Knight of the Black Rose (14 page)

"It was kind of strange to be honest," Will told them, he had thought about it himself and still hadn't been able to get his head around it, he still hadn't actually mentioned it to his dad, even though he knew he should because he would probably understand it more than him.

"Of course it was, but you know...how many did you have to try out?" Alex asked him. "I think I tried like six, I was getting a little worried that I wasn't going to find a match,"

"Mine was on my third," Troy told him smugly.

Will was even more confused now at hearing this, but he might as well tell them, he trusted them. "I didn't try any of them...it kind of came to me,"

"It came to you?" Troy asked not understanding.

"It said my name, then raised out of the draw and came to me," Will told them, making them both stare at him as though he was making the whole thing up, which didn’t make him feel any better about the situation.

"Maybe that's what happens when you're all magic," Alex suggested, he didn't really know because he was only half.

"No...the old man in the shop thought it was strange as well...and well...I haven't told my dad about what happened yet either..." Will told them. "I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, especially if it wasn't anything big."

Alex and Troy both looked at each other and then at Will, he didn't always like being centre of attention, especially when he didn't know why.

"So anyway, my dad has me reading all my books since I got them," Will told them changing the subject seeing as none of them knew that much about the whole wand choosing matter, which meant that he would have to ask his dad after, which he should have done in the first place.

"All of them?" Alex asked in disbelief and horror.

"Yeap," Will answered.

"I've gone through them; you know flicking through to see if I could find any easy spells to practice on," Troy told them.

"There's a few really basic ones in them..." Will said thoughtfully.

"Did you see the potions book, it's massive," Alex said. "And all the stuff that's in there about the ingredients and what should be with what...I'm never going to get any of that,"

"My sisters said that Professor Loring is probably the best one out of all the potions teachers," Troy told them scowling. "And we defiantly wouldn't want to end up with Jevidah...actually he doesn't really like any of the students except for those in Disa; but he's not their head of estate, Eldamar is,"

"He's the Deputy Head teacher right?" Will asked remembering the name from his letter.

"Yeah, it was on the letter we got," Alex agreed.

"Great..." Will said. "It would just be our luck to get him,"

"I thought that we were having a lot of luck lately," Alex said smiling.

"That's what he means, it only last for so long," Troy said. "Anyway, who cares about that...lets see what we can do with these spells,"

"I haven't got my wand," Will told them.

"I haven't either; mum didn't think that she could trust me," Troy said annoyed.

Alex grabbed his books off of his bed and handed them over, as though this was going to stop them; they went through the books getting Alex to try out some of the spells seeing that he was the only one there with his wand. Well they wanted to know how some of the spells worked but not look as though they had been trying too hard either. Some of the spells that they were trying out, nothing at all would happen for them like they weren't doing it properly; maybe the spells did take more practice and training than any of them originally believed.

Chapter Five

It was finally Saturday night, the night before he would leave for school, he had actually thought that this day would never come, but it was finally here. He had spent the whole day packing and double checking that he had everything that he would need, and also that his clothes were out ready for him in the morning, so that he wouldn't be rushing around as they were leaving quite early because his dad said that it took a while to drive down to the dock. Will had asked about the dock and how they were supposed to get to the school, and of course where was the school, but his dad wouldn't tell him, except that it was a secret but he was sure that he'd like how they got there, it would be something that you never forgot.

Will was pushing down the last bit of his stuff and closing his case as his dad came in, to check if he was done again, he had added more stuff a couple of times after they had closed it, but he was sure this time that he had everything.

"Just finished," Will said. "It was a good job that you enchanted it or I wouldn't have been able to get everything inside,"

"It's the caldron and the books, they take up most of the room," Glen told him.

"You know, I was wondering about coming home...how am I supposed to re-do the spell?" Will asked him, and then smiled. "I'll have to practice it,"

"There's that, but it should hold on the case," Glen told him.

"I can still practice on other things," Will said smiling, looking forward to finally being able to learn real spells and to use his powers like his dad.

Will really was looking forward to finally going to school, but at the same time he was kind of sad about leaving his dad because he was after all the only family that he had ever know. He just hoped that he really would end up in the same estates as Troy and Alex, he had known them both near enough his whole life, they were also kind of like his family.

"So, if you're finished do you want to come down for something to eat?" Glen asked. "It's an early night after all; we're up early in the morning,"

"It doesn't matter when I go to bed, I don't think that I'll actually be sleeping; I’m just too excited about the whole thing," Will told him.

Glen smiled as he pulled the case up. "Nevertheless, you still have to get an early night and try to sleep,"

Will followed him out, Glen pulled out his wand and pointed it at the case; it lifted off of the ground about a foot and then he directed it down the stairs as he followed with Will closely behind him.

"Do you think I'll learn how to do that this year?" Will asked excitedly.

"Perhaps," Glen answered as he set the case beside the front door and replaced his wand. "Whatever you learn I'll be proud,"

"Really?" Will asked nervously, yes he knew he had powers but it was different using a wand and magic in front of others, he had never really done it before; but at least everyone else was going to be like him as well.

