As We Go Along, Ch. 11

 We crossed the river the next day, when the flood had subsided enough for the horses to wade across. Now that we were out of the Darkwood, there had been a shocking change in weather: it was sunny and hot. Dry dust rose in billows from the broad road we followed. When I looked behind me (something I didn't do often, as I began to slide off the horse), I saw the twisted black trees of the Darkwood and the ominous thunderhead above it. Other than that, there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

Braydon kept glancing back at Colin and I, as if he was worried that we might explode or do something equally unpleasant and magical if he didn't keep an eye on us. He didn't need to worry about Colin, who seemed eager not to replicate the invisibility incident. He probably did have to worry about me, because whenever he looked away, I tried to make things happen. (If you discovered you had magical powers, wouldn't you do the same?)

I didn't want to turn invisible again. That had just been creepy. And I was physically limited by the fact I was on a horse. Things like shrinking or growing (both of which sounded fun, though I didn't know if they were within the realm of magic) could prove very disruptive to the ride. And most of the other magicky things I could think of, such as mind-reading, sounded like they could go horribly wrong if I didn't know what I was doing. Thus, I fell at last upon a benign but useful trick: telekinesis.

Braydon had said he'd seen Colin levitate things, so I knew it was possible. I wasn't sure how to make it happen, though. Or what to practice on. I guess I should figure that out first. A person would be too risky - who knew what I'd end up doing to him? There weren't any convenient rocks on the dusty road, just piles of horse dung, and I certainly didn't want to experiment with those. I furtively glanced around - Braydon was arguing with Vesperzo again and had stopped paying attention to me. Meanwhile, a satchel hung from Vesperzo's shoulder. Perfect. I could make that move without it falling on the ground. We wouldn't have to stop and pick it up. No muss, no fuss.

I stared at it. Where did I want it to go? A horrible image popped to mind of accidently strangling Vesperzo. That wouldn't do at all. I wouldn't try to move the satchel itself. Just open it... Braydon wouldn't even notice I'd done anything. It would look like it had jolted open when we'd hit a bump in the road.

I studied my target. The leather flap was held closed by a simple wooden catch hooked through a loop of twine. The twine loop was coming loose at any rate - it looked like it had been crudely repaired several times. I wondered it Colin had experimented with the satchel, too.

I focused on the wooden catch. I just needed to shift it a little... I squinted at it. Move! Move!

It wiggled a good inch, and we hadn't even hit a rough patch in the road. I suppressed a grin of triumph. Now that I had control of the catch, it felt like I could manipulate it like the mouse of a computer.

Up. Up! I felt like I was cajoling a toddler now. The catch pulled up against the twine, which began to come undone. I pulled harder. The twine broke free and the catch was loose. I allowed myself a smile. Now for the flap itself.

Somehow, since the flap was larger and less finicky, it was easier to move. It pushed on it, or maybe I pulled - was there terminology for this? - and it folded up on itself. I got a peep at the books and parchment Vesperzo kept in his satchel. Then I let the flap fall into place again.

I looked up from my task and saw Braydon staring at me. I started a little, and almost fell off the horse again. Colin was getting used to this by now. He reached behind himself and pushed me back into place without even turning around. I glanced back at Braydon. He looked amused, not disapproving. Well, that's good, I thought hopefully. He wasn't mad I was messing with Vesperzo's stuff. Of course, it was Vesperzo. Maybe if it had been his own satchel, he would've been upset.

For now, at least I'd learned some things. One, telekinesis is fun (and might be useful for thievery). Two, I couldn't get anything past Braydon. Three, I wanted to get a closer look at Vesperzo's books. I couldn't learn everything by trial and error, and learning everything was my goal.