by Janeal Falor
“There's truly not another woman like you.” He shifts his weight. “It's a good start. I'll see if we can get some of the warlocks in place on the outside. Ones who are the most all right with this plan and won't give under pressure. See what information they can collect for us. Between the two plans, I believe we'll be able to make some progress.”
“If we can get the people to cooperate.”
“We'll be able to do it.”
“It'd be easier if they didn't hate me so much.”
“They just don't know you yet. Look at us. We fought when we first knew each other, and now we're planning a rebellion together. Give it some time.”
“Time is the one thing Zade and Daniel don't have.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
While we have tried to include others when teaching the girls magic, not many have wanted to participate. Now that they have agreed to help us overthrow the Grand Chancellor, this changes drastically. Almost all of them want to learn, save for a few stragglers, the ones most disinclined to our plan. Cynthia takes over most of the teaching, but Bethany and I continue with Serena and Jack's help. Tawny also helps but in a more subtle way. She guides those teaching, giving them new spells to learn.
None of the women know how to fight, whether with magic or not. A few of the warlocks know how to cast magic, but only the simplest of spells. Of course, that's because most of the stronger spell casters have been recruited for the Grand Chancellor, whether be it as an 'elected' council member or a law officer, or some other person he can keep a close eye on and influence.
But it doesn't matter if we all still have a lot to learn. It doesn't matter if most have done nothing but cower under others’ commands. It's those reasons that will make them strong. Those reasons that will give them the will to fight and win an enemy who has held them back for so long.
The only question I have now is whether my presence here is weakening them instead of strengthening them.
When they watch me doing spells easily, they chatter amongst themselves and stare a lot. So I keep casting spells, even when I grow tired and my magic low.
“She seems to know what she's doing,” one says to Serena.
Finally. Progress. I throw out a spell that Tawny taught me last night. A bright, flashy spell that's nothing more than fuchsia coloring, followed by an almost clear spell, tinted only a little red by my emotions. The red tinted spell slips around the side. Just as the fuchsia spell bursts, the other spell stabs into the target, leaving a gaping hole all the way through the target as it burns its way through.
Phyllis comes up to me. “Do you think you could teach me that?”
“I'd be happy to.” Not happy, thrilled, ecstatic, over the moon.
As she lets me teach her, it's a nice change, but she still doesn't want to get close to me. Every time I step a polite distance toward her, she steps back three steps. She doesn't want to contaminate herself with being too near me most likely.
“The first part is easy,” I say, giving up on being close enough to really help her. I feel like I have to yell for her to hear me. “It's just using your pure magic. Throwing one strong emotion into it, and picturing it bursting in front of your target. Using it as the distraction.”
She doesn't respond, but her eyes narrow at the target. It takes her a moment before a spell comes out, bursting almost as soon as it leaves her hand. A few of the bystanders swear at the bright flash of yellow.
I blink, trying to get my sight back. “That was good. You just need to focus it out farther so you can blind your opponent instead of yourself and your teammates.”
Her only reply is to scoff. I guess she doesn't mind blinding me so much, though I'd think she'd at least care about blinding herself.
“Why don't you give it another go?” I say.
She shrugs her shoulders and puts her hand up. I want to close my eyes, but I force myself to keep them open. This time, she's successful; the yellow light is tinted with orange but shoots straight for the target, a dummy in the shape of a human made from bags and straw. Once it gets there, it bursts just like it should. She tries three more times, and the burst gets bigger every time.
“That's right,” I tell her as she finally gets the spell down. “You've got it perfect.
She shrugs again.
“Now let’s work on the second part of the spell.”
She steps back from me. “Actually, I think I'm done.”
From the tone of her voice, it sounds more like she's done with me than with learning a spell. She turns her back toward me and walks away without a word. Swell. My thoughts are confirmed when she leaves me to go directly to Cynthia. I guess I can't hope for too much in one day. It doesn't make it any easier to deal with, though.
Chapter Thirty
Jack, Bethany, and Serena join together in what's become mine and Cynthia's room, a small cavern furnished only with bedding and our clothes. It isn't the best of accommodations, but it gives us some sense of privacy. Plus it gives me a chance to voice my thoughts yet again. Though quietly so someone can't hear me through the echo.
“It's time to move to something real,” I say. “We've got to strike them where it counts, and we need to do it now.”
“Agreed,” Cynthia says.
“We do need to attack where it will hurt them, but with the least danger to us,” Jack says.
Always so reasonable. I want to huff at him, but how can I? These people have entrusted their lives to us. Not just now, but in the future as well. What's the point of fighting if we get most of them killed? I would rather die myself than have any one else do so.
“I have an idea,” I reply, hoping it's actually a feasible one. “What if we attacked one of the power plants and rescued all the people they're taking advantage of? Not only would they be losing power, but those people need to be freed.”
Cynthia says. “And they'd likely want to help us if we're the ones that freed them.”
