Wild Magic by Ann Macela Page A

remembered the color changes. At the same time, praise from her mentor choked her up so much she couldn’t get a word out in return—not that he gave her the chance. He stood up and clinked his spoon against his water glass.
    When he had everyone’s attention, Fergus said, “We have done some great work tonight. Thanks especially to those who answered our call for help. I’ve never had an item cause so much unexpected havoc. I particularly call to your attention the actions and abilities of Irenee Sabel, our newest team member. Her blade was pure lightning. I doubt very much I could have risen to the challenge the way she did at the same stage of my career.”
    Someone started clapping, and the entire group rose to applaud her.
    The praise totally discombobulated her, and it took all of her control to say simply, “Thank you,” and not burst into tears. Her father, standing next to her, gave her a hug.
    Fergus waited until everyone was seated again before speaking. “We should be proud of all of us. However, I fear we are not finished with the power residing in that Stone.”
    Unsure what he meant, Irenee stole a glance around the table. Several Defenders were nodding. All looked worried. She sat up straight as tension from her center tightened her muscles.
    “I would venture a hypothesis,” Fergus went on. “First, the remainder of the Cataclysm Stone, the larger portion, has not been lost to history. And for the sake of argument, let’s propose only one other piece exists and the original has not broken into multiple parts—a nightmare we definitely don’t need. Second, this other piece is close by. Third, someone other than Alton Finster has it.”
    Several Defenders nodded in agreement.
    “Here is my reasoning: Usually, once facets or other physical attributes of an item start dying, that’s its death knell. It will continue to fight, but only with defensive, not offensive action. This Stone, however, attacked us, Irenee specifically, after its facet decline. Therefore, it had help, more power from a different source, which could only logically come from its mate, the other piece. The missing remnant, larger by Glynnis’s extrapolative measurements, probably more powerful as well, still lives. The proof is in the scream at the end that went on after the reduction to ashes. While I’ve had many an item cry at its end, I’ve never heard a sound so late or with an echo. Does anyone disagree with my theory so far?”
    John Baldwin spoke up. “I concur with the defensive versus offensive action also. I’ve never seen one begin to lose mass and then come back. Let me point out also, the aid from the other remnant pierced all our shielding on the building, in the D chamber walls, and in our pentagon fortress to reach the smaller piece. I’ve never heard of such a possibility in modern times, although I can think of a couple of legends telling of similar powers. We may be very lucky the monster is in pieces.”
    “That brings up my second point,” Fergus said. “It has to be close by. How close, we can only guess. The most powerful items, whether good or evil, can have effects from halfway around the world. In the hands of a very high-level caster, an intact Cataclysm Stone might have been one of those.”
    “Remember, we’re dealing with a damaged Stone,” Glynnis interjected. “The broken items I’ve come in contact with in previous encounters have always been less powerful than the whole. The distance over which they could act was also greatly cut. Furthermore, the pieces of an item give off different vibrations from each other. Having felt the original vibrations when Finster was casting and then from the item we had, I can confirm they are one and the same—identical modulations, identical energy. Wherever the larger piece is, I have not directly felt it—yet.”
    “Exactly,” Fergus acknowledged. “Before we get into actual distance, let me bring up the third point. Someone other than