A Darker Shade of Magic
Chapter 26: The Follower III
by Schwab, V. E.Lila struggles to drag a weakened Kell through a sudden downpour, her arms aching and her patience thinning. Despite her usual instinct to avoid trouble, she had returned to help him after he inexplicably came back for her. Covered in blood and barely conscious, Kell’s condition puzzles her, and she questions his motives while fighting to keep him alive. The scent of magic—flowers, earth, and ash—clings to him, a reminder of the supernatural forces at play, and Lila worries whether the rain will mask their trail from Holland, the dangerous figure pursuing them.
With Barron’s help, Lila manages to get Kell to her room, where they tend to his injuries. Barron, though silent and wary, assists without pressing for immediate explanations. Lila searches Kell’s belongings for anything magical that might aid his recovery and hides the black stone she stole, hoping to obscure its scent with burning herbs. The tension between her gratitude for Barron’s help and her guilt over involving him is palpable, as she grapples with the consequences of her actions and the debt she feels she can never repay.
Barron finally breaks his silence, questioning Lila’s involvement with Kell. She admits to stealing from him and describes Holland, another magic-wielder who attacked her. Barron’s familiarity with the supernatural surprises her, hinting at his own hidden knowledge. As Lila recounts the night’s events, she struggles to understand why Kell saved her life, a selfless act that contradicts her cynical worldview. Barron’s concern is practical—he wants to protect the tavern from further danger—but his kindness leaves Lila feeling both grateful and unsettled.
Exhausted and shivering, Lila accepts Barron’s offerings of food and dry clothes, adding to the unpayable debt she feels she owes him. As the storm continues outside, she watches over Kell, whose vulnerability contrasts sharply with his earlier guarded demeanor. The chapter closes with Lila reflecting on the night’s strangeness, the weight of unanswered questions, and the uneasy alliance forming between her and the mysterious magician in her bed.
FAQs
1. How does the rain affect Lila’s attempt to hide her and Kell’s trail from Holland?
Answer:
The heavy rain initially helps mask their scent by washing away the magical traces that Holland could track. Lila notes that while she could previously smell Kell’s floral magic and the stone’s smoky scent, the rain reduces everything to “water on stones.” However, she remains uncertain whether the rain completely removes the magical scent or merely dampens it temporarily. This creates tension as she hopes the storm will sufficiently cover their trail while questioning if her senses (or Holland’s) are strong enough to detect residual magic beneath the rain.2. Analyze the significance of Lila’s internal conflict about helping Kell. What does this reveal about her character?
Answer:
Lila’s hesitation to help Kell highlights her survivalist instincts and self-reliant nature. She initially regrets stopping, thinking, “she should have kept running” because her freedom depends on avoiding trouble. However, Kell’s unexpected return for her—despite having no obligation—weighs on her conscience, demonstrating her latent sense of loyalty. Her decision to aid him reveals a conflict between her pragmatic ruthlessness (“I didn’t help every fool who got himself into trouble”) and an emerging moral complexity, suggesting that her hardened exterior masks a capacity for empathy and reciprocity.3. How does Barron’s reaction to Kell’s presence contrast with Lila’s expectations, and what does this imply about their relationship?
Answer:
Barron surprises Lila by not interrogating her immediately about Kell’s bloody arrival or the strange circumstances. Instead, he assists silently, fetching herbs and clothes without judgment. His eventual question—”What are you doing with this man?“—focuses on concern rather than accusation. This contrasts with Lila’s defensive expectation (“I’m sorry… I didn’t have anywhere else to go”), revealing her ingrained guilt and Barron’s paternal protectiveness. Their dynamic underscores Barron’s unconditional support, which Lila struggles to accept, viewing kindness as an unpayable debt that “drives her mad” due to her fierce independence.4. Interpret the symbolic role of scents in this chapter. How do they connect to themes of magic and danger?
Answer:
Scents serve as a sensory metaphor for magic and its risks. Kell’s floral aroma and Holland’s “burning steel” trace represent their magical identities, while the stone’s “sea and wood smoke” scent ties it to otherworldly power. Lila’s heightened awareness of these smells reflects her growing entanglement in magical conflict, yet her failure to detect them on herself earlier proves fatal—Holland tracks her precisely through these traces. The rain’s erasure of scent becomes a temporary reprieve, symbolizing the fragile boundary between visibility and safety in a world where magic leaves tangible, dangerous markers.5. Evaluate how Lila’s perception of Kell evolves in this chapter, using specific examples.
Answer:
Lila’s view of Kell shifts from seeing him as a “mark” (a target for theft) to a vulnerable ally. Initially, she focuses on his physical burden (“Heavy body”) and the inconvenience of rescuing him. However, as she notices his magical scent, cleans his wounds, and reflects on his unexplained return to save her, she begins humanizing him—studying his “deathly pale” face and “younger” sleeping expression. Her curiosity about his motives (“Why had he come back?”) and guilt over his condition suggest budding respect. This evolution culminates in her quiet admission, “He saved my life,” marking a transition from opportunism to reluctant trust.
Quotes
1. “She hadn’t lived this long and stayed this free by stopping to help every fool who got himself into trouble. It was all she could do to keep herself out of trouble, and whatever else Holland was, he was clearly trouble.”
This quote captures Lila’s survivalist mentality and internal conflict as she debates helping Kell, revealing her self-preservation instincts clashing with an uncharacteristic act of compassion.
2. “But Kell had come back. He didn’t have to—didn’t have any reason to—but he had, all the same, and the weight of it clung to her when she fled, slowing her down before finally dragging her boots to a stop.”
This pivotal moment shows Lila’s moral turning point, where Kell’s unexpected loyalty triggers her own reluctant sense of responsibility, marking a key character development moment.
3. “Flowers and earth and metal and ash. I can smell his magic on you.”
This vivid sensory description introduces the novel’s unique magical system through scent, while also hinting at the deeper connection between characters through their magical signatures.
4. “‘What are you doing with this man?’ His eyes were dark and narrow. ‘You know what he is then?’ she asked. ‘Do you?’ challenged Barron. ‘In a way,’ she retorted.”
This tense exchange reveals the growing mystery around Kell’s identity and the unspoken knowledge Barron possesses, creating suspense about the true nature of magic and Kell’s role in this world.
5. “Barron’s kindness was like a curse, because she knew she had done nothing to deserve it. It wasn’t fair. Barron did not owe her anything. Yet she owed him so much. Too much. It drove her mad.”
This insight into Lila’s complex relationship with debt and kindness reveals her deep-seated issues with vulnerability and reciprocity, showcasing her flawed but evolving humanity.