We snuck around from the back. Leif held his machete and I clasped the orb Kade had given to me. Trepidation pulsed in my chest. The memories of how horrible Crafty had felt when I siphoned her magic replayed in my mind. Would I be able to inflict such pain again?
The building did indeed resemble the other, but instead of the oyster tables a long wooden chute occupied the work space. Scattered around the floor were boxes with wire-mesh bottoms. The structure was also thicker than the northern one, with an enclosed section running the entire length.
Leif bypassed all the equipment and aimed for a door near the southeast edge of the building. Lantern light shone from a row of small windows near the roof. We pressed against the wall. Loud voices arguing inside were punctuated with sounds of a scuffle.
The door burst open, spilling light and people. Two men dragged a struggling young man out. Walsh followed them. He spotted us and seemed more resigned than surprised.
“I found the magician you seek,” Walsh said. “He’s been hiding from me, and has, until tonight, flashed his wild power when I was away.”
“We need—”
Walsh interrupted Leif. “I know. You’ve come to terminate him. Let me talk with him first. See how bad it is.”
The young man stopped fighting his captors. He gaped at Leif in sudden fear.
“We don’t need to kill him,” Leif said. “We have…another way to neutralize his power.”
“Really? How?” Walsh asked eagerly.
“I need to assess the situation. Perhaps we can go somewhere private?”
He snapped back to business. “I’ll talk to him, then you can assess all you want.” Walsh turned to the guards. “Take him to my office.”
The men pulled the adolescent away. At least his terror had transformed into confusion.
“Join me after breakfast,” Walsh said to us.
“What if he escapes?” Skippy asked.
“He won’t.”
Walsh didn’t lie this time. The young man sat in a chair in front of his desk. He rested his head in his hands, but snapped it straight when we entered.
We arrived just after breakfast. The dining room had buzzed louder than at dinner. I had wondered if the change was due to Walsh’s absence or the news of last night’s excitement.
Walsh invited us to sit down as if we gathered to discuss the weather. I studied the wild magician. His shaggy black hair hung over his eyes and ears. He wore only a pair of gray short pants. No shoes. Tanned skin covered lean muscles. I guessed he was one of the swimmers and perhaps sixteen or seventeen years old. Wariness, fear and a bit of defeat emanated from him.
If Walsh was tired, he didn’t show it. “Quinn has been telling me quite the story. He made a big mistake not coming to me right away, but I think, with some hard work, he can control his magic.”
“Last night—” Leif tried.
“He pulled a lot of power, but no ripples. He released it back into the power source without using it,” Walsh said.
Leif considered.
“Look what I have already taught him. Quinn, show these magicians what you can do.”
Skippy braced. Leif signaled me to be ready. I removed the orb from my pack. Quinn drew in a breath as if he prepared for a deep dive. The teacup in front of Walsh rose into the air, hovered a moment and then returned to the table with a rattle.
“Not bad,” Leif said. “But when he flashed fourteen days ago, he was on the verge of flaming out.”
“He’s managed to gain control since then. And now that I’m aware of his powers, I can teach him.”
“I need to contact the Master Magicians.” Leif pulled out the sea-horse messenger.
“That will take weeks. As the Council’s representative, surely you can make a decision.”
Walsh didn’t know about the messengers. He watched in confusion as Leif peered into the glass.
“But, isn’t that—”
“The magician finder? Yes.” Skippy interrupted Walsh. “Opal’s glass has a dual purpose.” He explained it to the leader.
I squirmed. As more people knew about my powers, the more uncomfortable I grew.
“Amazing,” Walsh said. He studied me as if appraising the quality of a pearl.
Averting my gaze, I met Quinn’s. He too watched me. And a sense of familiarity flushed through me. Odd.
“What else can you do, Miss Opal?” Walsh asked.
The unpleasant feeling of being examined crawled along my skin. I lied. “Nothing else.”
“Really? Then why are you holding a Stormdancer’s orb?”
Caught, I cast about for an excuse.
“She was helping the Stormdancers’ glassmakers when we received the order to find Quinn,” Leif said. He’d just finished his mental communication with the Master Magicians in the Keep. “Master Bain is most impressed with Quinn’s display last night.” He changed the subject. “He would like Quinn to come with us to the Keep to learn more about his powers.”
A brief joyful expression lit the young man’s face before settling back into anxiety.
“Absolutely not,” Walsh said. “We are a close family.”
“It’s not your decision,” Leif said.
“Oh yes it is. Quinn isn’t eighteen yet.”
“Doesn’t matter. If the Council believes it’s in his best interest to train at the Keep, then it’s theirs.” Leif’s posture stiffened. “But, I’d rather ask Quinn first.”
Everyone turned to the young man.
His gaze darted to Walsh. “I—”
“Your sisters will miss you,” Walsh said. “And who will teach the children to swim? You know how strong the current is around the peninsula’s tip and you’re the best instructor.”
Quinn’s shoulders drooped in resignation. “I’m needed here, sir. I want to stay.”
“And he will have a personal tutor. Much better than being one of many at the Keep.” Walsh put a chummy arm around Quinn.
Leif didn’t appear happy. “I’d rather you train at the Keep, but I don’t want to upset your family. However—” an ominous tone deepened his voice “—if the Master Magicians feel another uncontrolled flash of magic, they will send me back to finish the job.”
“To neutralize him, but not kill him?” Walsh asked.
“Yes.”
“Exactly how? Because the last time I heard, the only way to defuse a wild power was to terminate the person.” Walsh’s gaze slid to the orb in my lap.
“We have discovered a new way, but the Master Magicians are keeping the specifics quiet for now,” Leif said.
“Interesting. Were you staying with the Stormdancers on the coast?” Walsh asked me.
“Yes.”
“Quinn’s confession last night included a variety of events he’s been keeping from me. Go on, Quinn, tell them about the sea glass in case they find it on their way back.” Walsh’s anger flashed at the young man before he smoothed his features.
Quinn kept his gaze on the floor. “I…collect sea glass.” He swallowed. “And I did something to my collection with my…uh…wild magic. When my…brothers began fighting over them, I tossed them into the sea.”
“Did something?” Leif asked.
He grimaced. “I think I made them more…desirable. My brothers used to make fun of me for collecting it, but they were…crazed by them.”
That’s why Quinn felt so familiar to me.
“The glass is dangerous,” Walsh said. He pressed his lips together, controlling his fury. “With the currents and tides, they may wash up onshore near The Cliffs. The Stormdancers should be warned.”
Leif glanced at me with a question in his eyes. I nodded.
“Thanks for the warning, but it’s a little late,” Leif said. “One of the Stormdancers found most of the pieces, and when she brought them back to the cave…well, crazed is a good descriptor.”
Quinn looked horrified.
Walsh asked if anyone was hurt.
“Minor bumps and bruises. But if Opal hadn’t broken the magic, people would have died.” Leif swept his hands out to emphasize his point.
“I didn’t mean…” The poor boy put his head in his hands. “I’m so sorry.”