Chapter 1

"How many times a week must I organize your cursed scrolls, old man?" I huffed to myself as I rerolled the old parchment back up and wrapped the red twine back around them. I gently added another tidied scroll to the neat pyramid pile in the stone cubby hole in the cottage wall. I always hated how the geezer never put his writings away. Especially since his work is being sought out by many a people, far and wide.

I pat the dust off of my emerald colored canvas dress, and fix the off white blouse I had underneath. I finally finished the last bit of cleaning, and right on time. My mentor, the coffin dodger, should return from his journey this evening, and I can only hope he has news for me. Either way, I know he will be hungry, so I need to start preparing dinner. The boar I caught in the forest this morning will do perfectly.

•°•°•°•°•

I had set the table, and laid the feast out once all the dishes were finished cooking. I wasn't going to let him take his food into his study tonight. No, we had matters to discuss this evening. Besides, I haven't seen him for a few months. I'm sure he'll want to hear how my training is going, and how far I've been able to come by myself.

The thick wooden door swung open, and a familiar pair of brown leather shoes waltzed right inside. The tall figure immediately flung his hooded cloak onto the floor, revealing the wrinkled face of the man I was waiting for.

"By the beard of Jove, I just tidied this place up!" I yelled as I pointed to the discarded fabric that lay on the stone tile floor. I knew I shouldn't immediately begin to scold my master, who had just returned after a long journey, but I finally finished cleaning the mess he left for me in his stead, and by George, I wanted to keep it clean for at least a few moons!

"It's oddly comforting, knowing that you haven't changed much, young Annora," the man chuckled, picked up the cloak, and placed it on the coat rack near the door. He walked further into the cottage, now dressed in his signature blue robes. His long white beard didn't seem to have gotten much longer, but the white hairs on top of his head have. His flowed at great length, from underneath the pointed hat he loved to wear. He looked at me through half-moon shaped glasses, and smiled a mischievous grin.

"Though, it looks like your body has grown towards womanhood, quite well," he said.

"And you haven't changed either, you perverted old fart," I seethed, crossing my arms over my chest. The air grew silent for a moment. A little too quiet. It created an awkward tension, that started to bubble up inside me. I could no longer contain it. I began a fit of laughter, and my master followed suit. We were simply two laughing bafoons, just glad to see one another again.

I couldn't speak a single word through my laughter. I had to wait until my giggles had died down, until I could meet the elder's eyes.

"You should come eat. I prepared a meal for us to have together. I want to hear of your travels, and any possible information you can give," I said with a small smile. I could see a flash of guilt in those green eyes, but he quickly covered it up with his usual unreadable expression. He is one to hide his true emotions. Except if that emotion is a lust after a beautiful woman.

"Indeed. I shall tell you of all the enemies I had to face, and how I was able to take each one down. In fact, after our meal, I would like you to bring some fresh parchment to my study, so I can recount everything onto paper. That way, it is not lost to the sands on time."

"I will, sir," I said. I sat after master had taken his seat. We began to dish ourselves after gracing the food.

"First, tell me how you were able to procure this delicious hog?" The master inquired.

"I used the breathe erasing techniques you had taught me. Combined with some bowman magic," I said proudly. "The creature never knew what hit him."

"Well done, my pupil. It seems you can be taught after all," he teased. I smiled brighter.

"Yes indeed! I have been practicing my casting every day that you were on your journey. I practiced not only my precision, but the strength of the magic I use. As to not cause so much unnecessary damage to my surroundings," I explained. The older gentleman nodded his head in approval.

"I can not wait to watch your progress on the morrow," he said between bites.

"Now please, tell me about your quest!" I was antsy, amd couldn't contain my suspense any longer.

"Well, my dear apprentice, I bring good and bad news. I'm not all that certain I know in what order I should tell you all of this," he paused for a second. "As you know, King Uther summoned me, by name, to figure out the culprit of a few incidents, where villages had been burnt to the ground, along with everyone in it.

I almost certainly can say, it's the dragons. They're attacking villages," he spoke with such disbelief in his voice, and I didn't blame him.

"But the dragons never usually wander into human territory, lest it be for revenge of some sort. They tend to look down on us, as if we weren't worth their time and effort. So, why would they be all of a sudden, wiping villages out?" I pressed.

"This might just be pure speculation, but the dragons might be planning something big. As we humans get more and more greedy with the land, that leaves less room for other creatures to live peacefully. It might be that the dragons feel as if we're getting to close to their territory, and they're trying to push us back into place. I'm not sure though," he said, stroking his beard.

"What is for certain though, is that I now get to teach you a new type of magic, since I'm not sure what the near future may hold. My dear Annora, come tomorrow, I will be teaching you dragon slaying magic." As the words left his mouth, I felt the excitement run through me like an electric shock.

"I don't like the circumstances, but it finally gives you an excuse to teach me some of the most powerful types of magic. I can't help but feel the excitement," I replied. "And what of my parents? Did you find any information?" Hurt could be seen creeping onto the master's expression, and subsequently my own.

"I do believe I know who killed them. I don't knoe if that's good news, or bad," he stated.

"Well, tell me," I urgently asked.

"Annora, I don't think-"

"I need to avenge my parents! No one is going to stop me. Not even you can, Merlin!" I shouted at the old wizard.

It is true that my teacher is the famously all powerful wizard, and the only wizard with his strength, but I was not going to rest until I found who killed my parents on that stormy night, nearly ten years ago, now.