Page 13 of Discovered Magic
“Ah, you’re a natural, me darlin’ girl,” Castor exclaimed with a wide grin and a dramatically loud smacking kiss to her forehead. “A chip off the ol’ block, ya are!”
She laughed in pure joy and hugged her pink globe to her.
Wilder shook Quentin’s hand before kneeling in front of her and bowing his head like a knight promising fealty to a queen.
“You have my eternal thanks, Miss Frankie. I’ll be your champion in life, should you ever need me.”
Her eyes glowed with happiness. “Will you save her?”
“You can be sure of it,” he promised.
“Okay. Hurry,” she urged. “I’ll wait for you.”
“It could be a long time, Frankie, my love,” Quentin said, picking her up to sit on his shoulders. “We’ll scry from home, and the second they return, we’ll come back so you can meet Abbie.”
“But, Papa!”
“Do you want to be the one to tell your mother you’re camping here for the duration?”
With a grimace, she shook her dark head. “Mama only lets you get away with mudder,” she complained.
They all laughed, understanding the reference regardless of her mispronunciation.
“We should go,” Wilder eventually said.
“Yes.” Quentin locked gazes with his father. “Be careful. And if you need help, etch a C into the rock face next to the portal.”
“If I need you to retrieve me, we’re well past trouble, son.”
“You aren’t as young as you once were. Your feeble-mindedness can be a hindrance,” Quentin retorted.
With a laugh, Castor gripped Wilder’s hand. “You’re just jealous I’m going on an adventure with my future son-in-law and not you.”
“Keep telling yourself that, old man.”
Giving a short tug, the Traveler urged Wilder toward the portal. Leaning in, he said, “Wait for me to get the last word before you step through. I can’t have that young—dammit! He anticipated my comeback.”
And sure enough, when Wilder glanced over his shoulder, Quentin and Frankie were nowhere to be seen.
“You’re crazy, aren’t you?” he asked. “I’m about to step into a wormhole with a madman.”
“Perhaps a little batty, but all the best people are. Tighten your belt and gird your loins, Thorne. It’s going to be a helluva roller-coaster ride.”
5
Two years earlier…
Abbie paused her ascent as dark gray clouds gathered around her and Wilder. The weather had turned with such unnatural speed that it was hard to process the abrupt temperature shift. Always before, he’d regulated their bodies, making the climb bearable no matter the conditions.
“Abbie!” he hollered.
With a shake of her head, she signaled she intended to push on. They were close to the summit, and it was safer to camp there for the night.
Fifteen minutes later, she cursed herself for a fool. Never had it been more apparent than when a low, distant rumble filled the air, causing the mountain to react. It breathed as if coming to life and grumbled its displeasure. Around them, the atmosphere became staticky, like pulling apart two socks after forgetting a dryer sheet.
“Abbie, wait!”
But she was already in motion, trusting the cam she’d placed. Her confidence in her skill was strong. Second-guessing only led to undermining it, and eventually, to mistakes.
