The castle of the high wizard stood on a hill in the Scottish Highlands, the one in the magical realm, so it was safe from becoming a tourist attraction for regulars. Landolore Castle had played host to centuries of casters, which meant it was saturated with lingering magic, and Josephine fully expected the place to be much more interesting than Dorie.

Arriving just behind her grandfather, Josephine found herself standing on the fireplace hearth inside the castle library, and she knew right away it was not like Dorie. The bookshelves did not stand side-by-side in neat rows, instead they floated in midair, bobbing like jellyfish with no particular direction in mind. There were other objects in motion as well. A globe spun under its own power, and a dust cloth swept shelves, flicking wildly as if it had been caught with a dirty house.

"That's curious," Grandpa said absently. "Bartamus should have been here to greet us." He scratched the back of his head, seemingly unaware of the magic as he stared at a door tucked beneath a sign that said, Reading is Magic for the Mind.

"Who's Bartamus?" Josephine asked as she watched a cello case wander by, stuffed with books and scrolls. 

"He's the dwarf who serves Mabon, and he is always prompt." When Grandpa noticed Josephine and Charlotte gawking like a pair of spellbound witches, he laughed. "What do you think of the castle library? Quite the spectacle, eh?"

"It's marvelous." Josephine nudged Charlotte to follow her further into the room, and they mingled with the furniture. She stretched for a shelf holding a single row of books, all of them bound in thick, ancient leather, but they stayed just beyond her fingertips. "There are more books here than any sane person could read."

"Watch out, Jo. Here comes another one." Charlotte tugged her out of the path of a mahogany cabinet, and Josephine hurried to read a spine as it lingered there.

"Salem Witches and Their Contributions to the Modern Craft", she said just before the cabinet lifted up and out of reach, as if to say she had seen enough.

"How are they catalogued?" Charlotte asked. "It must be a nightmare trying to find the book you want."

"The catalogue system is powered by magic." Grandpa walked over to a cabinet and scribbled something onto a piece of paper. Then he held it between his fingers, unsheathed his wand, and floated the paper up. It quickly folded into a set of wings and flapped toward a bookshelf on its way across the room.

Josephine and Charlotte followed the paper bird until it came to rest in front of a laminated book with a stiff, new binding. The entire bookshelf lowered to the ground, giving Josephine a chance to grab the book and read it. "Landolore Castle: A Visitor's Guide. Really?"

"Believe me, you'll need it if you decide to go wandering."

"What about spell books?" Charlotte said.

"Oh, yes. There are plenty of those, but you won't be able to reach them unless you know the magic."

"You're here!" A little man with a yellow beard and an emerald vest trundled into the room, sweeping a funny cap off his bald head. The hat made him look like a miniature Robin Hood. "Welcome Firestones. I apologize profusely for being absent on your arrival."

"Your timing is perfect, Bartamus. We've been here long enough to indulge in some ancient magic." Grandpa greeted the little man with a friendly shoulder pat, and Josephine set the book down on a passing bookshelf, hoping the man wouldn't notice. "These are my eldest granddaughters, Josephine and Charlotte. They will be accompanying me to Lurium."

Bartamus showed off his bald head again as he bowed politely. "Bartamus of Landolore Castle. Mabon has been detained and would like to meet you in the entry hall. Please, follow me."

While it was no floating library, the entry hall felt enchanted too. It made the hair stand-up on Josephine's neck, and caused the air to ripple. This was especially noticeable in the tapestries that circled the foyer. They hung from towering stone walls, waving gently under the magical energy and causing the threads to shimmer.

Josephine tried to imagine the number of spells cast by centuries of high wizards. Had there been altercations in the entry hall? Maybe even duels? Had Landolore faced enemies? She was still gawking when a regal-looking man in a sky blue robe appeared on the marble staircase. His head was topped with a swirl of orange and white hair worn like a misshapen beehive. A wizard's hat would be completely unnecessary.

"Greetings. I can't tell you how pleased I am to see you arrived safely," he said. "I just spoke with Lizbeth and told her so." He hurried to join them under the tapestries as he brushed a fine powder from the front of his robe. "I also had the pleasure of meeting, Zinnia and Brigit. These two must be Charlotte and Josephine. If I didn't already know they were related to you, Borgon, I would not have guessed it. Where's the orange?"

"It surprised us as well. Only the youngest was blessed with the Kelvian hair."

Clicking her tongue, Charlotte nudged Grandpa in the arm. "Strawberry blonde should count for something."

Grandpa looked ready to apologize, but it was Mabon who spoke first. "I am sorry, Charlotte. Strawberry blonde is indeed a close cousin to orange, and you get full credit for coming by it naturally."

