I gathered the dishes and left them in the sink, then pumped some water and wiped down the table.
There. It was a little cleaner, at least. I looked around the room, at the ghosts of the past, and then down at myself, wearing the clothes of a boy and robes of an underwizard in Waltney for the first time ever. Trepidation filled me. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Maybe we should go back.”
“Nonsense,” Papa said, looking back and catching my self“Nonsense,” Papa said, looking back and catching my selfBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 238
assessment. “You look like a boy. And you used that—that— whatever the spell is you used. Everyone will think you’re a boy now. Avery Mullins, come to town with his father. I thought you wanted to do some healing today?”
“I do.” I looked down at myself again, then straightened my shoulders and said with more self-assurance, “I do. Come on. Let’s go to the Zimmers’ house.”
“Better yet, the Bows. That place is full of sick people. I ought to know. I spent a lot of time there.”
“I told you, we’re not going to the Bows, or any of your old haunts. Put it out of your head.”
“You can’t tell me what to do. I’m your father.”
Exasperation filled me. “Aren’t you ready to give up drunkenness yet?”
His brow tilted lower. “What makes you think I want a drink? I just want to see my old friends.”
“And to have a drink. Admit it.”
“Nope. But maybe it would be nice to…you know.”
“What?”
He shrugged and looked away. “To let them see that my son is an underwizard, that’s all.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know what to say to that. It almost sounded like Papa was proud of me.
But he ruined it by continuing, “None of them have a child with so much power. To think drunk old Jasper Mullins has bested with so much power. To think drunk old Jasper Mullins has bestedBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 239
all of them.” I sighed. “Come on. We’re going to the Zimmers.” I grabbed his arm and pulled him after me.
***
Mrs. Zimmer had always disliked Avery Mullins, the girl, but she was inexplicably thrilled to see Avery Mullins, the underwizard, standing on her doorstep. She even called her three strapping sons in from the fields and someone sent for Roddy at the clerk’s office. Soon enough the sons had called in their wives and children too, and we had a full house.
“Of course I remember your son from our trip to Bergmondale,” I heard her whisper loudly to Papa as I healed the various ailments of her children and grandchildren. “But I never knew he was studying to be a master wizard. Why didn’t you mention it?”
I tuned out Papa’s response as I puzzled over the fact of how she remember me as a boy already. I’d been all ready to spell her with the gilded tongue, but then her face had split into delight upon seeing me, and I was so dumbfounded that I could only stand and stare as she pumped my hand energetically.
Perhaps she’d been present in the Bows when I spelled the room. But I didn’t think so.
“Some wizards came around a few weeks ago,” Roddy volunteered once he arrived, never batting an eyelash at my male form. “Asked a lot of questions about you and wanted to see Pop. form. “Asked a lot of questions about you and wanted to see Pop.Beckstead / Shadowed by Death / 240
I heard they went to the Bows looking for Hans Dunstall too.” “Oh,” I said, trying to sound casually. “Don’t worry, that
was a standard check. I heard they were doing it for all
underwizards.” At least, I hoped so.
After I finished with all the healing I could do for the
Zimmers, Papa pulled coins from his pockets and handed them out
to the smallest children. I was touched by the generosity,
something I saw rarely from him.
Of course, it was anybody’s guess how he’d come by the
coins.
When we tried to leave, though, we were met by more people
at the door who had heard what was going on at the Zimmers’ and
wanted a free healing as well. The majority of them seemed very
poor—and very grateful. At last, when a few hours had passed and
I’d run out of both patients and energy, Papa proclaimed that it
was really time for us to leave. I cast a gilded tongue spell as
a parting gift, just in case.
Papa and I turned to the door, and triumph filled me. Now
I’d made up for any bad I’d done in Waltney. The thieving, the
men killed by Ingerman, it could be forgiven now, couldn’t it? A thumping on the door sounded as we made to leave. I
sighed and hoped the new patient didn’t have a complicated
ailment.
But when Mrs. Zimmer opened the door, I looked up to see
that Master Norwood stood on the steps.
***
His gaze moved through the room, past the Zimmer family
members, until it lit upon me. He looked me up and down and at
last acknowledged me with a nod. “Underwizard. When I heard
there was healing going on in my jurisdiction, I was, of course,
curious. I think you and I need to talk.” He jerked his head
toward the outside.
Nerves twisted my stomach. “All right.” With trembling
limbs I followed him outside. Papa trailed along behind. Finally we stood on the dirt track that led past the house,
far away from the many faces that clustered curiously near the
windows and door to watch our conversation.
Master Norwood swiveled and folded his arms. “You’re Avery
Mullins, aren’t you.”
I blinked and stared at him in question.
“Council members came around a few weeks back asking
questions about all the underwizards from this area. You were
the only one I couldn’t place.”
