Hounded

Another reason, « she continued, » is that I think Laksha’s magic is a bit scary, and I say that hoping she isn’t offended. « She rolled her eyes up for a moment, apparently conducting some internal dialogue. Then she looked back at me. » I think that much of what she has told me about her magic, and much of what I have read about magic with true power behind it, is a bit alarming. It seems to involve trafficking with H. P. Lovecraft action figures, and there are some rituals that I would have a problem with morally and, like, digestively. Toenails and body fluids—ew! « She shuddered. » But your power, a Druid’s power, comes from the earth, right? «
    » That’s correct. «
    She pointed at my right arm. » Laksha tells me those tattoos aren’t just for show. «
    » She’s right. «
    » That sounds like something I could live with. «
    » Are you sure? It limits you. A Druid cannot do all the things a witch can do. If it’s power you’re after, then witches can access far more of it far faster than a Druid can. «
    » There are different kinds of power, « Granuaile shot back. » And witches have the power to dominate and destroy. Your power is to defend and build. «
    » Nah, no. « I shook my head. » I think you’re romanticizing quite a bit. My powers can also be used to dominate and destroy. « Aenghus Óg had certainly dominated Fagles. And Bres had tried to destroy me using a glamour.
    » Okay, granted, « she conceded. » Anything can be twisted from its original intent. But the intent is what I’m talking about, Atticus. Laksha knows of rituals and spells that cannot possibly be, you know, benign. The difference is, your magic can be twisted to evil purposes, but some of the magic Laksha knows cannot ever be good. That is an important distinction for me. «
    » So what do you think a Druid is? « I asked. If she mentioned white robes and ZZ Top beards, I would scream.
    » They are healers and wise people, « she said. » Tellers of tales, repositories of culture, shape-shifters according to some stories, and able to exert a little influence over the weather. «
    » Hmm, not bad, « I said. » Do they ever kick ass? «
    I said it flippantly, but she knew this was a test. » Occasionally they kicked some ass in battles. « Granuaile frowned. » I mean according to some of the old legends. But they used swords and axes to do that, not magic force. That’s a nice sword you have there, by the way, « she said, tilting her chin to the hilt of Fragarach peeking over my shoulder. » Are you planning on kicking some ass? «
    I ignored her question and asked her another. » What did the Druids do in the old legends you read? «
    » Mostly they advised kings and tried to predict the future—oh, I forgot that. Divination is kind of a Druid thing. Do you cut open animals and look at their guts? « She crinkled her nose at me and held her breath.
    » No, « I answered, shaking my head, and she relaxed. » I prefer to cast wands. «
    » There, see? « She tapped me teasingly on the arm. » You don’t destroy things. «
    » Do you seriously want to become a Druid initiate? Before you answer, let me explain what that would involve, because Laksha could not possibly know, and if you’ve been reading any of that New Age crap that says you only need to take some plant life and pray to Brighid or the Morrigan, well, it’s not like that. First, you get twelve years of memorizing things. No spells, nothing remotely cool or powerful. Just memorizing and regurgitating for twelve years. You might be able to knock off a year or so because you’re starting later than most initiates and your brain is fully developed, but still, it’s a long time. You have to seriously like books and learning and languages, because you’d have to learn a few, and that’s all you’d do, full time, until you’re in your thirties. «
    » Oh, « she said in a tiny voice. » What about paying bills and things like that? «
    » You’d have to quit your job here and come work for me in my bookstore. To relieve the tedium of reading books, I can occasionally allow you the tedium of selling them to other people. And maybe I’ll teach you how to brew some special teas. «
    » Wow. Okay. «
    » After you pass all your tests, we can start teaching you some magic. But you have to be able to draw power for that, and that means getting yourself tattooed ritualistically with vegetable-based dyes. It takes five months. «
    » Five months?