Chapter Five

“Your teacher should never have tried to get you to generate dry lightning. It was stupid.” Reegar administered a draught to Kitty, forcing it down her though she fought the taste.

“It might have been, but we managed it.”

“And she nearly drained herself of all vital energies in the process. I have seen this before, and it has had rather deadly outcomes.”

Imara was manning the pot of soup that Reegar had pulled together. She watched the grumpy spectre taking care of her friend and fought a smile. “I knew I was doing the right thing when I came home.”

“The draught will give her energy. Who is your instructor?”

Imara bit her lip. “Professor Eckoak. She’s a very good elemental.”

Reegar sneered. “Dryad. I know her. She was around the college as a student twenty years ago. She tried to plant a tree in my courtyard, and I sent her packing.”

“Why was she here? The college is for mages, not extra-naturals.”

“She evolved in her first year. Late bloomer. Her magic came on, and they didn’t want to eject her, so they considered her an exchange student and waited to see if she would blend in.”

“Did she?”

“No. But the issue of the tree was the only disagreement I had with her. I didn’t hear much about her from the other building caretakers.”

Kitty struggled to sit up straight. “What was in that vial?”

Reegar glanced at her. “It was the vitamin shot that I work into all of Imara’s food when she isn’t looking. Nothing magical, just herbs and fruit extracts.”

Imara suspected that he wasn’t joking, but she asked, “Are you ready for some soup?”

“Yes, please. It smells great.”

Mr. E came in, holding a metal charm in his mouth. He hopped up onto Kitty’s lap and spat the charm out.

The light glow that came out of the charm was echoed in Kitty’s eyes.

She blinked rapidly. “Wow, that feels much better.”

She used her body to power the first strikes. It drained her. The harder she worked, the weaker she got.

Imara relayed the information to Kitty, and her friend nodded.

“Yeah, that is what it felt like.”

She dished up some soup and put a plate under it as well as some crackers on the plate. “Here you go.”

Kitty set the plate in her lap, and she got to work on the soup.

Reegar smiled. “How is it?”

“Excellent. Thank you.”

“My mother used to make it for me when I was in school. Of course, she made it over a coal fire, but I think the essence of the herbs come through.”

The thought of Reegar having a mother had never really occurred to her. Imara cocked her head. “Did you always like to cook?”

“Always. It was relaxing to do something so ordinary, so human.” He smiled. “Everybody has to eat.”

“True. I hadn’t thought of that. Cooking wasn’t something that I bothered learning.” She shrugged. “There was always something to study. Food just showed up, and I ate it.”

Kitty smirked. “I had to come when I was called, or I didn’t eat.”

Imara chuckled. “They had to feed me, or they didn’t get paid.”

Reegar glanced at her. “Was it awkward? You haven’t mentioned your caretakers.”

“It was rather cold. Even being here is warm and fuzzy by comparison, but then, I was always working toward a goal, and that didn’t include them.”

Kitty blinked. “You didn’t live with your parents?”

“Nope. I am an off-contract birth. My father’s family didn’t want me, and my mother wasn’t allowed to keep me. It all worked out.” She said that in a rush when the stricken expression crossed over Kitty’s face. “Really, it is all good. I have met my mother, and we get along very well. I have even met a few of my brothers. One is due here any minute, actually.”

Kitty looked around. “Here?”

“Yup. Keep eating. He is dating Bara, and she has an early afternoon today. I am guessing he does as well because he is pulling up in the lot.”

Kitty had just finished her restoring soup when Luken arrived.

Imara waved at him. “Hiya, Luken. This is Kitty. She is recovering from our morning class. Kitty, this is my brother, Luken Demiel.”

Kitty looked from Imara to the young man standing beside her. “Well, he is definitely your brother.”

Imara smiled. “Yeah, there is a resemblance.”

Luken came up to her and nudged her on the arm. “This is my long-lost twin.”

“I wasn’t lost. I was merely misplaced.” She laughed. “I found my way eventually.”

“And I am glad you did. I wanted to see what my rugged good looks would be like on a lady. She isn’t half bad.”

Imara lifted her hand, held her thumb and forefinger apart and sent an arc of lightning from digit to digit. “I am not above zapping you, Luken.”

He grinned. “Is Bara in?”