I bowed, relieved that he didn’t remember me. We’d only
seen each other in passing, after all. And someone such as I
would have been far beneath his notice. “My apologies for coming
without permission. Papa and I were visiting old friends.” Norwood’s gaze flicked to Papa. “Mullins. Jasper Mullins,
that’s right. I remember you. I heard you went missing a couple
months ago.”
“Not missing,” Papa said. “I went to visit my son here,
Avery. Master Wendyn generously welcomed me into his household.” Norwood turned his attention back to me. “Wendyn. That’s
right. I recall now that his apprentice came from Waltney. I
didn’t recognize the name when he said it to me. But as I lay my
eyes on you, I think it’s coming back.”
I bit my lip.
“I could have sworn,” Norwood said, leaning closer, “That
you were a girl.”
“A-a girl?” I stuttered, feeling as though this whole
scenario were very familiar by now. How many times had it
happened to me since I’d undertaken this ruse four years ago?
“You’re quite mistaken, sir. I am definitely no girl.” Norwood looked me over again. “We all thought Robenhurst
was losing his mind piece by piece with all those different
gender tests, but come to find out he was right all along,
wasn’t he? There really are female apprentices.”
“I’m not—” I began, but he shook his head and reached out,
taking me by the upper arm in a steely grip. “Come along. The
game’s up. I’m turning you over to the Council.”
Papa stepped in front of him, placing a hand on his chest.
“Sir, unhand my daught—I mean, my son this instant!” Norwood coughed to hide a grin. I could have kicked Papa.
“Your daughter, sir? I sh
ould take you in too for being
complicit in this crime.”
Behind us the front door creaked on its hinges, and a
little ball of fury flung itself at Master Norwood. One of the
more adoring Zimmer grandsons, about six years old. Lisle, I
think his name was. “Leave the wizard alone! He’s a good wizard.
He helped my brothers and my mama!”
“This is no good wizard,” Norwood said, holding the boy at
arm’s length. “This is a girl pretending to be a wizard.” “You’re a liar! He’s a boy and everyone knows it!” “No—” He cut himself off and coughed, then let go of my arm
and put a hand out to Papa’s shoulder to steady himself. His
hand shook as he put it to his head. He blinked and stared at
Papa, then me, with unfocused eyes. “Pardon me. A little dizzy
spell. What was I saying?”
Lisle balled up his hands into little fists. “You said he’s
a girl, but he’s not. He’s a boy and a good wizard. You better
leave him alone.”
Norwood’s gaze moved to me. “A girl? Ridiculous.” He held
out a hand to me. “My apologies, Underwizard Mullins. I don’t
know what came over me.”
I stared, unsure what had just happened. Hesitatingly, I
extended my own hand and shook his. “It’s…quite all right.
Misunderstandings happen.” I hardly knew what I was saying. “That’s right,” Papa said. “They do happen, but you’d
better leave my son alone from now on. He’s a good, decent lad.” “Forgive me, Mullins.” Norwood shook Papa’s hand next. “Forgive me, Mullins.” Norwood shook Papa’s hand next.Beckstead / Shadowed by Death / 244
“Join me for a drink as an apology.”
“We have to be getting back,” I inserted hastily. “But
thank you anyway.” I practically dragged Papa behind me down the
road as, finally, we made our escape.
Whew. That had been too close. But I had no idea what had
happened to change Norwood’s mind.
***
By the time we arrived back at Ryker Hall, it had become
clear that I had a problem.
“I thought we’d had it,” I confided to Papa as we ascended
the stairs from the cellars. “I thought he knew my secret.” “What secret?” Papa asked absently.
“You know,” I said, with a glance around to be certain we
were alone. “My gender. That I’m a girl.”
Papa fixed me with a look that said I might be crazy. “Did
that man spell you in some way? You’re a boy, Avery.” I stared at him. “Oh no.” Something strange had happened
with my gilded tongue spell, but I couldn’t have said what. “What?” Papa asked.
“Friar’s bones, I don’t even know how to remove this
spell,” I muttered to myself.
“What spell? You’re talking nonsense, Avery.”
I bit my lip and realized I was going to have to tell
Master Wendyn the truth of where we’d been. And what had
happened while we were there. “He’s going to kill me,” I happened while we were there. “He’s going to kill me,” IBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 245
murmured.
****
The master returned by suppertime. I’d given Papa strict
instructions not to talk to anyone, at least until I could figure out just what had gone wrong with my gilded tongue spell. But of course Papa was incapable of following simple instructions, and had already told Ivan all about our strange escapade and how I believed I was a girl, and now Ivan thought I was a boy too.
Perhaps it was better this way. I’d be safer if Papa and Ivan didn’t know my secret, wouldn’t I? Perhaps I could let them speak to the master about it too and let him forget my gender. Then no one that knew my secret would be left. Maybe this was actually for the best.
But..I didn’t really want the master to think I was a boy, did I? It was kind of nice having him on my side for a while, someone that knew my secret and supported me. It was nice not to have to hide.
But if I told Master Wendyn what we’d done, he’d be angry. But I also promised not to lie anymore.
