Malcolm looked away from Izzy when the thump sounded from the stairs..

  Valgrin looked up and grinned at the room. “Missed the last step. I’m fine.”

  Malcolm turned back to Izzy when she squeezed his hand. “I need to go get some more breakfast. Thanks again for last night.” She turned and walked away.

  Valgrin’s raised eyebrows weren’t easy to miss. Malcolm rolled his eyes. “Not what you're thinking. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

  “I didn’t realize my thoughts were that loud.” Valgrin grinned.

  “Screaming at me right now.”

  “I didn’t think you’d be the type to take advantage, but…”

  Malcolm re-rolled his eyes. “Your faith in me is so comforting. I could have taken advantage, but I want something more. I explained that to her and offered to hold her all night—she took me up on that offer.”

  Valgrin nodded. “That is in sync with where my thoughts were, actually. Like I said, didn’t think you would take advantage.”

  “Before all of this, something began pointing that we might make a couple. Steeyann’s death may have sped that up, but I want to make sure it’s not just the emotional trauma.” And I’m concerned about not screwing it up, like usual.

  “Nothing for me to add to that.” Valgrin raised his voice. “And here comes breakfast, thank you Izzy.”

  Izzy smiled and put a plate of eggs in a potato-like hash in front of Valgrin, then took the seat next to Malcolm. Deeah followed close behind, her eyes red from a long night of crying.

  Valgrin tossed a hunk of his bread down to Skwilly, who wasted no time gobbling it down.

  “You act like I didn’t feed you breakfast this morning.” Izzy pointed at the priggy.

  “That was at least an hour ago. Need something to keep me going.” Skwilly spoke around the bread in his mouth.

  “I don’t have understand animals. Someone want to translate?” Deeah asked. She chuckled once Malcolm filled her in. “And I’ll need to remedy not being able to understand, since we’re all hitting the road together.”

  Izzy shook her head, then turned to everyone sitting at the table. “On that note. I’ve made some calls and have made sure to have a full crew coming in to run this place for the next few weeks. Giving us time to prepare and make the trip.” Izzy paused. “Today, Deeah and I will focus on handing off the duties to the temp crew. Most of them work, or have worked, here before—so it won’t take long. Tomorrow we can start pulling in what we need in earnest for our trip to the swamp.”

  “If we’re taking the day to collect ourselves and do some getting ready.” Valgrin spoke over a mug. “I’d like to find a library that has books on magical theory and construction. Try to start understanding some things.”

  “I wouldn’t mind finding a group to train and spar with, if possible,” Malcolm chimed in. I need to hit something.

  “I have a friend that can take you to a theerat to train and spar. Valgrin, I can get you directions to a library for magical research. Didn’t have anyone lined up for that request.” Izzy paused for a moment. “Today, for me, is about trying to get ready to take next steps—may be in this place for a few days. We all need to do some healing and make sure our heads are in a good place before we can face Tahlur and Drathnor. We’ll probably need some alone time and time together.”

  “I think it’s a great idea. I’m assuming a theerat is a place to train.” Malcolm stood. “And, I think beating up on some training equipment is exactly what I need. If I understood correctly, you won’t have time to join me?” He asked Izzy.

  “No, not today. And yes, a theerat is a place for training.” Izzy paused, a faraway look in her eyes. “It looks like dojo or gym would be the closet to what it is, using words you’d be familiar with.. Anyway, Kawran can take you to the theerat. Sifferal will work with you. It’s his place.” Izzy motioned for a swarthy young woman to approach. “Kawran, Malcolm here is going to Sifferal’s. Please show him the way and stay close by him the rest of the day, if needed.”

  She scribbled some directions to the Mystical Research Center and handed the paper over to Valgrin. “If you get lost, most everyone knows about the Research Center, you might have to refer to is as the House of Fools for some. People who go there are usually slightly off center.”

  Valgrin raised an eyebrow and said with a smile. “Are you calling me crazy?”

  Malcolm jumped in. “If the shoe fits, my man.”

  “Phsssh.” Valgrin stood. “Skwilly, I think we’ve been insulted. Let’s head over to the Research Center.”

  “You’re talking to a pig-like thing and you’re insulted?” Malcolm forced a barked laugh. How long will this all feel like putting on a show?

