He did know what to do But did he have enough of the magic the others depended on him for? There was only one way to find out. He lifted both of his arms high over his head, then jerked them down to his body. An unlit torch flew from a sconce to the right hand he extended to catch it. What good will that do? Even before the thought finished in his mind, Finny knew exactly what to do. His thumb and third finger snapped together.
The torch ignited.
When Finny brought it around against the long slender arm of spider web attached to the hand at his throat, the lace shriveled and turned black. When he pulled away, it shattered into a dark pile of dust. Then he grabbed another tendril that reached out and twisted it around his fist.
“Let go.” A shrill voice, despite the evil it carried, reminded him of Mama’s.
He would not drop the torch. Instead, he brought it in closer, so the heat almost scorched his eyebrows. He pointed the torch to the hand around his ankle. He didn’t need to bring the flame, as close to it before it released and pulled away.
Finny stepped out into the cavern and raised his hands again. More torches flew out to stand at attention before him. One by one, he snapped his fingers and they lit. Each one moved to take its place in a sconce. All but one. It hovered before Finny, wobbling. “Go. Now.” He stretched his hand out and pointed.
Sizzle, pop, steam billowed. The strands retreated. “You have won the battle, but the war continues.”
The air cleared. Molten rock, no longer black, dripped again to form a protecting sheet against the chill that had filled the chamber.
I knew you could do it. Raskee rubbed against Finny’s leg.
Well done, my boy. Papa Hal pulled Finny inside and shut the door, before he gathered Finny into his arms a squeezed. But this is only the first lesson.