“Respectfully, ma’am,” Jacques tentatively interjected. “You will find William and these fine young ladies have no weapons on their persons.”
I glanced at Jacques, and he looked at me with a serene smile.
“Is that so?” Mistress Blossom raised an eyebrow. “And what are these devilish markings on your forearms, young William.” She glanced at Amelia’s arm. “Oh, you too dear? What sort of cult have you both got mixed up in?”
“They’re art,” Amelia said, suddenly defensive.
I hadn’t realized how much the tattoos meant to her. She had been raised with the typical noble disdain for them. But now? She was the complete opposite, ready to defend them against any naysayers. It made sense; after all, the tattoos had made her capable of wielding magic, something she’d dreamt of since she was a child.
“I don’t dispute that,” the Mistress said. “I never meant to offend. It’s just that. . . I believe I recognize the symbols. They’re spell runes, are they not?”
“They are,” I said, not seeing a reason to lie to someone who obviously knew the truth.
“And who drew them?” she asked, her dark eyes suddenly intense in their curiosity.
“I think that’s our time to leave,” Jacques said as he grabbed my shoulder. “Night is getting late, and we have places to be.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” the Mistress said. There was a loud bang, and I spun around to see that the tavern’s entrance door had slammed shut. Had it done so all by itself? That seemed strange.
I put my hand behind my back so the Mistress couldn’t see that I was sending Mana into the Fire rune on my arm. I felt a tiny flame appear in the center of my palm, and I prepared myself to throw it should the Mistress show any sign of being a threat.
“You can all relax,” Mistress Blossom said.
I glanced at my friends, and their muscles looked as tense as mine felt. Each was preparing to throw themselves into another fight if necessary.
“I simply wanted to ensure no one could hear what we’re about to discuss,” the Mistress continued. “You are in no danger here. And I hope you won’t try to inflict any harm upon me.”
“We can trust her,” Veronica said. “Mistress Blossom has helped me a great deal since I’ve been in Brightwater. You can tell her everything you’ve told me.”
I glanced at Amelia, and she shrugged.
“Blossom is crafty and perhaps even a better thief than I am,” Jacques whispered to me. “But she’s an honest one.”
I sighed as I withdrew Mana back into my pool, and the flame on my palm died out.
“All right,” I said before I turned to the Mistress. “These tattoos aren’t from some cult or gang of vagabonds, as so many people seem to think. These markings are what I used in the fight you just witnessed.”
“How is that possible?” Mistress Blossom looked confused.
“Perhaps it’s simpler to show you than to explain,” I said.
“I don’t think so; I’m not having you causing more damage in here than you already have.” Mistress Blossom put up her hand commandingly.
“I assure you, Mistress Blossom, this won’t do any damage,” I said in my most respectful tone.
I held up my left hand and quickly, before she could say anything more, channeled Mana through my Fire rune, and lit little flames on all five fingers.
Mistress Blossom’s mouth dropped open. I could see the other barmaids, still milling round the bar, staring with their mouths open also.
“Well, I’ll be. That is a remarkable trick,” Mistress Blossom said.
“How are you doing that?” a red-headed barmaid called out. “Where’s your wand?”
“Sophie,” Mistress Blossom said. “Come over here, will you?”
The barmaid dropped from the counter and walked over to me. I held the dancing flames and noticed how much easier it was to sustain them. Not only had my Mana stores increased, but retracing the runes had made it much easier to control the spell’s effects. I had noticed this same thing during the fight with the sappers, too.
The flames extending from my fingertips cast flickering shadows over the redhead’s pale, freckled skin as she lowered herself to peer at them.
“Now, tell me if you can find the source of his magic,” the Mistress commanded the barmaid. I had a feeling Mistress Blossom knew exactly what I’d been using to cast my spells, but it seemed like she wanted to have a little fun with the woman under her employ.
The barmaid peered at my tunic closely, stepped to the side, and examined my back, looking for something.
Mistress Blossom came alongside the barmaid. “Why don’t I help you look?” she asked the barmaid.
Together, they stooped to peer at my trousers, giving me an eyeful of the Mistress’s ample bosom.
“Nope, no wand of that kind down there,” Mistress Blossom said.
“Are you sure?” the redhead asked. “There is a significant bulge...”
“That’s his cock, that is,” Jacques commented.
“It’s more of a stave than a wand,” Amelia muttered. Her hand suddenly shot to her mouth, and her face reddened, as though she’d accidentally spoken her thoughts aloud.
I laughed under my breath. I extinguished the flames on my left hand and held my forearm out to the Mistress and the barmaid. “The tattoos are what allow me to cast the spells.”
“They’re glowing,” the barmaid said in a hushed voice.
“I suspected as much,” Mistress Blossom said, running her finger down my arm to feel the markings. “But I didn’t know how it was possible.”
Amelia spoke up. “William is what we call an Ink Mage, ma’am. He can cast spells directly through the runes on his skin.”
Mistress Blossom let go of my arm and looked at Amelia. “And what about you, dear? You have a tattoo as well. Are you also an Ink Mage?”
Amelia channeled some Mana through the tattoo on her right arm, only through the snowflake, and allowed a clump of ice to form on her palm. Mistress Blossom’s eyes widened as the
