The door burst open, spilling light and people. Two men dragged a struggling young man out. Walsh followed them. He spotted us and seemed more resigned than surprised.
“I found the magician you seek,” Walsh said. “He’s been hiding from me, and has, until tonight, flashed his wild power when I was away.”
“We need—”
Walsh interrupted Leif. “I know. You’ve come to terminate him. Let me talk with him first. See how bad it is.”
The young man stopped fighting his captors. He gaped at Leif in sudden fear.
“We don’t need to kill him,” Leif said. “We have…another way to neutralize his power.”
“Really? How?” Walsh asked eagerly.
“I need to assess the situation. Perhaps we can go somewhere private?”
He snapped back to business. “I’ll talk to him, then you can assess all you want.” Walsh turned to the guards. “Take him to my office.”
The men pulled the adolescent away. At least his terror had transformed into confusion.
“Join me after breakfast,” Walsh said to us.
“What if he escapes?” Skippy asked.
“He won’t.”
Walsh didn’t lie this time. The young man sat in a chair in front of his desk. He rested his head in his hands, but snapped it straight when we entered.
We arrived just after breakfast. The dining room had buzzed louder than at dinner. I had wondered if the change was due to Walsh’s absence or the news of last night’s excitement.
Walsh invited us to sit down as if we gathered to discuss the weather. I studied the wild magician. His shaggy black hair hung over his eyes and ears. He wore only a pair of gray short pants. No shoes. Tanned skin covered lean muscles. I guessed he was one of the swimmers and perhaps sixteen or seventeen years old. Wariness, fear and a bit of defeat emanated from him.
If Walsh was tired, he didn’t show it. “Quinn has been telling me quite the story. He made a big mistake not coming to me right away, but I think, with some hard work, he can control his magic.”
“Last night—” Leif tried.
“He pulled a lot of power, but no ripples. He released it back into the power source without using it,” Walsh said.
Leif considered.
“Look what I have already taught him. Quinn, show these magicians what you can do.”
Skippy braced. Leif signaled me to be ready. I removed the orb from my pack. Quinn drew in a breath as if he prepared for a deep dive. The teacup in front of Walsh rose into the air, hovered a moment and then returned to the table with a rattle.
“Not bad,” Leif said. “But when he flashed fourteen days ago, he was on the verge of flaming out.”
“He’s managed to gain control since then. And now that I’m aware of his powers, I can teach him.”
“I need to contact the Master Magicians.” Leif pulled out the sea-horse messenger.
“That will take weeks. As the Council’s representative, surely you can make a decision.”
Walsh didn’t know about the messengers. He watched in confusion as Leif peered into the glass.
“But, isn’t that—”
“The magician finder? Yes.” Skippy interrupted Walsh. “Opal’s glass has a dual purpose.” He explained it to the leader.
I squirmed. As more people knew about my powers, the more uncomfortable I grew.
“Amazing,” Walsh said. He studied me as if appraising the quality of a pearl.
Averting my gaze, I met Quinn’s. He too watched me. And a sense of familiarity flushed through me. Odd.
“What else can you do, Miss Opal?” Walsh asked.
The unpleasant feeling of being examined crawled along my skin. I lied. “Nothing else.”
“Really? Then why are you holding a Stormdancer’s orb?”
Caught, I cast about for an excuse.
“She was helping the Stormdancers’ glassmakers when we received the order to find Quinn,” Leif said. He’d just finished his mental communication with the Master Magicians in the Keep. “Master Bain is most impressed with Quinn’s display last night.” He changed the subject. “He would like Quinn to come with us to the Keep to learn more about his powers.”
A brief joyful expression lit the young man’s face before settling back into anxiety.
“Absolutely not,” Walsh said. “We are a close family.”
“It’s not your decision,” Leif said.
“Oh yes it is. Quinn isn’t eighteen yet.”
“Doesn’t matter. If the Council believes it’s in his best interest to train at the Keep, then it’s theirs.” Leif’s posture stiffened. “But, I’d rather ask Quinn first.”
Everyone turned to the young man.
His gaze darted to Walsh. “I—”
“Your sisters will miss you,” Walsh said. “And who will teach the children to swim? You know how strong the current is around the peninsula’s tip and you’re the best instructor.”
Quinn’s shoulders drooped in resignation. “I’m needed here, sir. I want to stay.”
“And he will have a personal tutor. Much better than being one of many at the Keep.” Walsh put a chummy arm around Quinn.
Leif didn’t appear happy. “I’d rather you train at the Keep, but I don’t want to upset your family. However—” an ominous tone deepened his voice “—if the Master Magicians feel another uncontrolled flash of magic, they will send me back to finish the job.”