Page 23 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

Stunned, she nodded.

“That is to cover up the sign of his magic.His mother was an extremely strong Tinkerer, and she passed her gift to him.If you see him while you’re here, you’ll understand.”

Clara lowered her eyes at the reminder that this was all a dream.

“Now…” Galiena paced while she lectured.Clara turned to keep her in sight.“Healers are self-explanatory.Casters might sound odd, but that’s what we call mages who have battle magic.”

“Battle magic?”

“Yes.They can cast attacks or defensive spells.Based on what Klaus told me, if you have magic, you’re a Caster.”

That made sense.

“Now tell me what went through your mind when you threw aslipperat a seven-headed mouse.”

Drawing in a deep breath, she tried to recall the strange dream.“My brother’s hussars had come to life to help my Nutcracker — err, Klaus, but the mice had surrounded us.He shielded me, but I didn’t want to keep running.I wanted to help, but I’ve never even held a sword before.”She blushed in embarrassment.“Women of my station aren’t permitted to fight.”

Galiena nodded.“Go on.”

“So, I took my slipper off and prayed, then threw it with all my strength at the Mouse King.”

The Sugar Plum Fairy’s eyes narrowed.“What did you pray?”

Goodness, it had been so long ago, and a dream, even!“I’m not sure.‘Please save us’ or something similar?”

Galiena raised her eyebrow, and Clara had the distinct sense that the Sugar Plum Fairy didn’t believe her.

“No, I think it was, ‘Leave us alone.’”That sounded better.

The Sugar Plum Fairy shook her head, then motioned to someone behind Clara she couldn’t see.“Begin the test.”

The hair at the back of her neck rose in the air.She’d known Klaus and his father were watching, but now she was aware of another presence.Was that magic?Or just her instincts?

A ball of ruby heat flew over her shoulder and erupted where Galiena had stood moments before.Gasping, Clara spun around, her black mage robe twirling behind her.A ball of fire burned out in the sand before her eyes.She reached up and touched her shoulder where the missile had grazed her.The stench of singed fabric assaulted her nostrils.And the heat from her robe…

A woman in purple mage robes and short, ginger hair lowered her hand.“Never take your eyes off your opponent!”

“Who are you?”

“That’s not important right now.What’s important is this!”Another red flare flew from her hand, straight towards her.

Heart racing, she ran out of the way.“I… I don’t understand.”

The strange woman growled.“Fight back!”

She wanted to, desperately, but she didn’t know how!Balls of fire rained down on Clara, everywhere she turned.The heat and the physical evidence somehow shattered her belief that she was still dreaming.The Realm of Dreams was not a figment of her imagination.And she was inactualdanger!

She faintly heard Klaus bellowing in the distance as her legs galloped over the sand-covered floor.“Stop this at once!”

The attacks paused, and Clara looked up in horror as her attacker loosed a volley toward the sky.The red-haired mage could control them like that?She found herself backed up against a pillar, dozens of the missiles streaking towards her from the ceiling.But that wasn’t all.

Klaus took advantage of the lull and raced from the gallery toward her.No!What could he do against such an onslaught?He wasn’t even wearing his sword!

A whistling noise assaulted her ears as the flares fell back to Earth.Her instincts took over and made a last-ditch attempt to gain control over this dream.

“Stop!”Her cry erupted from her chest, vibrating down to her toes.Down to the ground, to the center of the planet, and then back up through the soles of her feet and back out through her extended arms.The white light eclipsed her and Klaus both just as he reached her, forming a dome overhead that the red missiles exploded against, leaving them unharmed.

She heard nothing except her labored breathing.Klaus didn’t even look like he’d broken a sweat.He just stared at her in awe, then a blinding grin spread out over his face as a slow clap broke the silence.

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