At this point Alex wasn’t sure he could manage anything at all. He didn’t comment on his own doubts, however, but listened closely as Whalen whispered the command in his ear.

“Concentrate on all three staffs joining together,” Whalen added as he took a step back.

Alex summoned all three staffs once again so they were standing in front of him. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, trying to focus all of his energy. Opening his eyes, he looked at the three staffs and, when he was ready, he thought of the command Whalen had whispered to him.

The three staffs moved slowly toward each other until they touched. Alex could feel heat coming from the staffs, but he continued to concentrate as hard as he could. The heat continued to grow, and Alex thought he could smell smoke. Suddenly there was a blinding flash of pure white light and only one staff remained.

“Amazing,” said Mr. Blackburn, a look of wonder on his face. “Never thought I’d see such a thing in all my days.”

“Few people have,” said Whalen. “In fact, my dear Mr. Blackburn, we three are the only ones to have seen something like this in more than a thousand years.”

Alex’s thoughts remained fixed on the staff in front of him. It looked completely different from any of the three staffs he started with, though strangely the same. The new staff was made of some black and shiny wood with interwoven patterns of true silver and gold wrapped around it.

“Go ahead,” said Whalen, looking at Alex. “Take your staff, my friend.”

Alex reached out and took the staff in his hand. A strange feeling of warmth filled him, and the staff seemed to shiver slightly at his touch. He looked at Whalen, then at Mr. Blackburn, then back at the staff. This was something he’d never expected, but something he was very happy about just the same.

“Don’t forget to pay Mr. Blackburn,” Whalen reminded Alex.

Alex nodded and asked Mr. Blackburn how much he owed him.

Mr. Blackburn, who seemed even more shocked than Alex, had some trouble deciding on a price. In the end, with a little help from Whalen, they agreed on a price, and Alex paid Mr. Blackburn for his wonderful new staff.

“Well, the council will certainly be interested in this turn of events,” said Whalen as he and Alex walked back to the Golden Swan. “A most impressive feat indeed. It may count as your fifth great wizard act.”

“I don’t think taking a staff should count as a great wizard act.”

“Well, perhaps not,” Whalen agreed. “But that decision will be up to the council.”

“When do I take the oath?” Alex asked as he and Whalen entered the Golden Swan.

“Tomorrow night, during your company’s final feast,” said Whalen. “I will ask them all to be witnesses for you. It will put a nice end on your latest adventure.”

Alex nodded. He was eager to take the oath to obey wizard law. After all, he was one step closer to being a true wizard.

Chapter Twenty

A New Beginning

So, you’ve taken your staff,” said Sindar when Alex and Whalen entered the main bar at the Golden Swan.

“I have,” said Alex, grinning from ear to ear.

“It’s about time,” Halfdan added, stepping forward to shake Alex’s hand. “I’ve been wondering when you’d get around to it.”

“And I’ve been wondering why Whalen made him wait so long,” said Bregnest, shaking Alex’s hand as well.

“All things in time,” said Whalen.

Andy was too amazed to even speak, and he simply shook Alex’s hand.

“It’s all right,” Alex said. “You don’t need to say anything.” He was still having a little trouble believing he had taken a staff. He couldn’t stop smiling.

“A real wizard,” Andy finally managed to say. “Imagine—me being friends with a real wizard.”

Alex laughed. He knew Andy had always considered him a real wizard, but it seemed that Alex’s taking a staff had finally allowed Andy to say the words out loud.

“Well now,” said Whalen after the congratulations had ended. “I have something to ask each of you, and I hope you will all agree.”

“How may we be of service?” Bregnest asked.

“Tomorrow night, at your company’s final feast, I would like you all to be witnesses for Alex,” answered Whalen. “I will be taking Alex’s oath as a true wizard.”

“We would be honored,” said Bregnest, bowing to both Whalen and Alex.

“I know you can answer for your company, Bregnest, but still I must ask each of you to answer for yourselves,” said Whalen. “After all, it’s not a simple thing to be a witness.”

“Do they have to do something?” Alex questioned, surprised by Whalen’s comment.

“Nothing difficult,” Whalen answered. “They will sign a document saying that they are witnesses, and their files will be updated to show as much.”

“Why would that be important?” Alex asked, puzzled.

“So other adventurers will know that they are your witnesses, of course,” said Whalen as if that explained everything.

“Witnesses for a wizard are often given greater preference for adventures,” Sindar explained. “Your honor will shine on us because we have ridden with you.”

After all of Alex’s friends agreed to witness for him, Whalen turned to Bregnest. “I suppose it’s time for our evening meal. I’ll need to speak with Alex again once we are done.”

The company and Whalen enjoyed a long and somewhat rowdy meal. Later, Whalen led Alex to the back room of the Swan. Once they were seated, Whalen told Alex more about the wizard laws and about the responsibilities that went with being a wizard. They talked late into the night, and Alex learned a great many new things.

At one point when Whalen had paused in his explanation, Alex asked him a question that had been on his mind for some time. “Do you remember the ring I recovered on my first adventure?”

“Yes, you’ve told me about it,” said Whalen.

“Iownan said she couldn’t tell me what the ring was. When I asked if she didn’t know what the ring was or if she just couldn’t tell me, she said she couldn’t tell me.”

“That is common with oracles,” replied Whalen. “They always know more than they are willing to say.”

“Can you tell me what the ring is?”

“I’m sorry, Alex, I have no idea what it might be. However, if Iownan advised you to keep the ring safe, but not use it, I would heed her instruction. She has her reasons.”

“I’m not in any rush,” said Alex. “I’ve wondered about it and thought that you might know something about it.”

“I understand completely. Perhaps someday Iownan or some other oracle will tell you what the ring is. When that happens, you might let me know as well.”

Alex felt that Whalen was the only person he’d ever met who truly understood him. It seemed strange in a way, as the two of them had only really met that day.

“Oh, yes,” said Whalen suddenly. “You’ll want to keep your staff in your bag while in Telous, and of course when you’re at home.”

“Why?”

“Well, in Telous, you really have no need of the staff and carrying it around is considered a bit showy, if you know what I mean.”

“And at home?”

“Well, I think you’d look very odd walking around your stepfather’s tavern with a staff,” Whalen laughed. “And your stepfather might faint if you came home carrying one. You’ve only been on two adventures, after all.”

That night, Alex thought about what Whalen had told him about wizard law and being a wizard. Whalen had also given him a lot of advice on how to choose his adventures in the future. Whalen had also worked the Rel O’Gash spell, and Alex could already feel it working. His mind seemed more organized than it had been, and he could recall the things Whalen had said with ease.

The next morning after breakfast, Whalen once again took Alex to the back room to talk. Whalen taught Alex several more things, including the spell he had been unable to share with Alex during his journey down the Mountains of the Moon. By midday Whalen was finishing giving Alex instructions and advice.