Bartamus cleared his throat determinedly, and everyone looked down. "May I suggest we retire to the dining room? Cook's in one of her moods."

"Cook has inhabited this castle longer than either of us," Mabon told him. "And she is entitled to her moods. Having said that, I suggest we make haste."

They followed little Robin Hood away from the enchanted entry, and Josephine spotted a set of massive wooden doors at the end of a long hallway, which she guessed would lead them to the dining room. Along the way, they passed no less than ten alcoves with statues and valuable-looking art displayed on marble blocks. Was it Mabon's personal collection, or a historical record of castle souvenirs?

Josephine was starting to regret leaving the guide book behind when they finally came to the doors, and Bartamus did an excellent job of pushing them open, although Josephine caught Mabon gesturing through the pocket of his robe.

"I hope everyone here likes soft-boiled albatross eggs," Mabon said, glancing sidelong at Borgon. Josephine saw right through his amused smirk, but Charlotte didn't notice, and she pulled a face.

"I'm avoiding eggs," she said nicely, but Grandpa and Mabon were already chuckling.

"Cook doesn't serve albatross," Mabon said. "And I'm sorry for inflicting my terrible humor on you, although I cannot promise there won't be more."

Bartamus hurried ahead, waving Josephine and Charlotte into a pair of seats he pulled out. The table could have seated twenty, and there were three more like it, arranged lengthwise in the center of the room. The rest of the space could have made for a decent dance floor.

"Would the young misses enjoy a beverage other than water?" Bartamus asked as he gestured to a pitcher on the table. "Cook makes an apple cider that will get your blood pumping,"

"Apple cider sounds delicious," Charlotte said. "The harvest is just starting back home, and we usually visit our favorite orchard this month. Right, Jo?"

Josephine swallowed hard when she pictured the orchard on Pemberton farms. "Right."

Bartamus looked pleased to be able to accommodate them, and he hustled away while everyone got comfortable. Along with water and place settings for seven, a large basket of rolls sat on the table between Josephine and her grandpa, many different kinds, and he eyeballed them hungrily but didn't take one as he and Mabon sat down together. It was then that Josephine finally noticed the resemblance between the two wizards. Although Mabon's hair had wide bands of white, they both had the Kelvian orange.

"Are you Kelvian, Mabon?" Josephine asked.

"Yes, I am."

"Are you related to our grandpa?" Charlotte added.

"We are all related by our Kelvian bloodline," Mabon said. "Although, the last time a Firestone and a Bonworth comingled was a good ten generations ago."

"I believe you're right," Grandpa agreed. "Beatrix Bonworth and Sorel Firestone. They both contributed something significant to magic. Beatrix developed a blackberry-flavored absinthe that would keep a wizard dosed for a full forty-eight hours?"

"You're right, indeed. A brilliant contribution to those who need a forced retreat."

Bartamus appeared again, carrying a silver pitcher, and Josephine's mouth immediately started to water. She loved apple cider. But when he set the pitcher on the table, a strong vapor rose from the top that reminded Josephine of apple cider vinegar, a powerful medicinal her mother used to treat everything, and her throat tightened reflexively.

"Enjoy," he said. "But make sure you have water handy first." He bowed then ran for the exit like he didn't want to be around when they tried the cider.

"Oh Borgon, I almost forgot," Mabon said. "Did you hear about the accident at Dorie? One of the recruits you chose for the journey took a nasty fall down the stairs and broke his leg."

"Oh? We heard nothing of it," Grandpa said, glancing at Josephine and Charlotte. "I'm afraid we were preoccupied looking for Lucas most of the evening. Surely, they would have contacted Raven if it had been Chance. Did you get the recruit's name?"

"None that I could decipher. The message came from Commander Rothschild, and he's very fond of code words. Takes forever to communicate with the man. But not to worry, a worthy replacement has been chosen and should arrive with the others."

The kitchen door swung open, and a silver-haired woman in a white apron bustled into the room. She was tall and lean, and her shoulders hunched forward, making her look like a sapling in a strong wind. A scowl etched deep lines into her face as she banged a steaming platter of meat and root vegetables onto the table.

"I was told we'd be feeding more," she said, her dark eyes roving over Josephine and Charlotte. "There's nothin' I hate worse than good food goin' to waste."

"Not to worry, Reti. We're expecting three others to join us any moment." Mabon offered her a beaming smile as he leaned forward and inhaled deeply. "This smells delicious. I am sure you have outdone yourself again."

The woman's scowl relaxed, and she made another pass around the table with her dissecting stare. "You young 'uns look like you've never been to a wizard's keep before. I hope Mabon warned you to mind your magic here. Unguarded wands have been known to zap their owners." She grunted out a laugh as she shuffled back to the kitchen, while Charlotte took a moment to check her wand at her hip.