  Valgrin dismissed his friend with a wave of his hand. He and Skwilly walked out of the tavern.

  “You sure you’re okay?” Malcolm offered his hand to help Izzy stand.

  “I will be, maybe? What I plan on doing today is a way to help get there. If at the end of today my head is still at wanting to flay Tahlur alive while I laugh, then I need to consider not going on this revenge trip. If I can’t control that feeling, I can’t be trusted.”

  Izzy looked up, holding Malcolm’s gaze. “And that’s why I wanted to make Sifferal’s available for you. There is something just behind your eyes that makes me wonder about you. Anger, rage really, pain, frustration all seemed to be barely under the surface, waiting for a spark so it can explode. You need to release that pressure or you shouldn’t be going.”

  “I am--” Malcolm saw Izzy’s jaw set, her green eyes narrow. She can already read me that well? I’m in trouble. “Okay, yes, I feel like I could explode at anytime. I want that to be on Tahlur himself, but I won’t lie to you. I know I’m on the edge. I’m fighting to control it. Sparring or training are good ideas for me to find some type of release.”

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  Izzy pulled close. Her breath tickled Malcolm’s ears. “Thank you for being honest with me. And thank you for being my friend last night. I heard what you told Valgrin this morning.”

  Malcolm pulled back. Izzy’s fingers to his lips kept him from asking the question.

  “My three-quarters Elven ears.” She pointed to one. “And years of hearing through a noisy tavern. Both combine to give me great hearing.”

  “Arrg, I’m in trouble. Three-quarters?” Malcolm smiled.

  “Father was an elf, mother a half elf—the human side showed more, but I’m more elf than human.” Izzy paused for several seconds then leaned in once again. “What you said about feelings and maybe they’ve been sped up, but you want to make sure. I admit I was angry with you last night for rebuffing me, but at the same time, it flattered me. And here I am floundering at the point. To bring this back to sense, I could have told Valgrin those very words. Or most of them, at least. I want to make sure, so let’s keep things as they are, but I hope there is a future together at the end of this.” Her lips brushed his cheek as she pulled away.

  Close mouth. Mouth closed already. Words, I need words. “Um, uh, thank you.” Malcolm felt the blaze take over his face as he continued to stammer. He finally just threw his hands up. “I got nothing. You’ve glitched me.”

  The moment of pure laughter brought light and a touch of healing to the room.

  Malcolm quickly grabbed a bag and followed Kawran as she led the way to Sifferal’s theerat. Should stay. No, need to recover. I’d probably say or do the wrong thing if I stayed.

  The theerat didn’t inspire awe or much confidence. It reminded Malcolm of a high-school gym locker room from the seventies, garish teal concrete block walls and a damp musty stench. That mixed with old boxing club gym, complete with a ring with sagging ropes. One thing caused a double-take, a huge cast-iron ‘T’ with a shorter cross piece below the main one. It hung on the far wall, the cream-colored oval behind it the only part of the walls not covered in the bright teal paint.

  Malcolm stepped up to the closest thing to a heavy bag and threw punches, speeding up as he went along. He tapped into his flurry ability and soon found a rhythm, allowing his mind to wander, a little. Thoughts of cancer, of arriving to the EverNever, were soon overcome with the vision of Steeyann helpless as Tahlur tortured him. He put more force into his punches. He imagined each blow mashing Tahlur’s face.

  Shocked by a tap on his shoulder, he spun around, ready to lash out. The older man held up his hands in defense.

  “Sorry to startle, but you were about ready to hurt yourself on the bag. Do not use so much power.” The man turned and climbed into the ring.

  Malcolm stared back as the man bounced around a few times and motioned for his opponent to come to the center of the ring. The age and size difference appeared heavily weighted against the older man. A quick step that ended in a hip toss across the ring caused Malcolm to reassess. Might be the younger man that is outclassed. A flurry of blows broke the young man’s defense, his body jolted by repeated blows. The older man fought with efficiency and explosiveness. There were times Malcolm didn’t see the strike, but he heard the solid thud, followed by the younger man’s grunt.

  The match didn’t last three minutes before the younger man held up his hands in defeat. They bowed to each other. The older man whispered into his opponent’s ear, which set off a huge grin on the younger man.

