Chapter Five

The XIA had driven her to Ritual Space where Hyl and Adrea had sent her home. Reegar had popped in like clockwork every hour until noon, and her medical scans were completed and sent to the hospital she had attended the night before. Since her tasks were complete, it was time to meet Kitty for a late lunch.

It took longer to walk to the café than it would have to drive to it, but when she met with Kitty, she didn’t mention the accident. Kitty’s news was extremely exciting.

“They want my bees!” She leaned forward and whispered it while the server was busy with their coffee.

“Really? Who?”

Kitty smiled. “The Mage Guild. They looked at the trials of our honey, and now, they want the bees.”

“Our honey?”

“Mine and the bees.” She grinned.

“Interesting. What are they going to do with them?”

Kitty shrugged. “I don’t know. I expect they will be transported somewhere to live out their lives making magical honey.”

“I hope that you are right. At least you got an excellent mark.”

“I truly did. We used a split up at the farm to start our own hive. They are thriving.”

Imara smiled as the server returned with their coffee. “Thank goodness. You worked hard with them; you deserve to have a portion of your efforts as a reward.”

Kitty smiled and then she paused. “Are you all right? You seem a little dull today.”

“Wow. That is direct.”

“Did something happen?”

Imara wrinkled her nose. “Yes, I wrecked my car. Totalled it. Flipped it right over. I am fine, but it was a bit of a shock.”

“When?”

“Last night.”

Kitty’s eyes went wide, but she kept her questions to herself until the burgers showed up.

Once they were eating, she interspersed her questions with her own consumption, and when she had assured herself that Imara was fine, she seemed to come to some kind of a decision.

“Take my car if you need it.”

“You mean the truck?”

“Yeah. If you need it for a job, let me know.”

Imara smiled. “Thank you. I think I am going to take a leave from my Death Keeper duties. I want to finish this last course strong.”

“Smart.”

Imara acted as she thought about it. “In fact... there, I have sent the text to the guild hall. They will spread the news.”

She set her cell phone aside and gave Kitty her full attention. “How is the family?”

“I can’t believe the change in grandma. She blushes, she flirts with grandpa’s spectre, and they disappear for hours on end. It is so sweet.”

Imara laughed. “They were definitely very much in love. How are your orbs?”

“My father and mother are letting me take the count down to five.”

“That is progress.”

“Yes. They still want me to be able to know what is coming but are not as worried about my ability to deal with shocks and surprises.”

Imara smiled. “I think you have proven that you can handle yourself.”

“I try, but I always seem to fall short. Master Reegar offered me a place at Reegar Hall when you have left.” The last came out in a rush.

The laughter was genuine. “Your family agreed?”

“They did. Since he has you as a reference, there was no need for them to worry.”

“They mentioned that they talked to me?”

“Of course.”

Imara sighed. She had hoped to keep her interference behind the scenes, but now that it was out, she was glad that Reegar and Bara would have someone else to call family.

“Are you looking forward to it?”

“I am. I think we are all going to miss you, so it will be nice to have all of us together.”

The expression on Kitigan’s face was happy but sweetly sad at the same time.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. I haven’t left yet. One term to go.”

Kitty grinned. “I am glad of it. Hopefully, we can get together a few more times. Will you be graduating?”

“I am going to be finishing out of season. I would rather just throw a small party and have friends, Luken, and my mom in attendance.”

“That sounds nice. Any particular venue?”

“It would have to be Reegar Hall if Reegar wanted to be there, or Ritual Space if he didn’t. That is if I pass my class. I am going to try my best, but it does take weird turns once you start aiming for a position in the Mage Guild.”

Kitty nodded soberly. “I wish you nothing but the best.”

“I hope your wish isn’t needed.”

Kitty raised her coffee in a salute. “So do I.”

Imara called Argus and left a message, telling him that she was fine and she was starting classes the next day. He could call her or text her in the evening. She headed to bed and went over her applications to the guild and for her magic license.

Mr. E murmured, Where do you think he is?

“He is either doing paperwork or thinking about it. I think he’s mad about my accident.”

He is not mad. He was worried. I was furious. That creature was trying to kill you.

“I can’t be sure of that.”

I can. It said so.

She linked with his memory and saw the altercation. Nearly twenty feet of coils, some pale limbs but the face was in shadow. Imara heard the hiss, “She will die, and you will be vulnerable.”

Imara blinked as her vision returned to the room around her. “Huh. So, it wants to kill me, but you are what it is after. Why?”

I killed a lot of people. Perhaps this is a relative.

“Really? You killed a lamia’s family?”

He paused. I thought it was a naga.

“Not enough heads.”

There was a demon who had a lamia as a lover. I killed him. She got away.

“That lacked foresight.”

Yes, it did. I am sorry she came after you.

Imara rubbed her forehead where the cut had been. “So am I. I am in no mood to play with a nearly immortal shifter.”

Are you all right?

“My head still hurts. I don’t recover from a cracked skull like I should.”

He pushed himself up against her arm, and he sent her extra energy. The burst helped the ache, but it didn’t dissipate it completely.

“Thank you.”

It didn’t help, did it?

“It helped a bit.”

He leaned against her and shared the warmth of his little body. The gentle touch helped her more than the shared energy.

She set her paperwork aside and flicked off the light. “Just one more course.”

Maybe you should see the doctors again.

“I will think about it after class. For now, I just want to get some sleep and get to class tomorrow morning.”

I will be with you. I always loved spell work.

She chuckled. “I know.”

As Imara fell asleep, she watched Mr. E’s memories of spell work like a movie, and the power and enthusiasm that she felt gave her hope for the following day.

“I am Master Mage Midian. I will be learning what you know about crafting a spell and using the ingredients on your list. This is a master-level class, and if you feel that your skills are not up to it, I would suggest you leave now.”

Imara looked around and only saw three other students.

“I also do not encourage the use of familiars, as when you need to craft a spell, you might not have access to your companion. Please, place all of the creatures in the holding area behind the curtain. I am not cruel enough to keep them from you entirely.” Midian nodded.

Imara went and carried Mr. E to a nice basket behind a curtain. “Here you go, dude. Enjoy your nap.”

I wish that I could have played.

“I know.” She scratched his chin and headed back to the class. Two of the other students also stowed their familiars. One had an owl, the other had a ferret.

She returned to her workstation and kept her hands at her sides.

“We are a small group, so I would ask you to introduce yourselves.” Master Midian paused by Imara’s station. “You first.”

“I am Imara Mirrin, Master Death Keeper.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Master Midian. I gained Master status several months ago.”

“What do you do for fun?”

Imara cocked her head. “I go out with friends; I do some consulting work.”

“Consulting? For whom?” The master kept her face pleasant.

“The Mage Guild and the XIA. Occasionally, I take tours of mage guides around memorial gardens to introduce them to the possibility of working with the dead.”

Master Midian nodded with an impressed grimace and moved to the next student.

Carlos Roderick was a ninth generation mage, and he wanted to take the spell crafting course in order to gain a skill that none of his family could master.

Libirak Nolthin wanted to learn how to make spells that could benefit the world.

Margo Pograth was a mage guide leader, and she wanted to set a good example for those who looked to her as a role model.

Imara suddenly wished she could change her answer.

“Excellent. Now, in front of you is a box, and inside of that box is a series of ingredients. I want you to use all of them, and anything you wish that you brought from your list.”

The master walked back to her desk. “You have two hours, and you can use any of the tomes in the room, as well as all the equipment. You can begin now.”

Imara stepped forward and opened the box. Her lips quirked when she took in the sight of the contents. She bent and got her notebook out, clicked her pencil, and got to work.

Class was now in session.