Page 110 of Of Shadows and Blood

“That’s quite all right.” Cedric smiles, motioning to me. “I believe we have some purchases to make.”

“Of course!” The cess is younger, perhaps freshly graduated from being an acolyte. Cess don’t have to work in their field of healing or magic. Many live normal lives but almost all take their education seriously. Having a loose control on your magic can be detrimental.

I sneak in a pair of matching slippers to the pile. “Sorry,” I mumble sheepishly.

“Sorry for what?” I’m already imagining slipping this dress from your shoulders later tonight. Cedric grins into my ear. He resorts to speaking through our bond again.

Cedric! Behave!

That’s boring.

The proprietor clears her throat and I remember she might catch a little of what was said, depending on her powers.

“One hundred grata, Lady Elivienne.” The cess smiles.

“Grata…?” I look at Cedric as he hands her coin. More than what she asked but it’s no dent for his coffers.

“Our denomination.”

“In my dream state…” I try to remember the distant memory from the village. The woman begins packing the dress and slippers neatly in brown paper.

Yes, that was me. The one time I was able to see the world. I thought it was a simple dream at the time. It was easy, then, to play along.

So when I awoke…

You can understand my concern now.

Understandable. You were very generous that day.

My first time mindwalking. You awoke just shortly after so naturally I thought I did something to trigger it.

I squeeze his hand. You made an impact on me in that moment. He smiles back at me and I move to grab the parcel from the counter at the same time the cess starts to hand it over. Our hands touch just briefly. No, they shock. She draws hers back quickly, as if stung badly. In one moment, her eyes gloss over and she goes still. Void of movement. Of life.

“Hello?” I question, looking at her inquisitively.

The woman immediately snaps out of the trance she was in, if that is what you call it, and grabs her beads nervously.

“You,” she wonders. “What happened to you? Your mind. It’s splintered. Damaged.” The emphasis on happened makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Cedric moves his hand to his sword but she continues, her eyes fixed but also absent, as if she is not with us.

“Wary deals made on a dark road. Locked in unseeming voids. A fusion that will determine holy lands, destroy bloodline and complete souls. A symbol of night who walks in the light. The one to complete. The one to destroy. Where does the splinter fuse? Where does the splinter fuse?”

She begins repeating the last line faster and faster, hyperventilating with each word. Fabric around us begins to shift and lift from its racks, knocking into glass and other trinkets. Her power unhinges with each breath.

“Fuck!” Cedric yells, reaching for her across the counter. My magic sparks and burns under my fingers and I raise them to see small burn marks at the tips.

Could she have been involved in my attack?

“What’s happening?” I croak, feeling my body trigger and heat.

As if a pin dropped on the ground, everything ceases and falls back to the earth. Glass shatters and metal clangs. My hands cool and I sway from the release. The cess faints against the back wall and on instinct, I step around the counter, catching her before she hits the floor. I make sure to touch her linen clothing only.

“Rietta!” A man runs out from the back room. He takes my place and examines her frail form on the ground. Slowly, she comes to and a few patrons have wandered into the store from the commotion.

“She was speaking so fast, I didn’t understand,” I begin to explain. Uneasiness has washed over Cedric, who keeps a stable distance. The man waves a magazine over her face, shaking her slightly. Rietta’s eyes slowly peel open, adjusting to the light and people around.

“What are you…?” I ask, staring at Rietta on the ground. Her eyes flick from me to Cedric before coming back to me.