Jack made a small strangled sound in his throat. “What a horrible thing to say.”
Seila came to Jack’s side and slipped her arm around his waist again, quietly comforting him. She looked around the ruined plaza and gave a small shake of her head. “It seems that we are done here,” she said. “What do we do now?”
“Now?” Jack answered. He stood silent for a moment, wondering whether his magic was indeed gone forever or merely dormant for a time, and then shook off his self-pity with a low laugh. He stepped back to kiss her hand, rendering a florid bow. “Now, my dear, we go home, enjoy a flagon of the best wine gold can buy, and celebrate! I, for one, am through with the Underdark, the drow, and all their works.”
Seila laughed, and kissed Jack until his heart thundered in his chest; and he was consoled by the thought that there was more than one sort of magic in the world.
