(eng) Lisanne Norman - Sholan Alliance 02 by Fortune's Wheel (retail)

Author:Fortune's Wheel (retail) [Wheel, Fortune's]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

She slept lightly, her mind drifting calmly in the gray mists of peacefulness, more secure with her own identity now they had begun to edit their common memories. As always she could feel his presence, relaxed like her in sleep: quiet, quiescent.

In the distance twin flickers of light caught her attention, beckoning her. They flared brightly, then died down again, but in that instant she saw a shape beyond them, a presence that called to her.

Curious, she let herself be drawn toward the lights. Who was it that could touch her subconscious mind? The torches flared again as she drew nearer. Blinking, she tried to peer beyond the glow, straining to make out the details of the seated figure beyond.

With her still new night-sight, she saw the being begin to rise sinuously to its feet, its movement bringing the smell of incense drifting toward her nostrils.

She wasn’t afraid, she realized. Whoever or whatever was coming toward her intended no harm. There was a presence, but she couldn’t feel the mind: there was no sense of identity, no ongoing stream of conscious thought.

Puzzled, she waited as the figure continued to approach. It stopped between the braziers of fire. The flickering flames picked out a feature here and there—the ears pricked toward her, the nose with the bifurcated mouth below it, a suggestion of high cheekbones—before dying down, once more leaving him anonymous in the gloom.

“You are one, now,” said a voice, its tone low, the Sholan strangely accented. “Is it well between you, or do you regret your bond?”

She hesitated before replying. “It’s well. I regret nothing. But who are you?”

The voice continued, ignoring her question. “So many lives changed, so many lost.” The voice was a whisper as the reflection of the flames briefly highlighted a face, leaving deep shadows where its eyes should be. “It is good to find the few who are happy from the first. Often the price you have paid for your Talent has been too high.”

The voice died to nothing as the figure faded back into the shadows.

“Wait!” She stepped forward, the braziers behind her now, but the presence had gone leaving only a dark form sitting on the ground, the glint of metal by its feet.

The gray mist returned, roiling turbulently around her feet, spreading rapidly upwards, blanking out everything.

“Wait!” she cried, arms reaching out to grasp . . . nothing.

“Where are you?” she cried frantically, looking round the darkened room, terror now beginning to creep into her soul.

A groan from beside her, a sudden movement in the dark as a hand damp with sweat grasped her bare arm, claws pricking her in his urgency to reassure.

“I’m here,” said a voice groggy with sleep.

“I can’t see you . . . I can’t see anything!” she said, turning her head blindly from side to side.

The light came on, its brightness making her cover her eyes.

Strong arms pulled her close, the familiar feel and smell of his damp fur calming her instantly.

I’m here, cub, he sent, pushing aside his own nightmare to reassure her through their link.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.