Chapter Six #2
Emhara was sitting with her deltas, and they were presenting her with a series of snacks from the truck. Her hands were clean of paint, and her clothing was wearing every colour of the rainbow.
Win came up and took pictures of Emhara sitting in front of her mural, legs crossed and back straight. Then the deltas sat with her and grinned. Win took a bunch of images before walking to Emhara and talking to her.
Emhara glanced at Vine and the others, and Win grinned, nodded, and came over.
Vine looked at her and smiled. “Slumming, blood witch?”
Win blinked. “Hang on.” She lifted her camera and took a picture. She stared at the image. “What are you?”
“Just an enchanter.” She fluttered her lashes. She heard the croak of her voice and smiled.
“You are broken.”
“In so many ways.” Vine smiled. “Are you having fun in this new phase?”
Win paused and nodded. “I am. I have even met my parents. You have no idea what a rush that was.”
“I can imagine.”
“You and your friends are very relaxed.”
“We are all human. There is no doubt as to our place in this world; we just need to figure out what it is that we do. The world itself has made us in response to the dark elves’ arrival. It has been waiting.”
“And your focus is...”
“Sticking magic to things with a specific purpose.” Vine chuckled roughly.
“I know that pain.”
“I know you do. I can see the memory that clings to you.”
Win scowled. “Why didn’t you help us overtake the stronghold?”
“Because your powers that be blocked us out. We gave strength to those who would fight. Cleverness, planning, and hope. Strength gave as much hope as she could, but it was hard to get to you guys. Our direct magic hitting yours can be sparky.”
Win asked, “Can I see?”
“Sure. This is a control charm that I made for a friend. Try to shape the power to your purpose.”
She held the charm out, and Win touched it. The arc and sparkle of power at the contact were obvious. Win tried to shape the energy, and it cracked and crackled, stinging her fingers. She paused. “What the... I can’t.”
“I know.” Vine chuckled and held out her hand.
The charm returned. “I am alternating current; you are direct current. My energy taps into the world beneath us; yours links to a distant start with a brushing of the earth that birthed you. So, you and the other new elves are made of the two worlds. You can move the energies of both, but it is like moving water. The mages seem to be moving things in the air. More to the elements than the elves are. Everything is rooted in the energy of the world beneath our feet.”
Win nodded. “I am more attuned to the movement of life and flesh.”
“Yeah. And portals. I can do a portal, but I need to use an intermediary item for focus. Like loaded explosives into a shell waiting for a spark.”
“Nice. Would you like to come for coffee? I can meet you at Hynura.”
“Why Hynura?”
Win grinned. “My great-grandmother is Lady Fen. I eat for free.”
“Nice. Do you get free mango pudding?”
“I do.”
“Nice. How about Wednesday?”
Win laughed, and they exchanged numbers. Win explained how the images worked, and Vine explained how the mage-sight worked. It was the same as the camera.
Vine coughed lightly. “Funny how you could find a lens to do the job.”
Win’s eyes got wide, and she started laughing. “You made it?”
“I am an enchanter. I enchanted it. When Alexi went looking for a camera, the lens was there, primed and ready. You added some of yourself, and off it went.”
Win blinked. “I thought I did it myself.”
“True-sight? I produced a primer, and you shaped it. Most of the mages see that way all the time, so it was just a practical exercise.”
Win held up a thumb drive. “Have you seen this?”
“Ah, the shadow mage grimoire. No. I read them on my own when I was there.” Vine chuckled.
Jennika asked softly, “Vine, when were you there?”
“After the truck and before I learned how to ask the plants for help.” She looked at Jennika.
“You... never said.”
“It wasn’t necessary for you to know. I used the shadow lands as an escape hatch, used them to learn, and got stronger, and that is where I got the vines I wore out and back to the moment I left.
The medical records are spotty, but the healing of my broken limbs was recorded and with them unable to explain it. ”
Win blinked. “What?”
Vine sent her the article that covered the local side of her kidnapping. “It was done to me by my own family.”
Win read rapidly, and her pearly skin got chalky and grey. “Oh, damn. You were just a teen.”
“Yeah. Nothing gets you through puberty like betrayal by your own parents.”
Win looked at her and hugged her. Vine blinked in surprise. “You don’t strike me as huggy.”
“I am trying it out with those who are worthy.” Win chuckled. “Now that I have learned my parents are happy and healthy, and very much in love... I am feeling all kinds of warm and fuzzy toward others.”
Jennika said, “Vine, I want to talk when we get home.”
“Yes, mom.” Vine smiled and looked at her. Jennika was rumpled and sleepy, but she looked happy.
Win chuckled. “So you are friends?”
“Second cousins. We reunited after she came to her skill set.”
“Skill set?”
“The mages all have one strong focus and a bunch of little ones that we have the choice to learn. I have always been good at remembering symbolism, so I have been trying spell work and figuring out what the glyphs and symbols do.” Vine laughed hoarsely. “Sometimes they explode.”
Jennika said, “Which is why you insist on the carriage house.”
“Correct. Lady Win, this is my good friend and cousin and her occupant, Jennika.” Vine smiled. “If your guys ask about her fella, mention that he’s a pixie. That seems to make them blink.”
Win blinked. “Pixie?”
“You heard me, and they heard me. Frigging pointy-eared buttheads.”
The male laughter behind them made Win smile. “I have a few of my own. Yes, the ears are effective.” Win paused. “You don’t have any?”
“No. They are very expensive collectibles.” Vine shrugged. “I have never really had the urge to pursue an alpha. I am usually more interested in getting away from them. The fuckers are persistent.”
“Well, they are certainly focused near omegas. Too bad we are designed for battle and not just for sexy times.”
Vine let out a hoarse laugh. “I do not consider those times sexy.”
Win paused, and Jennika gasped. “Vine...”
“Yes, yes. Talking later.” She flapped her hand.
Win grinned and took more photos, including several focused on Jennika’s belly.
By the time the final chime rang out, the mages had posed in a number of ways, including Sable, Tuvel, Ivy, and Jennika holding Vine in a side reclining pose. Jennika just held her ankles.
Vine chuckled and ignored the look that Kazuya was giving her. She could have fun... if she tried.
They watched as the canvases were slowly moved so that both of them were side by side. The artists looked at each other’s canvas and shook stained hands.
Vine smiled at the deep forest with the wolf and the rabbit and a second wolf looking on, and she knew it was autobiographical. It was gorgeous and well executed, but it didn’t have the energy that Emhara’s did. Her image was full of joy and enthusiasm. Everyone in the image was having fun.
The crowd applauded, and online folks voted, but Amble looked at the image and grinned as his pack mates showed up and got excited about Emhara’s mural.
Vine was pretty sure that the murals were going to end up in Antonio’s company. She had to adjust that assessment when two more packs walked up to look at Emhara’s image.
Now it looked like there was about to be a bidding war.
Vine grinned and packed up the things they had brought to make things comfortable. She gave a jaw-cracking yawn and stretched. She had things to do, and one of those things included napping.
Their gathering said goodbye to the elves that had come to visit, and those who needed some form of elf therapy confirmed the date.
It was time to get sleepy mages home. The elves would wait.