Circle Of Magic - Blog Posts

That third option is how I interpret it, particularly given the line ‘It had taken all her strength, to bind his spirit to his body until the healers could do their work.’

The word ‘bind’ certainly has that implication. 

Besides, she wasn’t actually healing him, just holding on to him, so it doesn’t contradict previous world building. The books also assert that magic is life and vice versa, and Sandry has the ability to see and weave pure magic. 

There’s also this bit: 

‘Instead, she sorted through her magic until she found a particular cord. Shaped from her own power, it connected her to Duke Vedris. “Uncle,” she said clearly, feeling her voice roll down that magical tie, “I want to be let in, please.” [.......]  Overhead, on the next story of the building, glass windows swung outward on hinges. The duke [...] leaned out. “My dear, this is not the kind of think a young girl should see,” called Vedris. He could hear Sandry when she used the power she had bound to him, but without magic of his own, he could not reply the same way.’

So we know that Sandry already has bound some of her magic to her uncle, presumably making it easier to attempt such an undertaking as binding his spirit to his body.

Question to other Circle fans:

Something that always puzzled me in Magic Steps was how Sandry kept her uncle alive despite having no healing magic. We know that ambient magic can’t be used like academic healing magic on humans. Is this a “Sandry is just special” thing or a “Toss lots of magic at the problem” thing or could Sandry have used her powers to “tether” Duke Vedris to real life?

Re-reading Briar’s book, I think I like the latter option as it fits more with the world-building.

Thoughts?