Despite her attempts to delay the inevitable, eventually she arrived outside the door to Circe’s office. She had to face the music eventually after all.
Stop acting so dramatic. You haven’t done anything wrong. You have no idea why she summoned you.
There was only one way to find out, and despite her nervousness at being summoned before an authority figure unexpectedly, there was also a good bit of curiosity, and that eventually won out.
The door swung open under her fist.
“Come in,” Circe said, her voice echoing through the spacious office.
Not detecting any sounds of anger, irritation or anything else that might indicate she was about to get in trouble, Christine entered the office, curious about what was going on.
“Does that ever get old?” she asked as she approached the desk, gesturing at the oceanic backdrop.
“No,” Circe said quietly. “Thankfully, it does not. Sometimes when I need to reflect, I’ll stand there for hours watching the water go, simply thinking about everything. It provides incredible clarity to your mind. Removes all distractions.”
“I can imagine,” Christine said quietly.
“Well, one day, I fully expect you to be in a position to take advantage of it as well.”
Christine bowed her head, flushing at the compliment. She still wasn’t sure that the position of Circe was something she was capable of, but when the current holder of the title said she saw it, well, it added a certain credibility to the dream.
A dream she’d discussed with Altair. He had said he would support her fully if she chose to strive for it, under the sole condition that she not be allowed to wear a hood. Christine smiled now as she watched the mysterious head of Winterspell.
“I suspect your curiosity is getting the better of you by this point,” Circe said with a lightness to her voice. “You want to know why I called you here.”
“I’m not going to pretend otherwise,” Christine said bluntly. “Yes, I am dying to find out. Thank you for not taking forever to get to the point.”
Circe laughed, leaning back in her chair. “We witches aren’t always mysterious and vague, you know. Sometimes, we can get shit done.”
Christine covered her surprise at hearing the other woman curse.
“I promised you, what feels like forever ago I’m sure, that I would look into something for you, Apprentice Sinnclare.”
It took Christine a moment to figure out what Circe meant. “You mean my Test?”
“Yes. I talked to everyone involved, and your past evaluators, to get an idea of your progress and to see if it matched my beliefs in you, and what you are capable of,” Circe said formally, sitting straight, head tilting up to look at her better.
There might have been a hint of golden light deep in the hood as light caught the other woman’s eyes, but if so, it was only for a split second before shadows hid everything again.
“Hopefully, I have not disappointed you,” Christine said quietly.
“Quite the contrary,” Circe said. “Your evaluators, supervisors and peers all had nothing but glowing words of praise for you. Many of the Masters have said they expect great things out of you. One even said I should be careful because you’d be coming for my job sooner than I expect.”
Christine smiled and laughed politely. “I’m not sure they got that one right, but I do appreciate their support.”
“As such,” Circe continued. “I have found fit to rule that your Test, despite technically not being completed, as a pass. Given that it was through no fault of your own that it was interrupted by myself, for something deemed far greater, and based on your efforts with your team, I believe it would be a great disservice to fail you.”
“Thank you, Circe,” Christine said quietly. She’d totally forgotten about the Test in all the uproar that had followed Lord Berith’s arrival and the formation of the response team.
“I therefore wish to formally welcome you into your tenth and hopefully final year of Apprenticeship at Winterspell. If you succeed in your challenge, then it will also be my pleasure to welcome you into the ranks of Master. A place I believe you will continue to excel.”
“Thank you, Circe,” she repeated. “But I must ask a question.”
“Of course,” Circe said, sounding like she expected such a response.
“You said if I pass my challenge, not my Test. Was that a purposeful choice of words?”
“You picked up on that, good.” Circe stood and motioned for Christine to follow as she walked back toward the rift on the rear wall where ocean swells rose and fell with satisfying randomness.
“You’re right. Normally, it is another Test, to see if you are ready for the rank of Master.” Circe shrugged. “However, given the current circumstances, I have a better plan in mind. One that will truly demonstrate that you have what it takes to be a Master, both in power, and leadership. I’ve made no secret that I expect to see you on the Coven shortly, Christine, and that if you want it, you will eventually ascend to my position as the Head of Winterspell. To do that, you must both be strong witches. You have demonstrated this before, and if my reports about the binding of dragon and witch are correct, it means you have only grown stronger as a result of your relationship with Altair.”
Christine only bowed her head. She was past asking where Circe got her information from. Winterspell was hers, and the woman knew everything that happened there with uncanny accuracy.
Maybe one day, I too will understand.
“Spending another year studying and taking a Test is a waste of your abilities at this point,” Circe said. “So, I have another task for you.”
“Of course. I am interested and flattered by what you say,” Christine said. Her curiosity by this point was driving her wild. I just want to know!
“To this point, your response team has been little more than a unit thrown together hastily. We have not had need of
