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Patricia Reding
a book bubble about
Ephemeral and Fleeting
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Author Insight
Does No Magic Equal Magic?
Is magic the same as no magic? This question is answered by determining what magic actually is. For purposes of this comment, I will consider magic to be something you have, or possess, or can do, that is out of the ordinary from those with whom you surround yourself. Consider you are a member of a group of spies, almost all of whom share a feature or characteristic in common. How valuable might you be to your peers if you differ from the others in some regard? For example, suppose the group is made up of nearly all brunettes - but you are blonde. You need to send someone behind enemy lines where everyone is blonde. In this situation, you would be of great value to your group at large. In fact, I think this is true of all people and all personality traits at all times. Each of us differs physically and mentally from everyone else. Our likenesses may bind us together, but it is our differences that add value to what we can accomplish together. Here, Dax differs from his cohorts in a critical way. Perhaps that fact will make him all the more valuable to his cohorts in the future. What do you think?
Book Excerpt
Ephemeral and Fleeting
“What of Dax?” Reigna asked. “What are his powers?”
Lucy chuckled.
“What? What’s funny?”
“Actually,” she said, still grinning, “he is unique among Oathtakers.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, once in a great while, an Oathtaker like Galen Dax comes along. He has no powers whatsoever—except of course, for the power of his blade which, like any Oathtaker’s blade, will never miss its mark.”
The attendees all looked at Lucy, clearly surprised by her news.
“None?” Eden said. “But then, what qualifies him to lead the guard?”
“Did I say ‘none?’” Lucy laughed again. “I guess to be more accurate, I should say that he possesses a single power.”
“And that is?”
“He is completely immune to magic imposed upon his person. Even the name of his blade—Immunis—reflects that fact.”
Velia grabbed a tray of scones sitting before her, then stood and brought it to the other end of the table where Basha and Therese sat.
“Surely, he can be banded,” she said as she returned to her seat.
“Band him all you like, but it will not work. He can exercise no other magic, and no magic of any kind—good or evil—will work directly against him.”
“I wasn’t aware,” Reigna said.
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