“Hello,” said the tree in a soft feminine voice, “how may I be of assistance?”
“I’ve come for a wand please.”
“First wand, replacement or repair?”
“My first wand, I’ve never had one before.”
“Which wood or woods would you like, I can let you have one, two, or three, occasionally four, but no more?”
“My request is strange, I would like the wood of the quebracho tree, wych-hazel, and yew please.”
“Quebracho! My, my, never have I been asked for quebracho, the hardest wood known to man, so dense and heavy that it will not even float on water. Just for your education, the Latin name is quebrar hacha, the literal translation of which is ‘axe breaker’,” the tree almost giggled with delight. “Wych-hazel, the healing wood, and yew the archers wood. I understand the first two, but, just out of interest, why yew?”
“To remember my parents, they are both buried beneath the branches of an ancient yew tree and are now enveloped in its roots. I tell everyone that they were non-magical, but in fact, they were both very great wizards. With the yew of my wand and staff, I will be able to draw on their strength and wisdom.”
“That is a wonderful thing to hope for. Because of your noble and true answer, I can grant you one other wood, may I suggest elm, with elm you will be given your own wisdom, combine that with the wisdom of your ancestors and you will be one of the wisest wizards Trymyll has ever seen. But may I ask one favour? Don’t mention the yew to the others, let it just be between the two of us,”
“Thank you,” Glynda said, “I will.”
“Now,” the tree continued, “you have obviously thought long and hard about your woods, how about your gemstones?
“I want to be a healer rather than a destroyer, so my main stone should be amethyst, the healers stone, mixed with a diamond to bring light into dark places and ruby, the fire stone please.”
“Oh my, what a wonderful wizard you will be. It is done.”
Glynda stood there with a staff exactly her height in her hand, amazed at its light weight, its strength, and the glow of the stone in the top.
“Thank you very much,” Glynda said.
“No, thank you, you are a delightful young lady and will be a delight to others. When you return to the others, please would you ask young Tom to come back in to see me please.”
Instantly she was outside the wood and standing with Tom and Flintock.
“Tell us,” they both said excitedly.
“Soon, but first the wand tree wants to see Tom,” Glynda said to a very stunned Flintock and Tom.
“What for?” Tom said with a little panic in his voice.
“She didn’t say, she just asked me to send you in as soon as I was back outside again.”
“She? What do you mean she? The wand tree is a grumpy old tree who is, well, who is like a bad-tempered old man who shouts at everyone,” Tom said, stumbling over his words.
“No, she’s a beautiful cherry blossom tree in a clearing in the woods, softly spoken, giggly, and really helpful when choosing your woods and gemstones.”
“Well, I must have gone to the wrong tree then,” Tom said.
“Me too,” exclaimed Flintock.
“Go on, in you go, she’s waiting for you,” Glynda said.
So, Tom strode off. As on his first visit, the trees seemed to part, and he found himself in the Wand Wood, with the path leading into the centre, the path opening as he walked and closing behind him. As before many of the trees looked as if they had faces and some were talking to each other. Looking at him, leering at him, and even laughing at him.
Again, he heard what sounded like a scream and a loud creaking noise, he looked up and saw the trees in front of him changing, growing, expanding, joining to form one huge tree and a clearing appearing around it. Within a minute, he could not see the top of the new tree, it seemed to disappear into the clouds.
As it grew, a knurled face appeared on the trunk with woodpecker holes for eyes and a bird’s nest for a mouth, and a nose from a broken branch. Branches sprouted out like arms, the roots then seemed to grow up from the ground and form an old-fashioned stand-up desk.
“Next!” said the tree, “Next one please, hurry along, I’ve not got all day. Next!”
“It’s me, Tom,” said Tom.
“Oh, you again, what do you want, quickly, I haven’t got all day and there’s a long queue behind you.”
“No there’s not, there’s only me and you asked to see me. So, what do you want?” Tom said abruptly.
The tree’s manner changed instantly. “Are yes, young Tom, how are you? And more importantly, how’s the wand?”
“I’m fine thank you sir, the wand is too, we seem to get on very well,” Tom thought it was a bit of a stupid answer, but he was still slightly unnerved when speaking to a tree.
“Well, I’ve heard that you’re not happy with it, not happy at all, so I wondered if there was anything I could do to help?”
“I don’t understand,” said Tom, “the wand is fine, honestly.”
“Well, I heard that you weren’t happy with it and wished you had wych-hazel instead of willow.”
“How did you know that? I only said it once but have thought it many times. But it doesn’t mean I’m not happy with it, it just means I would have preferred, now I have greater knowledge about these things, I would have liked wych-hazel instead,” Tom was stumbling over his words again!
“I told you the last time you were here. I know most things. Here, give me your wand.”
Tom held out his wand, no one took it, it just disappeared. Then a new one just appeared.
“There you go, oak, elm, wych-hazel and yew. Don’t forget, don’t tell the others about the yew!”
“Thank you,” said Tom. The words had hardly left his mouth when he was back outside with the others.
“You first Glynda,” said Tom, “what have you got?”
“My woods are quebracho, wych-hazel and elm, my gems are amethyst as my main stone, plus diamond and ruby.”
“What was that wood again? Never heard of it,” questioned Tom.
“Quebracho wood, it is one of the hardest and heaviest woods known to man, she had never been asked for it before, in Latin, it means axe breaker because it is so hard. Samuel’s axe handle is quebracho wood.”
“So, his axe is made of axe breaker,” laughed Tom.
“Yes, I suppose it is,” she said smiling, “and his axe head is enchanted elven steel, sharp enough to split hairs and the edge never goes dull.”
“Wow, so you have wych-hazel as one of your woods and amethyst as a stone, you must really want to be a healer,” Tom continued.
“Yes, a healer, not a killer or destroyer.”
“A bit like me then.”
“Excuse me for interrupting,” Flintock said, interrupting, “but what did the wand tree want you for Tom?”
“To give me a new wand, I also wanted wych-hazel as it is better for healing, so my wand is now upgraded,” he smiled.
“Right,” said Flintock, “enough chatter, let’s get back. There’s training to be done.”
“Don’t you want a new wand then? While you’re here, you might as well,” Tom said.
“No,” came a curt reply,” I am perfectly happy with the wand I have.”