The Spirit Wilds: Magic of the Green Sage (Fall of the Sages Book 1), стр. 33

Gayla chuckled. “No need to worry, I grabbed them.” She walked over to an old, rusty-looking trunk and undid the latch. She threw the lid open and leaned inside. Tuni could only make out a bunch of old books and some clothes, but a second later, the sage pulled out her bow and pack. Tuni’s heart did a leap. Thank goodness!

She took the backpack from the sage and went through it just to be sure that everything was still there. When she found the leather-bound journals, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Here, look at them, see for yourself,” Tuni said, handing the books to the Girl O’ Green.

The sage leaned her staff against the bed and took the journal from Tuni. Her piercing blue eyes scanned the pages and the notes and smiled. She flipped from page to page, admiring Tuni’s drawings, muttering along to the notes.

“These are very good. You’re quite talented.”

Tuni blushed. “Thank you.”

She kept looking through Tuni’s journal. She nodded, seeming pleased with what she was seeing. When she finished with the first one, she leafed through the other two. Finally, the sage closed the journals for good and handed them back to Tuni. The wildling’s heart drummed inside her. She was full of nervous energy.

“Why do you want this?” Gayla asked suddenly, arms crossed, looming stern and sagely.

“I… What?”

“Why do you want to be apprenticed with me? What is the reason?”

Oh. Tuni gulped. “I—” she started but then closed her mouth. Why did she want this? It struck her, though, that the answer couldn’t be more obvious. “I’ve never had a purpose in my life, Madam Sage. I just live day to day, with no directions. There’s nothing I’ve ever wanted. The only thing that has driven me is my love of flowers, for animals and nature and spirits.”

Tuni smiled, arms out wide as she took in all the plants in the room. “I adore nature. Nothing would make me happier than to stay with you and learn all I can about the earth and everything on her.” She fixed the sage with a pleading gaze, her lips turning to a grim line. “Please.”

Gayla cocked her head and studied the wildling. She crossed her arms and smirked. “Well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to have an extra pair of hands. And I do appreciate your love and passion.”

Tuni beamed, her body humming. “So…that’s a yes?”

“It’s a yes.”

Tuni squealed and jumped, which of course caused her more pain, but she was too happy to care. Shandi, as Tuni had come to expect, grunted in frustration. “I cannot believe this…”

“Oh stop, Shandi,” Gayla said. “You should be happy. Tuni here will help take the load off you.”

She threw her hands up but didn’t argue. “Fine, Madam Sage.”

Gayla flinched at that. “You know I hate it when you call me that, Shandi. Much too formal for my taste.”

“Yeah, that’s why I said it.” Shandi seemed like she was about to storm out of the hut, but then she whirled around and got up in Tuni’s face, eyes blazing. “You better work hard, because I will not abide by any slackers. If you don’t give this your all, I’m going to make your life a living hell. Do you understand me?”

Tuni gulped. “Y-yes, ma’am.”

Shandi gave her one last once-over. “Good. See to it that you do.” Then she pulled open the door and walked out, slamming the door shut.

The sage put her hands on her hips and sighed. “That one is so difficult sometimes. But I love her. I’m sure you two will get on eventually though.”

“Seems highly unlikely, Madam Sage.”

“Oh now, don’t you call me that either. I only ever accept that title in formal settings, of which my hut is not. When we’re out in the wilds, call me Gayla. Only Madam Sage if we’re visiting the cities, which is rare.”

The cities… Tuni had never dreamed of seeing the three great human cities, but now that it was a possibility, she was certainly curious. She nodded.

“Yes, ma— I mean, yes, Gayla.”

“Good.” The sage adjusted her pointy hat, grabbed her staff, and made for the door. “Now get some rest. Your body needs time to let my medicine and magic heal you.”

Tuni nodded. She strained as she returned to the bed and pulled the covers back over her. Just as Gayla was about to leave, Tuni was struck by a thought, one that immediately made her feel guilty for not thinking of sooner.

“Wait!” she yelled, sitting up in a rush. Gayla paused at the door, an eyebrow arched. “My family… I— I got into a fight with my mom before I left. She’s probably worried about me. Is there any way to contact her?”

That seemed to warm Gayla. She grinned, her eyes glazing over with affection. “How sweet. Don’t worry, I’ll let her know that you’re okay. And that you plan on being away for a while.”

She started to leave again. “How will you know how to find her?” Tuni asked.

The sage glanced back and chuckled. “Magic.”

Then she left.

Tuni groaned and laid back against the pillows. She ran a hand through her hair. It was knotty. Needed a good washing and brushing. And she needed to re-bead them, as all her ornaments had been mussed about in the fall down that hill.

Magic, huh? Her life was about to get a whole lot more interesting.