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power was not in you yesterday. Or even a few hours earlier when I sent you for the mugwort.”
    â€œI—I am different now,” Tim said. That was certainly the truth.
    Merlin nodded thoughtfully. “We should get back to work. We are still training, after all. Though why I should train when I know I will have all the power I could ever dream of…”
    â€œMaybe that’s how you learn to use all that power,” Tim suggested.
    Merlin looked at him sharply. “Yes, you have changed.” He seemed to consider something, then said, “Why don’t you work the next spell yourself?”

Chapter Three
    T IM’S EYES WIDENED behind his glasses. “Me? Do a magic spell?”
    Merlin shrugged. “Why not? You will have to work on your own sooner or later. Let’s see if this change in you has any true merits.”
    Tim glanced back to see what the Stranger thought of this idea. But as usual, the man’s face was expressionless. Well, if there’s any real danger, he probably wouldn’t let me , Tim reasoned, walking over to the oak table. Unless this is a major test . Maybe I’m supposed to refuse. I could accidentally make Merlin disappear and then there would be no King Arthur, or Knights of the Round Table, and all the course of English history is forever changed. All because of me.
    Hmm. Tim scratched his head. What to do?
    Merlin leaned against the bricks of the fireplace, warming his back in the chill air. His greeneyes sparkled with challenge. “Afraid?” the teenage magician taunted.
    Tim jutted out his chin. “No way. What should I do for my first trick? Make a rabbit pop out of a hat?”
    Merlin looked confused. “Why would you want to do that when we trap rabbits right outside the door?”
    â€œIt was a joke,” Tim muttered. “Sheesh.”
    â€œMake the potion on the next page. We can’t finish mine anyway, since you neglected to bring back the mugwort,” Merlin said.
    Tim turned the heavy, grimy page of the book that lay open on the table. “To See in the Dark” was written in blue ink across the top. “Cool!” Tim exclaimed. What an awesome trick that would be!
    â€œYes, it is a cold night,” Merlin said. “But that won’t interfere with the spell.”
    This guy sure is literal , Tim thought. Then he realized that no one had started saying “cool” yet at this time in British history. “Forsooth, I mean,” Tim tried. “This spell will be exciting.”
    Merlin smirked a little. “Yes, it will be. If you can create it correctly.”
    I’ll show him , Tim thought. He read through the spell. Easy enough. He just had to blend a few ingredients while saying some weird words. How hard was that?
    Carrying the heavy book with him to the shelf of jars, Tim looked up to find the first herb: couch-grass. He’d never heard of it and had no idea what it would look like. He hoped the jars were arranged in alphabetical order.
    â€œNo—No labels?” Tim squeaked. He glanced up and down the row. Not a single jar had a label on it identifying what was inside.
    â€œWe’re not supposed to need labels,” Merlin said. “You don’t remember a single item, do you?” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Tim.
    â€œSure I do,” Tim said defiantly. He balanced the book awkwardly in one hand and reached up for a jar. Then he stopped and lowered his hand. It could be dangerous to mix together ingredients he knew nothing about. He had learned that the hard way, when he and Molly blew up her chemistry set.
    Tim hung his head. He was ashamed that he had even thought of trying to fake his way through, just because he wanted to show off in front of Merlin. But Merlin misread his expression.
    â€œYou have to study, lad,” Merlin scolded. “That’s the only way to learn. Don’t be such a layabout. You must take magic