Thaumatology 101 by Niall Teasdale Page B

laughed.
    ‘I’m a slave driver,’ the Doctor said.
    ‘Really?’ Carter said, glancing at her. ‘Perhaps we can explore that later.’ He turned back to Ceri without waiting for Cheryl’s blush, but his smirk suggested he knew full well it was there. ‘Can I recommend the contents of the “Psychology” directory? It’s quite fascinating reading. Something outside your normal area of expertise. A break from the norm, if you will.’
    ‘Well, I have got some spare time coming up,’ Ceri said.
    ‘Indeed,’ Cheryl said, ‘this slave driver decided we needed a week off now that the paper is done.’
    ‘You are indeed, a merciful Mistress,’ Carter said. Cheryl was eating up the risqué banter.
    ‘That sounds like my kind of conversation,’ Lily said, returning from her drinks run. She dropped her tray onto the counter and glanced at Alec. ‘Two white wines for table nine when you’re ready.’
    ‘Well,’ Cheryl said, ‘I’ll be resting by catching up on all the reading and paperwork I should have been doing for the last month.’
    ‘Right,’ Lily said, ‘into sadomasochism. If only I’d known…’
    Carter nodded. ‘Something else to explore later.’
    The combination of Lily and Carter flirting with her had Cheryl more than a little flustered. Ceri tried a rescue. ‘Well, I’ve got some work to do as well,’ she said. ‘I figure if I can actually work magic now, I’d better set about getting the house enchantments up to scratch.’
    ‘You can do that?’ Lily said. ‘I thought it was, like, all skilled and stuff.’
    ‘ Creating enchantments, inscribing them, researching them, that requires considerable skill and knowledge,’ Carter said, ‘though I suspect young Ceridwyn has a considerable head start should she wish to take it up. It’s the most technical of the disciplines and thaumatologists are often remarkably good at it.’
    Ceri nodded. ‘But maintaining them is far easier. And I have my parents’ original designs. Aside from anything else, it’ll be an interesting exercise.’
    ‘So you’ll be home all week?’ Lily asked, picking up her tray. ‘I’ve hardly seen you recently.’
    ‘Yup,’ Ceri replied. Lily’s smile as she turned to take the drinks to their table had a very mischievous edge to it and her hips seemed to swing a little more as she walked away.
    Carter leaned toward Ceri. ‘Psychology directory,’ he said.
    Cheryl finished her drink and slipped off her stool as decorously as was possible. She was wearing stockings. ‘I’ll be back shortly,’ she said, and headed off toward the toilets.
    Carter watched her go until she was out of sight and then turned back to Ceri. ‘It would be nice to see you pick up your parents’ work,’ he said, ‘but I was rather surprised to discover you could suddenly work magic.’
    ‘Uh, yeah,’ she replied. ‘Yeah, “surprised” is a word for it.’
    ‘Have you any idea how it happened?’
    She had several ideas, but only one she was willing to talk about. ‘No one’s ever survived being hit by that much thaumic energy before,’ she said. ‘I guess it… changed me.’
    He nodded. ‘It’s a working theory. Hmm… perhaps you should learn to raise a circle as well.’
    ‘Huh?’
    ‘Well it was the other assistant who did that for Cheryl, wasn’t it? And he’s no longer with us.’
    ‘Uh, yeah…’ Ceri said. She was still trying to shake the image of Shane’s body flying backward propelled by a bolt of raw thaumic energy. ‘Good point. Well, I know the principles.’
    ‘I’m quite sure you’ll be better at it than Mister Walters was,’ Carter said. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go and… check on Cheryl.’ He turned and headed off in the direction the Doctor had taken.
    ‘He’s starting early,’ Lily said, coming up behind Ceri.
    ‘Cheryl went to the toilet,’ Ceri said.
    ‘Uh-huh,’ Lily said. Ceri looked at her. ‘You’ve seen the loos here, right? Plusher than a Persian