Page 39 of Twisted Magic

“Rank doesn’t matter to me, you know that,” she said, hesitating over something more.

“I know, but I also don’t intend to treat you as my late-mother treated Fyrdo. You will lead this house with me the same as Nic and Gabriel do. If you’re willing,” he added, suddenly uncertain.

The smile she gave him was radiant enough to light a windowless room. “I would like that. I’m just surprised you want to follow the example of naïve idealists.”

“Apparently love empties out the brain,” he observed as cynically as possible. “Besides, if you’re making me do this, you don’t get to slack off on the responsibility.”

“I shall remove those abominations,” Bogdan announced.

Jadren waggled a finger at him. “Extrusion of furnishings. Not elimination. Or do you forfeit?”

Bogdan fumed. “Fine. Since you seem so cozy with your little familiar…” His magic surged, the metal design in the center of the floor bursting into pieces and reassembling itself.

Seliah made a murmur of dismay. “I liked your design,” she explained when he glanced at her.

“We’ll have the house put it back,” he promised. Despite his playful exchange with Seliah, Jadren watched with a narrowed gaze and growing trepidation as the object took shape. A bed, with four posts equipped with chains. Cute.

The bedding, he noticed, was pink, confirming that the house continued to play her games, but he could hardly challenge Bogdan on the point. In point of fact, Bogdan swept a hand at the invitingly turned back blankets and bowed toward Seliah. “Your favorite color, Familiar El-Adrel, on which to be mastered. If your wizard is even capable of it.”

“Asshole,” Seliah said through her teeth, and Jadren had to cover his laugh with a cough.

“For the final challenge,” Bogdan continued, “a substantive alteration to the house. One directed by the wizard, undoing something the house has done without direction.” He smiled thinly. “After all, isn’t that the point here? The head of House El-Adrel must be able to protect and rescue its denizens from unexpected changes in the house that threaten their lives.”

Jadren waved a languid hand. “A feat arguably accomplished only sporadically by previous heads. As I recall, the former lady lost a number of people over the years to disappearing doorways, etcetera.”

Bogdan shook his head. “Regrettable, truly. But as Lord El-Adrel, I promise no one will be neglected or abandoned.”

“I’m curious,” Jadren inserted. “Where were you and Helen when our late-mother called her minions to support her in attacking us? I don’t recall seeing you in the room, before the house conveniently moved everyone elsewhere.”

“She didn’t summon me,” Bogdan answered, defiantly looking around the room. “She wanted me to remain behind, to take over leading the house, in case of the unthinkable, which is what occurred.”

“Ah.” Jadren kept it short, knowing his disbelief would read clearly to the assembly. Bogdan had refused the summons, hoping to save his own skin, probably for just this moment. “So, are you going to do anything?” he inquired, looking about. “I’m not seeing any great, potentially life-saving alterations to the house.”

“Observe, little brother,” Bogdan replied. Settling himself, he drew on Helen’s magic, his own burgeoning and the familiar growing pale, weaving on her feet to the point that only holding onto her wizard’s shoulders appeared to be keeping her upright. Whatever Bogdan planned, it would take a great deal of power.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to match them for sheer output,” Seliah said quietly. “Not after the magic you expended red-misting your late-mother.”

No, they really couldn’t. Jadren was no expert on measuring wizardly tricks, but even he could sense that Bogdan had amassed far more magic than he and Seliah possessed combined, at the moment. “Then we’ll have to hope the house meets us at least halfway,” he replied. “Because whatever Bogdan is doing will be massive.”

As if on cue, Bogdan raised his hands, glittering with jewels. “Those open doors to the outside are a grave security risk,” he declared, “as is being on the ground floor. I command this room to be securely sealed and to rise, rise, rise!”

It was a dramatic and effective bit of theater, the assembly gasping as the floor shuddered beneath their feet. Magic poured out of Bogdan like golden oil released from a vast reservoir, seeping into the floor and walls, easing and accelerating the movement. The great doors to the garden slammed shut, erasing the view of it falling below as the hall rose in the air, accompanied by Bogdan’s chanted urging. Metal bars snaked over the doors, weaving in, then sealing over, taking on the surface covering of the other walls, soon no hint remaining that there had been any egress.

Beside him, Seliah stifled a sigh, her gaze turning upward toward the glass-paned ceiling, the last indication of a world outside this house.

“Last chance to escape this fun house forever,” he murmured to her. “I could concede to Bogdan. Or throw the match.” A large part of him hoped she’d agree, which was to be expected, but the part of him that urged her to say no, that they were sticking it out came as a surprise. Since when had this become something he actually wanted?

“No,” Seliah replied, that sigh still in her voice. “We are going to win and we are going to make this place better, a home worth living in.”

“That’s my girl.” He said it in equal parts ruefulness and satisfaction.

“Behold,” Bogdan declared, well pleased with himself. “Not only have I demonstrated my ability to modify the house as I choose, to force it to undo changes it made on its own and to follow my will instead, but I have permanently altered the security of this hall so that it is unassailable. I’m sure everyone will understand if you’re unable to top this, little brother—or even come close to matching it.”

The assembly seemed to agree, quietly talking amongst themselves, speculative gazes on Bogdan. A familiar sent running to confirm returned with the news that all was as Bogdan had declared it to be.

Jadren experienced a sinking feeling of despair, his magic and enthusiasm ebbing low. “We don’t have the kind of power available to work a change of that magnitude,” he said to Seliah. “Even with you at full power, I’m not the wizard Bogdan is. His ability to manipulate physical objects is unparalleled.”

“Then be the wizard you are.” She turned to face him, amber eyes earnest. “Work to your strengths.”

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