Page 114 of Insolence
She waits until everyone leaves to approach me. “You did well, Tiss. You’ve been committing to your studies admirably, and it’s showing; don’t think I haven’t noticed.” Her approval makes my heart skip a beat. “Do you know what you want to ask?”
“I want to know more about dark magic.” Her eyebrows bunch, and I hold up my hand. “Not to use it. To the contrary, actually. We haven’t covered it in class yet, but I need to make sure Ineverutilize something that could hurt someone.”
“I appreciate you seeking to understand. It’s not quite so simple, though.” She looks thoughtful. “There’s something I need to show you. Meet me in the Orrery Tower on Rìasday. After dinner. Let’s say 20:15. Is that suitable for you?”
“I think so,” I say, knowing full well I don’t have a damn thing to do during my free time other than study.
“Wear sturdy shoes,” she says, cryptically, before heading out.
Three evenings later, my sensible lace-up boots and I are relaxing in the Orrery Tower. I’m perusing the same book of archaic Aritertan myths in the same alcove where we bashed our heads together.
The door opens and closes, a blustery wind gusting in with whoever entered. Thirty seconds later, a familiar voice rings out behind me: “Ready?” The question comes an octave lower than usual.
I turn to glimpse El, the same white flannel shirt and canvas trousers he wore to class peeking from beneath his cloak. His thick hair is still coiled on the back of his head.
He leads us outdoors after I reshelve the volume. “This way.” He jerks his chin and takes off, skirting the broad tower and turning into the passage below the Observatory.
The bitter wind is quieter here, in the narrow gap between the building and towering escarpment. Although the moon is out, the shadows are thick at night, and I stick close.
Confused, I trail him into the fissure again. “Where are—?”
“In here. You’ll see.” He ducks into the near-invisible split in the sheer rock wall.
This time he follows the cramped crevice all the way back until the shadows swallow him. A rogue gust of wind howls past the entrance, capturing my attention.
When I turn back, he’s vanished.
“Hello?” I venture, stepping forward. “I can’t see a damn thing.” It’s oppressively dark in here at night, and I grope along the rock, wandering further. The dead end nears, barely visible as my eyes slowly adjust.
A low chuckle floats to my ears, coming from seemingly nowhere and directly in front of me, followed by the unmistakable scratch and sizzle of a match being struck and flaring to life.
“El?”
“Pssst.” His hiss echoes, bouncing off the sandstone walls.
I whirl around, fumbling in the shadows. “Where the hell did you go? Can you hear me?”
Delight ripples up the thread connecting us. “Over here.”
Turning in a circle, I feel like an idiot. “I have no idea where you are.” I huff, tired of whatever pointless caper this is supposed to be. “I’m going back. I have studying to do.”
With a roguish smirk, El materializes several steps in front of me. Somehow, he’s standing beyond where the dead end is supposed to be, bathed in the golden glow of a kerosene lamp. Its bubbled glass cover is dusty but still allows plenty of light through. “What are you waiting for? Get over here.”
Intrigue overshadows my frustration, and I scurry to his side.
“Hold this?” He passes off the lamp, something reflective flashing in his other hand. “Watch.” He reaches overhead, tucking what looks like a gilt mirror compact into a niche in the stone.
Instantly, a perfect replication of the blunt stone walls seals the passage I just came through, giving the appearance of a dead-end that isn’t there.
“Wha—?”
“Illusion magic,” he smiles. “Not mine. This mirror’s been here a long time. It’s been Altered to reflect an adjacent wall and project the image. To make it seem as though there’s no way past, but look—” He waves his arm through the mirage.
The limb appears cut off at the elbow.
A dopey giggle bubbles out of me. “All right, I’ll admit that’s actually incredible.”
“Oh. You haven’t seen anything yet.” He inches past me, taking the lamp again. “Let’s go.”
