Free Single Witch's Survival Guide by Mindy Klasky Page B

Miss Madison why it’s in her best interest to sign?”
    David was clutching the arms of his chair. “I’m not doing your dirty work! I’ve seen hundreds of Charters before, and not one had a clause like that.”
    Pitt licked his liver-colored lips. “You saw those Charters when you worked as my clerk . A rather headstrong clerk, as I recall too well. A rather headstrong clerk, with entirely inappropriate ideas about how the Court should and should not conduct its business.”
    “That’s between you and me, Norville. You can’t punish the Madison Academy because you didn’t like the way I filed your papers.”
    “Can’t I?” Pitt clambered to his feet and pointed a pudgy finger toward the center of David’s chest. I automatically dropped a hand to Spot’s muscled neck, and I could feel the animal trembling to intervene. If David hadn’t flashed an immediate silent command, there might have been blood spilled on the sand.
    “Let me tell you something, Montrose. When this little document came up to the Front Desk, no one was particularly inclined to bring it out here. No one wanted to leave the cool, comfortable hallways of the Court, to travel in the sweltering Maryland summer.”
    Pitt took a step closer. His feet shifted in the sand, and the tip of his index finger touched David’s shirt. Spot began to growl, low and steady. “But I realized they were all being short-sighted.” Poke . The growl rose in pitch. “I realized this was quite an opportunity.” Poke. Spot’s lips curled back over his teeth. “I realized I was finally going to see David Montrose bound by the very rules and regulations he claims to hold so dear.” One more poke , and this time Pitt did not pull his hand back. Spot’s growl became an uninterrupted snarl. “The Court issued the Charter, Montrose. Get your witch to sign it, or suffer the consequences.”
    David’s fingers curled into fists. If I had been Norville Pitt, I would have been stumbling backward across the sand, doing my best to get away from a warder’s unrestrained anger, not to mention Cujo, by my side. I had no idea what the true stakes were between these men, but I knew I had to intervene. “Mr. Pitt?” I asked. “Could you give us a moment?”
    He finally took a step back and ran a hand over his trio of hairs. “Of course, Miss Madison. After all, you’re the magistrix. For now.”
    I snatched up the pages and waited for the repulsive man to excuse himself, to head across the beach so David and I could have a little privacy. Fat chance. Instead, David snapped his fingers to command Spot’s attention, and then he led us both out onto the dock. David kept one eye on Pitt as I turned my back on the clerk. “What the hell happened between the two of you?” I asked.
    “You heard him. He was my boss, when I was sent back to the Court.”
    “That doesn’t explain that level of animosity.”
    David pointed out, “We don’t have time for this now.”
    “Fine.” At least the remnants of his fear were gone, completely replaced by anger. I’d get the truth from him later. “I can’t sign this, David. I can’t bet everything on a single ritual. Not when I can’t even raise a simple wind spell with my students.”
    “I don’t know how he talked them into this. All those Charters I filed, and not a single hint of a Major Workings clause before.”
    “What happens if I don’t sign?”
    “You’ll be declared rogue. The Court will send a letter demanding you shut down operations. If you don’t comply in a week, they’ll send a Termination Team.”
    “That doesn’t sound good.”
    “It isn’t. They’ll bring a dozen warders to guarantee I won’t be a factor. An equal number of witches to restrain you. They’ll carry off the Osgood books, and whatever you’ve collected on your own. And Neko, too, of course.”
    Of course. I’d lost Neko before. I never wanted to live through that nightmare again. I glared at the Charter. “I’ll take my