The spell twisted in Merci's magical vision. She saw how Baladras altered the fabric of her spell. With an effort of will she twisted her own spellwork into the shape he had made. The light flickered for a minute and then steadied into a constant illumination. Progress. She felt absurdly pleased with something so small as a better light spell and was glad that the heat of the battle left them all flushed. She coughed, the grave dust and ozone of spells flaying her throat.

Watching the men work was not an unpleasant way to catch her breath. She watched, appreciatively, their corded muscles bulged as they heaved the lids from ancient stone sarcophagi.

[b]“At least we know that the rumors are true and the place hasn’t already been looted,”[/b] she commented quietly, excited despite the danger by the possibility of gain. She brushed the scroll with her fingertips, hungry for anything magical but she restrained herself. Old Colb had used a scroll of invisibility once and she had seen it crumble to dust, leaving him none the wiser. Better to wait, there was certain to be magical lore to be gained, but it wasn’t here. She pocketed some of the gold, figuring that, at least, would allow her to eat.

[b]“You think the dead are smart enough to wait in ambush?”[/b] she whispered to Hector as she moved forward leaving the others to divide the remaining spoils. They hadn't fared to badly, and thus far she hadn't managed to embarrass herself in front of the more experienced spell casters.