“Concentrate,” Sol said. “You should be able to feel the strands of magic and how I’m moving them.”

Anna nodded but didn’t say anything. Her eyes were fixed on a page in the Archmage’s notebook, where he’d drawn an intricate pattern of wavy lines, crisscrossing and looping back on one another forming a shape like a circle with an arrowhead inside it. After a few weeks of training, she could definitely feel the magic, but it was still so complicated, she wasn’t sure how the spell he was creating was quite the same as his sketch on the page. There seemed to be so many more strands in the spell itself.

“Now, in a moment, I want you to try forming the net yourself,” the Elf continued.

“Wait. Now?” Anna asked looking up at him. Sol smiled and nodded. A faint glow emanated from the gem embedded in the collar of his tunic, and his hair was tousled by the wind spinning around him. They were in his study. And he was floating ten feet off the ground.

“Remember, you don’t need to make it quite this complex,” Sol said. “No need to make a literal chair of wind. Just get it moving. A little whirlwind. That’s all.”

Anna took a breath in and turned back to the book. Sol had given her a crystal to use as her anchor, which she’d attached to her bracelet opposite the opal Halcyon and the other Wisps lived in. She could feel the mana stored inside it, ready to be used. With a final look at Sol’s diagram, she started trying to cast the spell.

Just a whirlwind. Sol had described that the over all form of her spell was most important for simple spells. For just a slow breeze spinning around her, it would be better if the net was not so tightly woven. Of course, each time she tried to place the spell, it seemed like some part of it unraveled and she had to start again.

She registered Sol dropping his own spell as he watched her try and cast hes. She felt her face grow red with frustration as the spell kept refusing to take hold. Halcyon took notice. The Wisp sent his influence out around her, forcing her to calm down. “I don’t need help,” she said. “I can do this.”

For a moment, Halcyon didn’t respond. Then his influence became a little confused and faded, leaving Anna with nothing but her frustration. It was another five minutes before she finally managed a stable net of magic. She willed it to move around her, generating a small breeze that turned the pages of some of the books lying open on the table.

“How’s that?” she asked the Archmage.

Sol pondered the question for a moment or two, then shrugged. “I think you have the principals down alright. You’re just a bit slow at weaving.” As if to prove his point, he waved his hand, recreating his cushion of wind. “I don’t expect you to be quite this fast, even with simple spells yet, but you should be quicker if you want magic to be of much use on your journeys.”

Anna looked down at her feet. “I see.”

“No, no,” Sol interrupted her. “Don’t look so depressed. Practice should be plenty to solve a problem like this.”

“It’s hard to practice when we can get called away for a mission at any moment,” Anna said. It had been barely a week and a half since their trip to the Crimson Wood. After passing their information on to the King and Queen, they’d been told to stand by for more orders, in case anything came up. Anna thought they would give the group time to rest and let Peter recuperate. At least, she had until Peter had insisted he would be ready to go at any time. King Henry took that to mean they didn’t need a break. But at least there had been no news since then.

Sol shrugged. “That’s how it goes sometimes. Learning new skills when you’ve other responsibilities.”

“Did you have that issue while learning magic?” Anna asked.

Sol smiled. “It was the other way around for me,” he said. “I had to learn how to navigate castle politics while attending to my duties as a royal mage.” He paused for a moment, thinking. Then he shrugged. “It would also be helpful if we found out what aspect of spell casting you are best at.”

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“What do you mean?” Anna asked.

“No one is a natural at everything,” Sol said. “Some people have the misfortune to lack any talent. When it comes to mages, though, most of us have some element in which we excel.”

“I assume you don’t mean natural elements,” Anna said.

Sol shrugged. “Sometimes it’s one of those. Most of the time though, you’re right. A person’s affinity is usually something more like being able to tie spells off to form enchantments, or being able to form them quickly, like me. Others are good at sensing the patterns and picking up unique spells and techniques.”

Anna felt a little better. If Sol’s special talent was the speed of his spells, then she didn’t think it was a problem that she was so much slower than he was. “What do you think mine is?” she asked.

