And then it happened. The spell tore away from Selene, connecting itself to him instead. He took a step back, and the magical construct came with him, anchored between his palms. Selene’s face was damp with sweat, and she stared at him as though he had grown a second nose.
Will began to speak in a nonchalant tone. “Now all that’s left is to take it apart.” With one hand he began plucking at the individual runes, tugging them out of position until the entire thing fell apart and dissolved.
“That’s how you got rid of the ward around my tent,” she sputtered. “It wasn’t a spell anomaly.”
Not exactly, thought Will. That had happened because he had accidentally absorbed the ward. What he had just done was much harder, but he didn’t feel like being nit-picky about his victory. “It was similar.”
Selene’s expression was grave. “Listen to me, Will. What you just did—you can never do that again, not in front of anyone. The magisters at Wurthaven would kill to possess such an ability, and any sorcerer that knew you had it would stop at nothing to see you destroyed. Do you hear me? Every mage in the kingdom would become your enemy, for one reason or another, and they would turn the world upside down to either learn or destroy such knowledge.”
He nodded. “I’ll keep it a secret then.”
“Teach me,” she said sternly with a strange look in her eyes, a look that made him uncomfortable.
“I don’t know if I can,” said Will, waving one hand vaguely.
“Why not?”
“First you have to learn to control your source, then your body has to learn to absorb turyn from around you. I think that’s where it starts,” he explained. His grandfather’s strange method of teaching began to make sense to him. While he had been busy complaining that the old man wasn’t teaching him spells Arrogan had built a foundation in him to enable him to achieve greater control, not just of his own spells, but of others’ spells as well.
She frowned. “Absorb turyn? Like I do from my elementals? It would make me sick to do that from other sources.”
“Haven’t you ever used the source-link spell to do that to someone else?” He thought about that for a second before realizing it wouldn’t make sense. “Well, I guess you’d only do that if you were using it on an enemy.”
“Supper’s ready!” It was Sammy’s voice, shouting from the house.
“We’d better go,” said Will, but he could feel Selene’s eyes on him as they walked back. He had a feeling their conversation wasn’t over.
Chapter 56
The crust on the vegetable pies was light and flaky, though Will felt they could have been better. In his own opinion, he had overworked the dough ever so slightly. If Arrogan had been around, he would have had an earful. Is this supposed to be pastry or leather? The pies would also have been better with meat in them, but the last of the venison had spoiled as spring’s proximity brought warmer temperatures.
“Oh!” said Selene as she took her first bite.
Probably thinking how poorly it compares to whatever they served in whatever palace she grew up in, thought Will. It was an uncharitable thought on his part, and he knew she was too tactful to ever suggest as much.
Sammy nibbled on one side of hers and then held it above her head as though she was making an offering. “The gods have blessed me with this heavenly food. Please grant my wish and chain William to the stove so that he will provide me with such treats for so long as I live.” She yelped when a hot bit of gravy dripped onto her cheek.
Her father laughed. “Serves you right.” Then he gave Will a nod. “Magic is a waste of your life, William. Your calling is obviously in the kitchen.”
“Don’t play with your food, Samantha,” warned Erisa.
Selene smiled at the banter. “She’s right. I’ve certainly thought of chaining him up as well.” She winked at Will to remind him of when she had had her first long talk with him. The conversation at the table stopped as all eyes turned to her, and Selene’s cheeks colored as she realized how her words had sounded. “No, no!” She waved her hands. “It was a joke. When we met at the camp, I nearly had him arrested for sneaking into…” Her words tapered off. After a second, she stared at the pie in her hands with sudden interest. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten anything this good before.”
Sammy leaned forward. “Sneaking into?”
Selene looked to Will’s mother for help, but Erisa’s attention was fully on her. Placing her pie down, she rested her chin on one hand. “I think I’d like to hear this story. What was he sneaking into?”
Will’s eyes met Selene’s as he considered whether he should rescue her from the situation. Then a look of malicious glee stole across his features. Selene began shaking her head ‘no’ in a silent plea. He ignored it and told them, “I was sneaking into her tent, while she was sleeping.”
Sammy’s eyes narrowed, and she began glaring daggers at Selene.
“Why are you glaring at me?” protested Selene. “I’m innocent.” She pointed at Will. “He was the one trespassing!”
“Should I tell them what happened next?” asked Will with a grin.
Erisa barked at him, “William! Stop tormenting the girl and spit it out.”
“Fine. I was delivering the note I wrote to warn them about the Darrowan army. I put it on a table and left. The next day, Miss Innocent over there used a spell and figured out it was me. They arrested me, and I was questioned about it. But—and I feel the need to stress this—at no point were there any chains.”
“I’m starting to seriously reconsider it,” stated Selene sourly. She took another bite of her food then added, “Especially after eating this. I can think of any number of kitchens you should be locked up in.”
More explanations were needed, and Will and Selene were forced to elaborate on the story. After that, the conversation moved on to other topics, though it primarily revolved around the army and the battles with the Patriarch’s forces. Will was glad when it finally shifted back to simpler topics, such as how his family had been getting along over the winter. Before long his mother noticed Sammy yawning.
“I think it’s time we get some rest,” said Erisa.
Johnathan stood up. “You can have Will’s cot, Selene. I’ve been using it, but I can sleep elsewhere tonight.”
Something occurred to Will then. He caught his mother’s gaze, and then moved his eyes toward the door that led to the other room. Silently he mouthed the word ‘books.’
“Bring it out here, Johnathan. She’ll be warmer by the hearth,” suggested Erisa.
“There’s another room?” said Selene, puzzled. “Oh, there’s a door. Why didn’t I notice it before?”
Will’s uncle wasn’t as quick on the uptake. “Why don’t I sleep out here with William? Selene can share the other room with you and Sammy.”
Erisa gave her brother a pointed look. “She’ll be more comfortable out here on the cot.”
“Me too,” said Will. “If I have to sleep on the floor, it will be warmer by the fire.” His mother and uncle both gave him sharp looks.