Soon, the sand grains lifted into the air and shifted, forming a…lumpy sleeping cushion…no…a…sand snake that had just eaten a rat? The glow disappeared and the sand sculpture thudded back into the bucket.

Mojag peered at his sister as if seeing her for the first time. “That was cool. But why did you make a dead rat with a really long tail?”

“It was a velbloud with a tether,” Gurice said, sounding offended.

“Clearly.” But Shyla couldn’t suppress a grin.

“Everyone’s a critic.” Gurice crossed her arms. “Was there a point to this exercise?”

“Yes. Did you see a…anything unusual when you used your magic?”

“Other than the sand blob,” Mojag added unhelpfully.

After shooting the boy a glare, she said, “No. Nothing different. Why?”

“Mojag, did you see anything?”

“Just the floating sand.”

“Can you do it again?” Shyla asked. This time she put her shield back in place, blocking both the siblings’ thoughts.

“All right.” Gurice concentrated.

This time a…scroll formed above the bucket. No light emanated inside the woman.

“Jerky?” Mojag asked.

A sigh. “No. It was a shovel.” She released it. “And, before you ask, no I didn’t see anything unusual. Did this help you?”

“I think it did. Now, I just need to test my theory. Mojag?”

“Yes?” His voice squeaked.

“Your turn.” She removed the shield.

He hesitated but then exchanged places with Gurice. Meeting Shyla’s gaze with an almost bold defiance, he braced as if awaiting a blow. This magic thing was still new to him even though he had known Jayden and his sister were hiding things from him. Hurt feelings over not being confided in mixed with jealousy. Figured she’d be able to do magic. Things always seemed to work out for his sister. He knew he shouldn’t be like that—she raised him after their parents were murdered—he was grateful and—

“Mojag, focus on…” Shyla considered. He couldn’t manipulate the sand or influence anyone. But he had other…talents. “Can you slip out of the temple without anyone seeing you?”

He shrugged. “Maybe. It depends.”

“How about you try?”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll follow at a discreet distance.”

“And when I get out?”

Interesting that he used when and not if. “Just come back here.”

“All right.” Mojag scrambled off the cushion and paused by her door.

A faint yellow light shone from him right before he peeked through the curtain. It wasn’t nearly as bright as Gurice’s. Almost as if the druk inside him was only cracked open a hair. Shyla trailed him. Whenever he was in danger of being seen, that thin ribbon of light flared. Completely unaware he was using magic, Mojag left the temple without anyone the wiser.

He returned with a cocky smirk on his face. “That was too easy. Next time give me a real challenge.”