He did know what to do. But did he have enough of the magic the others depended on? Only one way to find out. He lifted both arms high overhead, then jerked them down into his body. With the right one, Finny reached to catch an unlit torch that flew from a sconce high in the wall.
What good will that do? a shrill voice screamed so only he could hear.
Wow, even before the thought shouted in his mind, Finny pictured the heat and fire of the molten fountain. His thumb and third finger snapped together.
The torch ignited with a fiery red flame.
When Finny brought it against the long slender arm of spider web attached to the hand at his throat, it shriveled and turned black. He jerked back and and touched the flame to the delicate lace. It shattered into a pile of dust. Another tendril reached out. Finny grabbed and wrapped his fist around it.
“Let go,” the voice that had screamed in his mind shouted out loud.
Strange, despite the evil it carried, it reminded him of Mama’s.
Other tendrils stretched out to Finny and one wrapped around the hand that held the torch.
No! He squeezed the handle to keep from dropping it. This has to stop. Closer and closer he brought the flame. Heat grew, but before it could scorched his face the web disintegrated.
The tendril around his ankle cut into the flesh, so Finny aimed the torch lower.and lower. Before the flame made contact it released and retreated before distruction made its mark and destroyed it. The rest of the delicate web followed close behind.
“Yes.” Finny chortled. He raised his hands in a wave motion and brought them down in front of his chest.
More torches flew out to stand at attention.
He snapped his fingers and and they lit with the rich smell of the matches Dad had used to light campfires on their family trips. After that, each moved to take its place in a sconce. That is all but one, and it hovered before Finny. It wobbled as it followed him out into the cavern. “Go. Now.” He stretched his left hand out and pointed.
Sizzle, pop, steam hissed.
The strands retreated more.
“You have won the battle, but the war continues.” The voice echoed through the chamber.
The air cleared. Molten rock, no longer black, dripped again and formed a protecting sheet and replaced the chill.
I knew you could do it. Raskee rubbed against Finny’s leg.
Well done, my boy. Papa Hal pulled Finny inside the strong stone walls and shut the door, before he gathered him into his arms and squeezed. But this is only the first lesson.