Page 74 of The Hocus Pocus Handbook

Kerboros

I can’t believe I’m here again, after volunteering to save a stranger.

This isn’t the person I’ve been, but it feels more natural than the role I’ve been forced to play. I center myself, mentally collecting the few facts that I know about Govannon like overripe apples plucked from the ground. He loves a brownie named Ragh, he invents things and uses magic on those innovations, and he’s been stranded alone. I imagine what his inner landscape will look like, and I envision that terrible tree growing on the rocky outcropping surrounded by stagnant water. My mind carries me there, and I do discover him perched on that branch, just as he was when I found him the first time.

I waste no time in saying, “We must go. This is an illusion.”

Govannon snaps, “If it was so simple, don’t you think I would’ve done that already?”

“It’s not simple at all, for you have to trust me.”

“Trust you? I barely know you.”

I clench my jaw. “You’d rather remain immobile and defenseless, easy prey for whatever might be hunting you through mental warfare?”

“Perhaps I don’t care anymore. If I get eaten, I’ll be done with fear and loneliness.”

The impatience I’ve been battling eases. I cannot fathom his torment. Others suffering such a lonely exile might have already broken beneath the weight.

With some effort, I gentle my tone. “If you give up, you will never see Ragh again. Against all odds, against all common sense, he’s still waiting for you, though he’d never admit it. The pain he feels at not knowing why you left will never cease. What’s it worth to you? The chance to hold him, explain what happened, and cry happy tears together?”

I can’t believe those words emerged from my mouth; Thea has changed me, an alchemical shift transmuting lead to gold. And that’s truer than anyone will ever know. Before getting close to her, my heart felt heavy as a stone, and now it glitters at the mere thought of her.

“Everything,” Govannon whispers.

“Then leap! I’ll catch you. And you will awaken.” I speak with enough confidence that he launches off the branch immediately.

I keep my word, and together, we chase the distant warmth that binds me to Thea, soul to soul. My head feels fuzzy and strange, as if I have spent too much time apart from my physical form. Thea steadies my elbow when my knees wobble, and I encircle her shoulders with my arm, pretending I need the support more than I do.

Govannon rouses, stretching his arms over his head. “Another trial passed. I appreciate the fact that you searched for me,” he adds.

“You’re one of us now,” I respond.

Rosa groans. “Macha’s tits. Get me out of here before something worse happens.”

“We can’t linger,” Tara agrees. “Exploration is out. Resting is unwise. This place is a threat on all levels. I’m surprised Govannon managed to keep his wits.”

“Debatable,” the gnome mumbles. “I do talk to myself rather a lot.”

Thea speaks in a hesitant manner. “I have a suggestion. My dad wrote a spell…” She produces a little book that she reads often, opening it to a particular page. “This one. It deepens connections, and I thought maybe we could use it to pool our magic. One person might not be powerful enough to produce a portal and hold it long enough for us all to escape, but if we cooperate, it might work?”

“Fascinating idea,” Zeph comments. They have been eerily silent since emerging from their private hell.

“I’ll try anything,” Govannon adds, desperation etched on his weary features.

“I’m with the gnome,” Rosa says. “I’m in too.”

While I’m not thrilled with the notion of being bonded to everyone, even temporarily, I’ll attempt this since Thea suggested it. I hope that only our magic will be shared, not my private ambitions and the threads I’ve been weaving. I’ve given up on faking my death, but those who helped me slip my bonds could be harmed if others betray our connections. Erdene exists at the epicenter of a silent resistance that has been undermining Liskaal for ages. I hesitate, then make the decision. Though it’s potentially perilous and I could be responsible for so much harm if there’s too much overlap, I nod. This is a necessary risk.

“Can I read this spell before we begin?” Zeph asks, more tentative with Thea than they’ve been.

Thea stares at them, eyes narrowed, before deciding to allow the request. She hands over the book, and once Zeph scans the page, everyone takes a turn doing so. The ritual is simple enough, and she has the components in her bag. I admire her graceful hands as she arranges everything just so.

“So this is how you do fae magic?” The pixie doesn’t sound mocking or hostile. It’s just a question.

“My dad thought it would help me focus. It doesn’t come easily to me, you see.”

Rosa flutters over to Thea and pats her cheek. “Nobody’s good at everything. My handwriting is rubbish, nearly illegible, and I can’t even draw a straight line.”