With a Single Spell

CHAPTER 33

“Now look what you’ve done,” Karanissa said, her hands on her hips as she stood on the bridge to the castle gate.

“You might have warned me what you had in mind,” Tobas retorted from the outer path.

“Where are we?” Alorria wailed, clutching Tobas’ arm and staring around at the eerie, red-lit void.

“Calm down,” witch and wizard said in unison. A spriggan giggled from one of the castle windows.

After a moment, Karanissa shrugged. “Well, we’re all here until spring, so we might as well make the best of it. Come on in.” She turned, and the doors opened before her.

“Showy witch,” Tobas muttered, annoyed by the entire situation.

“They were locked from the inside,” Karanissa reminded him. “How else would we get in?”

“Call the servants,” Tobas replied immediately.

“But, Tobas...” Alorria began.

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Karanissa admitted.

“Ha! It seems to me that there are a lot of things you didn’t think about!”

“Tobas...” Alorria said urgently.

“I hope most of the spriggans are gone,” Karanissa remarked.

“And I hope I have the ingredients for doing lots of dream-messages; I don’t want anyone to worry about us.”

“Tobas!”

Tobas turned to Alorria. “I’m sorry, Ali.” He waved an arm at the castle. “This is part of marrying a wizard, I suppose; at least, it’s a part of marrying me. Welcome to your new home!” The princess gaped up at the gargoyle-covered ramparts, the bat-winged turrets, the forbidding black walls.

“And,” Karanissa said warmly, “welcome to the family.”

Hearing that, Tobas glanced at Karanissa and saw she meant it. He smiled. For the first time since he had watched Roggit’s house burning, he felt that he could stop worrying about his future. He had a home, plenty of money, a career as a court wizard, and a family.

It was like no home he could ever have imagined, this castle hanging in nowhere. His money was a fabulously rich dowry, which was not something he had ever expected. His wizardry was inherited from a man centuries dead, rather than learned as an apprentice, and might almost be considered another dowry. His family consisted of two wives, a witch and a princess. Life had played strange tricks on him, certainly, but nonetheless he had a home, money, a career, and a family, and he was pleased with them all.

Any problems that might remain could only be trivial. He felt wonderful. His luck had been good after all.