Page 44 of Kingdom of Locks

“That key, do you think?” Aurelia demanded, her gaze flying to the silver key on the counter.

But Mama Gail grunted dissent, gently turning Aurelia’s head to face away from her again, and resuming work on her hair.

“I don’t think that key is anything more than a key. I couldn’t see any notes about a new artifact. The notes talked about the role of a key in storing magic. I think giving you that physical key was just a whim, but one that tickled his fancy given how it reflects his more theoretical plans.”

“What’s the role of a key in storing magic?” Aurelia asked, attempting to turn back to face her mother only to have her head gently steered forward again.

“I’d never heard of it before,” Mama Gail acknowledged, “so I don’t really know. But it seemed to have something to do with unlocking the magic after it’s been stored.”

“Unlocking it?” Aurelia repeated, startled. “Does that mean he’s ready to extract the magic from my hair?” Perhaps she’d been hasty in telling Amell to leave. Perhaps he was right, and they should have confronted Cyfrin that very evening, in spite of the risks. What if tomorrow was too late?

“I don’t know,” said Mama Gail, sounding as troubled as Aurelia felt. “But it all makes me uneasy. I didn’t realize any particular ceremony was required for extracting it.”

“Neither did I,” Aurelia agreed. “I thought he could just pull it out at will.”

“I think…I think he can,” Mama Gail said, and her hesitance told Aurelia there was more she wasn’t saying. “His notes show that he’s exploring ways to increase the potency of the magic he’s already stored. It sounds like this idea of fashioning a magical key might be one of those ways.”

“Why does he need to increase its potency?” demanded Aurelia. “He’s stored so much magic in my hair, he could do just about anything. Will it never be enough for him?”

“Truly, sweetheart, I don’t think it ever will,” said Mama Gail heavily. “Some people are like that. No matter how much they get their hands on, they’re never satisfied. In fact, it’s as though the more they acquire, the less content they are.”

Aurelia rubbed her temples, thinking. “What kind of thing can be a magical key?”

“It’s not things so much as actions, if I’ve understood his scribbles,” Mama Gail said. “Your hair is already acting as a cage of sorts for his magic…it looks like there’s a complex type of enchantment he can perform that would build in a triggering action which would act to release the magic from its cage, without him even needing to specifically extract it. And I imagine it could be just about any action. The type of action will depend on lots of factors, and I’m not familiar enough with the theory to know what they might be.”

“But why did his notes mention givingmethe key?” Aurelia asked. “Surely he’d want the action to be something he could control.”

Mama Gail was silent for a moment, and Aurelia had the distinct impression that she was debating whether to answer.

“Honestly, Aurelia,” she said at last, her voice strained, “I think he believes that youaresomething he can control.”

Aurelia gave a little huff of annoyance. “He’s certainly always talked like he has every right to order whatever details of my life he wants,” she agreed.

There was silence for several minutes, as she thought over her mother’s words. She supposed it was worthwhile to know that Cyfrin’s new project involved fashioning some kind of magical key, but without knowing what the relevant action was, or understanding its purpose, they hadn’t really gained much.

“There was more though, wasn’t there?” she asked abruptly, as Mama Gail tied off the completed braid. “You found more than that in his notes.”

It wasn’t a question, and Mama Gail didn’t deny it. With a sigh, she dragged her chair around so that she was facing Aurelia.

“There was more, but I don’t want to tell you about it.”

Aurelia frowned. “I can handle it, Mama Gail. I’m stronger than you think I am.”

The other woman reached out and placed a hand gently on her daughter’s cheek. “Impossible,” she said softly, “since I already believe you to be the strongest person I know.”

Aurelia stood abruptly, somehow unable to find the usual solace in her mother’s reassurance. “You’re the one who told me to judge people’s actions, not their words. If you think I’m so strong, why are you hiding the truth from me in some misguided attempt to shield me?”

A flash of pain crossed Mama Gail’s features, but she met Aurelia’s eyes unflinchingly.

“It’s not misguided, Aurelia. There are different kinds of dangers. I know we don’t face many physical threats up here, but there are things you can’t un-learn once you know.”

“But if I want to take the risk and you won’t let me, aren’t you just locking me in a tower of ignorance?” Aurelia challenged. “I’m not a child anymore, Mama Gail. I don’t need to be shielded—I need to fight back. If Cyfrin is giving me some kind of key to unlocking the power he’s stored in me, shouldn’t we be using every bit of information we can to try to understand it and use it?”

She expected her mother to agree, but she didn’t immediately answer. “Some kinds of power I wouldn’t want you to use, Aurelia, even if you could.”

Frowning, Aurelia sat back down. “What are you saying? You think he’s creating a situation where I can access his power if I invoke some kind of dark magic?”

Mama Gail shook her head quickly. “Nothing like that.” She leaned forward. “And let’s keep one thing straight. Nothing I read contradicted what we’ve learned before—you can’t be anything but a passive vessel. No matter what this key is, even if you’re the one with the ability to unlock his magic, it’s still his magic, and it will still be him using it. Holding the key won’t give you the ability to wield it.”

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