Page 67 of Light and Shadow
A morsel of amusement in his eyes, he says, “You lifted it when you did not know what was inside, Harper.” He taps the side of my head. “Do not let what youthinkyou know interfere with what magic can do.”
Unable to look away, I study Jax. “You’re right. As soon as I thought it was too heavy, I lost control.”
With a curt nod, he releases me and rises.
When I turn to Aaran, Cara and Dorian are beside him. All three are grinning back at me.
Dorian says, “Very good.”
Cara nods her agreement before they walk away.
“You did very well today, and I think you’re winning Jax over.” Aaran chuckles.
Fancor was watching from the steps to the upper deck, and his deep laugh breaks into our conversation. “You’ll have that elf eating out of your hands in no time, lass.”
Several elves laugh with the dwarf.
I turn to help with the mess, but they’ve already cleared it away.
Taking my hand, Aaran leads me back to sit on a crate. “Are you tired?”
“My body feels as if I’ve been run over by a truck, but my mind is reeling from what I just did.”
“It’s to be expected.”
“I never felt drained from the magic I wielded accidentally. Even when I killed the shadow demon, I was freaked out by killing, but this is different.” I rub my sore arms.
Aaran’s ears twitch, and his eyes narrow as he looks out over the ocean.
The boat increases its rocking motion. I grip the rope on the crate to keep my seat. “What’s happening?”
Clouds form and come together as the sea roughens.
“The witch queen has found us,” Beran shouts. “Hold on. Get below.” He ushers the children to the steps.
“Go with the children, Harper.” Aaran stands in the center of the deck, legs wide, riding the motion of the ship as if he were born on a boat.
“I might be able to help.” Even as I say it, my stomach lurches. “Or maybe not.” I head for the stairs, helping others to get off the deck.
It makes no sense for anyone without working magic or a background in sailing to risk flying into the sea. Water crashes over the rail and pours down the stairs.
Sputtering, I grip the handrail. Sure that anyone who can’t help above is safe, I rush to the cabin where I find the children already huddled on the bed. “Are you alright?”
They stare back with fear in their eyes, but uninjured.
Before I can join them and give them a false sense of comfort, the sky clears, and the ocean settles. “Stay here,” I command, with no idea if they will listen or understand me.
I run from the cabin to the deck. “What happened?”
Dorian says, “I think she sensed your magic, but it was so brief that she can’t pinpoint our location. She’s searching.” He points to the clouds forming to our east.
Jax stands at the bow of the ship arms crossed. “We won’t be able to teach you how to use your magic while at sea.” He frowns at me as if it’s my fault.
“Can she detect all magic, or is it just mine?” I ruffle Bor’s hair as he and the others rush past me to the open air of the deck.
“Your human magic feels different. Elven magic emanates from every drop of water, every leaf, or grain of sand. Maybe if she wasn’t searching, but she’ll feel you now. She knows how to sense it. And after what you did to her, she’s angry as well as desperate.” Jax returns his attention to the vast sea in front of us.
“None of that is my fault.” I throw my arms up. What am I supposed to do? “I’d be happy to go home.” It’s not entirely true, but I’m trying to make a point.
