Days of High Adventure by Elliott Kay

powers of the city. Ladina and Nishan were constant presences, though, and further lovely company was only a spoken whim away. Yet as much as she wanted to throw away the world outside and remain in the temple forever, there was too much else at stake.
    She spent the whole day practicing, finding her power and control had grown despite her lengthy distraction. Salatis resided in wide, spacious chambers. As long as Amanda did nothing that left a lasting mess, her hostess had no concern about sorcery in her chambers. That meant no flames or acid, of course, but not every spell in Amanda’s growing repertoire was so destructive to an environment.
    Nishan reclined on Salatis’s bed while Ladina sat nearby on a velvet couch, both of them watching in amazement and glee as their companion worked her wonders. Against an old, tattered tapestry brought in for just this purpose, Amanda hurled bolt after bolt of golden magical force. A small goblet of water floated around Amanda in circles as she worked, under her control the whole time.
    “Why the water, Amira?” Nishan asked. “What is the point to it?”
    “Wizarding is thirsty work, I imagine,” Ladina suggested wryly.
    Amanda continued to throw her blasts of force. The goblet kept moving. “Concentration,” she answered calmly. “Endurance. I need to get used to doing several things at once with magic. Need to see how long I can sustain the effort.”
    “You look like you could create those magic darts all night,” Ladina said. “You practically have.”
    “Sorry if I’m boring you both,” Amanda said, but she kept up her mystic workout.
    “No, it’s not boring at all,” Nishan giggled. “Though it’s just not as fun as...other things.”
    Amanda grumbled, but grinned at the same time. She literally had to command them both to keep their hands off of her so she could practice. She adored them for it, too.
    “Can you show us something else?” Ladina asked.
    The constant barrage of magical blasts ceased. The goblet reversed direction, glowed brightly, and changed color.
    “Bravo,” Ladina said. Nishan clapped.
    “I could put you both to sleep,” Amanda offered with a shrug.
    “What fun would that be?” Ladina asked.
    “Do something else,” Nishan urged.
    Accepting the challenge, Amanda turned back to face the tapestry. Swiftly, she clapped her hands together once and outstretched her fingers. A broad rainbow of light burst from her hands, engulfing the entire tapestry. Amanda turned and smiled. “You like?” she asked.
    Her companions stared, dumbfounded by the swirling colors. They were slack-jawed and mesmerized, unable to speak even after the lights faded a second later. Several heartbeats passed before either of the pair blinked, shaking their heads to clear the cobwebs away.
    Amanda smiled. “Perfect.”
    “I am glad to see you back at your studies,” came a sultry voice from the doorway. Salatis entered with a serene, approving smile, coming to kiss Amanda deeply in greeting. Their hands roamed as they touched. The priestess had Amanda swimming in arousal almost instantly. With Salatis, nothing was forbidden. Nothing was too familiar.
    “I thought you wanted me to stay occupied with other things,” Amanda said, breathing more heavily now that those hands caress ed her chest once more.
    “I would be happy to see that, too,” Salatis smiled. They stayed together, enjoying their natural attraction and freedom to explore. “But I would see you grow in power. As a wizard, yes, but also as a woman.”
    “You’ve already helped me with that,” Amanda said. “You all have. So much.”
    “You only needed confidence,” said her lovely mentor. “It is the same with so many young men and women. It is not sex or love that turns a boy or a girl into a man or a woman, but confidence…and for some, those intimate experiences push aside the doubts and insecurities of youth. That is what makes the first time so special, not the simple joys of