404 Bowyers

The senior officer gave John a wink. "Just give it time. They're happy to use them against the Grand Dutchies when they step out of line, and I think we can work a level of mutual defence into the agreement should one of us be attacked."

Ella smiled back. "You would be amazed what a small team with magical weapons can accomplish. As I said, we have magical airplanes now so that we can respond within hours instead of days, and a strike team with flying staves and magic-enhanced automatic rifles is more than a match for an artillery battalion."

The soldiers stared at her with a healthy dose of shock and skepticism before Wolfe clarified.

"I didn't use anything but defensive magic to break the siege at the Auction House. The first part was entirely from the enchanted weapons, and any level of magic user could use them that way.