Shimmering Bear by Georgina Makalani

Author:Georgina Makalani
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Georgina Makalani

Chapter 13

Isla looked up as Gray sat at one of the desks in the classroom, the children all around him. The minister had said she could observe from the back of the room, although she would likely understand very little.

There was a feeling of expectation as they waited. Even Gray seemed to watch the door. Then Alice strode through, all smiles, and took a seat at the desk. She glanced over the children, but her gaze didn’t linger on Isla at all. Isla wondered how long she had been here. Had she just arrived, or had she been hiding from Calder?

Isla had a lot of questions, but she didn’t think they would be answered today. In fact, she was confident that no matter who she asked, her questions would not be answered at all. Even by Gray.

Alice sat, opened a book and appeared to read silently to herself. The others in the room followed her example, opening whatever books they had before them to read. All except for Beth, who closed her eyes and sat still, her hands sitting one over the other on top of the book.

This was not like Isla’s memory of a classroom. Although where she had grown up was somewhat different to what would be considered normal, these children didn’t appear to be learning. When Beth made a small wincing noise, Gray looked across at her but didn’t move. It was only when a boy just in front of Isla raised his hand that it seemed like a classroom.

Alice called him forward, and he sat the book before her as he whispered something. She moved her hand through the air, leaving a symbol shimmering in the light. “Who can describe this for Marca?”

They all looked up, and several children said something at once. The word they each pronounced sounded similar, but Isla wasn’t sure. Despite the hours Gray had read to her, she couldn’t make out anything familiar with the language. She might have seen the symbol before, but she couldn’t be sure.

“Danger,” Beth whispered.

“Gray?” Alice asked.

He said something, a word she couldn’t have repeated, his voice low and deep, and an image appeared before the class. It was a man, an older man, but not one Isla recognised.

“Do you have a word for this?” Alice asked. When Isla refocused on her, she realised Alice was asking her.

She shook her head.

“Hendra,” Gray said.

Alice nodded.

“All Hendra or just this one?” Isla asked.

“The words sound the same, and yet each Hendra is an individual. Gray, would you mind?” Alice asked, her voice sweet.

He said another word that sounded very much like the first, and the current Hendra appeared. Isla thought Alice might flinch at the sight of her, but she didn’t.

“Queen,” Beth murmured, her eyes still closed.

“Thank you, Beth,” Alice said, although she looked a little annoyed.

“I’ve heard her called that before,” Isla said. She wondered if the Rohen had been referring to the Hendra or the child she carried.

“Gray,” Alice prompted.

Another word, one similar to the others. Isla was almost sure he was saying the same word, and yet a different image appeared.

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