It’s #BookQW and Cor ‘finds’ a surprise gift in this second story of my Windborne series of winged wizards.
Read more of my Work In Progress (that I’ve almost finished drafting!):
Master Harold put a hand to his office door, letting his magic flow to unlock it. “I said I had a gift, not a chore.”
The old gas lamp flared as the entered, a motion detector, not magic, and Master Harold waved him in while he waded among dropped tools and gloves and plants on every surface that he was nursing along. Cor didn’t envy him—he couldn’t stand the chaos or closed space.
The man plucked an envelope from the fronds of a fern and handed it to him.
Cor glanced at him before breaking the seal and lifting the flap. The cream card matched, and above the printing was—
He stuffed it back and shoved the lot at his boss. “No, thanks.” Cor strode from the office before he snatched the envelop back, because to go to the Windborne Arboriculture Conference meant listening to the latest research, meeting the Forest Wizards, maybe finding one who needed a worker to…to do anything that would get him out of this city. He pushed through the conservatory door, not bothering to make sure it closed.
Footsteps sounded on the slates behind him. “You didn’t even read it,” Master Harold said.
“Can’t take a handout.” His aunt would be furious, she’d certainly tell—
“It’s a job, as a gofer for the conference. You’ll be running your legs off, which certainly isn’t a handout.”
Cor stopped on the path. A…job? “Not as an attendee?”
Master Harold barked a laugh. “That would take more pull than I’ve got. One of the coordinators asked if I had any academy students who could fill tomorrow’s last-minute vacancy. I recommended you.”
Cor turned. “Me?” The question spilled out before he had a chance to think of how damned desperate he sounded. “I’m not in academy, and likely can’t swing it next year.”
“You. The chap who’d rather visit the ailing sessile oaks across town and ward them against infection. Who steals my catalogs and orders exotic bare root stock with his own pocket money and hides the saplings in the optimal beds. Who will have those bonsai planted before my first cup of coffee is even made.”
So the old man had noticed.
Master Harold held out the envelop.
He shouldn’t but…a job, Aunt Sue would agree to. And the only other plans he had for this weekend had been sneaking into the conference. He took it and pulled out the card, lighting his own fingers this time.
He scanned over where and when to report, attire to wear and duties. “Field trips?”
“Likely you’ll just have to fill in for what the sick gal was supposed to cover.” His boss shrugged.
Cor pretended to read it over again, but his mind rolled with the possibilities. He’d already researched the speakers, their home enclave species, their pet research projects. He’d have to prioritize who. If only I don’t blow it.
“I might not get to those bonsai.”
~~~
If you enjoyed this excerpt of Book 2, meet Beri & Fern in Book 1, The Witch of the Meadows.
And I’d love it if you leave me a review on Amazon or other retailers–they are so important to Indie authors! Thanks!
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