she could to make it work. The alternative didn’t bear considering.
Marcus and Aervyn readied their spells. She looked at Kevin and felt his mindlink click into place. It wasn’t as fast or as steady as Lauren’s, but she could see the spellshapes.
She paused for a moment and reviewed the steps Ginia had gone through, then laid her hand on the mouse and reached for power, just as she’d been practicing. Energy stormed through her, and it took every ounce of will she had not to reach out and grab the waiting spells. Slowly, girl. You’ve waited your whole life to do this. Get it right.
Attempting to copy Ginia’s delicate control, she gently wrapped power around the two spells, gliding them closer together. Even she could tell her power was far more wobbly than anyone else’s, but she pressed on—it took practice to be a better witch. Once the spells were fairly close together, she looked for the points where they needed to connect. When she’d watched Ginia, the spellshapes had pulsed light at those points, but they weren’t doing it now.
As she stared at the shapes in consternation, Elorie could feel her power tugging. Not demanding, this time, but asking permission. It had an odd similarity to the tug she sometimes felt sitting in her studio, when a collection of sea glass and silver wire seemed to know what it needed to be. She had long practice trusting that tug; it produced some of her best work.
Very slowly, she let a finger of power go toward Aervyn’s spell. Little fireworks of Net power slid into his spellshape. She sent another very small flow toward Marcus’s spell. As Net power melded into the second spell, she could suddenly see—see them as they were, and as they were meant to be. Now they were her spells, and she knew what to do with them.
With sure hands, she moved the streams of spellpower around, weaving and turning them until they were perfectly aligned. It was exactly like fitting together silver wire and sea glass. So many ways they could go together, but only one way calling to her.
And then everything was ready. Tendrils of Net power reached out from both spells, seeking connection. She breathed deeply, and just as Ginia had done, released the tight hold on her power.
The spells shimmered for a moment, then melded. Power danced and whirled in the beauty of magic completed. Elorie could feel Kevin’s delight—and an instant later, his panic and a resounding thunk as his mindlink vanished.
She opened her eyes to a sea of shock and grabbed Kevin as he swayed in his seat. “What happened?”
Aervyn pointed at the ceiling, eyes big. Elorie gazed in disbelief at the large, scorched circle over her head. “I did that?”
Marcus nodded. “Indeed you did. You and that sidekick of yours broke my circle. I’ll cast a stronger one next time.” He looked at Kevin. “Not bad. Don’t drop her at the end next time, but you did quite well. That was some serious power she kicked at you.”
Horror crawled through Elorie’s gut. She’d pushed magic at Kevin? He was just a child.
He’s an able witch, came Lauren’s gentle reply. And your partner. That was very nice work you did together. She winked at Kevin. “Later today I’ll show you some extra-special mind-witch protection for when you’re working with Elorie. We didn’t know she was going to have magic quite that strong.”
Ginia waved her mouse. “First you have to teach me how you did that. That was awesome cool.” She looked up. “Maybe we should go outside, though.”
Elorie looked at the ceiling again, still distraught at what she’d managed to do with her first act of real magic. She’d preached “do no harm” often enough she ought to have been able to remember it. She turned at a hand on her shoulder, and Gran’s delighted chortle. “You’re not the first person to leave scorch marks in my house, child, and I doubt you’ll be the last.”
Then Gran’s voice wavered, and she laid a hand on Elorie’s cheek. “My sweet girl. Your first magic. I’ve waited so long for this.”
She reached her other hand toward Sophie, still sitting quietly in the corner, herbal in her hand and joy on her face. “And so has she.”
Chapter 13
“Ah, and isn’t it nice to chat in person for once,” Moira said, setting out a plate of finger foods Aaron had delivered. He was such a thoughtful young man.