  “Thank you, Sifferal.” The younger man called out as the older man flowed out of the ring.

  “Did less power work for you?” Sifferal asked Malcolm as approached.

  “Uh, I haven’t tried. I stopped and watched you instead. Then there is this one thing—I don’t know what you meant.” The corner of Malcolm’s mouth edged up slightly. “Izzy sent me here to work out.”

  “Yes, so Kawran told me while you were punching.” Sifferal folded his arms across his chest. “Do you want exercise or to train in fighting?”

  Malcolm stopped, catching his throw away answer before giving it. He tapped his chin with a finger. “Would you be doing the training?”

  “I would oversee it. Others may do much of the physical. I would, of course, be more hands-on where needed. For you, I’ll be the one you’ll start with. We need to work on concepts and understanding using your magical flow.”

  “Magical flow?” Malcolm’s eyebrows arched.

  “Stru-Enka requires mastery of your magical flow. You are very raw in that control. With the flow I sense and see in you, there is great potential—with the proper training.”

  “It would seem I’m raw in my understanding of what you’re talking about,” Malcolm said.

  “You are an Eurythelon. There is a control of internal magic that allows you to heal yourself, to force yourself to go beyond exhaustion, to be immune to disease, and to fight faster. Similar to a monk. That magic flowing in you can be harnessed and controlled as you fight. More strength, more speed. You can cause a punch to be felt with a flick of a finger, in the right circumstances.” Sifferal pointed back at the ring. “What you saw in the ring was a display of Stru-Enka, at about fifty percent. With training, you could do those very things—and my estimation is it would only be thirty percent of your ability.”

  Malcolm stared at the ring, then at Sifferal, then back at the heavy bag. “If I’m understanding what you just said. You think I could be more powerful than you?”

  “I didn’t say more powerful, though that would be true. I meant you’d be a better fighter than I.”

  “If this means giving you the next few years and I don’t go anywhere. I can’t. If there is some other way, I’d be interested in hearing about it.”

  “You must live life, to sequester for training may allow you to be a better fighter. But living a life in the world around will hone you as a person.” Sifferal shuffled over to a bench and sat down. “It means training will take longer, but it is worth it.”

  “I’m interested. As long as you’re okay if my schedule turns out to be a little hit and miss and I might have to pull out of training for extended times.”

  Sifferal nodded. “This is acceptable. For the first lesson, you need to feel your magic as it flows. When you heal, do you feel a faint warmth flow through your arm?”

  “Yes, I assumed that was the magic. I’ve tried to…well…uh…play with it from time to time. But no success.”

  “Good, playing with it will be what I ask of you. Do you feel it in your body when you aren’t healing?”

  Malcolm paused and closed his eyes, opening them a few seconds later. “Maybe? But not much and seldom if I felt it.”

  “This is what we must work on. You have it flowing through you all the time. Well, all the time if you have magic points. This internal magic consumes magical energy, less than spells, but still drains the pool. Your immunities, the extra speed, and other things outside of healing—they are almost a passive skill, your body can manage the flow in the background. You need to tap into that and bring it through your punch or kick. You were doing it when you were hitting the bag. It was sloppy and not right, which is why I warned you. Letting it run without control is a good way to hurt yourself, physically, magically, and mentally. You could end up a blabbering mess, or dead. Neither an outcome you should be working towards.”

  “So, I’m already doing it. Now I just need to figure out how, and then control it?” Malcolm asked.

  “Simplified, but yes.” Sifferal stood up and walked over to a foot thick wooden pole. “Think about your magic flowing with the punch and being in your hand as you contact the wood.” He pointed at the pole.

  Malcolm took a deep breath and tried to sense a thread of magic. A few seconds of trying paid off. He latched onto the magic energy and focused on the punch he threw. A snapping sound reverberated through the theerat, splinters flew everywhere. Malcolm looked around at the mess spread out across the floor. There wasn’t a pole anymore, two end stumps were all that remained.

  “As I said, too much power.” Sifferal kicked at a larger chunk of wood.

  “Sorry, looks like raw may have been an underestimation.”

  Sifferal looked over at Malcolm. “No, this is what I expected. How much time can you spend with me today? We have a few things we must begin to fix. We won’t fix them today, only start on the repairs and training needed.”