Waking Ursa Minor by Helen Rygh-Pedersen

Author:Helen Rygh-Pedersen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Epic Fantasy, Coming of Age, Second World Fantasy, New Adult, Dark Fantasy
Publisher: HRP Publishing
Published: 2022-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Strong minds

Setimika shook his groggy head as voices roused him. Something wet landed on his forehead and he raised his hand to wipe it away as it rolled down his nose, only to find his arms tied, spreadeagled out at his sides.

Panic gripped him as he looked around in the dim light. Although he himself was bathed in a fan of white, near blinding light, the owners of the voices were shrouded in shadow.

“Urgh, my head.” A familiar voice to his left groaned. He craned his stiff neck as far as it would go and caught a glimpse of Todi, bathed in his own column of light out of the corner of his eye.

“Ut semper divisa.”

Setimika ignored the chants as water dripped on his head again and cleared his throat.

“Todi? Todi, it’s me, Setimika.”

The relief in his friend’s voice was indisputable. “Oh, praise the Pilots! I didn’t know who’d got through the last round.”

Setimika nearly snorted in derision, “What? And you thought I wouldn’t, thanks!”

Another voice croaked from his right.

“Will you two stop squawking? My head’s killing me.”

“Alo!” the Squires exclaimed joyfully, making their friend groan again.

“Ut semper divisa.”

The water dripped.

“And tell them to shut up and all!”

The three Gessan peered into the gloom as an equal number of Separamus stepped forwards, hoods drawn, just skirting the shaft of light that washed over them. Their mouths were still, but the chanting continued behind them. A cold sweat prickled all over Setimika’s naked flesh as the middle monk stepped towards him.

“The second test has begun. Learning the truth is never easy. It can make you stronger...or break you. Which will it be?”

As if to back up his challenge, the unseen voices chanted again just as the water dropped onto Setimika’s forehead and rolled straight into his mouth. He spat frantically, as the unexpected taste shocked him to his core. It wasn’t water...it was blood.

“Ut semper divisa.”

Looking around at his companions, confused, he saw streaks of red painting their own faces.

“So, we just have to listen to them chanting? For how long? Is this all of us?” Todi’s voice rose as his head swivelled frantically, peering into the darkness.

“I don’t know... maybe the room extends, maybe they are in other rooms,” he paused and left his final thought unspoken. Maybe they didn’t make it. “Let’s listen to what they are actually saying.” Setimika tried to still his friends as a cold shudder of foreboding scurried over his limbs, leaving his skin erect in a rash of fear. The hooded monk before him smiled. Setimika wished for a split second that he could see his eyes.

“That is a wise idea, young Setimika.” He took a step closer until he was a hand-span from the young squire’s face. “Let’s hear what it is your little friend.... Serakela wants to unleash.”

His heart stopped in panic at the girl’s name. What did she have to do with anything? He craned his neck, about to retort, when the shadowy monks started their song anew. Blood dripped.

The

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