her curly black hair bounced a little. “You know that’s not normal, right?”
I nodded slowly.
“And you know that is THE. COOLEST. THING. EVERRRRR!” She broke into a wide grin, and I joined her.
“His shirt rode up a little during one of his moves…” I started.
“OMGOMGOMGEEEEEEEE!” She screamed.
“William is a hottie ,” I said.
Our laughter pealed around the room enfolding us in its ripples.
Crady threw a pillow at me, and if we didn’t have wet nails, it would have turned into a nasty dogfight of epic feather pillow proportions. But we had to watch our mani/pedis.
15
Zarastrid’s Log Day 254
Year of Our Loch 107
I’m frantic. We lost one of the mothers in childbirth last night. The babes are coming early. None of us planned on a shorter gestation. Zainel flies from one cell to the next, shouting out orders to those of us not squeamish around birthing women, and the slaves are working doubly hard. Zeko killed one of them who complained of being overtired.
In an effort to divert the Coven’s attention away from my feelings for Agnes, I have intentionally stayed away from her. I have no idea what she’s feeling, if she is laboring or still waiting for the birth pains. She must know I care for her, even though I am absent.
I can’t stir up the Coven’s ire. Or further rouse the anger of Zeko. These are dangerous times.
The beat of war drums sound not too distantly. The religious leader of nations is calling for war. The Coven chafes under the rule of the deluded church. As soon as the infants are grown men, we will have the upper hand. But first we must do all in our power to preserve the lives of the infants, and those of the mothers as well. The Coven, while without hearts, is not heartless. We will allow the mothers to nurse and teach the babes until the fifth year. Zainel insists a mother’s love will ensure the healthiest outcome. It will be most efficient to have the mothers teach them language and toilette skills. Upon their fifth year, the Coven will surrender the boys to Zeko, the Battle Loch. I admit to misgivings.
I hear Zainel screaming for more hot water; I must away.
16
William
William lay on his bed in the dark, arms behind his head. He couldn’t get Jane out of his head, couldn’t tell if he wanted to. Her shimmer was everywhere in this damn town. He’d seen it almost as soon as they entered the town’s boundary. Long pale pink streaks fanned out all over the roads and side streets. There were more at certain places of course, such as the school and her street. The video store and the local pizza joint, the library, and the playground where he’d done his Misrillet were some other spots.
He pondered what it might mean, that he could see her paths so clearly. He knew the history of his people, the abilities that the Warlochs had ‘bestowed ‘ upon them. Among other things, the ability to see certain people’s spark of life, or aura or whatever you wanted to call it. Anciently, his people thought it was magic. Now they understood it was enhanced genetics. He’d been taught that the genetic link to another person helped in the field of battle. You could keep track of a certain foe, or find the healers more quickly. Some legendary warriors could see everyone’s path, others could only see some. He’d never been able to see anyone’s before. He figured it was latent or maybe never coming at all. Now it was here full force, but only for her path. He hadn’t told his father yet.
William reflected on the day. It started in the wee hours, when he finally convinced his father to pull over by flashing his lights behind the moving truck. They needed to consult the map. A friendly police officer stopped to help them and they continued on. When he started seeing the pink paths everywhere, it made him gasp. And he was Warrior; he never gasped.
He was startled to see it stronger on their new street, and then, when he sat on his mattress and stared out through
I nodded slowly.
“And you know that is THE. COOLEST. THING. EVERRRRR!” She broke into a wide grin, and I joined her.
“His shirt rode up a little during one of his moves…” I started.
“OMGOMGOMGEEEEEEEE!” She screamed.
“William is a hottie ,” I said.
Our laughter pealed around the room enfolding us in its ripples.
Crady threw a pillow at me, and if we didn’t have wet nails, it would have turned into a nasty dogfight of epic feather pillow proportions. But we had to watch our mani/pedis.
15
Zarastrid’s Log Day 254
Year of Our Loch 107
I’m frantic. We lost one of the mothers in childbirth last night. The babes are coming early. None of us planned on a shorter gestation. Zainel flies from one cell to the next, shouting out orders to those of us not squeamish around birthing women, and the slaves are working doubly hard. Zeko killed one of them who complained of being overtired.
In an effort to divert the Coven’s attention away from my feelings for Agnes, I have intentionally stayed away from her. I have no idea what she’s feeling, if she is laboring or still waiting for the birth pains. She must know I care for her, even though I am absent.
I can’t stir up the Coven’s ire. Or further rouse the anger of Zeko. These are dangerous times.
The beat of war drums sound not too distantly. The religious leader of nations is calling for war. The Coven chafes under the rule of the deluded church. As soon as the infants are grown men, we will have the upper hand. But first we must do all in our power to preserve the lives of the infants, and those of the mothers as well. The Coven, while without hearts, is not heartless. We will allow the mothers to nurse and teach the babes until the fifth year. Zainel insists a mother’s love will ensure the healthiest outcome. It will be most efficient to have the mothers teach them language and toilette skills. Upon their fifth year, the Coven will surrender the boys to Zeko, the Battle Loch. I admit to misgivings.
I hear Zainel screaming for more hot water; I must away.
16
William
William lay on his bed in the dark, arms behind his head. He couldn’t get Jane out of his head, couldn’t tell if he wanted to. Her shimmer was everywhere in this damn town. He’d seen it almost as soon as they entered the town’s boundary. Long pale pink streaks fanned out all over the roads and side streets. There were more at certain places of course, such as the school and her street. The video store and the local pizza joint, the library, and the playground where he’d done his Misrillet were some other spots.
He pondered what it might mean, that he could see her paths so clearly. He knew the history of his people, the abilities that the Warlochs had ‘bestowed ‘ upon them. Among other things, the ability to see certain people’s spark of life, or aura or whatever you wanted to call it. Anciently, his people thought it was magic. Now they understood it was enhanced genetics. He’d been taught that the genetic link to another person helped in the field of battle. You could keep track of a certain foe, or find the healers more quickly. Some legendary warriors could see everyone’s path, others could only see some. He’d never been able to see anyone’s before. He figured it was latent or maybe never coming at all. Now it was here full force, but only for her path. He hadn’t told his father yet.
William reflected on the day. It started in the wee hours, when he finally convinced his father to pull over by flashing his lights behind the moving truck. They needed to consult the map. A friendly police officer stopped to help them and they continued on. When he started seeing the pink paths everywhere, it made him gasp. And he was Warrior; he never gasped.
He was startled to see it stronger on their new street, and then, when he sat on his mattress and stared out through
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