“Oh.” He kicks a pebble with his toe. “What can a wind spirit do, then?”
“My magic is powerful beyond your comprehension. I can lift objects with a thought. I can command the wind. I can choke the very life from your lungs with a snap of my fingers.” I snap my fingers threateningly, but he sits there impassively.
“I don’t suppose you could stop a sandstorm, though.” He jerks his head to the gap far above us where whirling sand spills through in an angry flurry.
I plant my hands on my hips. “Fool. Of course I can stop a mere sandstorm.” Before I have to listen to him whine any longer, I stretch out my arms, calling on the magic within me. I am rusty. It has been many years since I did anything so great. It feels as if I am drawing on stiff muscles. I concentrate, irritated at the fact this poses any challenge at all. It should be nothing.
Power rises sluggishly, welling in my core, bursting through me with an explosion of energy. All of a sudden the roaring of the wind from outside dies. I look back at the darkling smugly. “Do you still doubt?”
He stands, brushing at his worn trousers. “I mean, it could have just stopped by itself.”
Anger flares to life, and I stride across the temple, grabbing him by the throat, lifting him off his feet. I am a head taller than him and far, far stronger. Though his form is lithe and strong, pleasing if his personality were not so arrogant. “See for yourself and never doubt me again!”
With a growl I force magic through my fingertips again and we disappear, materializing on the sand above us moments later, coughing as the dust from the storm settles about us. We are surrounded by silence. All life hidden or swept away by the harsh sting of the sand. The sky is clearing to a hazy blue. Below us there is no sign of where the temple once stood. It is completely buried.
Searching within, I am alarmed at how much magic this display has cost me. I should not have been so rash in expending it, but surely this fool will not trouble me for long. His demands will be petty. Hardly anything.
The young man’s eyes widen, and his mouth parts. I place him on his feet, but I do not relinquish my hold on him. Most creatures would look away from my gaze. He does not. He only stares, and in the moment, something passes between us. I do not have a word for it.
I release him, irritated with myself.
He rubs at his neck. “That was impressive. You were right.”
I narrow my eyes, focused on the smirk he wears. So he thinks he got the better of me, does he? I fold my arms across my chest. “What is your wish? Be quick. I have no desire to linger over this.”
“You cannot lie, right?”
“That is correct.” What game is he playing now?
“So if I was to ask you to make someone marry me, could you do that?”
“I cannot change how another person feels about you.”
He taps his fingers against his thigh for a moment. “Well, you could make me eligible for marriage, couldn’t you? Could you help me?”
“There is only so much I can do. I cannot make you any less arrogant for example. Or any less annoying.”
He lets out a little huff of laughter. “Did anyone ever tell you there’s such a thing as being too honest?”
“No.”
He shrugs. “Well, my personality flaws aside, can you help me?”
I regard him. “Who is it you wish to marry?”
He opens his mouth, then catches my deception, lifting a finger and giving me another smirk. “Not so fast. I’m not making any wishes yet. Just checking what you’re capable of. I am in love with Solha Yalina of Vathira. But I don’t want her to be forced to marry me. She has to want me too.”
“I cannot help with that.”
“But could you make me a prince? Someone important?”
I sneer. “I cannot make you important. I can make you rich, though. And you already act as entitled as a prince, so you should fit the part.”
“Hmm. But I don’t want to waste a wish. Let’s see. Jah’ruud va thara hip…” he breaks off after making a complete hash of my name.
I glare.
“I wish for you to do everything in your power to help me marry Solha Yalina of Vathira, and the wish will be granted when she agrees to marry me.”
