Shades of Errol Flynn - Chapter Twenty-four

A new chapter of this draft serial will be posted every Wednesday. Your comments are always welcome!

Prologue~Ch. 1~Ch. 2~Ch. 3~Ch. 4~Ch. 5~Ch. 6~Ch. 7~Ch. 8~Ch. 9~Ch. 10~
Ch. 11~Ch. 12~Ch. 13~Ch. 14~Ch. 15~Ch. 16~Ch. 17~Ch. 18~Ch. 19~Ch. 20
Ch. 21~Ch. 22~Ch. 23~

“We’ll start with something simple,” decided Howard. “How would you like to learn to make fire?”

“I don’t know, Howard,” Jessica said dubiously. “It sounds kinda dangerous.” Having magic was one thing. Using it was another thing altogether.

“Not really,” he assured her. “With your first few attempts you’ll be lucky if you can make a spark, let alone a flame.”

“Do I have to wave my hands around, chanting like you did?” As cool as it would be to work a magic spell, there were limits to how much she’d embarrass herself.

“Probably not. From what I can tell, you have what’s known as intuitive magic. It’s more a matter of focusing and then directing the magic to take the form you want it to.”

“Focus and direct. I can do that. So . . . now what?”

“Maybe you should move to someplace with a little more concealment. The last thing you need is for someone from the camp to see you.”

“You mean they could see me bathing from the camp?” Her voice rose as glanced around her, appalled. “No wonder it felt like there were eyes on me. Why didn’t you warn me? Oh, jeez, this is so embarrassing!”

“Jessica!” Howard’s voice rose as well so he could be heard over her tirade. “I didn’t mean to imply someone could have been watching you from the camp. It’s just that having someone catch you attempting magic might turn out to be more than just a bit embarrassing. And magic can be more noticeable than a naked woman.”

“Well, maybe magic’s more noticeable to you than a naked woman . . .”

Jessica felt, rather than heard, his mental sigh of exasperation. She could picture him running a hand through his hair making it messier than ever. She grinned at the image in her mind.

“Jessica, could you try working with me here?”

“Okay, okay, don’t get your panties in a twist.”

She moved a little deeper into the woods lining the river and found a large, flat rock in a bit of a cleared area. It was surrounded on three sides by trees; the fourth was open towards the river.

“I suppose you want me to collect some firewood now.”

“Just a few twigs and some dried grass. Let’s not make it too hard.”

Jessica gathered up a respectable pile of tinder and as a precaution, surrounded it with a small ring of stones. Better to be safe than sorry, she figured.

“Okay, Howard, now what?”

“Stand back a bit to give yourself some room. Feel the magic within you, then think of flame, or fire. You can point to where you want the fire to go, if you like. Sometimes it helps to give the magic a direction.”

Jessica stood back a few paces from her tiny fireplace. She reached for the magic within, and for a few seconds just reveled in the sensation. It would be so easy to become lost in the feeling it evoked.

She felt the magic pulse as it responded to her. Raising her right hand, she pointed at the tinder and thought of fire.

The resulting explosion of flame threw her backwards. She saw stars as her head hit the ground. By the time she recovered her wits and sat up again, the flames had burned themselves out.

“Jess! Are you all right?”

“Howard? What happened?”

Howard’s voice was as shaky as she felt. “I don’t know, Jess. I – I’m going to have to study this. Just don’t try using your magic on your own until I figure out what happened. You must have a lot more power stored inside you than I counted on.”

She opened her mouth to reply, then heard the noise of someone approaching. Several someones, by the sound of it. Howard’s presence vanished.

“My Lady Jessica,” exclaimed Ewan as he rushed into the small clearing. “What hast occurred? Hast thee been set upon?” He was carrying his bared sword and leading several guardsmen, also with swords in hand.

“I’m sorry,” Jessica said, face flaming in embarrassment. “It was just a little accident.”

The guardsmen behind Ewan muttered nervously. Jessica couldn’t blame them, she couldn’t quite believe it herself. The grass of the clearing was scorched, as were the nearest overhanging trees. Even Ewan looked a little nonplused, but he at least sheathed his sword.

“Mayest we escort thee back to the camp?”

Jessica meekly took his proffered arm, mentally giving him points for nonchalance. The guardsmen followed, still muttering amongst themselves, swords still in hand.