“Of course,” he said. “Perhaps you can continue to practice outside of our sessions, and let me know if you succeed.”
My nostrils flared. “I will,” I said.
“Good.”
I snatched the parchment from him, folding and tucking it in the pocket of my robe. He watched in amusement before leaning down to grab one of his many books, flipping it open to the same water enchantment we’d tried several times. The one I’d already used to cause bubbling waters and steaming surfaces.
“Let’s begin here.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
My lungs burned with the thick summer air. A dragonfly buzzed near my ear.
My outstretched fingers flexed. A strand of hair tickled my forehead, but I didn’t dare brush it away.
When the water rose, I’d make him regret ever teaching me this spell. When it rose, I’d show him his future: one no better than the servant he taught.
Let him regret ever showing me this spell.
A thin gold thread glimmered at the edges of my mind’s eye.
In the middle of the pond, water began to gather. Small waves and lily pads brushed the stones that composed the pond’s edge. A few frogs cried out in alarm as a smile formed on my lips.
“That’s satisfactory, Lyranore.”
“Satisfactory?” I glared at him. “That’s a good foot in the air!”
He shrugged. “Two-thirds of a foot, perhaps.”
“Two-thirds?”
He adjusted his spectacles. “Were you thinking about your duty?”
Confusion cooled my anger. “My duty?”
“A few weeks ago, you mended my shirt. You told me the driver of your magic in the moment had been duty. I was curious if youfelt a consistent motivator in this exercise.”
My mouth ran dry.
“It’s alright if it’s something separate. I would, however, like to know. It shall help us better develop your abilities.”
“I’m a textile mage.” My voice was quiet.
“So you’ve said.” He peered at me, waiting. When I didn’t reply, he cleared his throat. “Duty?”
I nodded, knowing the lie would likely hurt me in the end.
But how did I tell the infuriating Prince Thomas thathewas becoming the motivation of my magic? It wasn’t even to please him, although I relished the small compliments he paid me after successful feats. No—despite the amiableness that occasionally spawned between us, I wanted nothing more than to usurp him and his smug talents.
I was just a textile mage. I was aware of that.
But I was beginning to want to be more.
After my first triumph with the water pillar spell, our chatter had turned theoretical, the sinking waters taunting me as Thom criticized my form and lectured on variations of water magic. By the time I’d finished the lesson, I’d been able to create controlled waves in the water, rippling and splashing our feet at the shore.
And despite the room for improvement, I was proud. Incredibly proud.
The next morning, I’d never been so excited to return home to Mama and Kelara, to visit Asha, to share a little of the new world I was discovering alongside Thomas.
