"Would you like a tour of Sir Otis' lands in the morning?" The speaker was a young man at the door of Alex's room. "I am Kemboush, and I am here to clean your rooms and guide you to wherever you wish."

Alex smiled politely at him but said, "No thank you. I rather like to be alone and clean my room." Plus, I don't want someone to be cleaning around my private things! she thought to herself.

Kemboush bowed. "As you wish," he said, and walked away. Alex sighed, hoping she hadn't offended his feelings.

The trees were thick, creating a roof that the sun barely managed to shine through, and only at spots. The ground was covered in grass, moss, and fallen leaves. Birds flew about, unstartled by her prescence. Squirrels chuckled overhead, and mice came out of their holes to peer at her. A bush rustled, and a rabbit poked its head out from among the leaves. Alex sighed, letting the wild pleasantness soak into her mind. She wished she could talk to the animals, or shape-shift to become one of them, like Christine. She knew shape-shifting was both in the power of those with the Gift or wild magic, but she did not know how to, nor did the Queen. But, oh, to talk to these animals, as Christine did!

~Then why don't you?~ a voice spoke in her mind. She recognised it as the Great Mother Goddess'.

"Because I can't!" Alex replied. "I don't have wild magic!"

The Goddess chuckled. ~My child, you have plenty of things you don't know all about. Magic is one of them. Look inside of you.~

Alex obeyed, and saw tiny pools of yellow and silver fire- her Gift, and the desert magic. Further away, previously unnoticed, was a pool of copper fire. Alex called to it, and it jumped up and streamed out of her body.

Alex opened her eyes, and suddenly, the forest was more alive than ever. A million animal voices overwhelmed her, each wanting to talk to her. Their thoughts clamored in her head, causing her to cover her ears, but that did no good.

~Silence!~ The Goddess' voice was commanding, and not even the animals could disobey her. ~Can you not see that Alexandria is new to this? If you keep this up, you'll drive her mad!~

Alex looked around, but the Goddess' voice was still the only clue to her prescence. "I don't understand, how could I not know about this magic?" she asked. "I read that it cannot be turned off."

~Under normal circumstances, it cannot,~ the Goddess answered. ~But your father asked us if we might hide it until you mastered your other magic.~

"My father?" Alex asked. "But he doesn't know anything of magic!"

~On the contrary, he knows more about magic than you and your siblings combined know,~ she said. ~More than he wishes to know, for sure. He knew the greatest sorceress ever lived, and it was magic that killed her. He has his own magic, but he refuses to use it. You do not know all, my child, and that which you assume is often wrong.~

At that moment, a bold chipmunk walked up to Alex. Come, follow me, he said, and took off further into the forest. Curious, Alex followed, and soon noticed they were following a path. It was barely visible, but definitely a path. I think you'll find this interesting, the chipmunk said. He was sitting in the doorway of an old, abandoned house.

"What's this?" she asked.

It's a house. Go inside and look around. I thought you'd like it. Then, he flipped his tail and scampered into the trees.

"Mother Goddess?" Alex called out. "What is this house?" She sensed something strange about it.

~It is the house humans call the House of Whispers, my dear,~ the Goddess told her. ~Don't worry, it's safe. Would I lead you into a trap?~

"Sometimes I wonder," Alex muttered as she stepped into the house. So far so good. She looked around. Despite it being abandoned for countless years from the looks of it, nothing looked stolen or broken. A thick coat of dust sat on everything, but that was the only evidence of neglect. She was standing in the main room, which had leather furnishings. A stove and table stood at one end, and Alex guessed that was the kitchen portion. A few closed doors led off of the room. Another door was open, and through it, she saw books.

A library! she thought triumphantly. Finally, something I like!

The Goddess appeared next to her. "Go on, look at the books," she told Alex. "I think you'll be surprised at what they contain." Alex walked through and looked around.

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