Skippy trailed us through the crowded market. I tried to include him, even called him Hale, but his superior demeanor made it impossible for me to interact with him. Besides, if he snubbed me one more time, I sensed Kade would try out his new sword on him.
Alethea’s bookshop bustled with people. While waiting for her to finish with a customer, I browsed the shelves, scanning the titles. A sudden influx of patrons filled the room and I ended up in the small back area alone except for Fisk.
“I don’t know how you managed this,” I said. “I didn’t even see you come in.”
“My special magic,” he said with a wide smile. “Here are all the items you requested.” He handed me a book-shaped package.
“Books?”
“Knowledge is power.” He winked.
“How much do I owe Alethea?”
“It’s taken care of.”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime. Do you need me to distract your companions? Alethea has a back door.”
“Not today.” I laughed at his disappointment. “You’re a scoundrel.”
“I can be a prince for the right price.”
I swung at him and he danced back before slipping through the bookcase. The design of the shelves concealed an opening. Good to know.
The front room remained packed. Poor Kade stood in a corner and two heavyset women pinned Skippy between tables. I gestured for them to go out and tried to weave my way through the store. My companions reached the door, but the two women now blocked my way. After a few minutes, I gave up and returned to the back room to use the clever exit. I would loop around the building.
Crates and trash containers littered the alley. The ripe smell of garbage drifted from burnt-orange-colored pools. A few pigeons pecked at crumbs. All normal except the quiet. After the buzz of the bookstore, the silence felt odd.
Tucking my package under an arm, I kept my hands near my sais as I hurried down the alley. A flash to my right side startled me. I swung around. Sunlight winked off a glass jug. I laughed. The first time alone in weeks and I was a jittery mess. I should enjoy this moment of peace before plunging into the market’s chaos.
I drew in a deep breath and relaxed until a rat the size of a small dog skittered across my boots. Jumping back, I yelped in surprise. So much for my peace. I turned to go. Another large rat ran past me. Two more circled my legs. The whole alley filled with them—a dark moving carpet. Their chittering and squeaks drowned out my panicked gasps.
I bit down on the desire to scream long and loud. One rat climbed my pants, and I knocked him off with my sais. My package dropped as I swung at rats. During one of my frantic jigs, I spotted a hooded figure at the end of the alley. Magic.
The rats were an illusion. Though knowing the swarm existed in my mind didn’t stop the attack. The pain from their sharp teeth still hurt. The thuds as I swatted them away didn’t sound any less solid.
My sais wouldn’t deter them, so I searched for another weapon. The glass jug. Wading toward the jug, I grabbed it and concentrated on the feel of the glass. Potential throbbed under my fingers. Magic coursed through the alley. I channeled it into the jug. Pings sounded. But I controlled the flow, creating a three-foot-wide rat-free zone around my feet.
The thread of magic linked back to the magician. With glass between my hands, I could siphon all of his magic.
I waited. The pings slowed as the rats kept their distance.
The attack stopped and the magician bolted. Relief coursed through me. I leaned on a building, catching my breath. About twenty glass rats filled the jug. I spilled one in my hand. Shrunk down to an inch long, every detail of the rat was perfect. I found my package and dumped the rest of them into it.
Debating about the jug, I hesitated. What if the magician came back? I returned the container to where I found it and pocketed a few of the mini rats just in case.
Not wanting to be a standing target, I hustled down the alley, searching for a way to return to the main street. I rounded a corner and bumped into the magician.
14
I BACKED AWAY, GRABBING THE GLASS RATS. WHY DIDN’T I CHECK around the corner before rushing around it? Because I was an idiot.
He seized my wrists before I could crush the glass. “Relax, Opal. It’s me.” He released me and yanked his hood down.
Skippy. My emotions flipped from terror to anger. “What the—”
“Congratulations,” he said. “You passed.”
My hands remained in fists as I sorted out his comments. “The attack was a—”
“Test, yes.”
“I could have drained you of power.”
“That’s why Master Bloodgood was nearby. I’m not a simpleton.”
“So the whole thing was a setup? How did you…Fisk.”
“Handy fellow. Good thing he’s on our side.”
I thought he was on my side. “Why test me?”
“To see what you would do when ambushed. The Council ordered it. They wanted to gauge your reactions before agreeing to your trip to the Stormdance lands.”
My anger settled into annoyance. I wanted to be upset about the ambush, but I passed the test. We returned to the market. Kade and Master Bloodgood waited for us.
“Did you know about this?” I asked Kade.
“Not until we reached the bookshop.” He peered at me. “Look on the bright side. You can come with me.” He tried a smile.
I still wasn’t happy.
Skippy held out a hand. “I’ll take the glass rats now.”
“No.”
He glanced at Master Bloodgood.
“They’re mine. You can’t do anything with them. In fact, I want my spiders and bees returned to me,” I said to the First Magician. I almost laughed at Skippy’s appalled expression.
“Why?” Master Bloodgood asked.
“Just in case I’m attacked on the road. They’re good weapons to have. And I should have an orb, too.”
Skippy sputtered.
“I will present your request to the Council. When do you plan to leave?”
“As soon as Opal’s finished her messengers,” Kade said.
They all looked at me. “If I can work in the glass shop this afternoon and evening, I’ll have them done today.”
“We’ll head out tomorrow morning,” Kade said.
“I will have an answer for you then.” First Magician paused, then placed a hand on my arm. “You did well, child. Keeping control of your powers despite your panic. Those were huge creatures.”
My skin crawled just thinking about them. I stayed close to Kade as we finished our shopping. Although I scanned the crowd for Fisk, I didn’t see him. No surprise. I fingered one of my rats. Someday I would thank him for tricking me.
When we returned to the Keep, I dumped my packages in my room and hurried to the glass shop. The student helpers seemed glad to see me. They finished their projects so I could use the kiln and workbench.
Piecov stayed to assist me. His skill with molten glass had improved so much I asked him to shape the glass once I trapped the magic inside.
“Try blowing,” I instructed. “Think about pulling a thread of power and sending it into the glass.”
He blew through the blowpipe. Only air reached the slug. No magic. It occurred to me that we could test all the magicians in the Keep to see if they could perform glass magic. The Master Magicians searched for another, but they had been screening young magicians. No one had thought to try established magicians.
But then I wouldn’t be the only glass magician. My leverage would be gone. Piecov handed me the pontil iron with a fresh glob of glass and I turned my attention to creating another messenger.
About an hour into the session, I realized Skippy hadn’t followed me into the shop. A first. Perhaps being tested wasn’t so bad after all.
The shop emptied around suppertime. Piecov shoveled white coal under the kiln and waved bye. My stomach grumbled. I put the finishing touches on my last piece and cracked off the seagull. My sculptures tended to match my mood and thoughts, so all the messengers I crafted today were either seashells or shorebirds.