Each of the women gasped as they picked up jewelry inlaid with amber and bits of turquoise. Intricately carved leather belts were given to each of the men, though each piece was different. Kaelen was the only one who had not received a belt. In his package he found a little note that read:
If you believe the stories of the ancients, there is a mystic quality to the turquoise stone. Coupled with amber makes it even more powerful and especially lucky. For my beastly friend, a token to carry with you for good fortune and in hopes that it may someday be given to your bride.
Sebastian
Inside a soft, leather pouch was a unique amulet of turquoise and amber embedded in an engraved silver circle and dangling from a silver chain. He wasn’t sure how he could give it to his bride as the chain was very thick and masculine, but perhaps if put on a more delicate chain the amulet could take on a more feminine appearance. Kaelen also didn’t know the stories of the ancients. Perhaps in one of his spell breaking classes he could speak to Calypso about the amulet and see what insight she could offer. School would be starting again in only a week.
Soon they had returned to Charming Academy. As classes started, Lucian found himself wishing that he could go back to summer. His schedule was far busier than ever before with some daunting classes. When he had finally taken a moment that summer to look at his schedule, he had been shocked by what he found.
Class Schedule
Day Time Class Teacher
Monday, Wednesday
8:00-9:30 Fencing Raphael Peregrine
9:30-11:00 Fencing Raphael Peregrine
11:00-12:00 Healing Morghana
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Botany Russett Snapdragon
2:00-3:30 Dragon Fighting Vulcan Firebrand
3:30-5:00 Dragon Fighting Vuclan Firebrand
Tuesday, Thursday
8:00-9:30 Botany Russett Snapdragon
9:30-11:00 Horsemanship Phillipa Rosepetal
11:00-12:00 Healing Animals Althea
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:30 Seamanship Achilles Stardust
2:30-4:00 Foreign Language Lorelei
4:00-5:00 Language Arts Airlia Willowlimb
Friday
8:00-9:30 Fencing Raphael Peregrine
9:30-11:00 Orientation Honoria Peregrine
11:00-12:00 Spell Breaking Calypso
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Hunting Diana Foxglove
2:00-3:00 Etiquette Gelasia Stardust
3:00-4:00 Gardening Lucretia
4:00-5:00 Foreign Language Lorelei
Most of his classes hadn’t really surprised him. He’d known that some of them were continuing from the last year. He hadn’t, however, expected the new classes. Seamanship had seemed odd for a boy who grew up by the ocean, but he soon learned that the class was all about sailing and ships; something that Lucian had little experience with. He wasn’t thrilled about the double dragon fighting. But perhaps the worst of his new classes was gardening. Most of his bad feeling towards the class was because it seemed so odd put in with all of his other classes. The rest was likely due to his temperamental instructor. “I don’t really think this class is going to help me at all,” Lucian complained one evening after a particularly bad lesson with the young witch. “When she’s not mad at me for messing something up, she seems to be flirting with me.”
“Well, mess up less,” George teased. “Then she’ll flirt more.”
“Somehow I think that would make Moira jealous. The last thing I need is to go back to year one when she wouldn’t talk to me.”
“Just don’t start messing up more,” Jacobi warned. “That would probably end badly.”
“Think of it this way; she’s not the youngest anymore,” Adrian said. “So she probably won’t lash out as easily as she would have then.”
Lucian laughed, “I doubt anyone would have had her teaching gardening while she was the youngest. She hated all of us so much she probably wouldn’t have gotten through the first day without turning the student into a slug.”
“At least Russett is more forgiving of mistakes,” Kaelen said. He and Lucian shared one of the botany classes, studying flower arranging.
“That’s true,” Lucian said. The boys continued to chat until they agreed that they’d best get their homework done, much as they’d like to continue putting it off. Lucian said he was going to do his in his room. “I have reading to do and if I’m in the common room, I’ll just end up talking to everyone.”
“Understandable,” George replied. “
See you tomorrow.”
The next morning dawned so lovely that Lucian just couldn’t stay inside. After breakfast he and the other boys went outside with their hounds and homework. As the dogs chased after whatever they tossed for them, the boys worked. It was a nice, summery day with a slight breeze rustling the leaves above them. The sunshine was warm, but not overly so; mostly because it was filtered through the maple’s abundant, large leaves. Kaelen, who had less bookwork than the others, soon began playing with Knight. They wrestled together under the shade of the tree until both were exhausted. Knight lay panting while Kaelen sat against the trunk of the tree, scratching behind his ears. As the other boys finished, conversation soon turned to the summer.
“Just how much did you grow, Lucian? Four inches?” Jacobi asked.
Flushing, Lucian replied, “No, only two and a half.”
“Two and a half in just over a month? What were they feeding you?” George teased.
Kaelen stepped in by saying, “It can’t have been the food. I was eating the same stuff and I didn’t grow at all.”
“That’s still crazy,” George said. “I’ve never grown that fast in my life.”
“Trust me, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” Lucian groaned. “Between growing pains and never being able to find clothes that fit, I’m not sure it’s worth the trouble.”
“It can’t be that bad,” Jacobi replied.
“Try it sometime,” Lucian retorted. “I just hope that I’m done. When the tailor took my measurements so they could do my new uniforms, I was nearly six five. I don’t think I want to be any taller.” After a