He heaved a bag of flour over his shoulder and walked into the store room. It was cool in there, and as he placed the sack down, Jaux had an idea. He closed the door and double checked that Clarienne was still out buying eggs. He stuck his toffee coloured hands out and concentrated as hard as he could. Nothing. Not a flicker of magic surged through his veins. Well that was annoying. He tried again, but this time he closed his eyes and slowed his breathing down to a slight pant. It felt like the flour had caked his hands, but when Jaux looked own, there was nothing on his fingers, or palms.
A glimmer of excitement ran through him as he tried again; this time, he could almost feel the sticky, humid pulse of something slide up his arm. This was exhilarating, he thought, suddenly desperate for the feel of more power against his skin. He took a breath, and just before he could try once more, he heard the shop’s bell ring. “Shit,” he muttered. Clarienne was back. Thinking fast, he put his hand in the flour sack and sprinkled it over his right arm, trying to make it look like he’d been working all this time.