And so my thoughts went round and round until the master
returned.
***
I heard the buggy pull up outside as I headed for the
banquet hall for supper that evening. That master had returned, banquet hall for supper that evening. That master had returned,
Beckstead / Shadowed by Death / 246 and he’d been to Bramford. I paused by the front door as he came in, and gave him what I hoped was a confident smile—although it felt mostly lopsided and unsure.
“Oh, Avery,” he said, fumbling with something in his hands. “How was your day?”
“Er…we need to talk.”
“Talk?” He sounded distracted. “Sure. Just give me a minute.” He passed by me and went down the hall to his study. After a moment he came out empty-handed. “Now, then. You were saying?”
I glanced around. “Privately. We need to talk privately.”
He looked at me, really looked at me for the first time. “Oh? Devil’s dawn, that’s your bad news voice. I almost hate to ask.” He turned around and waved a hand that I should follow. “Into my study, then.”
“It’s not bad news,” I said, trailing behind him. “Well, sort of it is.” I closed the door behind me and cast a privacy spell. “I…I—did you have a nice day? How’s Valerie?”
He folded his arms. “I wasn’t with Valerie. Stop stalling.”
“You weren’t? Where were you?”
He gazed down his nose at me. “Stop stalling.”
I gulped. “Oh, very well. I went to Waltney today. I thought you were with Valerie!”
“What does Valerie have to do with going to Waltney?”
“Oh,” I said, realizing that I probably shouldn’t have tied “Oh,” I said, realizing that I probably shouldn’t have tiedBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 247
those two things together. “I…that is, nothing. I was just bored. And I wanted some more people to heal. Papa reminded me of all the people in Waltney with health issues. And since you weren’t around, I couldn’t ask for permission…”
“You knew I’d say no.” His voice was flat and hard.
“Not for certain, no. But I thought I just wouldn’t tell you and it would be fine.”
He sighed, and I heard disappointment in it. “So why are you telling me?”
“We promised to be honest with one another.”
He raised an eyebrow, as if waiting for me to finish.
So I did. “And…well, I sort of made a mistake while I was there.” I related what had happened with Master Norwood.
Master Wendyn sat in silence after I finished speaking.
I couldn’t take the silence. “I don’t know what I did wrong, but I’ve messed up that gilded tongue spell somehow. It seems to be passing…well, almost through contact, rather than through the spell itself. It’s like an infection. Don’t talk to Papa or Ivan unless you want to catch it.”
He shook his head. “Avery, you really do have the most extraordinary talent.”
“For magic?” I asked hopefully.”
“For making trouble. You’re just lucky that child came along and—infected, shall we say—Norwood when he did.”
“I know,” I said, nodding. “And I realized it was stupid as “I know,” I said, nodding. “And I realized it was stupid asBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 248
soon as that happened, if it makes it any better.”
“It doesn’t. I’m not sure what you did to cause the spell
to go awry like that, but perhaps it’s for the best. Just don’t
cast one again.” He shook his head. “To think that you’d pull a
&nbs
p; stunt like this today of all days.”
“Today?” I echoed. “What’s today?”
“You don’t remember?”
“It’s…what is it, Wednesday?”
“Today is one year,” Master Wendyn said. “One year since
you and Ivan came to Ryker Hall.”
I blinked in surprise. “It is? I’m impressed that you
remembered that.”
“I didn’t. Grandfather reminded me.”
“Oscar was here?” I asked, disappointed that I’d missed him
yet again.
“He sent me a note.” He picked up a small piece of
parchment from his desk and waved it around. “Thought we should
do something to commemorate the occasion.”
“Like what?”
“Doesn’t really matter, does it?” His frosty tone indicated
that he was probably going to be mad at me for a while. But then
he added grudgingly, “I got you this.” He pulled brown-paperwrapped package from beneath his desk and held it out to me. My brow hit the ceiling and, feeling awkward, I accepted
the package and pulled it open as he watched. They were master the package and pulled it open as he watched. They were masterBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 249
wizard robes, made of the softest fabric I think I’d ever felt. “You got me robes?” I asked, glancing up at him and
wondering why the gesture made me feel all watery inside again. “You’ll have a use for them soon enough,” he said, turning
away.
“I’m only a level twelve underwizard.” “So we’ll put them away until you’re ready. But you’re
progressing so well, I thought…”
I could see he was beginning to feel awkward about the
gift, and I didn’t want that. I hugged them to my chest before
he could change his mind and take them back. “Thank you. So
you’re not mad?”
“About Waltney? Of course I’m mad. But there’s nothing I
can do about it now, can I? Are you going to go there without
permission again?”
“Of course not. It was stupid.”
“Then I guess you’ve learned your lesson. Let’s go eat.” I followed him out of the study, pleasantly surprised by
his reasonable reaction. In the banquet hall he presented Ivan
with a spell book as a gift. Then before Papa or anyone else
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