Charlotte slipped between an oak and a large holly bush and started down the winding track. She kept catching glimpses of something interesting at the other end, not far away, just a few minutes. The question was, which would come first, her intriguing destination, or Elsie’s screeching fit when she realised Charlotte wasn’t where she was supposed to be.

It ended evenly, Charlotte stepped into a clearing as all the nearby birds fled at the sound of the maid’s outraged squawks.

What was in the clearing made it all too easy to ignore the kerfuffle at the other end of the path. A mage tower. A young one from the look of it, just mature enough to house a new mage.

And that mage was going to be her.

Charlotte glanced over her shoulder; rustles and crashes said someone from their party was coming her way, she’d need to be quick.

She picked up her skirts and raced for the tower. “Please open your door, please open your door, please open your door.”

It probably wasn’t how you were meant to introduce yourself to a tower you were hoping to form a lifelong partnership with, but the door opened, and Charlotte barrelled through.

Unfortunately, the door stayed open, and Captain Kergan barrelled through after her. “You can’t be barging into places like here, Miss, it’s not appropriate. What if the mage takes offence?”

Was there a mage? Charlotte looked around her, then scampered across the room to lay a hand on the seeing crystal embedded in the back wall. It was a good thing she’d spent time in Uncle Rufus’s tower over the years, or she’d have no idea of how to go about things.

Hand on crystal, she reached a thought out, to the tower. It responded and she turned to the guard captain with a victorious grin. “Since the mage is me, I don’t think they’re going to be too upset.”

More shouts sounded from outside and before the man had a chance to reply, Elsie appeared in the doorway. “Really Miss, you do take all. What are you doing in this dirty little place? We need to be back on the road and travelling if we’re to make the inn in time for dinner.”

She went to grab Charlotte’s arm, ready to drag her out. Elsie had a habit of grabbing and pinching when Charlotte didn’t do what was wanted. This time, though, Charlotte had resources. A cage of roots shot out of the floor, surrounding the maid and stopping her in her tracks, arm out, fingers curled.

Of course she immediately started screeching again.

Charlotte patted the wall next to the crystal soothingly. “Yes, I know she’s horribly noisy, but she’ll leave soon, and we can get some peace and quiet.”

Betula was next through the door, stumbling back into the unprepared arms of the young guardsman behind her. She didn’t quite hit the floor, but it was a close thing. Charlotte bit her lip on a giggle as the guard heaved Betula upright and plonked her into a helpful chair that hadn’t been there a minute earlier. It clearly was not the romantic rescue and reassurance her future sister-in-law had been expecting.

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