A Reckless Witch - By Debora Geary Page 0,15

full circle.

Watch and learn.

Devin bootstrapped onto Jamie’s mind connection—a trick they’d figured out as small boys—and watched his nephew build a spell. In ten seconds, he was impressed. In thirty, he felt something akin to awe. Aervyn wove delicate streams of earth power into a very tight funnel, and then stretched down into the earth and tapped a small aluminum deposit.

When he tied off the spell and opened his eyes, the broom was sheathed in a very thin, very strong layer of metal. Devin had seen the metal strands lace right into the wood of the broom. It would handle loop-de-loops—and probably a flight to the moon, too. It was now one very over-engineered broom.

Aervyn stroked the shiny metal and grinned. “Thanks, Uncle Devin. That was the awesomest idea. Wanna try flying again?”

Yeesh. Break the kid’s broom and he still wanted to give you the next turn. “You go first, superboy. And watch out for the air currents near the water. I probably stirred them up a little trying to avoid my crash landing.”

A huge grin, and then one silver broom was off in flight, with one very loud and happy witchling holding on for dear life.

Jamie shook his head. “I don’t think he even needs the broom.”

“He’s got some incredible control. Real finesse, and not just on the flying. You’ve done an amazing job of training him.”

“When you’ve got that kind of power, control matters.”

Devin nodded, suddenly aware of exactly how much responsibility lay on his brother’s shoulders. “So does finding some freedom.”

Jamie grinned and ducked as Aervyn streaked by. “Yup. And the best things give him both.”

Devin laughed and clapped an arm around his brother’s shoulders. “You’ve got to give it a try when he gets back. It’s way better than a motorbike.”

“That’s heresy, dude.” Jamie’s eyes looked a little wistful as he watched Aervyn shoot back up the valley, cape streaming. “I think I’d better stay off the broom. Karma says I’d crack my head open, Nat would go into labor, and Mom would show up just in time to kill me.”

There was more than one responsibility lying on his brother’s shoulders. “More turns for me, then.”

Jamie punched his arm. “Next time, I’m letting him drop you in the ocean.”

~ ~ ~

Nell looked around their Realm hangout and grinned at Moira. “I feel really old.”

Moira grinned back. “It is feeling rather fertile in here, isn’t it?”

She looked over at the couches where Elorie, Sophie, and Nat sat with their feet up. Ginia was running through the basic prenatal checkup for each of them, her hands currently resting gently on Sophie’s belly. Her girl was growing up. “Ginia’s so excited to be part of the healer team for Nat’s birth.”

“She’s got a very steady mind for such a young witch. It won’t be too long before she could handle a birth on her own, if need arose.”

Nell was very grateful that would probably never be necessary. “With our new ability to shuttle healers through Realm, our witchlings won’t have to grow up quite so fast.” Healing talent came with heavy responsibilities, not all of them pleasant.

Moira reached for her hand. “She has so many people who love her. Whatever comes her way, you’ve rooted her well. She has a deep and generous heart, and a lovely sense of competence.”

“I know.” Nell smiled. “But it never hurts to hear it again.”

“You have wonderful instincts with your little ones.” Moira glanced at the couch again. “And Nat watches you carefully. I believe she knows what’s coming, at least as well as any non-witch can.”

“She’s not exactly getting an easy first baby.”

Moira chuckled. “A fire witchling who’s clearly coming into her power early? No, she certainly isn’t. But she also has many people who love her, and she knows how to nurture her own roots as well as anyone I know.”

“It’s changing Jamie.” And it was an odd experience, watching your baby brother take those steps.

“As it should. But he’s a man who knows exactly who he is. I don’t expect it will change him all that much.”

Nell grinned, oddly comforted. “He’s out giving broom-flying lessons to Aervyn.”

Lauren laughed behind them, having just beamed in. “I think it’s the other way around—Aervyn’s schooling Jamie and Devin. And if Aervyn’s mind-glee is any indication, they’re having a very good time.”

Nell raised an eyebrow. “You can hear them all the way from Ocean’s Reach?” She was a little envious.

Lauren pulled over a chair and shrugged. “Evidently so. The more circle work we do