"Now then,"

I said, turning back to Rebecca.  "Where are you having trouble in the book?"

"Here," she explained, indicating the page.   "The text of the Overspell appears again."

"What of the passage before it?" I asked leadingly as I quickly skimmed the text.  It was a much-debated section among Mephitist scholars, which seemed to be an excerpt from an unrelated lecture on insects.

"I have an idea what it might mean," Rebecca shrugged, "but so far my theories have been wrong."

"I'll let you in on a little secret," I whispered conspiratorially.  "Our own theologians are somewhat baffled by this passage, so your theory might be closer to the mark than you think.  Let's hear it."

"Okay, I think Reynard is saying that those little ladybug-fairies like the ones betting on the Raccoon Monster ... they work for you, I think?  Anyway, he's saying that they are sorta like semi-divine messengers of Fuma and should be treated with due respect rather than overlooked like they usually are."

"It's an interesting and plausible theory," I admitted, after staring at the page and thinking about it for a few seconds.  "One which I doubt the learned doctors ever proposed.  Most elves actually don't seem to be very aware of the existence of Ixies.  However, after observing their behavior for many years I would find it very difficult to believe that they were sacred envoys of the Lady.  I think if you look a little closer, you'll find that Reynard is talking about feral beetles.  It's a subject that seemed to obsess him in the final chapters of the book."

"Hmmm," Rebecca murmured as she flipped back a few pages and re-read.  "Yes, I see.  I was thinking too magical and ignoring the more obvious, mundane interpretation.  AHA!  The Overspell text is gone and I can read the next section now!"

"Excellent," I beamed.  My student was doing so well!  "I'll leave you to it then."

"Wait, my Lord," she blurted hastily.  "That spell you cast on the Raccoon Monster ... will I be able to do things like that?  I don't mean the Orgasmic Touch specifically - though it could be quite handy - but just magic in general.  Will I be able to do magic for real?"

"Well ..." I mused thoughtfully.  Was it possible for lowfolk to perform magick?  According to the tales, it was.  They were never as powerful as elves, of course, but lowfolk were reputedly able to learn basic Gramarye.  The Old Crow was said to be quite competent at spellcasting, and a fairly advanced alchemist.  "It's possible.  But you have a lot to learn first."

Rebecca grinned with delight and resumed her reading.

Now at last I could resume my very important conversation with Vernier.  As I walked past Burnside, she sighed and mumbled something that sounded like "More hot sauce, Cletus."

"I win," one of the Ixies called out.

"Delirious babbling counteth not," another protested.  "She must be fully awake."

"Get off her!" another Ixie demanded.  "Thou'rt cheating!"

"So is yon bird, yet thou protestest not."

"The bird hath not placed a wager and thus standeth not to rob me of my hard-earned aphids!"

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