Page 62 of MidKnight
“Step into the flame to earn bright fame!” he gestured to his living room. “The name is Donaloo, or it was before I went askew.”
Donaloo led us to his cramped living room. Three chairs and a small round table huddled close to a brick fireplace. The fire crackled merrily, and a teapot sat steaming on the table, as if we were expected. Maybe this wizard wasn’t quite as far gone as he appeared.
The wizard served us tea in tankards after we sat. The side of the cup burned my fingers when I picked it up, but I swallowed my gasp, trying to remain polite. If this wizard wasn’t intimidated by the thought of facing a dragon, then I needed him.
"Ryan tells me you are the one who created beads so that my knight, Quinn, could speak to us. Thank you. He and I are quite grateful."
Donaloo waved a hand dismissively. "What is power for but to give voice to the voiceless and choice to the choiceless?"
“Your magic is astounding. The beads still work perfectly. I’ve never seen such a spell,” I tried to take a sip of the burning hot tea. It tasted like boiling mud. My fear about the wizard’s sanity increased.
Donaloo looked at me. “Spells come in all sorts. Sorting through the spelling can be quite a feat. After all, M-I-N-U-T-E can mean time or a bit, W-O-U-N-D can mean wind up or a hit. The spelling’s in the details. And the details are in the spells.”
His comment led me to switch topics. Maybe he didn’t want to speak about magic openly. A lot of mages guarded their discoveries jealously. Wyle had. Perhaps Donaloo felt I was prodding and was being obtuse to get me to change topics.
I wasn’t certain I believed my own logic, but I wasn’t quite ready to give up hope and acknowledge he was completely mad. "My sister was recently stolen by a dragon. He flew off with her. I came to ask if you've seen them."
"Is it a wise man or a madman who sees only foes—no matter where he looks, no matter where he goes?"
I stopped making roundabout excuses. Clearly, Donaloo’s mental state had devolved since he’d helped Quinn out. I tried to smother my frustration. I asked directly, "Have you seen Princess Avia of Evaness? I wish you would simply give me a straight answer."
"Wishful thinking never solved any problems. But every solution began as a wishful thought." The wizard winked and looked at Blue, who fluttered next to his chair. “Isn’t that right?”
Blue swooped down to land on my lap as I stared at Donaloo, struck by the fact that he didn't end with a rhyme. “Wait. Did you say wish? We are having trouble with a djinni.”
Ryan gave me a sharp look at revealing such a secret.
I ignored him because we’d come because we were desperate for help. If that meant giving state secrets to a wizard, I’d chance it.
“Do you know anything about djinn? Do you know the djinni that attacked me?” I leaned forward.
Donaloo tilted his head and looked at me with a sad sigh. I swear, in that moment he looked present and sane. “A wish started, and a wish will stop the curse. But only when you’ve seen the worst.”
I felt a chill run down my spine and I instinctively grabbed onto Blue on my lap. I needed something to hold. He squawked in protest, but I didn’t release him.
“What about Blue? Can you reverse the spell on him?”
“What is the most potent magic? It’s stronger than death or hate, twice as strong when you reciprocate.”
I gaped at him. I wondered for a moment if he’d think more clearly if I decked him.
Don’t you dare hit my wizard!Quinn popped into my head.
He’s just throwing riddles at me. Is that how he talked to you?
No. But he came to me when I was a kid. I wouldn’t have understood that shite.
I don’t understand it!
Tell it to me.
I recited the riddle to Quinn.
A moment later, I was sent back an eye-rolling image of Quinn.It’s obviously love.
Declan told you that, didn’t he?
What? Sorry. Can’t hear you…Quinn faded from my thoughts.
