Page 101 of The Sins of Silas

Elowen's round, aqua eyes slid to mine briefly before setting back on the Warlock. “So, you always carry around salt? How do you memorize the spells?”

Dani gave her bag a pat. “Yup, but not just salt. I always keep chalk in my bra. I also carry candles, crystals, and herbs. And, like you Mages sometimes do, a spell book.” She fished into her bag, pulling out a nameless tome. “Our ability to enchant isn't innate-like you, nor is it as efficient or as powerful. However, you pair your powers with a spell book like this…” She shook her head, a half-smile on her face. “Well, I'd say we'd be in for some badassery. The salt should bind the spell as it did with mine, but according to myth, with your illusion magic, even disruption to the salt should have no effect.”

Lena's arms were crossed, her eyes wide. “I want to try.”

Dani's grin widened. “I knew you'd be intrigued, Supreme.” She gestured forward.

Lena took a deep breath, tossing her orange braid over her shoulder as she dismounted her horse. She grasped a pouch of salt from Dani.

“Do you remember the words?” Dani asked.

Lena snorted. “No.”

“Averte sonum intra hunc circulum.”

Lena took in a sharp breath.“Averte sonum intra…honkfer…”

Dani shook her head.“Hunc circulum,”she corrected.

“Averte sonum intra hunc circulum. Averte sonum intra hunc circulum.”Lena grasped a handful of the salt in her hand, bracing herself to perform the spell.

“Like I said, this is a form of illusion magic,” Dani spoke. “Release it. Infuse the salt with it.”

Lena kept repeating the spell, over and over, as she dropped the salt. Dancing down her fingertips was a purple, sparkly glow.

“Averte sonum intra hunc circulum. Averte sonum intra hunc circulum. Averte sonum intra hunc circulum.”

Lena stopped once the circle was complete. She turned her head toward us and mouthed,“Can you hear me?”

We heard nothing.

“By the Gods,” Viola breathed. “I cannot believe this.”

“Now for the true test,” Dani said as she stepped up to Lena, dragging her white boots through the salt. “Speak again, Lena.”

Every one of our eyes was wide, waiting in anticipation.

Lena went to speak.

Once again, no sound came out.

“Holy shit…” I mumbled. The Otacian's jaws were on the floor.

Dani threw her arms up. “Hell yeah, bitches!” Her excited eyes danced around us all. “Once Lena—or any one of you, I suppose—grasps higher-level illusion spells, we'll be able to conjure an illusion ring around our camp at night, so no one will be able to hear or see us while we sleep.”

Edmund damn near started dancing. “Oh, thank the Gods! Sleeping on the road is especially horrifying…what with all theUndead.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Wait, you don't know how to?”

Dani shook her head, crossing her arms and pushing out her hip. “It's not that I don't know the spell. I'm just not powerful enough to do it on my own. I'd need at least seven Warlocks performing the incantation with me.” She looked at Lena, who was still in the soundproof ring. “I think if you Mages did it together, though, we might stand a chance of it working. But I’m not sure how draining it will be for you. This spell was on the easier side. I wouldn't expect it to go as smoothly when we try something more advanced.”

Edmund slowly nodded, and Dani turned to our Supreme. “Alright, Lena. To cancel the spell, you must sayAversa Pars.Just once, focusing your magic back into the salt.”

Lena blinked, then did just that, the violet glow drifting from her fingertips. We couldn't hear her as she spoke the words, but as the magic vanished from her hand, she tilted her head up to us. “Did it work?”

“Wow…” Hendry whispered. “Yeah, it worked.”

“So, wait,” Era began, shaking her head. “You couldn't do this type of magic before? I'm confused.”

I answered for Lena. “We can create illusion elixirs—potions with our magic. We utilize certain properties in various herbs when we make them. I suppose that is our magical binder.”

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