Bones of Faerie - Janni Lee Simner [20]
Wherever Karin's magic came from, once she was well she used it to create the hedge that surrounded the town. “And a good thing for us she did,” Samuel said.
“The Wall protects us,” Alan explained as he rubbed Jan's shoulders.
“Lets us decide what magic to let in,” Jan agreed. “And what magic to keep …” Her words trailed off. She stood, brushing her husband's hands away.
The boy beside Allie stared into his cupped hands, gazing in wonder at a glowing stone. It shone in licheny patches, bright violet against dull gray. Allie and the other girl stared, too. My hands flew to my mouth, afraid. Stones like that had been weapons during the War.
Yet no one else seemed frightened. “I'll get Karin,” Alan said, even as Jan moved to her son's side.
“Jared,” she said, but his attention was entirely on the rock. She knelt and put an arm around his shoulders, hugging him without disturbing the stone.
I whispered, “Don't touch any stone that glows—”
“But it's his magic,” Samuel said, as if I should have known, “not some trap left over from the War.”
“You mean Jared made that happen?” The room seemed suddenly cold. I imagined the light overflowing
Jared's stone and consuming him, just as the blackberry plant had consumed Matthew's little brother and parents.
Alan returned with Karin in tow. The pale-haired woman was smiling. Was the stone Jared held truly no danger? Karin glanced at me and nodded, but her attention was mostly on Jared. He looked up at her, his own smile stretching to the edges of his face. Jan and Alan moved to either side of their son, each laying a hand on one of his shoulders. Samuel stood, too, as did Allie and Jared's sister. Reluctantly I stood with them. Other townsfolk gathered around in a rough circle to watch.
“You know the words?” Karin asked him.
“No harm …,” Jared began, but he sounded uncertain.
Karin chanted,
“Blessed are the powers that grant me magic.
I promise to use their gift well.
To help mend my world,
To help mend all worlds.
And should I forget to mend,
Should I refuse to mend,
Still I will remember
To do no harm.”
Jared repeated the words, line by line, his voice growing older and more serious as he did. I should have been relieved—clearly he was quite safe—but instead I frowned. Did this town believe you had only to say, “I won't hurt anyone, honest,” and all magic would be tamed? If it were that simple Cam wouldn't have died.
“Your first lesson,” Karin told Jared, “will be in how to douse the light you've created. Come.”
“Now?” Jared sounded startled.
“Now. You'll not go to bed until you learn something of control.”
Karin took the glowing stone in one hand, Jared's hand in her other. Alan gave his son's shoulder a squeeze before Karin led him away, pride clear enough on Alan's face. Jan brushed an arm across her eyes and smiled, sadly but without fear.
Samuel laughed. “So much for my generator. Within a year we'll be lighting the whole town with Jared's stones, mark my words. It's just as well—our lightbulbs wouldn't have lasted forever.”
Only the girl beside Allie scowled. “It's not fair,” she said. “Jared's younger than me!”
Jan drew her into a hug. “Don't be in such a rush,
Kimi. Magic is quite a responsibility. You'll have time enough later.”
“It's true,” Allie said. “Magic's lots of work.” She glanced at me, as if I proved her point. “Come on,” she told the other girl. “Let's get some cornbread and see if Tallow will eat that.” She dragged Kimi back toward the kitchen, Tallow trotting at their heels.
The townsfolk began talking and drifting back to their tables. A few stopped to shake Alan's or Jan's hand first. “That's it?” I said. A few pretty words and everything was all right?
Samuel rubbed his chin and regarded me soberly. “It's different in your town, isn't it?”
That's not our fault,