with the usual recollections of smells,
tastes, sounds and emotions.
“What did you do?” Marcus asked Syranna softly.
Instinctively, he was beginning to perceive the discrepancies.
“I did apologize, remember. I am truly sorry—”
“Damn it all, woman! Just tell me!”
Syranna looked away from Marcus’ accusing glare. “I made you
think that you had accomplished your deed, but instead you fell unconscious. It
wasn’t long, only minutes at the most.”
Marcus had known all along something had not felt quite
right. He had assumed it was guilt over forcing Syranna. He opened his mouth to
answer, when a high-pitched squeal sounded first. Turning, Marcus saw old Uther
pointing at Syranna.
“I knew it! All along, I knew it. Mathayrus told me I was
imagining things, but I knew it.” The old man stopped his gleeful dance and
pointed a gnarled finger at Syranna. “You’re a mind-bender!” Uther accused with
a laugh, and danced another little jig in delight, nearly clicking his heels
together in what appeared to be delight.
“A mind-bender? What the hell is that?” William asked the
question before Marcus could as they both looked at the old man.
Marcus reached out and grabbed Syranna’s arm. “You controlled
my mind? You put thoughts in my head?”
Syranna frowned, and Marcus could see that acceptance of
knowing she couldn’t lie any longer on her face. Uther spoke first, though,
interrupting whatever the others had been going to say. “This is wonderful,
Syranna! You can become the Grand Mistress of Mystonia! Why did your
grandfather keep it a secret? This is the most wonderful news possible. We’ll
need to keep it quiet until the tournament, of course.”
Marcus wasn’t completely sure what was going on at this
point. He did know that he felt violated somewhat. Yet part of him was glad to
know that he had not taken her in the heat of the moment. This would make the
first joining that much sweeter. The mind tricks were something they’d need to
discuss, of course. The pressing matter was the old man’s obvious overwhelming
delight at the news. It was clear that Syranna had practiced her gift as a
child—which in his opinion seemed perfectly natural. What curious child would
not feel a need to explore their God-given talents?
Syranna glanced at old Uther. This sure wasn’t working out
as she had planned. “Uther, we can’t tell anyone about this. Grandfather told
me it wouldn’t be safe if anyone discovered that I could do this.”
“Unsafe?” Marcus tugged on Syranna’s arm. “What do you mean
by unsafe, Syranna? Is someone threatening you?”
William was shaking his head in confusion. “Mind-bender?
Such things aren’t possible!”
Uther shook his head, still laughing and smiling. “Once a
millennia there is one mind-bender born within Mystonia. Theaenaff’s family
have been the grand wizards here for generations because there has never been
anyone who could do battle with them. But Syranna is obviously potent and
strong enough to overcome Theaenaff’s powers.”
Marcus turned to glare at Uther. “Syranna will not be doing
any of these things, old man. She is the legal heir on Vikalla and will become
my wife.”
Uther just cackled at the bold man’s words. “You are blind!
Becoming grand wizard is more important than anything on Vikalla!”
Chapter Six
Syranna saw the shock and anger on Marcus and William’s
faces at old Uther’s words. She knew that she needed to separate them as
quickly as possible. In spite of knowing it was wrong she looked at Uther,
directing his thoughts easily. A moment later the old wizard was smiling kindly
and offering to help.
“Well, I’ll take care of our little pets, Syranna. You take
his lordship inside and get him dry.” Uther made the trilling noise, calling
the dragonets to him.
Syranna spoke up quickly. “We should go in and let you dry
off, Sir Marcus. Come along,” she said, and then added belatedly,
tastes, sounds and emotions.
“What did you do?” Marcus asked Syranna softly.
Instinctively, he was beginning to perceive the discrepancies.
“I did apologize, remember. I am truly sorry—”
“Damn it all, woman! Just tell me!”
Syranna looked away from Marcus’ accusing glare. “I made you
think that you had accomplished your deed, but instead you fell unconscious. It
wasn’t long, only minutes at the most.”
Marcus had known all along something had not felt quite
right. He had assumed it was guilt over forcing Syranna. He opened his mouth to
answer, when a high-pitched squeal sounded first. Turning, Marcus saw old Uther
pointing at Syranna.
“I knew it! All along, I knew it. Mathayrus told me I was
imagining things, but I knew it.” The old man stopped his gleeful dance and
pointed a gnarled finger at Syranna. “You’re a mind-bender!” Uther accused with
a laugh, and danced another little jig in delight, nearly clicking his heels
together in what appeared to be delight.
“A mind-bender? What the hell is that?” William asked the
question before Marcus could as they both looked at the old man.
Marcus reached out and grabbed Syranna’s arm. “You controlled
my mind? You put thoughts in my head?”
Syranna frowned, and Marcus could see that acceptance of
knowing she couldn’t lie any longer on her face. Uther spoke first, though,
interrupting whatever the others had been going to say. “This is wonderful,
Syranna! You can become the Grand Mistress of Mystonia! Why did your
grandfather keep it a secret? This is the most wonderful news possible. We’ll
need to keep it quiet until the tournament, of course.”
Marcus wasn’t completely sure what was going on at this
point. He did know that he felt violated somewhat. Yet part of him was glad to
know that he had not taken her in the heat of the moment. This would make the
first joining that much sweeter. The mind tricks were something they’d need to
discuss, of course. The pressing matter was the old man’s obvious overwhelming
delight at the news. It was clear that Syranna had practiced her gift as a
child—which in his opinion seemed perfectly natural. What curious child would
not feel a need to explore their God-given talents?
Syranna glanced at old Uther. This sure wasn’t working out
as she had planned. “Uther, we can’t tell anyone about this. Grandfather told
me it wouldn’t be safe if anyone discovered that I could do this.”
“Unsafe?” Marcus tugged on Syranna’s arm. “What do you mean
by unsafe, Syranna? Is someone threatening you?”
William was shaking his head in confusion. “Mind-bender?
Such things aren’t possible!”
Uther shook his head, still laughing and smiling. “Once a
millennia there is one mind-bender born within Mystonia. Theaenaff’s family
have been the grand wizards here for generations because there has never been
anyone who could do battle with them. But Syranna is obviously potent and
strong enough to overcome Theaenaff’s powers.”
Marcus turned to glare at Uther. “Syranna will not be doing
any of these things, old man. She is the legal heir on Vikalla and will become
my wife.”
Uther just cackled at the bold man’s words. “You are blind!
Becoming grand wizard is more important than anything on Vikalla!”
Chapter Six
Syranna saw the shock and anger on Marcus and William’s
faces at old Uther’s words. She knew that she needed to separate them as
quickly as possible. In spite of knowing it was wrong she looked at Uther,
directing his thoughts easily. A moment later the old wizard was smiling kindly
and offering to help.
“Well, I’ll take care of our little pets, Syranna. You take
his lordship inside and get him dry.” Uther made the trilling noise, calling
the dragonets to him.
Syranna spoke up quickly. “We should go in and let you dry
off, Sir Marcus. Come along,” she said, and then added belatedly,
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