"All magic is sufficiently advanced science," his patron tells him. "That's what Mom always says. And of course Mom is my mother. She created me. I mean Mother Aurora and Mama Eranda are also my mothers, but they're my sisters too, because Mom created them--although she says I'm her purest creation, because I'm the only one of us that was made wholly by her. That's why I'm her favorite--though you mustn't tell any of the other thirteen."

She laughs nervously. "I really should introduce myself properly. You know me as the Fae Protector of the Sylvan Glades... but my designation is Thorne.tcai."