Learning to Strike Back
Ari's POV
I flung out my hands and let my witchcraft. The air was humming, and the light was slightly bending around my fingers. I recalled all the strikes I had ever received, all the insults, all the occasions when I was too feeble to resist.
"Watch," I told her.
I threw myself forward, swinging my body and throwing out my palm. A sudden granite burst ran ahead and struck a rock, and dashed it into fragments.
Harriet gasped. "Mommy!"
That was an intended hit, I said. "Not wild. Not angry. Controlled."
I swung around and jerked my leg low, and swung around, leaving magic to cover my motion. The wind erupted and blew dust and leaves.
Harriet clapped her hands. "Do it again!"
I smiled faintly. "Later. Now you try."
I leapt down, occupied the position I had
