Echoes in the Dark by Robin D. Owens Page B

stopped, the other Exotiques shared a glance.
    Calli
said, “Honey…”
    Raine
didn’t listen but heard Marian’s voice in her head as she hurried down the
flights of stairs. We’ll figure out some story. A soft sigh. But I
think Alexa and Bri are right. It may have to be a sailing accident, amnesia, a
wealthy foreigner with pressing business and a private jet. A love affair in
Europe. We’re thinking Sweden. Your memory has just returned.
    Raine
gritted her teeth—sounded like some novels she’d enjoyed but didn’t believe.
Obviously the others had the same taste in fiction.
    Her
body remained tense until she knew nobody was coming after her, though from the
buzzing in her mind she understood that the others were discussing her. Fine.
    She’d
meant to turn back to town, but her feet took her to the Temple. As usual, the
hum of Power in the building enveloped her, merged with her own, and she felt
less anxious, more able to handle anything that happened.
    She
wasn’t the only one in the Temple. Knots of Chevaliers were discussing the new
situation and she sensed they were all relieved not to have been in a Summoning
circle.
    Some
individuals were Singing—praying. Raine heard one soprano requesting she do
well on the trials for the invasion force and be chosen to go on the great
adventure.
    Raine
shuddered.
    Though
people nodded at her, no one bothered her and she went to the altar again. The
chime candles were lit.
    She
stared at the gong. There was something about it. She walked around it, brushed
it with fingertips. There was an energy she couldn’t quite understand but
thought she should….
    Raine! Puppy Enerin
bulleted to her, jumped into her arms.
    Looking
up at her with huge brown eyes and tongue lolling, Enerin said, I can now do
many, many shifts and forms. As many as I like! The puppy rolled from
Raine’s grasp to under the altar cloth and emerged as a kitten.
    You
like this form best. She smiled a little cat smile showing baby teeth.
    Raine
smiled back.
    Now
I can go with you on the Ship.
    Raine
stopped smiling.
    Singer’s Abbey
    T he next morning,
Jikata awoke late and only thought she was in Denver for a few seconds. The new
soundtrack of her life reminded her she was in Lladrana. For better or worse.
She was managing to deal with the day-to-day stresses. Still, she’d need some
answers soon.
    Chasonette
chirped, “Salutations, Jikata.”
    “Hello,
Chasonette.”
    Apparently
the bird took that as an invitation to fly through the open side bed curtains
and perch on her knee. Chasonette tilted her head and revved up her personal
Song. Jikata eyed her. “So, Chasonette, what do you want?”
    The
cockatoo shifted from one of Jikata’s knees to the other, her tail lifted and
dipped and Jikata had misgivings but the cover stayed clean. A tiny sound
almost like the clearing of a throat came from the bird.
    I
am your companion.
    “I
suppose so.”
    So
I should be with you all the time.
    Jikata
chose careful words. “I don’t believe that’s true.”
    The
bird seemed to perk up. No?
    “No.”
    The
feycoocus and volarans said so. One yellow eye turned to consider
Jikata.
    “What
are faycouscous and volarans?”
    Chasonette
preened. I am with you to help you learn our ways.
    “Thank
you.”
    Feycoocus
are magical beings. A trill of Song, full of wonder. They can shape-shift into many bird forms.
Animals, too. Chasonette clicked her beak in disapproval. They are about
my size, whatever shape.
    “Ah.”
    Volarans
are winged horses.
    “Oh,
right.” The maid had used that word last night when Jikata had opened the
curtains at the foot of the bed. Jikata had been nude and that hadn’t seemed to
bother the young woman, but leaving the curtains open had. They’d had a mimed
discussion that got vigorous, particularly after Jikata had asked who’d see her
from the third-story window, with no close buildings around. The maid had
flapped her arms like a bird, then galloped like a horse. Jikata