us.”
“Wink, stop. I think we’re seeing evil Spirits where there are none.”
“Maybe, but I doubt it.”
Water dripped in the far corner, creating a dark spot on the hard-packed floor. Last night’s ferocious wind had probably torn loose a portion of the thatch roof. They would have to repair it before the next storm.
“Sora, what did you and Skinner discuss yesterday before I had him dragged off?”
“I think he knew my soul had slipped inside him … . We talk often.”
If she told Wink the truth, Wink would order Skinner hunted down and clubbed to death.
“He asked me to give him three days.”
“Three days to do what?”
“Talk to me. He said there are things he must tell me.”
“Do you still think Flint’s shadow-soul might be hiding inside him?” When Sora hesitated, Wink ordered, “I want the truth.”
“I don’t know. I don’t think he’s evil.”
“Oh, well,” Wink said with exaggerated politeness, “that’s very convincing.”
Sora searched Wink’s face. “Why did you give him that satisfied smile after he told you he just needed a few more days?”
Wink scowled at her. “Because I did feel satisfied. I was looking for him and I found him. What surprised me was that I found him in your house. I thought you said you were going to stay away from him.”
Sora waved a hand. “I was in the temple when he walked out of the council chamber and came up behind me. I didn’t know he was there. If I had, I wouldn’t have gone home.”
Wink’s expression softened. “I’m sorry. I should have ordered the guards to search there first. It never occurred to me he would be that bold.”
“It doesn’t matter now. Did Wading Heron say anything else?”
“Yes. Apparently the thing that worried her most was that Skinner was drenched in blood, but neither of them seemed to be wounded. She said her own personal Healer looked each man over carefully and found no injury that would explain the blood.”
“Skinner may have killed someone trying to protect Flint.”
“Did he say that?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Did her Healer have any idea what caused Flint’s death?”
“Not really, though he suspected poison.”
“Poison?” Sora whispered. Her heart fluttered. “What kind of poison?”
“Wading Heron didn’t say.”
Behind her eyes, images passed as though painted in sequence … From the time he’d been a boy, Flint had longed to be a Healer, not a warrior, as his grandmother insisted. He’d always experimented with Spirit Plants, and become quite fond of nightshade berries and buckeye nuts—both deadly poisonous to the uninitiated. She’d found him lying in the forest on numerous occasions locked
in visions, his arms and legs trembling while he stared at the sky with huge black pupils. Usually, he would linger in that state for about six hands of time; then his soul would return to his body, and he’d spend the rest of the night throwing up. He’d even gone to study with the renowned Healer Long Lance, whom many called a witch; but Flint had come home after a single moon, saying the old man had already taught him what he needed to know. He’d tried very hard to find a Spirit Helper, but none would come to him.
Sora squeezed her eyes closed.
Wink said, “What’s the matter?”
“I was remembering the time Flint ate too many nightshade berries. Do you remember that?”
“How could I forget? The convulsions lasted most of one day; then his soul was lost for another two days before Teal found it wandering alone in the forest and brought it home to his body. Do you think that’s what happened?”
Sora opened her eyes. “Just before he divorced me, he started eating more and more Spirit Plants. On several occasions, I thought he was dead. He told me he could feel his Spirit Helper’s wings beating just beyond his reach. If he could just fly a little higher, he knew he could climb onto the giant bird’s back.”
“The idiot.”
“I begged him
“Wink, stop. I think we’re seeing evil Spirits where there are none.”
“Maybe, but I doubt it.”
Water dripped in the far corner, creating a dark spot on the hard-packed floor. Last night’s ferocious wind had probably torn loose a portion of the thatch roof. They would have to repair it before the next storm.
“Sora, what did you and Skinner discuss yesterday before I had him dragged off?”
“I think he knew my soul had slipped inside him … . We talk often.”
If she told Wink the truth, Wink would order Skinner hunted down and clubbed to death.
“He asked me to give him three days.”
“Three days to do what?”
“Talk to me. He said there are things he must tell me.”
“Do you still think Flint’s shadow-soul might be hiding inside him?” When Sora hesitated, Wink ordered, “I want the truth.”
“I don’t know. I don’t think he’s evil.”
“Oh, well,” Wink said with exaggerated politeness, “that’s very convincing.”
Sora searched Wink’s face. “Why did you give him that satisfied smile after he told you he just needed a few more days?”
Wink scowled at her. “Because I did feel satisfied. I was looking for him and I found him. What surprised me was that I found him in your house. I thought you said you were going to stay away from him.”
Sora waved a hand. “I was in the temple when he walked out of the council chamber and came up behind me. I didn’t know he was there. If I had, I wouldn’t have gone home.”
Wink’s expression softened. “I’m sorry. I should have ordered the guards to search there first. It never occurred to me he would be that bold.”
“It doesn’t matter now. Did Wading Heron say anything else?”
“Yes. Apparently the thing that worried her most was that Skinner was drenched in blood, but neither of them seemed to be wounded. She said her own personal Healer looked each man over carefully and found no injury that would explain the blood.”
“Skinner may have killed someone trying to protect Flint.”
“Did he say that?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Did her Healer have any idea what caused Flint’s death?”
“Not really, though he suspected poison.”
“Poison?” Sora whispered. Her heart fluttered. “What kind of poison?”
“Wading Heron didn’t say.”
Behind her eyes, images passed as though painted in sequence … From the time he’d been a boy, Flint had longed to be a Healer, not a warrior, as his grandmother insisted. He’d always experimented with Spirit Plants, and become quite fond of nightshade berries and buckeye nuts—both deadly poisonous to the uninitiated. She’d found him lying in the forest on numerous occasions locked
in visions, his arms and legs trembling while he stared at the sky with huge black pupils. Usually, he would linger in that state for about six hands of time; then his soul would return to his body, and he’d spend the rest of the night throwing up. He’d even gone to study with the renowned Healer Long Lance, whom many called a witch; but Flint had come home after a single moon, saying the old man had already taught him what he needed to know. He’d tried very hard to find a Spirit Helper, but none would come to him.
Sora squeezed her eyes closed.
Wink said, “What’s the matter?”
“I was remembering the time Flint ate too many nightshade berries. Do you remember that?”
“How could I forget? The convulsions lasted most of one day; then his soul was lost for another two days before Teal found it wandering alone in the forest and brought it home to his body. Do you think that’s what happened?”
Sora opened her eyes. “Just before he divorced me, he started eating more and more Spirit Plants. On several occasions, I thought he was dead. He told me he could feel his Spirit Helper’s wings beating just beyond his reach. If he could just fly a little higher, he knew he could climb onto the giant bird’s back.”
“The idiot.”
“I begged him
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