Alora: The Wander-Jewel (Alora 1)

“So you would have us walk blind and gift-less into the shires? That would be tantamount to suicide. We could still be recognized and killed.” Vindrake’s voice was cool and even, but Abaddon could sense his irritation building below the surface.

“Ah, but that’s another advantage of the potion,” he answered. “It not only masks your true image, but covers it with another. Whether viewed by eye or gift, you will always appear as a different form than your own. Totally unrecognizable. In fact, you will have to drink the potion in each other’s presence to recognize one another. I would suggest wearing an identifiable talisman for that reason.”

“Totally unrecognizable? No gift would be strong enough to see through the mask?”

“Only a very strong gift of discernment could detect the slightest impropriety. And as we eliminated Valor—the only Stone Clansman possessing that gift—during our last attack on Laegenshire, that is no longer a problem.” He couldn’t resist bragging. “You will remember I was instrumental in the success of that endeavor.”

“Yes, I remember. But I also recall losing seven of my best masters to Stone Clan’s loss of two. Therefore, I was less than pleased with the results.”

“A minor loss for you, Sire. Seven who were easily replaced. A devastating loss for Stone Clan. Am I not correct?”

“It’s true Stone Clan was permanently crippled,” Vindrake admitted, his scowl softening. “Perhaps the potion will work. I shall consider it.”

“It seems to be the only way to search for the child without alerting Stone Clan,” Abaddon insisted. “Have you contemplated what you will do should you not find her in time?”

Vindrake paced with heavy steps, his shining black hair

tossing from side to side. “If I find her and she will not comply, I will kill her.” His blue eyes gleamed with vehemence. “If I cannot use her—my own daughter—no one shall!”

*****

Bozeman followed at Kaevin’s heels as though he were attached to him. Alora almost fell as she tripped over the dog while they were trying to walk. “Bozeman, find your own soulmate. This one’s mine.”

Kaevin laughed. “I’m simply glad Bozeman likes me more than your uncle does.”

“Uncle Charles will come around. He just needs time.”

“Your magick is strong here. Is it your uncle’s gift or your own? I have never seen so many amazing things,” he declared. “Lights that appear by pushing one toggle and water that flows by pushing another. Boxes that are cold inside. Wagons that move without horses. In Tenavae, no one can do these kinds of things, unless perhaps one were using black magick.”

“You’ve got it all wrong, Kaevin. We don’t have any magic here at all. None. We have something called technology.”

“And what is that?”

“It basically means some really smart people figured out how to make all these things—like light switches, plumbing for water, and trucks and such. Those are the inventors and the engineers. And then they figure out a way to make it really simple to use so the rest of us can do it, too. And every single invention is constantly wearing out or breaking down, so we have other people who repair them and make new ones.”

“Oh.” He wore a mask of confusion. “So no one has gifts? No powers?”

“We call people who are really smart or talented, gifted. But it’s not magic. Everything has a scientific explanation.”

“Really? Then explain to me how this works.” He pointed to the microwave oven, which was cooking a noisily expanding bag of popcorn.

“I don’t know. Somehow it puts out microwaves that get all the molecules excited or something and they move around and get hot.”

“That sounds like magick to me.”

“Honestly, I agree, but I know it isn’t magic.”

“And would this work if we took it to Laegenshire?”

“I doubt it. Do you have electricity at all?”

“What’s electricity?”

“Never mind. No, it wouldn’t work in Laegenshire.”

“I just thought perhaps there might be something we could bring back with us to help defend ourselves against Water Clan.”

“Like maybe a shotgun or a rifle?” asked Alora, dragging Kaevin to her uncle’s gun cabinet. “These could help, for sure, especially if no one else has guns.”