Beauty and the Magician (Tales of the Red Witch Book 1)

Chapter 32 - The Beast receives council, the Magician receives a headache

"I want to go to the council too!" Toby shouted.

With the decision made to visit the council, Annika had retired for the night. She had insisted Eben get some sleep as well thought he had only nodded and resumed his seat on the sofa. She wasn't sure she would be able to sleep but she did manage a few hours before waking up at dawn and making breakfast. Toby had ran down the stair soon after her and she had been forced to tell him they were leaving. Really Eben should have been the one to tell him but when she had spotted him unshaven and still awake, seated on the sofa, she had sent him upstairs to wash.

"I need you to watch Mr. Pig for me and Eben needs you to watch the shop. We won't be gone long, I promise." Annika said with sincerity.

Mr. Pig grunted at her feet, burying his nose in her skirts. It would seem he didn't want her to go either. She reached down and ran a paw over his wide bristled head. He looked up at her with his beady black eyes. It was almost like he was concerned for her.

Eben stumbled down and stairs then in a fresh shirt with an old blue tailcoat and old black hat in his hands.

"It is long past time I took you to the council, but today is not the day for me to do that. I have some things I must face first... and I promise to teach you any charm you want, when I get back." Eben announced as he entered the conversation. Annika clearly heard him follow it up with a mumbled "If I come back" but Toby had obviously not heard that part.

"Will you teach me to turn myself into an animal?" Toby asked with excitement.

Annika could practically feel Eben cringe beside her. She smiled. She loved hearing the two of them bicker. They were very like her and Sofie.

"That's the one you want to learn?" He asked as he gestured at him with the brim of the hat.

"I wanna fly too, only I wanna be a... I don't know... somethin' huge and awesome! Bigger than a mangy old crow!" He said as he began to flap his arms and chase after Mr. Pig.

Eben sighed as he shook the dust off the ratty black hat that was easily a decade out of date and put it on his head. Then he shrugged into the blue tail coat that was just a tad too short. Annika stifled a little giggle at seeing him look so different. She wondered if he knew the spells that could have made the hat and coat look any way he wanted, but it was very like him to leave it the way it was. She made a promise to herself that she would sew him a new black coat when they got back. It was the least she could do for him after saving her life.

"Very well. We shall work on personal transformations, when we return." "If we return" he mumbled again.

Annika stopped the "flying" boy and kissed Toby on the top of his head. "Be careful and it's probably best you stay inside."

"Awww...it's too boring here with everyone gone." He said as he swatted her hug away. Annika glared at him with all her imposing strength. It was a look that usually made others shrink away from her. Toby just huffed in resignation.

Eben cleared his throat. "Shall we?" She followed him as he walked over to the last door on the wall.

Annika grabbed her cloak and fastened it about her neck as she padded after him.

He waved a hand and chanted. The door glowed and changed shape from a small arched door like the rest to a slightly larger rectangular one. He opened it up and let a warm heavily scented breeze blow into the workshop.

"After you." He said as he gestured for Annika to walk out before him.

"Thank you." She smiled and lifted her chin to walk through like a lady. She might look like a cat but that didn't mean she had to act like one.