Page 65 of The Shadow Wand

I peer closely at the child. There’s something odd and unfocused about the way she’s staring at me. “The child needs glasses,” I mumble to myself, the light dawning.

“Oh, Mage,” Sparrow breathes, her tone gaining a somber, pleading edge. Effrey begins to cry again in earnest as she looks to Sparrow, clearly frightened by my observation.

I turn to Sparrow as well, surprised by the stark fear that’s now etched across her expression.

“Effrey’s eyes are weak, it’s true,” Sparrow says, her tone imploring, her composure faltering, “but please don’t tell Mage Grey. I can do the work of two.Please, Mage.”

My heart wrenches, a dart of sympathy piercing me. The situation these two are in is just sowrongon every level. Of course, I know what my answer will be and that I’ll help them in any way I can.

And I know something else, as well.

Sparrow and Effrey aren’t Mage Grey’s allies. They’re terrified of the woman. And I need all the allies I can get.

Even if the only ones I can find are two powerless servant girls.

CHAPTER FOUR

VICTORY BALL

ELLOREN GARDNER

Sixth Month

Valgard, Gardneria

I let my thumbnail slip under the rough piece of lantern-lit wood just under the carriage seat-cushion beneath me. A dark-leafed tree opens up in my mind.

Black Maple. From the Northern Wilds.

I carefully pry the small shard loose from the trim, my gaze darting out the carriage’s twilight-dimmed windows, acutely aware of the pair of Level Four Mage Guards flanking the carriage on horseback as we journey toward tonight’s Mage Council ball.

Acutely aware of what could be hunting me this eve.

Will these soldiers be enough to keep me alive until I can find Lukas?

I nervously roll the splinter of wood between my fingers. It’s no bigger than a pine needle, but still, a small shudder of power courses through me.

A tiny little wand.

Sparrow is sitting across from me, her expression blank as new-fallen snow and set on the middle of the distance between us.

I roll the wooden sliver in slow circles across my fingers and take stock of my situation.

If Lukas remains hostile toward me, I’ll have no protection, apart from my wits, from forces that will close in on me.

Likely soon.

Chi Nam could well be imprisoned for allowing me to flee, as could Kam Vin, Ni Vin, and Chim Diec. If that happens, the Resistance won’t be coming to fetch me anytime in the near future. And I have no way of getting hold of my brothers or Yvan or anyone else who could help me.

I have no one to lean on but myself.

As hard as that is to come to terms with, there it is.

I inhale and pinch the wooden shard between my thumb and forefinger, considering...

I’ve learned that my magic grows with a wand’s layered focus. The difference in the fire conjured with a small branch versus a wand made of pressed, laminated wood is extreme.

What about a sliver of wood?

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