Breath (Scales 'n' Spells 2)

“Were you able to do anything at all?”

“Some. I set up a place where I could work magic away from their eyes. It’s why my herbology is good; I had my own greenhouse and made up potions for my own use.” Tori was relieved they were having this conversation now, so he didn’t have to downplay things or try to sell her on the idea that he could be a full-fledged mage. He had the position already, thanks to her confidence in him. “And I made some things just for prep on the journey out, or for practice. I don’t—”

Deep breath. It was hard to admit, but she did need to know. Tori couldn’t meet her eyes as he said, “I don’t have any practice working with a group, aside from the past few days. High magics are something I only know about in theory.”

“That’s fine.” Lisette’s cool hand reached over and touched him lightly on the wrist, her smile reassuring. “When we do practice collaborative work, I’ll pull you in with my students, give you all some experience in it.”

Reassured, he nodded.

Silence fell for a moment as he finished the amulet. He chose not to thread it on a chain before handing it over to her for inspection.

Lisette accepted it and tilted it in her palm for a moment, looking it over as only a master mage could. “Perfectly done. I didn’t see you measure anything as you were taught to do?”

“There’s no point,” Tori said with a self-depreciating smile. “I just mess up the numbers. I’ve learned to rely on instinct for what feels right and what needs to be tweaked. I eyeball everything.”

“Most mages do, you know. I’m certainly not an exception.” Lisette tapped the amulet lightly with her finger. “Magic is about instinct and talent. It should be a joy to do any sort of working. I do not understand this process of your old clan’s. They’ve turned magic into a drudgery.”

“I’m really glad to hear you say that.” Tori felt like that was the understatement of the year.

“It’s part of why I recommended we make you a mage of the clan immediately.” Lisette handed him the amulet back, and there was a proud smile on her face. “Not only because I could see your knowledge at play but your instincts. You looked at what we had done and saw ways to improve it. You instinctively knew how to enhance the potions. We need that sort of creativity and intellect, especially as there are so few of us.”

Tori’s face felt like it was on fire. He really didn’t know what to do with all of these compliments he was getting.

“Your craft work is solid, I think. I already know about your potions. Let’s go and get situated there”— she indicated the sitting area to the far right of the room—“and talk about magic theory. I want to know what all you studied. Magic is so vast, after all.”

“It really is.” Tori followed her readily.

The chairs were plush and inviting. He sank into one, feeling far more comfortable now than he had when he walked into the room. Lisette truly wasn’t trying to find fault with him. She’d spoken truth when she said she only wished to review with him what he knew. Which was entirely reasonable.

Lisette settled into a chair next to his, and she oriented herself to face him directly, her hands loosely clasped together in her lap. “What area did you like best to study?”

“Tool-making.” Tori rubbed at his neck, not sure why he felt a little shy admitting that. “Wands, amulets, mirrors, boosters of any sort, really. I enjoy making things that are readily at hand as an aid. Potion-making, too, that seems to come naturally to me. I enjoy it.”

“Hence why you were so comfortable making amulets and such on the way here?”

“Yes. I did study other things. We’re all taught the basics of medical care in my clan, but I did study up on it more, just in case.”

“Like the healing you did for Cassie.”

“I’m very glad I know it, now. I dabbled a little in astrology, but most of it went over my head. Without someone to ask questions of, I couldn’t really wrap my head around it.”

“Some of it is based in mysticism, which further complicates matters. Jana is an expert in it, if you wish to study it more with her.”

“Oh? Yeah, that’d be great. Do you, um, encourage us to learn from each other like that?”

Lisette got that look in her eye again as if she were contemplating murder. “There is very little hierarchy you need to observe here in the clan, my young mage. I am the head mage of the clan, but no other mage will be in a position above you.”

Well, that was certainly good to know. Tori hadn’t been sure how to ask without stepping on toes.