always been better than me with herbs.”
“Don’t worry, Bronny. You can still love me from afar.” Sinjenasta winked.
“Ha, ha. Very funny. Why can’t you be allergic to me? Why is it that people are allergic to animals, yet you’re not allergic to us?”
“Just lucky, I guess.” Sinjenasta licked a giant paw and cleaned his face.
“I think Drakon should help; he’s the one who made us bond.”
Blayke’s voice held bitterness Arcon had never before heard, “Drakon’s help comes with a high price—avoid asking him for anything.”
“That’s a bit harsh.”
“He’s right, Bronwyn. Sometimes it’s better living with the gormon you know.” Sinjenasta’s mind voice sounded resigned.
“Hmph. All the sneezing’s made me tired. I think I’ll turn in.” She felt sorry for herself that she couldn't snuggle up to Sinjenasta whenever she wanted—he’d become a comfort since she’d been separated from her aunt and best friend, Corrille. She burrowed farther into her bedroll, her back to the small fire, and shut her eyes. The sooner she fell asleep, the sooner it would be time to start on the last leg of their trip. She would see Corrille and Avruellen again tomorrow afternoon—a time she longed for, and dreaded. Arcon hadn’t told Avruellen their secret was out, and Bronwyn had no idea how her aunt would react. Bronwyn had many questions to ask and would be angry if they weren’t answered. As much as she would be happy to see her aunt, she was also ready for a battle of wills, which up to now was something she had never won against her aunt. She fell asleep listening to the soft murmur of Arcon and Blayke’s conversation—whatever happened tomorrow, she was finally part of a family. No one was going to take that away from her again.
***
Avruellen woke happy—well, as happy as one could be when gormons were skulking around Talia. Today she would see her niece again. She couldn’t scry for Arcon and Bronny—Agmunsten had warned her they would be shielding on the way, so she had to wait the old-fashioned way. It would be a relief to see them. Even though Carpus was a quaint enough town, she couldn’t shield herself for so long without dying from the effort, and creaturas didn’t have the skills to shield—that seemed to be a gift given from the gods to humans—so Flux couldn’t help. As a result, she felt like the lone gozzleberry pie at a culinary festival for hungry people—it was only a matter of time before the gormons, or whoever had been watching her, would stick their claws in. Her one consolation was the true dream she’d had last night. She dreamt of Bronwyn rubbing her face into the giant panther, which was odd. The image only lasted for a minute—long enough for her to see Bronwyn sneezing uncontrollably; she hoped she wasn't getting a cold. Avruellen knew they were due sometime today, so she dressed with an enthusiasm she hadn’t felt in a while.
She strolled the length of the town and back again, trying to project an air of calm, but when she’d finished, not only was she not tired, she was bored. Even though it was dangerous, Avruellen decided to walk towards where her niece would be coming from and meet them on the way. She called to Flux, telling him to meet her one mile from Carpus.
As Avruellen walked the well-worn dirt path, the ferocious winds that, on her arrival, had raked the yellowing shafts of grass until they lay flat upon the ground, had dissipated to a steady breeze that bent the long blades to a sighing crescent. The overnight change in the weather had come as a surprise after the constant thrashing upon the coast— how fortuitous, she thought. The captain she had spoken to previously would be ready to sail in the morning, then. Avruellen and Arcon would have one day to catch up before they sailed. She bit the inside of her cheek as she thought about the news she had to share—just thinking about it made the hairs on her arms stand on end.
A
“Don’t worry, Bronny. You can still love me from afar.” Sinjenasta winked.
“Ha, ha. Very funny. Why can’t you be allergic to me? Why is it that people are allergic to animals, yet you’re not allergic to us?”
“Just lucky, I guess.” Sinjenasta licked a giant paw and cleaned his face.
“I think Drakon should help; he’s the one who made us bond.”
Blayke’s voice held bitterness Arcon had never before heard, “Drakon’s help comes with a high price—avoid asking him for anything.”
“That’s a bit harsh.”
“He’s right, Bronwyn. Sometimes it’s better living with the gormon you know.” Sinjenasta’s mind voice sounded resigned.
“Hmph. All the sneezing’s made me tired. I think I’ll turn in.” She felt sorry for herself that she couldn't snuggle up to Sinjenasta whenever she wanted—he’d become a comfort since she’d been separated from her aunt and best friend, Corrille. She burrowed farther into her bedroll, her back to the small fire, and shut her eyes. The sooner she fell asleep, the sooner it would be time to start on the last leg of their trip. She would see Corrille and Avruellen again tomorrow afternoon—a time she longed for, and dreaded. Arcon hadn’t told Avruellen their secret was out, and Bronwyn had no idea how her aunt would react. Bronwyn had many questions to ask and would be angry if they weren’t answered. As much as she would be happy to see her aunt, she was also ready for a battle of wills, which up to now was something she had never won against her aunt. She fell asleep listening to the soft murmur of Arcon and Blayke’s conversation—whatever happened tomorrow, she was finally part of a family. No one was going to take that away from her again.
***
Avruellen woke happy—well, as happy as one could be when gormons were skulking around Talia. Today she would see her niece again. She couldn’t scry for Arcon and Bronny—Agmunsten had warned her they would be shielding on the way, so she had to wait the old-fashioned way. It would be a relief to see them. Even though Carpus was a quaint enough town, she couldn’t shield herself for so long without dying from the effort, and creaturas didn’t have the skills to shield—that seemed to be a gift given from the gods to humans—so Flux couldn’t help. As a result, she felt like the lone gozzleberry pie at a culinary festival for hungry people—it was only a matter of time before the gormons, or whoever had been watching her, would stick their claws in. Her one consolation was the true dream she’d had last night. She dreamt of Bronwyn rubbing her face into the giant panther, which was odd. The image only lasted for a minute—long enough for her to see Bronwyn sneezing uncontrollably; she hoped she wasn't getting a cold. Avruellen knew they were due sometime today, so she dressed with an enthusiasm she hadn’t felt in a while.
She strolled the length of the town and back again, trying to project an air of calm, but when she’d finished, not only was she not tired, she was bored. Even though it was dangerous, Avruellen decided to walk towards where her niece would be coming from and meet them on the way. She called to Flux, telling him to meet her one mile from Carpus.
As Avruellen walked the well-worn dirt path, the ferocious winds that, on her arrival, had raked the yellowing shafts of grass until they lay flat upon the ground, had dissipated to a steady breeze that bent the long blades to a sighing crescent. The overnight change in the weather had come as a surprise after the constant thrashing upon the coast— how fortuitous, she thought. The captain she had spoken to previously would be ready to sail in the morning, then. Avruellen and Arcon would have one day to catch up before they sailed. She bit the inside of her cheek as she thought about the news she had to share—just thinking about it made the hairs on her arms stand on end.
A
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