She tried her best not to chase Eldridge to the library immediately after dinner, but she had to admit her excitement to know more. It wasn’t like a book which couldn’t answer your questions. Here was a chance to talk with someone who had lived and breathed magic his entire life. A real magician!

‘Can you tell me about the Magician’s School?’ She didn’t last long. Within twenty minutes she’d cornered Eldridge in his book-laden library.

He looked a touch exasperated but chose not to comment. ‘Well…’ he paused to pull himself into a comfortable chair in front of the roaring fireplace. ‘The main school you would be interested in is on the Island, off the coast of Wales. You catch a train, or drive, to the station at Holyhead and make your way farther north. From there it’s a boat ride to the Island of Skerries – but we call it Sentinel Isle.’

‘The Island is where the school is – that doesn’t sound too hard to get to, or like it’s well hidden?’

‘The truth is my dear, all of the travel is by a mundane boat – nothing out of the ordinary at all. But once you get to Sentinel Isle the journey starts to get interesting. You see, on the Isle is a lighthouse, and in the lighthouse lives the Sentinel. His job is to protect the magicians from anybody wandering there, but nobody ever has to my knowledge. North of the lighthouse is the Grand Causeway, which is a path across the ocean taking you to the magician’s school – Winters Island – and this one you won’t find on any map.

‘Because it’s magic?’

‘No, no, nothing of the sort. It won’t appear on a map because nobody knows it’s there. The greatest spells protect it. Illusions cast by magicians of Yew House so it appears to be another expanse of ocean. Ash magicians have wards on the sea, to raise its height and temperament if sailors get too close. If that were to fail, magicians of Apple House have woven enchantments so anyone nearby will sail around, or back, thinking nothing at all is out of the ordinary. It always gives me a shiver – the way they can control minds. Anyway, those are the basic protections and they’ve never been breached – ever.’

‘How do you get onto the island then?’

‘Why by the causeway of course. It’s the only way.’

‘And what of the school itself, is it a big castle?’ The intrigue had Elvie rapt.

Eldridge absently scratched at his ear. ‘Not a castle. It’s well, the best way to think of it would be like a sprawling town – lots of different structures. All the Great Houses have a building of some description where they live and work, some farms too. There is the Court, the large central area where everyone gathers. On the whole, it’s a small village, this one is just for a community of magicians.’

Elvie was disappointed. As he spoke she imagined floating castles held aloft by magic, or a city in the highest trees. That would make sense, considering the connection to the Great Houses. Surely magical creatures came and went as well – perhaps she’d have the chance to see a unicorn!

‘The magicians have formed an almost self-sustaining community where they live, learn and teach.’

‘It doesn’t sound very exciting…’

‘Ah, it is my dear! I’m just not doing it justice. When you get inside the various houses, you’ll understand. Wondrous buildings cannot be described with simple words, and Winters Island is indeed a place of wonder. Granted, it isn’t as grand as the Chateau De’Sevigny in France, but it holds its own against Holz-Holleren in Germany, or Trondheim in Norway. I may be a little biased, however.’

He paused to look at Elvie thoughtfully as if weighing something in his mind. ‘You may see it one day; perhaps you should see it. But that discussion can be for another time. Why don’t we see if I can teach you some spells?’

‘Yes, please.’ Enthusiastic, Elvie took a seat in front of the fire.

‘They’ll be simple, you understand. I know rudimentary spells from other houses – and of course, they never work well, if they do at all.’ Elvie nodded again, uncaring. ‘Very well. Every magician's spell has three main elements. If you perform them right, you’ll cast the spell.’

The first is the focus, which I assume you have as you’ve already been casting spells. As the magician, you need to have a singular focus on what you want to achieve, at least at first. Concentrate solely on the task. Do you understand?’

‘I think so.’

‘Good, good. The next element of a magic is the words of a spell itself. Most of our spells are from traditional languages, Welsh, Irish, and Latin – that’s where all our understanding of magic comes from, of course. Saying the words of the spell correctly is the second most important element of casting – mispronounce a word and the spell might not work. They are not powerful by themselves you understand, but when a magician brings all his will to bear, and therefore power. Well, if you get it wrong, energy and focus needs to go somewhere… and it will. So, don’t get it wrong!’

‘Don’t get the words wrong,’ Elvie repeated dutifully.

‘Thirdly, appropriate hand motions and gestures. You see Elvie, the use of words and gestures focuses the mind, taking it away from the subconscious desires which may affect it. Your wandering thoughts are your own worst enemy. Gestures help sharpen your focus, otherwise, there is a risk interference from your subconscious could change the purpose of the spell. Three steps: focus, words, and gestures. Easy?’ He chuckled to himself like his words didn’t do the challenge justice.

Eldridge moved to the window where several seed pods rested with native plants and blossoms within. Carefully, he picked two pinhead-sized seeds off a dark husk. Eldridge passed one to Elvie and sat in his chair, palm extended towards her.

‘Assuming you are Elder House, this spell should be within your grasp. I’ll likely do it poorly, you understand, as my House is further away from Ash House. It’s a simple spell – a good place to start.’ Eldridge’s eyes left Elvie’s and moved to the seed on his palm. He stared at it momentarily, circled the seed with the index finger extended. With a flick of his finger towards the roof, he spoke in a strong voice. ‘Bhláth.’

The tiny seed cracked to the side and a green tendril poked its way out. Pitifully slow, it crept towards the light – and stopped at the length of Elvie’s smallest finger. Eldridge chuckled, embarrassed.

‘It looks sickly,’ Elvie commented naively, causing Eldridge’s embarrassed chuckled to grow.

‘I’d like to say I could do better but I’m not entirely certain it’s true. That’s the nature of casting from another House – it doesn’t work! But let’s see what you’re able to do. Remember the three steps.’

Elvie closed her eyes momentarily, visualising her goal of a nice seedling, perhaps a foot high, and vibrantly green and healthy. She imagined the seed growing in her hand, opened her eyes and willed it to occur. She concentrated so hard pressure built within her mind and demanded release, like a kettle left too long on the boil. Her hands swept around the seed in her palm, mimicking Eldridge’s motions. The word rolled across her thoughts, and for a fleeting moment, she swore she could see the flaring purple eyes and hazy form of the cat as it whispered the word to her, over ad over. It wanted the spell released.

‘Bhláth.’

Instantly the seed split into a shoot of green life, but unlike Eldridge’s, it leapt from her hand and rocketed towards the ceiling and floor simultaneously. With a thunderous crack, it collided with the floor, tendrils webbing outwards as roots. A second explosive collision with the ceiling marked a hail of wood fragments and a cloud of dust, which rained amongst them as Eldridge cursed.

Elvie sat in shock.

Eldridge stared in mild fright.

In front of them was a large tree, complete with a canopy now occupying the space of Eldridge’s bedroom.

Shocked and scared she’d done something wrong, Elvie burst into tears and fled the room.