First, he's a tall, gangly youth, lean and fidgety, with a shock of black hair, earnest brown eyes and cute button nose. Second, he's a perfect brat, ...ucky minded and insolent with it, and third, I had the misfortune to be his aunt. He usually stayed with me for a week or two during the summer holidays, to give his mother a break. She had younger children to cope with, and Martin's slovenly ways and cheek were a constant source of anguish to her. I lived alone, and was better able, I felt, to. “I managed to pick up all of Ria’s magecraft spells in about ten minutes, so I don’t see why I can’t do the same with the other arts of power. I don’t plan on learning the rest quite as fast as that, as it was extremely intense, but I think I could learn all there is to know about magic within the next month.”“You are so incredible.” Nemia told him reverently. “Do you even realize how much of what you did last night has never been done before?”“Oh? How so, other than what was pointed out last. ‘I knows ya’ll can do it, cuz ther’s a herd of ya. More than my family, but we’re natural beings.’ The poor farm boy had drunkenly snickered. ‘How?’ ‘We are respectable men. Why do you ask such rude questions?’ Well that was my brother. I was about to tell the poor child more than he would have ever wanted to know, and it would all be true. And my brother was acting more puritanical than the Episcopalian minister. ‘We both have at her.’ I whispered it in a heavier accent than I had used in 30. I couldn't do anything for them. I could barely protect my Yoon. I held her on my stomach until the pain was too unbearable, and then I would roll over, dropping her back on the coals as my belly pressed into the heat.She'd scrambled onto my back, clinging to me. I didn't know how long I could keep protecting her at the sacrifice of my own flesh. I loved her, but the pain was never ending, all-consuming. Every moment I protected her increased my suffering.Mad moments trickled through me where I.