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“Ah, no, like he’s an extension. Sorry, I’m not articulating this well. Essentially, I have the urge to move the leash.”
“Well,” Draven started, taking a big step back, closer to Lyric, “let’s see what happens when you tug on it.”
My palms dampened and I absently rubbed them on the front of my pants. I let my witch’s eye out assuming I’d see some sort of link extending from me to Phalen.
The only line of connection in front of me was the one that led to Casimir. I blinked. Shallow, but distinct grooves appeared every few inches–like the outline of a chain.
That shouldn’t be possible.
Quickly, I shut off that part of my sight. We weren’t here for that, warm and tingly as it made me feel inside to see.
I sank back into my mind. Not into the well, but on its periphery. All around was a dark fog. A subtle light winked beyond the haze.
Pursing my lips, I blew what air I had in my lungs out towards the light. The murky fog split and a faint, ashen trail of magic was revealed. It stretched from my feet across to the twinkling light which no longer looked quite so far away.
There you are.
Concentrating on the imaginary tether of power, I pulled. Phalen, stiff as a board, fell forward. Casimir caught him before he hit the ground and set him upright.
“Not a problem. Keep trying,” he encouraged.
Tugging on the leash wasn’t the way. So what was? Circe’s notes weren’t specific on this piece of the spell.
Bind the will, command the vessel.
Maybe it wasn’t a leash at all.Commandwas a one-way directive, from the spellcastertothe vessel. A push without touch. A rod or stick to prod. I imagined several options until settling on one that felt right.
The connection would be more of a flexible, hollow tube instead of a leash, one I could send information and magic through in a single direction. Like a hose. The invisible magics adjusted to the mental image. On an exhale, my eyes opened. I dispatched a “message.”
Phalen blew a raspberry at Lyric who gasped in offense.
“That was you?” Casimir questioned.
“It was. Should I try something else?”
“Yes,” the entire group answered mechanically, donning identical enthralled expressions as they gawked at Phalen.
And I was the freak?
I repeated the process and watched as the Commander of the Shadow Army curtsied and batted his eyelashes. Then he twirled and lifted up a phantom skirt. Despite the comical movements matching his personality, I didn’t feel good about forcing them upon him.
“I amsojealous of you right now,” Lyric whispered. “Make him say something.”
My mouth opened without sound thanks to the dithering organ inside my skull.
“Never fear your own powers,” Kree advised sagely. “You have them for a reason.”
Teeth pressing down onto my bottom lip, my brain finally got back in the game. “Forcing words out of him bothers me more than the physical movements.”
“He understood what he was doing when he volunteered,” Draven quietly argued. “Whatever happens, he will never hold it against you. None of us will.”
My cheeks warmed.What to do with said volunteer?
When Phalen began hopping on both feet and singing an old Seelie tune about the mating habits of pooka rabbits, Lyric bounced on her toes in delight.
“Best magic ever!” she cheered.
“Well, at least I can entertain you with it.”
