Page 93 of Pixie Problems

"What does?" I asked.

She tipped her head at the pendant. "Thereuci.Rain, do you remember how I said I took many trinkets when I left Faerie? Well, one of them was a rock. A very specific type of rock that is rare and hard to find there. It doesn't even exist here. We call itreuci." She said it likeree-oo-see.

"So this isreuci?" I asked.

"It is. The anti-magic stone." And she smiled.

"Wait, what?" I asked.

"Wildlings like them," she explained. "Stories say the Crow King's throne is made of it, but since few wildlings can direct magic with intention?"

I lifted a finger. "You just lost me."

"Wildlings are magical," she explained. "Their abilities are a natural part of them. Mermaids can breathe underwater or above. They do not have gills. They use Wild magic to make it possible. Gargoyles protect themselves from daylight by shifting into stone. Crows, however, can direct their magic. That's why they claim the throne. They're one of the few legendary creatures who can use Wild magic that way."

"Oh." Ok, that made sense.

"And that," she said, tapping the nearly-purple light reflecting beside the pendant, "proves this stone reacts to Wild magic. Because this thing has a special power, but to use it, you need to learn to use your shadowson command."

I groaned. "Great."

"But you've already done it," she said. "Rain, when you called forth shadows on the Winter Solstice, I went home and rummaged until I found that. I had it carved into that shape so you would wear it. Do you know why?"

"No?" Was this a pop quiz?

She leaned in, tracing her finger over the outer circle that held the crow. "Becausereuciis the one thing that can be used as an amulet for Wild magic. It can bond to a thing and will transport it, as an example. Your sword? Armor? You can bind them all and be ready for battle with the snapof a finger."

My mouth dropped open. "Is that how you were in full armor yesterday?"

"My version is slightly different. It runs on Summer magic."

She reached into her shirt and pulled out a long chain with a simple crystal on the end. Amethyst, maybe? It looked purple, but could've been pink. The light down here was off a bit.

"So that's enchanted?" I asked.

"It is," she said, dropping it back under her shirt. "Once, the Queen expected her court to be beautiful. Having her general in armor seemed brutish, she told me. I was expected to dress as well as any other attendant, but also to be ready. I made this, and it has served me well. Now, we're going to teach you how to do the same with your own magic." She tilted her head slightly. "Which means I can't do it for you."

"I'll learn," I promised.

"I know you will," she assured me. "I also know you perform better under pressure, just like yesterday."

"Yeah," I drawled. "Speaking of that, can I ask something?"

"Always."

"What happened to him? To Fin's body, I mean?"

"Wilder thawed the ground, I moved the dirt, and he was buried beside the gate. There is a stone there with the name of every person we've lost to the Hunt. A big one."

"Oh."

"And you are allowed to visit it when you want."

I jiggled my head yes, but my mouth said, "I really don't want to."

"And that's fine too," she assured me. "Rain, you don't have to mourn them all. It's fine to hate that you couldn't help. Trust me, I am well aware of what Fin could do - and likely would have, if Keir hadn't been so vigilant."

"Rape someone?" I asked.