Sam from Texas should be pleased: E-Merl would not be this frank about his abilities with anyone else, except possibly Rachel. Not only is he normally self-conscious about his limitations, but he’s got a performer’s sense of misdirection, illusion, and mystique. That’s one thing Arkerran magic and Terran magic have in common.

One thing I’m sorry we didn’t have time to do is to explore some other spellcasting items that worked similarly, just to better root E-Merl in his own tradition of wizardry. There’s got to be a false fingernail you can touch to your tongue to shoot water, or a headband with a painted-on third eye you can don to see beyond sight.

Remember what he says here about his relationship with his hat; it will be important later for reasons.