We ended up in a small clearing about a hundred yards into the forest, off the path and closer to the territory boundary.
I stood, hands on hips, and surveyed Landon's preparations, which were set out in the center of a small dirt circle.
To the side was a battery-powered lantern with a tattered volume of spells set out beside it, a couple of pebbles weighing the pages down so they didn't flap in the mild breeze.
His candles were the wrong width, but I chose not to comment on that. They'd do. That was just nitpicking.
On the other hand…
"That's common mallow, not marshmallow root." I set down my backpack and crouched to dig through it. "That's not going to work for you."
"What?" Landon snatched up the herb, peering at it and turning red. "I picked it myself!"
"Yeah, and it looks really similar. Easy mistake to make." I mentally patted myself on the back. I could be tactful! I could get along! "I can tell by the smell."
