9
I did dance the contradance and the quadrille. I'd promised it, after all. I'd never been a very good dancer, but mother had taught me some moves, and I did passably well. I hadn't stopped observing grandpa though. He'd been drinking. Socializing with other professors, students, eating the snacks — and drinking glass after glass of champagne. When he took a shot of liquor the waiter was carrying (for mages — the height of irresponsibility. What were the organizers thinking?), and none of his colleagues did anything to stop him, I decided it was enough.
Hard liquor was dangerous to magicals in a way that more diluted alcohol wasn't. It made magicals lose control.
I went towards him. As he was about to take a sip, I took it from him and handed it to Jack, who had followed me.
"Professo
