Silver and Shadow by S. M. Gaither & Eva Truesdale

Author:S. M. Gaither & Eva Truesdale [Gaither, S. M. & Truesdale, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-06-27T16:00:00+00:00

Two hours later, I’m drenched in sweat, and my muscles are beginning to ache, but I’m more determined than ever to keep going. We’ve already moved on to weapon-led combat. I’ve only had one close-call with losing control so far, and I’m actually starting to feel confident in my power again.

I’d forgotten how therapeutic it was to spar this way. To feel perfectly in-sync with my best friend. Our earlier argument is completely forgotten in favor of focusing on precise steps and swings, and our competitive banter has turned as completely playful and silly as it always used to be—no hint of bitterness or disappointment to it. So it’s fun. Carys is watching and taking notes. Soren has woken up and joined us, and he’s sitting beside her with his usual quiet, lost-in-thought expression on his face.

Everything feels…normal.

Well, almost everything, aside from that dark red haze polluting the world around us, and the feeling that somewhere in this weird twilight world, there’s a so-called queen who’s out for my blood. And it’s probably just paranoia, but I can’t completely shake the feeling that said queen’s minions are watching my every moment, just waiting for a chance to steal that key I carried into this world.

Although maybe even that all technically counts as ‘normal’ for me.

I mean, it’s not like I’ve had a particularly average life in general.

Then Elric says: “Okay. Now that you’re warmed up, let’s try it with magic—”

And suddenly nothing about this feels normal at all.

My stance falters a bit. My grip on my sword weakens. I give my head a little shake, brace myself once more and try to look more formidable than I feel. But it’s hard to feel formidable when I remember every struggle I’ve had with my magic over the years. Not because I don’t have, as Elric put it, ‘an enormous amount of untapped magic’. I believe him. I can feel it inside me, and in moments like this it’s terrifying.

“Close your eyes,” he says, “and fix your stance. I know you know that isn’t a proper way to hold a weapon—and remember, we’ll be channeling your magic through that weapon. So now is not the time to forget your form.”

I do as I’m told, shutting my eyes tightly and relaxing into better positioning. I can feel him circling me, studying me.

“In your case,” he says, “I believe the sword can help you beyond simply cloaking your magic’s trail. Carys has told me that it isn’t just swords you’re adept with. You apparently have a rather extensive collection of weapons back home.”

I nod, fighting the flutter of homesickness that comes when I think about the cabinets in my room.

“You trained so hard with your weapons, I assume, because you refused to be a victim. You want control over all the battles you face, and having control over weapons is one way to do that.”

I feel like squirming a little; his assessment is a little too eerily accurate.

“So use that control to your advantage now.

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