The Obsidian Temple by Kelley Grant

when I was taken, it would be that easy. Just talk with the One, ask questions. Mostly what we get are feelings; really, hints of a greater mind pushing us toward feeling one way or another. I’ve only heard the One’s voice once, through Yaslin, when I was taken. And it made me realize just how not-­us the One is. We try to pretend the One is female or male—­but we weren’t created in the image of the One. She is truly Other.”
    Kadar thought of the voice that had echoed in his brain through Amber, that feeling of something so vast and old and huge. That was what had terrified Aunt Raella so much, that feeling of otherness. He nodded.
    â€œI think that’s why she communicates through the feli . Their minds are other as well, but much simpler and so more accepting of something so strange. She can, in some sense, translate through their minds to make her communication bearable, understandable. But that communication is so difficult to distill that it is only in the direst need that it is worth the effort.”
    â€œI’ve heard that voice,” Kadar confirmed. “Through that little beast.”
    He pointed at Amber, who stared back at him with her almond-­shaped blue eyes.
    Alannah smiled ruefully. “I thought I’d seen a hint that you were One-­touched,” she admitted. “It leaves a mark on the mind.”
    â€œThat’s part of why I wanted to come to you. I guess I have some sort of communication talent, but it was blocked when I was young and can only be removed by someone with the proper training. I could return to the desert to have it removed, but . . .” Kadar said.
    â€œYou don’t want to leave your beloved and baby again,” Alannah sympathized. “Well, sit in front of me so I can see what we’ve got. We block little ones with the gift as well, so it doesn’t drive them crazy, but they’re always picked by a feli , and it gets removed by the deities when they are taken. You’d better have this little one in contact,” she said, gathering Amber up. “Yaslin, here please.”
    The white feli paced over and rested her head on Alannah’s knee as Kadar sat cross-­legged in front of Alannah’s chair. She plunked Amber on his lap and put her cool hands on either side of his head, by the temples. As he watched, her eyes closed and her face grew serene.
    â€œYes, quite a bit of talent here,” she said in a flat voice.
    His vision wavered suddenly, and he closed his eyes. He could feel her rummaging around in his head and resisted the urge to shove her away. His eyes twitched as the pressure built behind them.
    Then the pressure dissolved, and his mind felt light. Too light, wide open. He heard voices and automatically tuned into one. He felt a startled awareness turn toward him.
    Alannah? the female voice asked. Is there an emergency? Do I need to come?
    Alannah spoke through him somehow. No Tori, she reassured the woman. I’ve awakened a strong sleeper. Hold fast. The time is not now.
    Kadar jerked away from Alannah’s hands, dumping Amber off his lap. “Who was that?” he demanded. “How did you talk to her through me?”
    Alannah lowered her hands. “You are very strong, Kadar. Tori is way up north. Counselors communicate with other Counselors far away through men and women like you. Usually, we have to relay from one talent who is nearby, who sends to one farther away to send across that distance.”
    Something clicked in Kadar’s brain. “The Vrishni,” he exclaimed. “They aren’t just wanderers are they? They work for you. You can communicate through them.”
    â€œThey work for the One,” Alannah corrected. “Tell that only to Southerners you trust to keep it to themselves. Let me touch you again, so I can show you how to block all those voices. It’ll take practice to be able to pinpoint one person to communicate with.