A splash came from the pool. I looked over to see Lesya in her underwear coming to the surface.
“Lift me up, Uncle Austin!” Lesya cried.
“Uh.” Austin looked at me.
“Go ahead. I trust you,” I said.
“But can I trust myself?”
“I think that's the point, Cowboy Cop.” I winked at him.
Austin nodded and held out his hand. As he lifted it, Lesya rose on a fountain of water. My daughter giggled and splashed the water with her little fists.
“Look at me!” Lesya shouted. “I'm a flying lion too!”
“Can I go next, Uncle Austin?” Zariel asked.
“You can go now,” Austin said, suddenly confident. “Get in the pool, honey. Let's see how many of you I can lift at once.”
“Me too!” Vero cried.
Soon, Austin had the three kids bouncing on waterspouts with my twin sons flying above them, zipping in and out of the spray.
“Not bad, Austin,” Azrael said with a grin.
Suddenly, the spouts collapsed, and the kids went tumbling into the pool. I rushed for the side, but they came up laughing.
“That was so fun!” Zariel screeched as she paddled for the shallow end.
“Again!” Vero cried.
“Uncle Austin needs to rest now,” I said. “Maybe he can play with you later. Now, all of you, out of the pool. If you want to keep swimming, we need to get you in your swimsuits.”
The children made sounds of disappointment but they obeyed. Kirill herded them off to the palace to change.
As soon as they were out of earshot, I asked Austin, “How do you feel?”
“Fine.” Austin shrugged. “It kind of slipped its leash at the end there. But otherwise, I feel good about it.”
“No, I mean physically.”
“Oh. Yeah, I'm good. Worn slap out, but good.”
“Sit down.” I led him to a lounger, then sat on one across from him. “Once you get used to the magic, it won't tire you. What you're feeling is your body's reaction to having magic flowing through it.”
“I thought Iwasmagic now?”
“As an Intare, your magic stems from me. Yes, it's yours once you accept it, and yes, you do control it, but it's not as strong as holding the source. You're a demigod instead of a god.”
“Huh. Ah'ite.”
“I'll get him some water,” Re said.
“I'd prefer a beer,” Austin said.
“You need water.”
“I've had plenty of water.”
