Page 71 of First Ritual

“Impressive, huh?” Rooke said, scowling.

Impressive, yes. But honestly? “Beautiful.”

I felt her eyes on me.

“Nothing’s happening, though?” she inquired.

“I can appreciate skill without feeling the need to lick it.”

The tide was turning. Corentin was out. Huxley joined Wild against Sven. Two more proven joined in against the few Vero magus holding a path for their weapon thieves to escape. And at least three managed to get away with their hauls. Huxley took down the fourth, snatching back a savage-looking axe.

Bedwyr was a statue now, a broadsword and bow clutching tight.

Fertim had lost weapons today well and truly. “That’s a win for you guys?”

“Sure is,” Rooke said in glee. “Even one weapon stolen would have meant a win for us. Different if we were capturing the territory instead of seizing the contents.”

If she said so. “Do they fight to the bitter end anyway?”

“The idea is to make the other team use up as many resources as possible. Charms. Weapons. Magical reserves. Magic takes a while to come back when you use too much. The actions of our proven won’t affect the outcome any more today, but their efforts may help next week. Each proven has to gauge how far they’ll go. Obviously we don’t want to overextend either.”

Huh. Kind of interesting.

Sven went down with a blow to the temple.

Ouch.

“Come on,” she said. “Let’s get a spot before the best cushions are gone.”

Just like that, life in the Buried Knolls went on as though twenty magus hadn’t just fought as though their lives were on the line.

The screen disappeared.

My heart still hammered. “How do you just go on as if that didn’t happen?”

“We’ve grown up with it, remember?”

“What about all the magus who fell?”

“Healers will head in now. Fertim will take stock of what they lost.”

I smiled at her smug tone and sat on a huge purple cushion, tucking my legs under me.

Rooke dragged a low, wooden table over, and took the cushion opposite.

“What are you working on today?” I asked.

“Ty said that if I work a little more on my Norse runes, then he’ll start teaching me osteomancy.”

“Which is?”

“He’ll give me some bones of our ancestors to divine.” Her face was awash with anticipation.

I grimaced. “Nice.”

She snorted at my expression. “I’ll just get into work. Ask any questions you like.”

Small, flat white pebbles were summoned and scattered on the low table. I chose to believe they were pebbles anyway.