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already turned and was leaving the stable. She jogged to catch up with her as Evie led her in through another door. They wound through several hallways lit by mage lights. Madelen’s parents had given her a book to prepare her for some of the items and magic she would have to become used to. Jiline had done her best to memorize it so she knew that mage lights existed, but she hadn’t ever actually seen one and to see the unburning candles glowing was eerie.
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    A group of about twenty children around her age gathered in a large room with a giant wooden table which could sit probably double the number of people who were gathered. The three she had passed on the trail were in attendance and not very happy to see her, judging by their glares. Steering clear of them, she sat on the other side of the table and waited with everyone else. Jugs of water and glasses were at each seat. But she hesitated when she didn’t see anyone else drinking.
    A mage walked in. The robes swirled, but her hood was down revealing her long brown hair. Was it the robes that made all mages look so tall? This woman appeared to be closer in age to the mages who had come to Jiline’s village than Herrick.
    The mage stopped at the end of the table. “Welcome, new trainees, as you can see we are still expecting more of you, but it is good to see so many of you before the harvest moon ends. Your eagerness speaks volumes. I am Mage Brennah and will be in charge of your training. Full training will launch when all of you have arrived. Until then, those of you who arrived today will be paired up with a keeper. Your keeper will teach you the rules of the Keep and you will find there are many. The most important is you are not to step outside the Keep without the express permission of a mage. The second most important is you are to do whatever your keeper or any mage commands you to do. We will be testing you this fall and winter. Those who don’t pass the test will return home in the spring.”
    As she spoke , she looked at each of them in turn, her brown eyes settling on Jiline on the word spring. Her stomach clenched. Did Mage Brennah know just by looking at her that she was a fraud?
    Mage Brennah’s stern face softened into a smile. “Now, you eat.”
    On that command, several people came in carrying heavy trays overflowing with food and set them on their half of the table. Everyone seemed to hesitate at first, but all it took was one person reaching forward before the table was in motion with people grabbing food and chattering nervously.
    The boy she sat next to chewed on an apple and stared openly at her. “Who are you?”
    She raised an eyebrow at the rudeness of his voice, but decided he was just as nervous as she was. “Madelen. And you?”
    “Bill us.”
    She nodded, but her eyes were drawn to a small group of mages who quietly entered the hall. One was very familiar. Herrick. His gaze rested on her and she dropped her eyes to her lap. He looked like a mage now in his mage robes, but he was considerably younger than the other four who had entered with him. None of them were the three mages who had come to her village. So far so good. Except for the nagging feeling she had that they must know she wasn’t Madelen.
     

 
    5. MAGICAL DRAW
     
    The final keeper trainee had a rrived. Herrick watched the father as he kissed and hugged his young daughter. It was unusual for a parent to escort a trainee to the Keep. Not unheard of, but unusual enough to be an irritant to Mistress Marta. She refused the father admittance to the Keep and insisted they say goodbye outside.
    Herrick rolled his eyes as he turned away. A trainee keeper hovered just at th e entrance of the hall. Madelen’s gaze was focused on the open door or the people outside. His stomach flipped as he took in the sight of her. He didn’t think she saw him judging by the way she leaned against the doorway, her body hidden from anyone inside the hall.
    He had only seen Madelen in