Mine to Fear (Mine #3)(44)

We run then until we're far from the building but can still see its glow in the distance. We are armed and dangerous now. Message sent.





Chapter Thirty-Two





With more confidence now that we had a victory, we can press forward with more hope. Only there's still such a long ways to go. To try not to stress about it, I join Tawny in helping to teach others, mostly girls, about magic. She's smiling and laughing with them, comfortable with helping, even if they aren't as comfortable with her.

“Good morning,” she says as I join them. “Have anything fun to teach us today?”

“Just the usual.”

Some of the girls groan.

“Come on,” Tawny says. “Show us something fun. Did you girls know that Waverly is one of the most talented Envadi at spelling dresses and getting people ready for balls? Her talent is extraordinary.”

“Show us something,” Nelly says.

The other girls immediately start clamoring for something fun as well. It's not helpful at all in terms of learning to fight, but I suppose it is a lot of fun. Besides, if it gets them excited about magic and practicing it, all the better. And they aren't cowering from me.

I spend the morning teaching them different spells, starting with a simple nail color changing spell and working up to adding sparkles to clothes and face paint. They ooh and ahh over it, all making me wish I'd thought of the idea sooner.

When I finish, I say. “This is war. We can't only change the color of our dresses.”

“I wish we could make it that way,” one of the younger girls says.

Me too. But there's more spells to teach them, useful spells like a shield spell that could save their lives. And food that needs to be gathered and people that need to be settled into places to sleep, and chores that need to be done. There's just so much. So many people that need help, and I'm only one person. There's not enough that I can do.

“How about this,” I say. “For every three attack or defense skills you learn, we'll learn one fun spell.”

“I like this idea,” Tawny says. “I'm sure there's lots you can all learn that way. Sometimes learning the fun spells can help make you better at the necessary skills anyway. Practice, you know.”

Phyllis, who's been lingering on the edges, says, “How much can we really learn anyway? We're just women.”

“Don't you remember that spell I taught you before?” I say. “The one where you made a burst of light?”

“Yes,” she grudgingly replies.

“If you can do that, you can do so much more. As women, we have more strength than we know.” If only I could get them to believe that and to believe in me.





***





After the other girls have gone to bed for the night, I turn to Tawny. “Do you know any healing spells?”

“Quite a few. They're required in my schooling.”

I wish they'd been required in mine. “Would you teach them to me?”

“Of course. Is there any particular reason you want to learn?”

“With all this fighting, people get hurt. I hate feeling helpless. I want to be able to do something if it's needed.”

“Good enough reason for me.” She claps her hands together. “Where should we start?”

“With whatever's easiest.”

“How about with whatever's the most useful?” She gives me a sly grin.

“It's going to be hard, isn't it?”

“Whatever gives you that idea?”

“The look on your face.”

She laughs. “Maybe you'll have a better aptitude for it than I do.”

“One can only hope,” I mutter under my breath, hoping that I can pick it up easily. There isn't a lot of extra time around here to be learning new spells. I'm too busy helping with the girls and Ben, chores, or teaching others to do magic.

“It would help if we had an injury to work on.” She gives me a look.

“Oh no, I'm not injuring myself just to fix myself.”

“Fine. I will.” Before I can stop her, she pulls out a spell that leaves a cut on her arm.

“Tawny,” I yell at her, “you can't be doing things like that to yourself.”

She shrugs. “It's for a good cause. Besides, look at it. It's barely a scratch.”

Indeed, it is the tiniest of scratches, just enough to draw blood. “Maybe,” I grudgingly admit, “but don't do it again. We can find other ways to practice.”

“I suppose you're right. There has to be someone around here that's hurt themselves.”

“Exactly. Now, how do I fix it so I don't have to feel guilty about you hurting yourself for me any longer?”

“Like any other spell. Picture your magic stopping the flow of blood and knitting the skin together.”

“Just like that?” I ask, skeptical that it would be so easy.

“Just like that.”

Which I know should be true, but having never done this before, I'm more worried about making it worse for her than making it better. Still, I have to try. I need to be good at this so I can help when real injuries happen. For they will, no matter how hard I try to stop them. That much is already apparent.