Magic 101 (A Diana Tregarde Investigation)

by Mercedes Lackey

  “Yes ma’am,” Mark whispered.

  She turned and stalked out, kimono wafting behind her, bottle of extremely expensive single-malt Scotch in one hand, sword in the other.

  #

  Di finished the ritual, and with satisfaction, saw the portal between the worlds standing open. Well, there it is, my work as a Guardian is done until tomorrow night.

  This, of course, was nothing like the jagged hole that those morons in the other building had torn open. This would only let those spirits who should be crossing pass from one side to the other. There were proper guards at the gate, so to speak—and the guards on the Other Side were a great deal more powerful than she was.

  She propped the poor abused sword back in its place beside the fire, and poured herself a stiff double of the confiscated Scotch. Because I’ve earned it, by the gods, she thought.

  And just as she picked it up, she heard someone—a very familiar voice—call her name.

  She whirled. Standing in the portal was—

  “Memaw?” she gasped.

  Her grandmother grinned broadly, and mimed tossing back a shot.

  And then she was gone.