Burn the Sky by Jaye McKenna

Author:Jaye McKenna
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Mythe Weaver Press
Published: 2015-01-11T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Garrik slept far into the next day. When he woke, the guardhouse was filled with savory cooking smells. His stomach growled, and he heard a chuckle from across the room. Ilya stood beside the hearth, stirring the contents of a heavy pot.

“How do you feel now?” the Wytch Master asked.

A long, slow stretch caused him no pain, and the chill that had penetrated to the marrow of his bones last night was gone. “Surprisingly fit, considering what I recall of yesterday evening.”

“Not surprising, really,” Ilya replied, filling a bowl from the pot. “As I explained last night, the shift heals you. Any lingering effects from the blood-chain — and believe me, there were some — would have been set right when you shifted.”

The Wytch Master crossed the room and handed Garrik the bowl and a spoon. Garrik accepted them with a wry grin. “Serving me, Wytch Master?”

Ilya arched a thin, copper eyebrow. “I serve the Wytch Council. While you are my student, your well-being is my responsibility. Healed you may be, but an uncontrolled shift requires far more energy than a controlled one. It puts a strain on the body’s resources, and it would be negligence on my part if I did not see to it that you were properly nourished.”

The Wytch Master’s tone was cold, his manner aloof. He seemed so distant this morning that Garrik had to wonder if he’d dreamed the tender care and concern he’d received the night before. His memories of everything after the shift were dim and hazy, so he couldn’t be certain.

His teacher’s cool manner did nothing to dampen Garrik’s curiosity; after last night, he was bursting with questions. “So it would appear that I can heal myself, but must I first half-destroy myself in order to do it?”

“At first, yes. In time, perhaps not. If you can learn to control the shift, much of the unpleasantness you experienced last night will not occur.”

“If I can learn control,” Garrik muttered under his breath, hating the way Ilya seemed to assume he was going to fail before he’d even tried.

The Wytch Master regarded him with cool interest. “Possession of Wytch power is one thing. Control is another, and there is no certainty that you will ever attain it. Especially given that your power was forced to manifest through interference.”

“But—”

“Enough,” Ilya’s tone brooked no argument. “All of your questions will be answered in time. For now, eat. When you’ve finished, get dressed and come to the roof of the watchtower. Be ready to learn. It is time we began your lessons.” The Wytch Master strode out of the guardhouse without another word.

Garrik stared after him, wondering what Kian would have had to say about the arrogant, disdainful Wytch Master the Council had sent to train him. Knowing Kian, he’d laugh and tell Garrik the Dragon Mother was paying him back for being such a difficult student. He wished Kian were here. Garrik missed both his keen wit and his company.

He stared down at the bowl of stew.

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