Alric’s eyes darted between them. “As I understand it, mages are more a conduit of magical energy.”
Lisette tilted her hand back and forth. “Yes and no. We do have our own power, our own magical force. Think of us more like a battery. We can do magic, but we require charging in order to work spells. The more you charge us, the more dynamic the casting. We can do limited spells on our magic alone.”
Hence why they were always pulling energy from everything and sundry. Tori wouldn’t have it any other way, as the puzzle and challenge of putting together different elements was half the fun of magic. But there were moments when he wished he could do something powerful all on his own. Usually when he was neck-deep in trouble.
He wanted to ask so many more questions of Lisette but wasn’t sure if it was his place to theorize with her.
The words came out of his mouth anyway, as per usual, because he never could seem to keep a lid on it. “Are they incapable of using their magical cores?”
“From your account, it seems they are siphoning magic to use. Their own cores are unstable or perhaps incapable of channeling magical power.” Lisette tapped her pen to the notebook, her eyes distant. “I’m not quite sure what caused this, although I have a theory up my sleeve. But in any case, I think the answer is clear. They hunt mages because they must.”
Tori shuddered, the thought vile. It felt like dirty oil sliding through him. “Ugh. Magical vampires.”
“Now there’s an image for you,” Baldewin muttered in disgust.
With a smile, Lisette inclined her head to him. “Your account has been extremely helpful, Tori. Thank you. You’ve given us more information to work from.”
“I’m glad to help.” He meant it. The dragons had already given him more help than his own family ever had.
“All information is useful at this point.” Alric rose from his seat, and they all stood at the same time. The king crossed to Tori and extended his right hand, smiling broadly. “I did want to take this moment to personally thank you on behalf of the Burkhard Clan for saving Cassie. Your quick actions and thinking clearly made the difference in whether or not she returned to us alive. And as her brother-in-law, I want to say that I am in your debt. I would be lost without my little sister.”
“Oh, I-I…it was no problem. Cassie is amazing. I’m just glad I could do something,” Tori stammered.
“And I’m sorry I don’t have a more appropriate welcome for your arrival—”
“No, please. No. Everyone has already been so nice, and I don’t need anything fancy. I know things are crazy with the Jaeggi and Cassie. I feel plenty welcome.”
Alric grinned and seemed to relax a little more as he released Tori’s hand. “Good. I’m glad to hear it. I want to be sure that Burkhard is putting its best foot forward so you feel comfortable here.”
Lisette drew herself back into the present conversation and gave Tori a smile. “Why don’t you come with me? I want to show you what the Burkhard mages do here. Since you were so skilled with the salve you used on Cassie, I think you might be interested in the magical product lines we create here.”
Tori’s eyes widened, and he stepped a little closer to the head mage. “I’m very curious about what you make.”
She smiled and stood, extending a hand. “Then come with me. You can see with your own eyes.”
“Alright.” It wouldn’t hurt to look, right? He glanced at Baldewin again and received a nod of encouragement. He seemed to think it was a good idea, at least. Turning, Tori gave a smile and a sort of awkward inclination of the head toward Alric.
“Thank you for speaking with me,” Alric returned with a graceful smile.
He’d just been politely dismissed and was a little grateful for it. Tori left on Lisette’s heels. As they walked through the hallway, she fell into step with him and said, “I examined Cassie as soon as she came in, as you know. For on-the-spot magic, that was excellent healing.”
Tori blinked at her, not expecting a compliment. “Oh. Uh, thank you? I admit, she’s the first I’d ever treated. I only knew how to do it in theory.”
Lisette arched a white eyebrow at him. “Is that right? Then I’m even more impressed. Especially since you had to mix four ingredients together on the spot.”
“On her skin, no less.” Tori grimaced in remembrance. “I had no bowl or anything to work with in the bag.”
“An oversight on my part. I should have thought to slip a bowl in there.”
“It was pretty packed as it was.” Tori wasn’t sure why he felt the need to say that, he just did. “I’m not sure how you’d fit a bowl in.”
“Hmm, yes.” She led them down a staircase and into another hallway. “Well, it’s a moot point now.”
Speaking of… “How is Cassie? I haven’t seen her since she was brought home.”
“Quite well, in fact. She’s awake and grumbling that she’s under restrictions. Not allowed to do magic, nor will she be able to until next week. I think her magical core needs to fully heal before she even attempts it. But she’s recovered some of her vibrancy.” Stopping at a door, she flashed him a smile. “Why don’t you see for yourself?”
That didn’t make any sense until she opened the door fully and he could see inside. Chattering female voices, strong scents of peppermint, fire, and too many other smells to categorize all hit him at once.
Tori stepped through a little cautiously, only to see a full assembly line of potion making in progress. Three tables were lined up, all of them covered in ingredients, fresh and ready to be chopped, or cast-iron cauldrons roaring over various stoves. Other herbs hung from the ceiling in tied bunches, slowly drying. Somewhere, a radio played a gentle rock ballad with a male singer passionately going on about love and helping each other.
One of the things Tori had always wanted to do was to work magic with others. Even if it was a minor working, like potion making, it always seemed so much fun to him. That team effort of pulling together to do something appealed to his nature strongly. Seeing this, all these women working together in the room, made him long to join in.
“There he is!”
His head snapped around to find Cassie, tucked into a cozy chair next to the open window, a tablet in her lap. She was smiling from ear to ear, her blue hair tousled and held back with a headband. She still looked a bit pale but much more herself, like the woman he’d first met. “Cassie. You’re doing better?”
“Much better.” She urged him closer with a wave of the hand.
He went for her, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. She was better, her magical core no longer a live beacon of pain. She didn’t have the right aura just yet, but it was there, lurking just above her skin. He breathed out in relief. Maybe a little satisfaction, too, as he was responsible for putting her back on her feet. That felt good.
“Oh! I have your earring!” He fished in his pocket to give it back to her. He’d been using since taking it off her to keep up with all the various languages floating around this castle.
Cassie waved it off before turning her head to show off a new earring with the translation spell etched into it. “Keep that one if you want, at least until you make your own. Lisette had pity on me when I woke and made a new one for me.”