“No, but she should roll in in a few minutes. Her class is across campus, and it takes a while to haul all of her textile studies supplies home.” She dismissed the energy and rubbed her palm on her thigh.

Luken nodded. “I will head out to help her. Nothing gets more bonus points than helping a damsel in distress. Kitty, it was a pleasure meeting you.”

“Pleasure to meet you as well.” Kitty nodded and waved as he headed back outside.

When he was gone, Kitty stared at Imara. “He is a third year.”

“Yeah. He got early admission. How did you know?”

“My cousin was in a class with him, and she had a huge crush. I have to admit, he’s good looking.”

Imara grinned. “He got the best side of the womb.”

“Ah. Well, since I have my brain together for a moment, would you be interested in coming to my family’s place next weekend? We have plenty of room, and my parents would love to meet you.”

Imara blinked. “Um, why?”

We should go. I want to catch some shrews.

Imara looked at him. “Shrews?”

He yawned, showing his little white teeth. They are all I can catch in this shape.

Kitty smiled. “Yes, we have shrews. The yards are all hedged, so there are a bunch of small rodents around the property. We try and put up repulse spells, but they keep coming. So, Mr. E is interested?”

Imara sighed. “He is. I just am a little unsure of how to deal with a family situation.”

Kitty blinked. “Don’t overthink it. We could practice mantras and poses in the old barn, and when my mom calls us for dinner, we go in and eat. When we are tired, we sleep. When the weekend is over, we come home. Nothing more than that.”

“Why?”

“Because I really get the feeling that you need to do something not related to studying. We can go play with the lambs and calves if you like. Generally, you will just relax and unclench.”

Reegar was fussing near the kitchen, and he turned back, “It might not be a bad idea. I think that you need a little socialization.”

Imara stared at him. “I need to study.”

He snorted. “You are already done with the paper courses for this term. One weekend will do you good. You need to make more ties in the community than other students and your instructors.”

“I have you and Bara.”

He snorted again. “I am dead, and she is a career student. She isn’t leaving here if she can help it.”

Kitty was watching them and turning her head between them. “You are really a spectre?”

He bowed. “I most definitely am. Thanks to Imara’s talents, I am solid and functioning within the confines of my territory.”

“That’s... amazing. What kind of spell does it?”

Imara looked at her. “Um, not a spell, just a benign energy output. I have an affinity for the dead.”

Mr. E was sitting next to Kitty, and she was petting him absently. There was obviously something going on in her head.

Imara sat on the edge of the couch. “What is it?”

“I have a deceased member of the family that I would love to speak to. I know it is horrible to ask you to come for a fun visit and then ask a favour, but I haven’t met someone who might be able to manage it before.” Kitty looked down at Mr. E.

With a heavy sigh, she asked, “When do we leave?”

Kitty lifted her head and stared. “You will come?”

“Yes, I will. You will have to drive, but I will come. Is Mr. E going to be okay to come along?”

Mr. E hissed. Where you go, I go. It’s in my job description.

Kitty nodded. “Of course. He will be welcome. Does he need any special food?”

Imara chuckled. “He does like pasta, and you have seen him eat dessert.”

Kitty laughed. “I will tell my family to lay in a little extra.”

“Good. Send me the location details, so I can let my boyfriend know. He worries if I am left to my own devices for too long.”

Kitty grabbed her phone, and Imara’s chimed a moment later. When Imara checked the screen, a text gave her the address, the location, and the GPS coordinates.

“That was thorough.”

Kitty smiled. “Just in case you want to forward it to anyone. Better to discard some information than to not have it in the first place.”

Kitty took one of her spheres off her necklace, and she dangled it in front of Mr. E.

“That isn’t a good idea.” Just as she finished the warning, Mr. E had batted the small orb out of her fingers and was chasing it around the carpet in front of the couch.

The kitten had once again won over the familiar, and it was a great thing to watch for an hour or so.

When Kitty was getting ready to leave, Imara asked, “So, what do I need to bring?”

“Yourself and clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty. Farms are farms, and the best places to hang out and be quiet involve a little hike through woods and streams.”

Imara nodded, and when Kitty was gone, she turned to Reegar. “I don’t hike.”

He laughed, dissipated, and she was left trying to find her familiar under the couch. A mage’s work was never done.