Page 7 of Wooing the Wiccan
“You’re so very close,” I assure him. “May I make a suggestion?”
He nods. “Please do.”
“Instead of trying to create an air movement from scratch, try working with an existing movement. Just the first time, so you can get a sense of how it should feel.”
A tiny line appears between his brows. “Do you mean try to capture the wind?”
“Oh, no!” Alarm floods me. “That would be ambitious. Leave the wind be for the time being. No, I meant…” I reach out and grab one of the small candles I put on each table before the class began, for anyone who wanted to practice with fire to use. There are also tiny paper espresso cups, for gathering water into. Beginners’ tools that Caoimhe gave me to bring. With barely a thought, I set it alight.
“Wow,” Jared says. “You make it look so easy… but also a little different?” That line deepens.
“I’ve been doing this a long time,” I say vaguely. I can’t exactly tell this unknowing human that it looks different because I’m an elf. Time to distract. “So, when I hold the candle here”—I extend it to arm’s length in front of me—“and blow with thisamount of force”—I demonstrate with what is essentially a light exhale—“the movement of air isn’t strong enough to reach and extinguish the candle. However, if I repeat it, and this time give it a little boost with a spell…” I exhale again, giving the air a tiny nudge with the life force, and the breath is augmented, extinguishing the candle and drifting over the skin of my hand. “It’s sometimes easier to work with what already exists than to create something new.”
There’s a hint of excitement on his face now, and it makes me smile. “I never thought of that,” he admits. “May I?” He holds out his hand for the candle, and I pass it to him. “You really must have been doing this for a long time,” he says as he carefully lights it. He’s very good with that small magic, not needing a spell or even to stop speaking as he does it. “You were very smooth when you put the candle out. I barely saw what you did, and I was watching for it.”
Part of that was because he was watching for me to do it the way a human would. “Since I was a child,” I say, again trying to distract him. I need to be more careful. “In my family, we’re taught small spells as soon as we’re old enough to understand how they work and the impact they have.” That’s completely true—all elves learn minor spellcasting at the same time we learn to read and write. It’s an intrinsic part of our natures and lives. It used to be the same for humans—I remember clearly how in tune they were with their magic, before the species wars here on Earth changed the way the community existed. It deeply saddened me when we migrated here over a decade ago and I learned that humans had truly lost their ability to use magic. Until then, I’d hoped that the reports from my scouts were the result of incomplete information. Though the reasons for it are awful, it does give me a small measure of pleasure to know that some humans are relearning it.
No species should lose part of itself.
Jared holds the candle at arm’s length. His hands are large, and his long fingers have some small smudges on them… paint? Is he an artist?
He blows gently, just as I did the first time, but doesn’t reach for the life force. A practice run. I keep my expression neutral but inwardly applaud. This will give him a better idea of how the breath should feel and how much energy he needs to use.
On his second exhale, he draws power, whispering his spell. The flame flickers but doesn’t quite go out. His delighted laugh puts to rest my concern that he would be disappointed.
“Did you see that? Ifeltit! It wasn’t strong enough to put out the candle, but it was a lot stronger than naturally!” He grins at me. “I bet I get it next time.”
I grin back and raise a brow. “I bet you do. Care to show me?”
He turns his gaze back to the candle, laughter fading into determination. Inhale, power, then?—
“Yes!” The hand not holding the now-extinguished candle punches the air. “Wow, that feels good.”
“Congratulations. That was very nicely done.”
Jared lays the candle on the table and turns his happy face to me. “Thanks mostly to your excellent advice. Can I buy you a thank-you drink after this?”
Shocked, I hesitate. I can’t remember the last time someone I just met wanted to engage with me socially. But then, most of them meet King Raðulfr, the species leader of the elves, and even if they might have wanted to, they assume I’m too busy or would say no.
I’m silent too long, because Jared’s excitement dims to politeness. “Please don’t feel obliged. It was just a thought, and I promise there are no hard feelings if you’d?—”
“Yes,” I blurt, and over in the corner, Ari straightens. If he was hoping for an early night, he’ll be disappointed. “I’d like that.”
Now it’s Jared’s turn to hesitate. “Are you sure? Because?—”
“I’m very sure,” I say firmly. “I was just surprised, but I’d enjoy that a lot. You don’t have to buy my drink, though.”
His smile reappears, and he shakes his head. “Yes, I do. But actually, is it okay if it’s just coffee? I have work tomorrow, and I don’t ever drink on a work night.”
Excellent. That will save me from having to pretend to be affected by the alcoholic content of my drink. “Coffee would be perfect. Or dare I say, tea?”
“We are so destined to be friends,” he jokes, and then his gaze goes over my shoulder. “I think you’re needed, but I’ll wait for you when we’re done here and we can head out. There’s a great indie bookstore two blocks from here that stays open late for college students, and it has a café.”
“Perfect. Now… try moving the air from scratch.” I wiggle my brows at him, immediately feeling foolish, but his chuckle as I stand and walk toward the woman who needs my help makes a little foolishness worthwhile.
It’s not long after that when the class wraps up for the evening. As people begin to wander out, Jared starts in my direction, only to stop when a strident ringtone cuts through the air. He pulls a phone from his pocket and glances at the screen, then meets my gaze and points to the hall. I nod. I need to gather all the candles and cups and put the furniture back the way the community center requested.
As soon as the room is empty, Ari drops the spell that’s been hiding him. “Sir, I say this in the most respectful way possible:Whatare you doing?”
