“Exactly,” Glenda said. “Except for going through these Vortex locations at one point or another, the map changes the correct path with every user, and every attempt.”
“Hmmm.” Aahz said, staring at the piece of parchment. “Too bad we can’t just take the magik out of the map and have it tell us the only true path to the dimension with the golden cow.”
That gave me an idea. It was so simple it was probably stupid, so I didn’t say anything aloud. Still, the thought kept rattling around in my head as the others continued their conversation.
What if I tapped into the magikal energy of the map, just like I did with the energy lines when I was casting a spell? Wouldn’t that draw off the magik?
I made myself relax, then reached out with my mind and touched the map Aahz was holding, working at absorbing energy as I did.
At first nothing happened. Then the parchment began to tremble and an energy line sprang into being, running from the map to me.
It was a cool, tingly sensation, but strong, almost too strong, and getting stronger and stronger. I quickly opened up, letting the energy channel through me and into the ground, just as Aahz had taught me in some of our earliest lessons.
“What the…” Aahz exclaimed, letting go of the map.
Instead of falling, it hovered in midair.
“Skeeve!” Tanda shouted, but I ignored her, keeping my attention on what I wanted to happen.
Finally the energy flow slowed and ebbed until it was merely a trickle. I released my mental contact, and the parchment fluttered to the floor.