Sol thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No idea. Unfortunately, when it comes to discovering your affinity, very few people succeed at that until they’re pretty well practiced in several area’s of magic. Still, I’d pay attention to the parts of casting that are hardest for you, and those that are easiest. It may help you discover your talents.”

There was a knock at the door to the study, and Sol called for the person to enter. Andrew stuck his head in. “How are things going,” he asked.

“Slow,” Anna said. “But I’m learning. How is training going?”

Andrew shrugged. “Same as ever. King Henry and Queen Emily have called for us.”

Anna’s shoulders slumped. “There goes practice,” she muttered.

“Don’t worry,” Sol said. “I’ll still be here to help you practice when you get back. And I may even have discovered something about the fountain you found.”

“Thanks,” Anna said. She stood and left down the spiral stairs with Andrew.

“Still nothing on the fountain, then?” Andrew asked.

Anna shook her head. “Sol is convinced the symbols are familiar from somewhere, but he can’t place them. And I’ve been a bit… distracted the last few weeks.”

“Magic practice?” Andrew asked.

Anna nodded. “There are other mages gathering the wisps. If we run into any more, I don’t want… well, that happening again.” As they came to the bottom of the stairs, Peter was waiting for them. He was still on his crutches, though he was able to put at least a little weight on his feet now. “Are you sure you’re ready to go on another mission?” Anna asked.

“I’ll be fine,” Peter said. “I’m getting pretty used to not moving my legs.

“I think you’ll regret that,” Andrew said. “Maybe we should make another liter so Jarnvaror can carry you like he did Sir Charles.”

Peter laughed. “That would be fun,” he said. “I could actually get the full view while we’re flying.”

“Do you have any idea what our orders are?” Anna asked.

Both boys shook their heads. Andrew said, “I think they just learned about it. They just sent me to collect the two of you.”

“We shouldn’t keep them waiting then,” Anna replied.

“Well, I’m moving as fast as I can,” Peter said, swinging forward on the crutches.

The King and Queen were both in the throne room when the trio arrived, along with their mother and Chancelor Daniel. King Henry was talking to Daniel as the chancellor wrote something down. Lady Thalia noticed the three first, and she tapped Queen Emily on the shoulder to alert her. The girl sat up a little straighter. “Welcome, Wisp Seekers,” she said.

The three stopped, Andrew and Anna bowing. When she looked up, Anna noticed that Lady Thalia had wrinkled her nose at Peter, who was, of course, unable to bow.

“Good! You’re already here,” King Henry said. “We just finished having Daniel draft a letter of introduction for you to give to Lord Mac’Fureigh of Prohr.”

“Where?” Peter asked.

“Prohr,” Chancelor Daniel said. “We just received word that some Pirates along the coast have been using Wisps while attacking some of our ships.”

Anna realized Peter was still giving the chancellor a blank look. She leaned over and said, “Prohr is the largest port city in the southwest. How have you not heard of it?”

“We didn’t talk about trade much back home,” Andrew said.

Anna felt her face flush. “Oh. Right. Sorry.”

Andrew shrugged and turned back to the King and Queen. “What do you want us to do about the Pirates? I don’t know if we’re in any condition to fight them.”

“You’re our experts on Wisps,” Lady Thalia said. “It’s your job to find out the most efficient way to deal with this particular issue.”

“Right,” Andrew said.

“Do we know how they were using the Wisps, or how many?” Anna asked.

“I’m afraid not,” Daniel said. “The report to us only told us that there were several Wisps on board the ship.”

“I’m sure Lord Mac’Fureigh will be able to explain more details when you arrive,” Queen Emily said. “Pirates have never been unusual in the area. It’s the Wisps he will need help dealing with.”

“Right,” Andrew said, and Anna could tell he was already dreading this mission.

“Oh, come on,” Peter said. “This will be fun.”

“I can’t wait to hear how it goes for you,” King Henry said.

“When would you like us to leave?” Anna asked.

“Well. Now would be a good time,” Lady Thalia replied.