Legacy: The Mark of Merlin. Gerald Pruett

to Tanya, Ellen is a very responsible young woman, and I trust that she is,” Laura said.

      Ellen gave Harris a haughty smirk before saying, “Thank you, Grandmother.”

      Harry shook his head with an amused grin as Laura said, “You’re welcome, child.”

      “Anyway, Grandmother, is there anything else we should know?” Harris asked.

      “You will learn this when you read about the Wizard Wars…”

      “Wizard Wars?” Ellen interrupted with.

      “Yes,” Laura confirmed. A disconcerting expression came across Ellen’s face. “Anyway, there’s a Dark Ritual that will steal or transfer powers from a wizard or sorceress to another. This ritual strengthens the line and intensifies the mark of Merlin of the one reciting the ritual while instantaneously turning the victim into an ash-like silhouette. And I’m telling you this because there are still wizards and sorceresses out there who won’t hesitate to take Sonya’s powers to strengthen their line; so be warned.”

      “Consider us warned,” Ellen said. “And I definitely want to learn witchcraft, Harry, so I can protect our niece until she’s old enough to protect herself.”

      “Ellen, you definitely don’t need to be going head-to-head against any wizard or sorceress,” Laura told her.

      “There’s more to a fight than just brawns,” Ellen retorted.

      “Listen to me, Ellen,” Laura began sternly. “I don’t care how skillful of a witch you can become, or how crafty you can be, at best, you would only be a momentary distraction against a wizard or a sorceress.”

      “Yes, well, that moment just might mean life or death for Sonya,” Ellen shot back. “And if I have to sacrifice my life for Sonya to live then so be it.”

      “Harris, keep a close watch on Ellen, yes?” Laura requested.

      “Yes,” Harris quickly agreed. Ellen just shot Harris a smirk for a response. “Is there anything else we should know or be warned about?”

      “I can only think of one other. You will learn this from the Legacy volumes too, but although Sonya’s power is over the beasts, she will still have enough influence over the Fire, Water, Earth and Air to accidentally create a major disaster. So when Sonya is old enough to study witchcraft, she must be aware that her influence over the four elements can easily get away from her.”

      “For an example?” Ellen prompted.

      “For an example, if Sonya would attempt to create a small burst of rain in order to water a farmer’s withering crop, she could accidentally create a major flood. But on the other hand, since her control is over the beasts, she could lead hundreds of wolves like a general leading his obedient soldiers.”

      “That’s good to know,” Ellen said.

      “Of course she’ll need to know the correct incantation to use to make that happen,” Laura added. “Anyway, that’s all I can think of to warn about.”

      “That’s a good start,” Allyson said.

      “If I can think of anything more, I’ll give you a call,” Laura said.

      “Okay; bye, Grandmother,” Harris said.

      “Bye,” Laura said followed by Ellen, Allyson and Jane.

      Harris hung up the phone before facing Ellen and asking, “You now want to learn witchcraft?”

      “I want to protect my brother’s… your sister’s daughter,” Ellen quickly said. “And I might be an underdog when it comes to wizards and sorceresses, but… but this underdog has a vicious bite.”

      Harris amusingly grinned before nodding and saying, “Okay.” “Okay,” Ellen echoed with a grin.

      Before anything else was said, the doorbell rang. As everyone looked towards the door, Jane said, “That could be Jared Claiborne. He’s supposed to be by sometime today.”

      “I’ll find out,” Ellen said as she moved towards the door.

      Once the door was open, Jared, while carrying a briefcase, said, “I expected that I’d find you here.”

      “Yeah, well, I’ve never been good at ‘hide-n-seek’. Normally I’m the first one who gets found.”

      Jared grinned while saying, “You take after your uncle.”

      “What do you mean?” Ellen quickly asked.

      “Once I learn that you had an uncle, I did some checking.” Jared gestured past Ellen as he questioned, “May I come in?”

      Ellen backed up, and as Jared was stepping in he saw that Harris, Allyson and Jane were near the door and that everyone was focusing on him.

      When Jared didn’t elaborate, Ellen asked, “What have you been checking?”

      “I did an investigation on your father, and for your father’s first six years in prison, one of your father’s prison pals was once a private investigator,” Jared began as he faced Ellen. “I didn’t really understand the details, but the PI had owed your father a favor and after the PI was released from prison, he tracked down Brandon Anderson—your father’s twin brother —in Hannibal, Missouri for your father. The warden came across that information and tacked it onto your father’s prison records. Once I told the warden your story he had no problems with sharing that information with me.”

      “Harry and Allyson had agreed to allow me to live with them and I prefer that,” Ellen said while gesturing towards them.

      “Harris Bradley,” he said while stepping up and extending his hand. “Harry to a very small group though.”

      “Hi, I’m Jared Claiborne,” he said while shaking Harris’s hand.

      “And I’m Allyson Bradley, Harry’s wife and one of the few who can get by with calling him Harry,” she said with an amused grin while extending her hand.

      “Okay,” Jared said in an uncertain tone while shaking Allyson’s hand. “Nice to meet everyone.”

      “Mr. Claiborne. Allyson and I may not be blood related to Ellen, but we are the only family who Ellen knows,” Harris told Jared.

      “And she will have a home with us… if it’s legally okay,” Allyson added.

      “I had discussed that very topic with my supervisor this morning,” Jared began. “Since Ellen wants it and you two are clearly expressing the desire for it as well—and given the fact that because of Ellen’s age, her say would greatly influence the judge’s decision—I have my supervisor’s permission to make you two Ellen’s legal guardians.”

      “Cool!” Ellen delightfully uttered.

      Everyone grinned before Jared continued with, “Ellen, I was only telling you where your uncle was so in case you would want to pursue relations with your uncle at some point in the future, you could. In fact, given your uncle’s criminal history I’ll even recommend that you live with Mr. Bradley and his wife.”

      “Is everyone in my family a freak’n criminal?!” Ellen rhetorically and sarcastically uttered.

      “Mike and your mom weren’t,” Harris quickly replied. “Nor are you.”

      “It seems that the rest of them were though,” Ellen said. “So what all did he do… my uncle?”

      “Breaking and entering, trespassing, vandalism to a research facility, auto-theft, setting loose lab animals…” Jared was only able to get out.

      “Wait!” Ellen uttered. “Those charges point to an animal rights activist.”

      “I would use the term ‘extremist’ myself as he would go to the extremes during his animal rights campaigns,” Jared said. “In fact, he had served