"I apologize for cook's behavior," Mabon said when she had vanished behind the swinging door. "She likes to be given plenty of notice when the castle hosts guests. A month is preferable."

"Reti is an interesting name. What's the origin?" Grandpa asked.

"It's a tidied-up version of Reticent, which means reserved. When Reti was born, she didn't cry out, so her parents saddled her with the name. She turned out to be anything but reserved, wouldn't you agree?"

The dining room doors swung wide, and a hulking minotaur clomped into the room, nearly trampling poor Bartamus as he scooted around the beast's legs. It was Vidar, the minotaur Josephine brought down with the binding spell. He arrived dressed in the same heavy armor and looking just as cocky.

Following on his heels was a boy wearing a blue and white stripped sweatshirt, and Josephine's stomach bottomed-out when she recognized Chance's orange hair. Thank goodness he hadn't broken his leg. Charlotte grabbed Josephine's hand under the table and leaned in to whisper at her ear.

"Do you see what I see? Look at the replacement."

Josephine looked again, and her cheeks burned when she spied a girl with hair the color of a brass door knocker. Was the commander playing a joke? She leaned into Charlotte's hair to whisper. "I'd like to know who gave Shelby Warwick permission to join the rescue party?"

"That would be me." Mabon shrugged his shoulders innocently, and Josephine's face flamed hotter, only this time from embarrassment. "Shelby made an impassioned plea for the position. So, after considering her grandfather's influence and her excellent casting at the highland games this year, I thought she would round out your group nicely."

With nothing else to do but nod politely at the high wizard and take a calming breath, Josephine smiled through her annoyance as the rescue party arrived at the table. Of course, the first thing to hit her was the powerful scent of the minotaur.

"Take a seat wherever you'd like," Bartamus said. "Master Trakhorn can have the bench." His head barely reached Vidar's knee, but Josephine could see his arm waving as he directed the minotaur to his special seating.

"This is great," Chance said. "I could use another round of breakfast." He walked all the way around the table to sit in the chair next to Josephine, and he looked a little too happy when he leaned over to greet her and Charlotte. "Hi, girls. I hear you spent the night looking for my delinquent brother."

Josephine wanted to tell Chance that Lucas's actions at Dorie were nothing to treat lightly. That his childish and irresponsible behavior put him and others in danger, but all she could say was, "Yes."

"Sorry about that. Lucas has this thing where he tries to steal the limelight whenever I'm in it. I knew something like this would happen eventually, I just didn't know how it would play out."

Chance reached for the bread basket without asking, helping himself to a sweet roll, and right away Grandpa followed his example. Tearing a piece of bread off with his fingers, Chance stuck it into his mouth as he pointed to Josephine's empty plate. "Aren't you eating?" he said before swallowing first. Had he learned his manners at Dorie?

"Sure, I'm eating. I just haven't started yet."

"Then, I suggest have one of these." He rummaged through the basket for another sweet roll and set it on her plate. "You're going on a quest. You need to bulk up."

Josephine's mouth dropped open and she gaped at him. She had never been told to bulk up before, and by a boy, no less. Across the table, Shelby giggled, and Josephine's face went up in flames. Unfortunately, so did her hand, and without warning, a spark shot from her palm and landed on Chance's sweatshirt.

"Salem's curse! I'm so sorry." Josephine tried to tamp out the ember before it ruined his shirt, and she didn't realize her hand was pressed against his chest until she noticed everyone watching, even Vidar, who had finally gotten comfortable on his bench.

"No harm done," Chance said, lifting the sweatshirt over his head and tossing it on the chair next to him. The navy shirt he wore underneath looked a lot better than those hideous stripes. "I'm sorry if I offended you. You don't have to eat that if you don't want to." He gestured to the sweet roll on Josephine's plate, and she glared at the bread, cursing it for her idiotic behavior.

"I love sweet rolls, actually," she said. "Out of all the choices in the basket, I would have chosen this one." She smiled at him, hoping it would make up for her blunder, and he reassured her with a grin so big she thought it might crack his face.

"I've been known to make good choices," he said, reaching for the serving spoon and digging into the platter. "So, Mabon. What time is the bonfire scheduled?"

"The veil will be thinnest at midnight. I want to use every advantage available to us."

"A bonfire? Like the one Mom and Dad went into?" Charlotte said, speaking in her freaked-out voice. "I don't remember a conversation about a bonfire. Please, explain this bonfire to me."

Mabon smiled across the table, capturing both Charlotte and Josephine in his sparkly blue eyes. "You have a seven foot minotaur traveling with you," he explained kindly. "The only way to see you all safely through to Lurium is by bonfire."