"You don't need to worry, you'll do great," Glen assured him as they walked through to the kitchen. "Everyone's probably feeling the same way right about now. You don't need to worry if you don't get it straight away either, for some people it takes a few try’s before they get it and yes others on their first try. If it makes you feel better, I had to work really hard, and I still do, there are always new spells to learn, especially in my job."

"Well...err...I guess that makes me feel a little better knowing that you did the same," Will said.

"Of course I did, like I keep saying, everyone does," Glen told him. "Now, food and then your shower before bed,"

"But dad...it's even earlier than I would normally go to bed...I am older now," Will complained.

"Will, I told you; we're up early in the morning," Glen told him again.

Will knew that he kept saying that, and he had seen his ticket, the time that it was supposed to set off at wasn't that early; but his dad had been told that it would take a while to get there. That wasn't the only thing that he was annoyed about, his dad had got a call that afternoon asking him to work, meaning that he won't even get to say a proper goodbye to him tomorrow; he'd have to do it at the house.

"Dad...err...I was wondering..." Will started nervously, kind of wondering if he should even bring it up.

Glen was getting a little annoyed with keep repeating himself since he didn't normally have to, it wasn’t how he wanted to spend his last night. "You're still going to bed straight after your shower, I don't care if you don't sleep, just as long as you're at least in your bed...I'm sure that you'll fall asleep at some point."

Will knew that he wasn't going to win on the whole bed thing, no matter how much he complained. "It's not that...I was wondering about tomorrow...Harding, Troy's dad got the day off, how come you couldn't?"

Glen turned around to face him, he hated that he had to give up all of this time with his son, but his job was important. "You know that the non-magic's had kind of found out about us this year. Well things aren't going as smoothly as we would have liked, extra security has been put on, just in case anything happens. There's going to be a lot of movement tomorrow with everyone going off to school, and not just yours, all of the schools. Harding might not really have the day off, he's probably going undercover, the non-magical parents and students won't know the difference."

"You could have done that," Will pointed out.

Glen wasn't completely sure what to say, he had probably already said too much, but he had to tell him something, and he knew that he wouldn't really say anything to anyone that he wasn't supposed to. "We have different jobs...we kind of do different things...but in the same department,"

Will wasn't completely sure what that meant. "Err...does that mean that I might see you there tomorrow?"

"Only if the dock is attacked, and we don't want that to happen," Glen told him.

"No...of course not," Will said, yes he wanted his dad to be there, but he didn't want an attack because he might get hurt and he so didn't want that. "So...Christmas, will I be coming home for that?"

"You don't need to ask, you can come home..." Glen told him smiling. "I would prefer you to come home actually than to stay at school,"

"You're allowed?" Will asked surprised.

"Yes, if something happens and someone can't go home...sometimes the older students stay if they need time to do extra studying," Glen explained. "But like I said, I'd like you home; for the next couple of years the holidays will be all we have,"

"Hay...we can write right?" Will asked excitedly, as he always liked getting mail.

"Yes, you can write to me...and I can even write back to you," Glen told him.

"Are you sure that you'll have time?" Will teased.

Glen smiled at him. "Yes, I'll have the time to write to you, as long as you do the same,"

Will didn't understand. "Why wouldn't I?"

"It might seem scary living away from home, but trust me; it's fun as well," Glen told him. "I had some great times there, and I bet that you will as well,"

"I wonder if any of the teachers will still be there?" Will said thoughtfully as he sat down.

"The head teacher is still the same," Glen told him. "In your first letter, you'll have to tell me who your teachers are, then I'll tell you if I had any of them,"

"He must be really old," Will said thoughtfully.

Glen laughed at his remark as he carried over their dinner, putting the plates down on the table before he joined him. "So you think your dad is old do you?"

"Well no...but if he was teaching when you were my age..." Will said not sure how to explain.

"He's a Tel'lanerian, they live longer than humans...about one hundred and thirty years give or take." Glen told him.

Will knew about Tel’lanerian’s, that they were pure magical beings, and that they could make themselves look human so you didn't know what they were. Meaning that he had no idea if he actually knew any, because he had never actually seen one in its native form before, but maybe he would now at school as he was sure that they would be loads there.

"Don't get any ideas...they're a very private race," Glen warned him. "If they want to show you their true form then it's up to them; I know that I can trust you on that...I guess it's when you're a little older. We'll have to have this talk again..."

"This talk...about what?" Will asked confused not knowing what he was talking about, but he just shook his head and started eating, which meant that he wasn't going to get anything else out of him until after they had finished eating, and maybe not even then.

There was a soft knock on the door and Will turned over, the door opened bringing light in from the hall; Glen knocked on the door again fully dressed as he had given Will as much time as possible, but now he really did need to get moving or they might be late.

"Will it's time," Glen told him.

"...just another...minute..." Will said sleepily, as he turned back towards the light his eyes flickering open.

Glen smiled to himself remembering the trouble of getting him into bed last night. "And you said that you wouldn't be able to sleep,"

Will stretched knowing that he should be getting up, it was a very important day, but he was just too tired to remember why it was so important. Then it came to him in a rush, he threw back his covers and shoot out of bed almost tripping over the ends.