the fey, drunk or sober, steered clear of our small band,
watching us covertly or even staring openly as we passed them.
As
dusk fell in earnest, we rejoined our companions in the main square.
They’d been waiting for us, and I slowed as I realized something was off.
Hazel was pale and visibly shaken. Peter and Isabel were not much better off.
I wondered what had happened, and apparently, so did Riven. He
beelined for Hazel, gesturing for us to follow. I joined Erikah as we
began the long walk back to the Citadel; she didn’t look as rattled as the
others.
“I
love your necklace,” she exclaimed as soon as she saw it.
“Thanks!
It didn’t cost too much, either,” I replied loudly for Riven’s benefit, then
lowered my voice. “What happened? Ya’ll seem unnerved.”
“I
wish I’d picked your trip, Jan,” Erikah lamented. “I was trying to be
more adventurous. Usually the technical stuff appeals to me.”
“You’re
still not telling me what happened.”
Erikah
glanced to Hazel, who conferred quietly with Riven ahead of us. Hazel
kept looking over her shoulder nervously. “Well, the last event of our tour
didn’t go as planned. We visited their temple for a purification
rite. Hazel says it’s a fairly common ritual, especially for people who
have traveled a long way. The idea was to align our personal
energies with the flow of magic in preparation for the festival tonight.
If I hadn’t already felt magic before this, I’d probably have written it off as
a bunch of bullshit.” Her eyes were slightly glassy, and her speech was
slower than usual. Was she high?
She
confirmed my suspicions. “Apparently this ceremony requires some lovely
plants that still haven’t worn off. I think Peter and Isabel are a bit
more susceptible than I am. I might have a tolerance to that sort of
thing.”
I
raised my eyebrow. I enjoyed the occasional recreational substance, but
not enough to ‘have a tolerance’. Erikah saw my face and shrugged
apologetically. “Weed helps me relax before a big speaking event. I
get anxiety.”
“Believe
me, no judgement. But that doesn’t explain why everyone is freaked out.”
“Yeaaaaaah,”
she drawled. “So the priest who was conducting the ceremony, once he
started trying to redirect our energies, started shaking and almost having a
seizure. He sounded like he was having a horrific nightmare.”
“Is
he ok?”
“He
recovered after a few minutes. By that time, Isabel and Peter were
completely freaked out. Hazel hadn’t seemed that high, but she was
practically fucking panicking. Once he came to, and started waving
his arms and ranting in Anowir about fire and death and destruction, she sent
us all outside. She was in there for a looong time dealing with
him.”
“That would do it,” I muttered.
Isabel
joined us, still skittish and bright-eyed. “Do you have any snacks?” she
asked, and I couldn’t help but grin.
“Hang
in there, Isabel.” I gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Everything will
be ok.”
“I
bet you it’s a Halloween prank.” Erikah confided to her with a
wink. Bless her. Isabel took a deep breath and nodded, confidence slowly
returning.
I
peered at Riven, trying to gauge his reaction. He turned to scan the
street behind us, his lips pressed together in a tight grimace. Our eyes
met, and his jaw set, hands glowing briefly. My stomach sank as my heart
lifted. Riven obviously thought the threat was warranted; he would fight
to protect us.
I’d
never felt so vulnerable.
Chapter Nine
We
took a short siesta back in our rooms, and I seized the opportunity to jump
into the shower. The glass arched above my head, tiny holes in the pipes
creating an omnidirectional spray. A wicker mat was the only precaution
against falling. The water was infused with a familiar, relaxing
fragrance. Lavender? I didn’t bother with soap; no one could shower here
and not come out
watching us covertly or even staring openly as we passed them.
As
dusk fell in earnest, we rejoined our companions in the main square.
They’d been waiting for us, and I slowed as I realized something was off.
Hazel was pale and visibly shaken. Peter and Isabel were not much better off.
I wondered what had happened, and apparently, so did Riven. He
beelined for Hazel, gesturing for us to follow. I joined Erikah as we
began the long walk back to the Citadel; she didn’t look as rattled as the
others.
“I
love your necklace,” she exclaimed as soon as she saw it.
“Thanks!
It didn’t cost too much, either,” I replied loudly for Riven’s benefit, then
lowered my voice. “What happened? Ya’ll seem unnerved.”
“I
wish I’d picked your trip, Jan,” Erikah lamented. “I was trying to be
more adventurous. Usually the technical stuff appeals to me.”
“You’re
still not telling me what happened.”
Erikah
glanced to Hazel, who conferred quietly with Riven ahead of us. Hazel
kept looking over her shoulder nervously. “Well, the last event of our tour
didn’t go as planned. We visited their temple for a purification
rite. Hazel says it’s a fairly common ritual, especially for people who
have traveled a long way. The idea was to align our personal
energies with the flow of magic in preparation for the festival tonight.
If I hadn’t already felt magic before this, I’d probably have written it off as
a bunch of bullshit.” Her eyes were slightly glassy, and her speech was
slower than usual. Was she high?
She
confirmed my suspicions. “Apparently this ceremony requires some lovely
plants that still haven’t worn off. I think Peter and Isabel are a bit
more susceptible than I am. I might have a tolerance to that sort of
thing.”
I
raised my eyebrow. I enjoyed the occasional recreational substance, but
not enough to ‘have a tolerance’. Erikah saw my face and shrugged
apologetically. “Weed helps me relax before a big speaking event. I
get anxiety.”
“Believe
me, no judgement. But that doesn’t explain why everyone is freaked out.”
“Yeaaaaaah,”
she drawled. “So the priest who was conducting the ceremony, once he
started trying to redirect our energies, started shaking and almost having a
seizure. He sounded like he was having a horrific nightmare.”
“Is
he ok?”
“He
recovered after a few minutes. By that time, Isabel and Peter were
completely freaked out. Hazel hadn’t seemed that high, but she was
practically fucking panicking. Once he came to, and started waving
his arms and ranting in Anowir about fire and death and destruction, she sent
us all outside. She was in there for a looong time dealing with
him.”
“That would do it,” I muttered.
Isabel
joined us, still skittish and bright-eyed. “Do you have any snacks?” she
asked, and I couldn’t help but grin.
“Hang
in there, Isabel.” I gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Everything will
be ok.”
“I
bet you it’s a Halloween prank.” Erikah confided to her with a
wink. Bless her. Isabel took a deep breath and nodded, confidence slowly
returning.
I
peered at Riven, trying to gauge his reaction. He turned to scan the
street behind us, his lips pressed together in a tight grimace. Our eyes
met, and his jaw set, hands glowing briefly. My stomach sank as my heart
lifted. Riven obviously thought the threat was warranted; he would fight
to protect us.
I’d
never felt so vulnerable.
Chapter Nine
We
took a short siesta back in our rooms, and I seized the opportunity to jump
into the shower. The glass arched above my head, tiny holes in the pipes
creating an omnidirectional spray. A wicker mat was the only precaution
against falling. The water was infused with a familiar, relaxing
fragrance. Lavender? I didn’t bother with soap; no one could shower here
and not come out
Similar Books
