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“Now, the first thing we need to do is determine whether someone did, in fact, hex you,” the wizard said, leaning his arms on the table.
“How do we do that?” Angelina asked warily.
He smiled encouragingly. “I have a simple test to find out.”
Angelina wasn’t so sure. “Will it hurt?”
“Not a bit.” He turned to a shelf on the wall and chose a blue jar. Placing it carefully on the table, he pulled off the stopper and plucked a small blue stone from inside, then held it up for her to see. “This is a bezoar. Usually, they detect poison, but I’ve modified this one to detect hexes. That is why it is blue instead of the mucky green or brown you usually see.”
Still doubtful, Angelina eyed the round, smooth stone. It didn’t look dangerous, but her mother had told her to be careful. “What do I have to do?”
The wizard laughed. “Nothing at all, my dear. Just stand still.” He moved closer and ran the stone over the skin above her eyes. The bezoar was warm. When he stepped back and showed the rock to her, Angelina gasped. It glowed bright red.
The wizard looked sad and a little angry. “You have indeed been hexed, dear girl. But do not worry. We won’t let the person who did this get away with it.”
“We won’t?” Angelina wasn’t sure what he meant. And even if Mrs. Finchhagle had put a spell on her, Angelina didn’t want to hurt her.
“Of course not. I believe I have a potion that will change you back.”
Angelina’s heart beat fast. “You do?”
“Well, I have the recipe. But sadly, I don’t have the ingredients. You’ll have to provide those yourself.”
Angelina sighed, her heart sinking. “I don’t have any ingredients.”
“Of course you don’t. What I meant was, you’ll have to procure them for me. I’d get them myself, but as I said, my age and infirmity keep me close to home these days. You, however, are young and strong. Obtaining five easily found items will be a simple thing for you.”
He said it as if he was talking about a trip to the grocery store, but Angelina noticed that he wouldn’t look at her. “What items?” she asked.
He smiled. “Nothing too difficult. You’ll need a red berry from the great tree, a blue gem, a bottle of wind, a ray of sunshine and the tears of a banshee.”
Angelina sucked in a breath. “The berry and the stone might not be too hard, but the others? Where would I find those?”
“Oh, it won’t be any trouble at all. Here is a satchel to put the ingredients in. There are a few extra containers in there for you. Probably not enough for everything, but it’s a start.” He laid a leather sack on the table, its long strap hanging off so she could slip it over her neck easily enough. “And I’ve taken the liberty of making you a list.” He pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and laid it on the table next to her plate.
It said:
A red berry from the great tree atop the highest mountain.
From the deepest cave inside the tallest mountain, a sapphire without stain,
A bottle of wind caught in the midst of its blowing
Sunshine woven from the last glimmer of its shining,
The tears of a banshee, taken as she is weeping
Gather these with courage and integrity,
Speak the spell, so that the cure of ages
Yours shall be.
Angelina slumped against the table, rattling the dishes. “The highest mountain? The deepest cave? Where am I going to find these things? Geography is my worst subject.”
She paced back and forth, thinking over the rest of the list. “As for bottling the wind, or weaving sunshine — is that even possible? And don’t even get me started on the tears of the banshee. All the stories say those creatures are pure evil. Even if I could get one to cry, how would I collect the tears without getting eaten?”
“You are brave and resourceful. I’m sure you’ll find a way,” the wizard said. “But if you can’t, I’m sure life as a unicorn won’t be so bad.”
“Not so bad? The military chased from home me this morning. Where am I supposed to sleep?”
“Well, you can sleep here tonight. Think things over. In the morning, you can make your decision. There’s an enchanted village not too far from here. If you decide to stay a unicorn, I’ll take you there. I’m sure you can find work.”
“Work?” Angelina said. “I don’t mind chores — or not much, anyway. But I’m just a kid. I should be in school.”
The wizard laughed, though not unkindly. “Dear child. Unicorns finish school by the time they are a year old, and you are far beyond that. I’m afraid you’ll have to earn your keep somehow, if you choose to remain as you are.” He paused to let that sink in before going on. “But do not fear. The villagers are always looking for new people — erm — I mean to say, new inhabitants. And they aren’t picky. No, not picky at all, about the, erm, species, of the immigrant.”
Two fat tears rolled down Angelina’s face, and the wizard looked at her with sympathy. “There now, get some rest. I’m sure everything will look better in the morning.” With a flick of his wand, he produced a pillow, some blankets, and a thick, soft pallet on the floor near the fire. “I’d offer you a bed, but mine’s the only one there is, and my rheumatism aches something fierce if I sleep on the floor. Price of getting old, I suppose. You understand.”
Angelina nodded miserably. He patted her shoulder and blew out the candles. A moment later, he trundled off through one of the doors she’d noticed earlier. She guessed it was his bedroom.
In the flickering firelight, Angelina stared at the pallet. It didn’t look uncomfortable. The opposite, really, but she missed her mom and sisters. She missed her cat and her own soft bed.
Slowly, she laid down, bending her legs gracefully at the knees and laying her head on the pillow. Using her teeth, she pulled up the blanket and made herself as comfortable as possible. Even though she was exhausted, it was a long time before she fell asleep.