“But would they be guarded by men and spells?” Jack asks. “There's no point in risking our lives if it's as heavily guarded as the Grand Chancellor's.”
“I can ask Nathaniel what he knows,” Bethany says.
She's always so quiet. I almost forget she's there. “Let's do that. And in the meantime, we can keep training them. It's going to take more than just the handful of us if we want to make a real difference.”
“I have another thought,” Cynthia says. “We can attack Chancellor Ryan's house.”
“We'd need to ask Nathaniel about that as well,” I reply. “I don't know if he'll be able to get that information or not.”
“No need. I already staked it out,” Cynthia says.
“You did not,” I practically shout. “You could have been killed.”
“Lukas was with me.”
I glare at him and then roll my eyes. No point in getting upset over something that already happened. At least it wasn't Tawny so carelessly risking her neck. If her mother found out all she's doing, she'd have my head. Then again, the Queen may have known how dangerous it was here. Maybe she wanted Tawny to come and have the experience to help her be a better Queen when it's her time.
But my thoughts are trailing off. I need to think on the here and now. On Cynthia at Chancellor Ryan's house. “And you found what?”
“It's only guarded with spells. They appear tough, but once you take a closer look at them, they’re easy to break through,” she says and grins. “Ryan is overconfident.”
“Let's start there, then,” Jack says. “While Bethany learns more information about the power plants, we'll attack the Chancellor's home. That will be the perfect place to hit first. Who'd like to head up the task?”
“I believe I'd love the job,” Cynthia says.
“I'll go with.” Someone needs to help Lukas keep an eye on her revenge so it doesn't get out of hand. But oh the joy this will bring. Our first real hit, right to the second in command.
Chapter Thirty-One
Jack insisted on coming as well
. So there are four of us hidden in a crop of trees, staring at a house surrounded by all sorts of flashy colored spells. It looks like a rainbow dome threw up over the entire house.
“Are you sure this is just flashy?” I ask Cynthia in a whisper.
“Not only is it just flashy, only servants are home. Ryan is with the Grand Chancellor.”
I shake my head, trying to be hopeful, but I have to be honest with myself. I'm more scared than I've ever been in my entire life.
We move closer to the building, waiting a little each time we move. When we stop, Cynthia concentrates a moment before sending out a spell, each one unraveling a little more of the throw up rainbow dome, getting us a layer closer to the house. She was right, the spells are fierce looking, but for her, they're nothing to break through.
When we're almost to the mansion, an animal starts howling. Grand. A watchdog.
“You didn't say anything about a dog,” I tell Cynthia.
“I didn't know there was one.”
We sit tight for several minutes, but the dog never comes into sight. All the while worry flutters through me. If we're caught before were ready, it could mean a fight we don't want. But the way remains clear. “I think it's safe.”
Jack nods and, together, the four of us make our way closer still. Suddenly, there's a bang of a door closing. We dive to the ground, practically eating the grass that used to be under our feet. My heart thuds in my chest.
Through the line of bushes, I see several warlocks headed our way. Stupid dogs.
One warlock with a deep voice calls out, “Who's there?”
Might as well get this over with. I give Cynthia a glance. She nods.
Together, Cynthia and I rise, standing together. My full height usually leaves me feeling odd in Chardonia, but not tonight. Tonight, its full effect has me towering over these bumbling servant idiots, powerful and strong.
“It's a barbarian and the witch,” one of them squeaks.
They want me to be a barbarian? A barbarian I'll be.
I run straight at them with a warrior scream. At the same time, Cynthia zaps a black spell streaked with crimson at them. They cower like frightened Chardonian women before scampering away.
As soon as they're out of earshot, I turn to Cynthia laughing. “We should do that again.”
“Definitely.” She's laughing as well.
Jack stands, and he is most definitely not laughing. “Don't worry. There's going to be more chances for that than you want.”
That sobers me right up, even if it was funny to see the looks on their faces.
We move toward the house, not another guard in sight. I suppose the throw up dome was supposed to deter everyone. The building is massive. Four floors and as wide as Zade's. Who knows how many people could be hiding in there?
As we stand in front of the main door, I say, “I feel like we should knock.”
“It does feel that way,” Cynthia says.
Jack shakes his head and barges forward, swinging the door open. A butler stands several feet away.
“Get out of here if you don't want to be hexed,” Jack growls.
The butler scampers off. We hurry through the halls, searching the house, servants running from us as Cynthia flashes spells at them. We gather what supplies we can carry in our packs, food that's much needed. “It's too bad we can't take more of this with us.”
“There isn't time,” Jack says. “They're sure to have warned Ryan, and we can't be slowed down.”
I sigh as we leave the house, packs full. It's just a shame not only to waste all this precious food but to destroy such a beautiful building. We stand out in front of the grass, and I suddenly worry that we've missed someone in the house. It was so big, and we moved through it so quickly.
I can't worry about that too hard. This is war. We were kind enough to go through the house before hand.
