Secret

PART ONE

1
The snow kept falling and the sky was grey. All was silent in the wood, she only heard her footsteps. In her hands, she was holding a small bag. Finally, she saw the small house. It was made of wood. She headed for the frontdoor and pulled. Inside, it was much warmer. She entered the house and closed the door behind her. The wizard smiled at her.
"You are back soon." he established.
"It's freezing cold!"
"I know. Sit down." he ordered.
He was in a good mood, because he had his spices now. Now, he could get started. He was wearing a black jacket, brown trousers and brown boots. She handed him the bag with spices. He opened it and had a proper look at the spices. She waited without saying a word. She didn't want to distract him. Suddenly, he looked up.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
She nodded.
Then, he got up and walked to the hearth. Then, he said a spell and the next moment, they were in a big hall. There was a big, long table with several men sitting behind it. They all looked at them without saying a word. She could see that they had been expecting them. The wizard had a look around without saying a word. He knew they had been watching him. Suddenly, a door behind him opened. A woman entered the hall. She was followed by two men. She was wearing a long, black dress. Her hair was put up. Her skin was very pale. She walked up to him and the two men who had followed her closed the door. She had a close look at him. He knew she had been watching him too. She just kept looking at him. Why didn't she say anything? This silence made him very nervous. Suddenly, a strange light appeared in the hall and the next moment, there was a crystal ball lying on the table.
"Look!" the woman ordered.
In the ball, the wizard saw his picture. The picture showed how he opened another bag with spices. In another picture, he was holding other spices. The pictures showed all the spices he had found during the last few months! Then, the ball vanished. He looked at the woman again.
"You did a great job." she said.
He was really relieved. Yes! He had passed the test! Of course, he couldn't show his excitement, so he looked very calm.
"It's not enough, but it will do for now. I am willing to give you another chance." the woman continued.
"Thank you very much." the wizard said
"Don't forget. Your mission is very important."
"I know that." the wizard said.
Then, she looked at the woman who had helped the wizard.
"You did a great job too. We appreciate your efforts."
"Thank you very much, mylady."
"Come with me." the woman in the black dress ordered the wizard. She sent the girl back to her own world and took the wizard with her to her private rooms. They were alone now.
"You have been a good example for everyone." the woman said.
"Thank you."
"Do you want a drink?"
He nodded and a beaker appeared in her hand.
"Here you are."

2
The girl was alone in the small house in the wood. She just sat down and waited for the wizard. All was silent. She just sat there without moving. Suddenly, the wizard appeared. He had come back. For a few moments, he just looked at her.
"You heard. There is still a lot of work to do." he said.
She nodded.
"You can go to sleep now." he said.
For a moment, she was very surprised, but then, she realised that she had been sitting here much longer than she had thought. The next morning, it wasn't snowing anymore. It was still very cold, but not too cold to go back to the village. She missed her family very much. The next few months, she would have to work hard too. There simply wasn't enough time to go and see her family. But at least, she wasn't hungry. There was always enough to eat here. This morning, there was a nice breakfast too. She had got used to it. This wizard didn't make her work harder than her previous boss, but at least he gave her nice food. She didn't know much about him. She only knew that he worked for that woman and that he had magical powers. The first time she had met him, he had only told her that he had a job for her. She had followed him through the wood. First he had given her a meal. Then, he had told her that he had magical powers. It had scared her at first, but he had assured her that he wouldn't harm her. She had often wondered what his mission was, but it was a real mystery to her. His house was small, but they had both spent much time in the wood, even when it was freezing. The first time he had taken her to that other world, she had been afraid. She had no idea why he had taken her there, but there had to be a reason for it.

3
The woman in the black dress was looking in her crystal ball. She could see what the wizard and the girl were doing. One of her servants knocked on the door. The crystal ball vanished.
"Come in." she said.
The servant opened the door.
"Excuse me, mylady, but I have important news." he said. "There has been..."
At that moment, something strange happened in the room. Suddenly, the servant stopped talking and didn't move anymore. A strange creature appeared. It looked like an animal. It had red eyes, long, dark grey hairs, big teeth and claws.
"I know what you are doing." it said. "I found out..."
"You can't stop me. I am much stronger than you." the woman in the black dress said.
"Why did you hide this for me? Why didn't you just tell me?" the creature asked.
"What do you want?"
"I am shocked. Really shocked. I could have helped you."
The woman smiled. The creature clearly tried to sound friendly.
"You have nothing to do with this." she said.
"Yes, we do. We all do. My people had the right to know about this."
For a few moments, the creature looked her in the eye.
"You should have told us. I found out by chance."
The servant still didn't move. The strange creature looked the woman in the eye.
"The magic staff is ours. It belongs to us." he said.
The woman smiled.
"Your magical powers are too weak to handle it." she said.
"No, they are not." the strange creature said seriously. He didn't sound angry or offended. She underestimated him and that was a good thing. Now, he had said what he had to say and left. It was up to her now to do the right thing. He could only hope that things wouldn't get out of hand. He went back home. His wife and friends were waiting for him.
"What did she say?" one of his friends asked.
"She thinks she's much stronger than us."
The others smiled and said nothing. He slowly walked back home and got some rest. His wife knew that travelling to a parallel world made him tired and didn't ask him more questions.

4
"I want to know how they could find out." the woman in the black dress said.
All her servants were listening to her, because she had ordered them to come to the hall. They had to hear it from her. She had a look around. Everyone was looking at her and waiting for the rest of her speech.
"Now, I'll have to give you new orders." she continued. She gave the new orders and then headed back to her private rooms. She couldn't wait to find out what had happened. Had someone betrayed her? Had one of her servants told them? Her crystal ball appeared. The wizard was in the wood, doing his work. His spices would be useless without the magic staff. It was too dangerous to travel to his world. She had to wait for him now. She didn't even have the chance to tell him what happened. She just kept watching him and waited. Finally, her servants came back and told her that everything went well. They had followed all her orders. At least, that was a relief. Soon, she would know who had betrayed her. She wanted to be alone, so she sent the servants away and had another look at the crystal ball. It was snowing heavily now. The wizard was still outside, in the wood. He was wearing boots and a warm jacket. The spices were in his pocket. There was also a wind. He was going back to the house. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. It was one of the servants. The crystal ball vanished and she let him in.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, but I found something great." he said.
"What is it?" she asked.
He showed her an amulet.
"What is it?" she asked.
"It has magical powers."
"I can see that."
"Isn't it great?"
"Where did you get it?"
The servant didn't answer. He just looked down.
"Did you steal it?" she asked.
Now, he nodded.
"She was nice, but weak... I just took my chance." he said silently.
"Let me see it."
He gave the woman the amulet and she had a very close look at it. Then, she shook her head.
"Why did you do it?"
"I wanted to have it." he answered with a shrug.
"So, you just took it?!" she asked sharply.
"I'm sorry... I thought you would like it."
"Don't say you did it for me!"
"I did..."
Now, she shook her head.
"Oh... You fool..."
"I'm sorry! I really am! I just wanted to make you happy... That's all... I couldn't help it."