Page 199 of The Black Witch

“Did it do anything to the arrow tip?” I get up, walk over to the flames and peer in.

“You can’t melt it,” Yvan says patiently, not moving from where he stands. “If dragon fire can’t melt it, your brother certainly can’t.”

Sure enough, the arrow tip is unharmed and unmarked.

“Perhaps we can break it,” Andras suggests, getting up and grabbing his labrys. He takes the tip, places it on another stump, raises his weapon high above his head and brings it down onto the arrow with a deafening clang that leaves my ears ringing.

Again, the arrow tip remains unbroken and unblemished, albeit slightly recessed into the wood. Andras’s labrys, on the other hand, has a large crack in one of the ax heads.

“Amazing,” Andras says as he examines the labrys. He glances over at the arrow tip with no small amount of awe. “I do not think this Elfin Steel can be broken.”

“We shall see,” says Diana, irritated. She walks over to the arrowhead and glares at it as if it’s purposely defying her. She focuses in, puts one foot in front of the other and goes into a slight crouch, then in a fast, graceful arc, she swings her hand over her head and down onto the arrowhead.

The stump splits into multiple pieces with an earsplitting crack.

But, again, the arrowhead lies whole and untouched on top of the mess of kindling.

“Ow,” Diana says as she rubs the side of her hand and fixes the arrowhead with a look of extreme annoyance.

Jarod’s eyes go wide. “I’ve never heard my sister sayowbefore.”

“Have I ever told you that you have an extremely scary girlfriend?” Trystan asks Rafe.

“Multiple times.” Rafe grins. He walks over to Diana and she holds up the side of her hand accusatorily. He takes her hand and kisses down its side.

“I really would try and avoid pissing her off,” Trystan suggests.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Rafe says, smiling at a very perturbed Diana as he pulls her into a warm hug.

Trystan pulls out the University’s grimoire, and for the next hour or so, he goes through almost every spell in the book. He tries every type of heating spell, division spell, lighting spell, transformation spell and hurling spell he can find on the arrowhead, every incantation intensified by the wand. By the end of the hour, we’re still left with an untouched arrowhead, sitting at the bottom of a large, scorched and partially flaming crater.

“You sure picked a challenge here, Yvan,” Rafe remarks as we stare down at the arrowhead.

Jarod lifts his head and sniffs the air, surprise crossing his features. “Aislinn’s coming.”

I look around searchingly. Aislinn is back early from her trip to Valgard, the festivities surrounding Marcus Vogel’s elevation to High Mage the perfect excuse for a visit to her family—and her father’s Mage Council office. I’ve told her about this meeting, what we’re trying to do and how to find us, just in case she was back in time.

I hear her light footsteps on the leaves, the rustle of her skirts, before she tentatively emerges from the trees. Stress is taking its toll on Aislinn, her face strained.

Jarod looks as if it’s taking all the strength he possesses not to go to her, sweep her up in his arms and run off with her.

“I have something for all of you,” she says. She pulls the sack off her shoulder, fishes inside it and draws forth a black leather-bound volume.

My breath catches in my throat, my hand coming up to cover my astonished mouth. “Holy First Children...you actually got it.”

Aislinn glances at me soberly, then hands the book to Trystan, who eyes it with astonishment.

“Sweet Ancient One,” he breathes as he takes it. “You did it.”

“What is it?” Andras asks.

Trystan turns to Andras. “It’s a Black Grimoire. Only members of the Mage Council and high-ranking military officers are allowed access to this. These are highly protected spells. Not just Gardnerian spells, either. Fae spells, too.”

Trystan flips through the book with care as he speaks. “During the Realm War, the Gardnerians got hold of Fae Grimoires. There are some spells that the Gardnerians can use with wand magic, like the spells that break down a Fae glamour. Those spells are in here.” Trystan holds up the book to Aislinn. “How did you get this?”

“My father,” Aislinn says softly. “He keeps a copy hidden away in his Council office. So I...borrowed it. He doesn’t know.”

Rafe spits out an incredulous laugh. “I’d imagine not.”

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