Page 87 of Sword & Shadow
Deckard furrowed his brow.
Rafferty blinked and said, “Huh?”
Ilain gave Deckard a pointed look as though to emphasize her earlier point about Auden’s teaching style. “What he means is,” she said, “you offer a choice: an element or an existent.”
“Could you just choose what you wanted?” Evylin asked skeptically, sitting between Deckard and Rafferty.
“Not without tutelage,” Auden said. “You see, without the proper incitement, magic can lie dormant an entire lifetime. It’s likely why Jonn never realized his powers until our time in the Keeps. He needed its magic to prompt the magic within him.”
“Same with Hewitt,” Rafferty surmised.
Deckard glanced at Evylin, catching the way her jaw tightened.
“That would be our assumption,” Auden confirmed. “It’s why they both aged at a natural rate as well. Without knowledge of their power, it was like an old pair of shoes at the back of a wardrobe, unused and forgotten. But direct contact with magic sparks awareness of the resources themselves.”
Ethenn fidgeted with one of his knives, flipping it end over end through the air. “Then...” he began thoughtfully, “is it possible to use magic without knowing it? Like you said before, Evie and Hewitt experienced that—that sensation when they fought. That was magic, right? But they didn’t realize it.”
“Exactly,” Auden said. “Warriors are particularly notorious for this. While all magic is innate, theirs is even more so than Mages’. It’s tied to their physical form, affecting their mind and body. Whereas a Mage’s power is more abstract, so it requires a more intentional effort.”
“Sounds like more work,” Rafferty said with a tinge of disappointment.
“It is,” Ilain said. “Magic requires focus, Warrior or Mage. But as the Warriors’ magic is so intrinsically tied to their physical person, it is easier to tap into. A Mage can only access their magic through the resources. That kind of deep focus is highly conscious. You have toknowwhat you’re trying to do in order to do it.”
“So how do I know what resource to choose?” Deckard asked. “If I have to make a deliberate connection, how am I supposed to make an uneducated choice?”
“That’s the point of the test,” Ilain said, a sparkle in her eyes. “I hold out a flame, representing the elements, and Auden will hold out a flare of light, representing the existents. Then we overwhelm you with magic until your instinct overrides yourreason, and you connect to the resource that calls to you the most.”
Deckard’s stomach clenched around the hare stew he’d eaten. He set his bowl aside. “What do you mean by overwhelming me with magic?”
“It isn’t as thrilling as it sounds,” Auden assured him. “We surround you with our magic while you tap into your focus and let the magic guide you to a choice. Simple as that.”
Deckard didn’t think it sounded so simple. “And what if nothing happens?”
“Somethingwill happen,” Ilain said, adjusting her skirts. “How long it takes depends on how well you focus.”
Scanning the troop, Deckard caught the expectant looks on their faces. Even Thom, sitting next to Ilain, looked more intrigued than annoyed for the first time since they’d discovered Deckard’s connection to magic.
With a sigh, Deckard sat up straighter. “All right,” he said. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Don’t sound so excited,” Ilain teased. “It’s only one of the most important days of your life.”
Without waiting for his response, Ilain turned to Auden. “Shall we?”
Auden dipped his chin, but his expression radiated caution. “Carefully,” he said. “Jonn’s power is unknown, and it’s been repressed for over thirty years. It’s bound to erupt if we push him too hard.”
Ilain rose unceremoniously. “He’s not a volcano, Auden. He’ll be fine.”
Ethenn leaned toward Rafferty, whispering, “What’s a volcano?”
“An exploding mountain,” the weasel said. “I’ve heard the Keves Island has one.”
Ethenn frowned, clearly confused by the concept.
“Move, Rafferty,” Ilain instructed as she and Auden came to stand in front of Deckard. “You’re in the way.”
Screwing up his face, Rafferty grumbled as he obeyed. “What about Eve? She’s right next to him.”
“As she should be,” Ilain said.