“Do it,” I tell Cynthia before I chicken out.
She faces the building, and with a spell of flaming orange and yellow, she sets the building alight. It quickly blazes up, bright and hot. If there is someone left in there, I hope they have time to escape out the back. For now though, we've done what we came to do.
We run then until we're far from the building but can still see its glow in the distance. We are armed and dangerous now. Message sent.
Chapter Thirty-Two
With more confidence now that we had a victory, we can press forward with more hope. Only there's still such a long ways to go. To try not to stress about it, I join Tawny in helping to teach others, mostly girls, about magic. She's smiling and laughing with them, comfortable with helping, even if they aren't as comfortable with her.
“Good morning,” she says as I join them. “Have anything fun to teach us today?”
“Just the usual.”
Some of the girls groan.
“Come on,” Tawny says. “Show us something fun. Did you girls know that Waverly is one of the most talented Envadi at spelling dresses and getting people ready for balls? Her talent is extraordinary.”
“Show us something,” Nelly says.
The other girls immediately start clamoring for something fun as well. It's not helpful at all in terms of learning to fight, but I suppose it is a lot of fun. Besides, if it gets them excited about magic and practicing it, all the better. And they aren't cowering from me.
I spend the morning teaching them different spells, starting with a simple nail color changing spell and working up to adding sparkles to clothes and face paint. They ooh and ahh over it, all making me wish I'd thought of the idea sooner.
When I finish, I say. “This is war. We can't only change the color of our dresses.”
“I wish we could make it that way,” one of the younger girls says.
Me too. But there's more spells to teach them, useful spells like a shield spell that could save their lives. And food that needs to be gathered and people that need to be settled into places to sleep, and chores that need to be done. There's just so much. So many people that need help, and I'm only one person. There's not enough that I can do.
“How about this,” I say. “For every three attack or defense skills you learn, we'll learn one fun spell.”
“I like this idea,” Tawny says. “I'm sure there's lots you can all learn that way. Sometimes learning the fun spells can help make you better at the necessary skills anyway. Practice, you know.”
Phyllis, who's been lingering on the edges, says, “How much can we really learn anyway? We're just women.”
“Don't you remember that spell I taught you before?” I say. “The one where you made a burst of light?”
“Yes,” she grudgingly replies.
“If you can do that, you can do so much more. As women, we have more strength than we know.” If only I could get them to believe that and to believe in me.
***
After the other girls have gone to bed for the night, I turn to Tawny. “Do you know any healing spells?”
“Quite a few. They're required in my schooling.”
I wish they'd been required in mine. “Would you teach them to me?”
“Of course. Is there any particular reason you want to learn?”
“With all this fighting, people get hurt. I hate feeling helpless. I want to be able to do something if it's needed.”
“Good enough reason for me.” She claps her hands together. “Where should we start?”
“With whatever's easiest.”
“How about with whatever's the most useful?” She gives me a sly grin.
“It's going to be hard, isn't it?”
“Whatever gives you that idea?”
“The look on your face.”
She laughs. “Maybe you'll have a better aptitude for it than I do.”
“One can only hope,” I mutter under my breath, hoping that I can pick it up easily. There isn't a lot of extra time around here to be learning new spells. I'm too busy helping with the girls and Ben, chores, or teaching others to do magic
.
“It would help if we had an injury to work on.” She gives me a look.
“Oh no, I'm not injuring myself just to fix myself.”
“Fine. I will.” Before I can stop her, she pulls out a spell that leaves a cut on her arm.
“Tawny,” I yell at her, “you can't be doing things like that to yourself.”
She shrugs. “It's for a good cause. Besides, look at it. It's barely a scratch.”
Indeed, it is the tiniest of scratches, just enough to draw blood. “Maybe,” I grudgingly admit, “but don't do it again. We can find other ways to practice.”
“I suppose you're right. There has to be someone around here that's hurt themselves.”
“Exactly. Now, how do I fix it so I don't have to feel guilty about you hurting yourself for me any longer?”
“Like any other spell. Picture your magic stopping the flow of blood and knitting the skin together.”
“Just like that?” I ask, skeptical that it would be so easy.
“Just like that.”
Which I know should be true, but having never done this before, I'm more worried about making it worse for her than making it better. Still, I have to try. I need to be good at this so I can help when real injuries happen. For they will, no matter how hard I try to stop them. That much is already apparent.
I picture the flow of blood stopping and her skin covering up the wound. Once it's in my mind's eye clearly enough, I call on my magic to do exactly that. The spell comes out white, tinted with green. It moves to the cut, quickly stopping the flow and healing the skin back together. I'm a little tired by the time I pull my magic back in, but not by much.
“Well done,” she says. “It took me more than a dozen tries before I could even get the blood to stop flowing. You're a natural.”
“It's about time I'm a natural at something.” Relief that I can do this, that I will do this and help people, fills me. Now I only hope that I don't have to use it.