Lisette arched a white eyebrow at him. “Is that right? Then I’m even more impressed. Especially since you had to mix four ingredients together on the spot.”
“On her skin, no less.” Tori grimaced in remembrance. “I had no bowl or anything to work with in the bag.”
“An oversight on my part. I should have thought to slip a bowl in there.”
“It was pretty packed as it was.” Tori wasn’t sure why he felt the need to say that, he just did. “I’m not sure how you’d fit a bowl in.”
“Hmm, yes.” She led them down a staircase and into another hallway. “Well, it’s a moot point now.”
Speaking of… “How is Cassie? I haven’t seen her since she was brought home.”
“Quite well, in fact. She’s awake and grumbling that she’s under restrictions. Not allowed to do magic, nor will she be able to until next week. I think her magical core needs to fully heal before she even attempts it. But she’s recovered some of her vibrancy.” Stopping at a door, she flashed him a smile. “Why don’t you see for yourself?”
That didn’t make any sense until she opened the door fully and he could see inside. Chattering female voices, strong scents of peppermint, fire, and too many other smells to categorize all hit him at once.
Tori stepped through a little cautiously, only to see a full assembly line of potion making in progress. Three tables were lined up, all of them covered in ingredients, fresh and ready to be chopped, or cast-iron cauldrons roaring over various stoves. Other herbs hung from the ceiling in tied bunches, slowly drying. Somewhere, a radio played a gentle rock ballad with a male singer passionately going on about love and helping each other.
One of the things Tori had always wanted to do was to work magic with others. Even if it was a minor working, like potion making, it always seemed so much fun to him. That team effort of pulling together to do something appealed to his nature strongly. Seeing this, all these women working together in the room, made him long to join in.
“There he is!”
His head snapped around to find Cassie, tucked into a cozy chair next to the open window, a tablet in her lap. She was smiling from ear to ear, her blue hair tousled and held back with a headband. She still looked a bit pale but much more herself, like the woman he’d first met. “Cassie. You’re doing better?”
“Much better.” She urged him closer with a wave of the hand.
He went for her, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. She was better, her magical core no longer a live beacon of pain. She didn’t have the right aura just yet, but it was there, lurking just above her skin. He breathed out in relief. Maybe a little satisfaction, too, as he was responsible for putting her back on her feet. That felt good.
“Oh! I have your earring!” He fished in his pocket to give it back to her. He’d been using since taking it off her to keep up with all the various languages floating around this castle.
Cassie waved it off before turning her head to show off a new earring with the translation spell etched into it. “Keep that one if you want, at least until you make your own. Lisette had pity on me when I woke and made a new one for me.”
“Her German is terrible,” Lisette tossed out.
Cassie rolled her eyes. “My brain was made for spells, not foreign languages.” Which made Tori laugh loudly because she was learning the foreign language for spells just fine.
“So, we haven’t run you off yet?” she teased him.
Laughing more, he shook his head. “Not yet. I just spoke with King Alric and Mage Lisette about what I saw with the Jaeggi. Your king is very…kind, I think is the best word.”
“Oh, he totally is,” Cassie agreed. “Big teddy bear in many ways. So, the meeting went well? Good. Come have some fun with everyone.”
He cast an uncertain, longing glance toward the tables. “I’m sure they’ve got a rhythm going. I don’t want to disturb that.”
“Nonsense,” a woman called as she stirred one of the cauldrons. “We’re running behind and could use an extra hand.”
“Tori,” Lisette introduced, “at this table is Carla, Melissande, and Ha Na.” She turned him in another direction and pointed to three more women. “And that’s Elissa, Jana, and Gisa. Everyone, Tori.”
Everyone called out general hellos to him.
“We truly are running a bit behind schedule, Tori,” Lisette said with a shrug. “It’s why I brought you in. If you can mix a potion on a woman’s skin and save her with only half the ingredients you need, some simple lotions and shampoo are well within your capabilities.”
He saw the serious expression on her face and reeled a little at the realization that she meant it. To her, he’d already proven his magical ability. Cassie sitting there, alive and whole, was testament to his knowledge as a mage.