Page 38 of Mistaken Magic

"Fine,"Isaid, sliding off my stool to pick up one of the little vials.

Theywere no bigger than my pinky, and the dirt inside looked incredibly common.Itwas the sort of thing you could dig up just about anywhere.Thetop was sealed with a pretty typical cork pushed about halfway in.WhenImade it back to our desk,Ioffered it to him, butTorianwaved it off.

"Openit and take a little pinch," he said. "Little,Rain."

"Ok..."

Idid, holding it between my index finger and thumb, then he did the last thingIexpected.Pressingboth hands together,Toriancreated light.Nota blinding one, but a soft undulating rainbow.Ashe spread his palms further apart, the glowstretched, making an arc that shimmered like a ribbon in a breeze.

"Nowsprinkle the smallest amount of that into the light," he told me.

Easyenough.Reachingover,Irubbed my fingers together and a few grains broke free.Theynaturally fell through the band of light, shorting out gaps in the effect.Curious,Imoved to dribble a little more, spreading it straight across the entire band.Sureenough, the light fizzled out, fading completely.

"Why?"Iasked, gesturing to it. "Howdoes that work?"

"Magneticfields," he explained. "Magicis carried along them, just like birds following migration paths.Thingsthat require magic to survive?Theystarve or suffocate magically in the presence of iron.Alliron,Rain.Steel, other alloys.Doesn'tmatter, but the more pure, the faster and more painful it is."

"Andthere's iron in clay?"Becauseto me, that was the second most shocking thing about this.Thefirst, naturally, being the rainbow he'd just made so easily.

Toriannodded slowly. "Yep.It'sall about the fields of my will fighting against those of the substance outside my will."

Feelinga little silly,Ipointed at his hands and made a circular gesture. "Isthere any way you can do that again?"

"Thelight?"Helooked confused.

"Yeah, um, it's kinda the first magicI'veactually seen.Notexperienced, but actually, you know, got to appreciate."

Somethingabout his expression softened. "Yeah,IheardAspensent you toLondon."

"DidIreally go there?"Iasked.

"No," he scoffed. "Itwas a glamour.Perfectlysafe, just impossible to identify on the inside without training."

"WhyLondon?"Iasked.

"Shelikes the taxis."Hepressed his hands together again. "Andif you put down the clay,I'lleven let you touch it."

"Kinky,"Iteased.

Hechuckled. "Youhave absolutely no idea."

Whenhe spread his hands again, there was definitely light.Thistime, however, the colors were even more vivid, swirling with a little more intensity.Idusted my hands on my thighs, not wanting any clay dust to mess it up, and thenIreached under his arm to poke a finger right into the light.

Icouldn't feel a thing, butIcould see it.Itwas like playing with the dust motes in a sunbeam.Mymovement made everything swirl and shift, soIdrew a little circle, thenImade zig zags.Forevery movement, his magic reacted, and it was absolutely beautiful.

"That'samazing,"Ibreathed. "What'sit good for?"

Hetilted his hands, shutting off the light. "That?Nothing.It'sa training exercise, just like humming a note.Harmlessmagic,Rain."

Whichreminded me of another thing. "Andwhat did you mean about my name being fae?"

"Thinkabout it," he said. "IvyRhodes.HollyGlenn,AspenFox.Allnature names.RainBrooks."

"Torian,"Icountered.

"Awatch point over a dale, also a title for the one who watches that dale.Anature name," he assured me.

"So, it's a cultural thing?"Iasked, completely fascinated.

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