oran was not as impressed as I thought he would be, which is too bad. Still, I feel I have proved something, if only to myself. I have to give up on him, however. He is too enamored with his own beliefs to give much thought to changing them.

My workshop is a mess. Two of the spells I cast on the anvil came from the book I received some months ago from Badger, and I cannot help but notice that in general, they are more potent than the rituals found in my own books. This book, which I have taken to calling the Book of Order (due to a page of theoretical text it contains detailing the ordering of all worldly things), is a worn relic that contains many spells that I have not been able to decipher. The charm of redoubling and the heat spell are two of a minority that are written in languages I know. I have been experimenting with the others, and my messy workshop is a testament to much exciting work.

In my experimentation I have ferreted out the meanings in three more paragraphs. As each day passes I become more acquainted with the strange little book. And as each day brings my closer to my trial, I return time and again to the spells I do know, including the Cant of Persuasion, as possible answers to some of my nagging problems of late.

hy cannot more fathers be like Goran? Lett adores him. She and her father left the castle today, and it was a tearful farewell. I think Goran will miss her, too. She was his first enthusiastic student. Spirits know that she showed more interest in his craft than I ever did.

The funny thing is, when I saw him standing over her, explaining the vagaries of hammer and anvil, I was struck as if by the wand of a wolf fairy, and mischief surely sparkled in my eye. As the castle thaumaturge, I have been learning many new rituals and practicing more enchantments than ever. I have had little use for my tricks from Tarrance, but some of the rituals I have researched made me think of them. The night previous to visiting Goran, I had pored over Kean’s tome and my book from Badger, and my mind was bright with cantrips, curses, and strange rites. And like a musical, mystical tap on my forehead, I saw Goran’s anvil and knew how to convince the lout to see things my way.

Now, I have only to work out the details. It is difficult to keep the grin from my face whenever I see him, but at least I can keep my mouth shut.

adger sat across from me, drinking his usual mug of ale.  “You need to stop dreaming after that little lordette. She’s not interested in you, and she never will be.”

I was regretting ever telling Badger about my interest in Fina.

He said, “Look.  To her you’re a puppy.  A doting friend.  A convenient errand boy.  Maybe a shoulder to cry on in her hours of privileged suffering.”

“She’s not like that,” I said.

“When was the last time she talked to you? I bet she complained about some bloody inconsequential thing, and you were the only ear in the castle willing to hear her out.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. It was true.  She had complained about the poor grooming of her horse by the stable hand. Badger was grinning insufferably. “Oh, shove off. You’re just saying that because she doesn’t like you.”

Badger laughed. “She has good reason not to. I don’t bow to her, and I’m a good influence on you.”

“Bull-shit.” Badger is arguably one of the worst womanizers I know.

“What say we find you a nice woman to take your mind off your lordette?” he said.

wo things of note today. Badger sent word up to the castle that he is in Cannaghdown Town, at the Shrine tavern. He’s been gone five months, so it will be good to see him. Kean gave me a list of reagents to gather and buy today. Many I can get from the witch woman who lives outside of town, but some of the others will require more effort. Filling this list will keep me busy most of the day.

Kean’s List:

• Antler of moor antelope - Ask the hunters.
• Hargast claw and feathers - Ask the hunters.
• Ash tree sap - I have set a bucket to collecting from the ash near your father’s tree.
• Silver dust - Half a stone.
• Lead - 3 stones.
• Wormswood - Get a good-sized cutting.
• Absinthe - 1 bottle.
• Rum - 1 bottle.
• Unworked tallow - Enough for 20 candles.
• Sheep parchment - 5 skins.
• Barley - 1 sheaf.
• Wolfsbane - 1 sheaf.
• Anise seeds - Get what you can.
• Yris seeds - Get what you can.
• Blood potato vineling - 2.