bedsheet angled before her, looking like no country she’d
ever seen before. And it was animated. Bright yellow-white dots pulsed fast,
other dots, smaller and yellower, blinked slower.
Marian
marched up to the map and touched the largest island off the western coast.
“This is where Jaquar and I, and my mentor, Bossgond, live.” She indicated a
small castle in the middle of the map. “This is where we are now.”
Calli
gulped.
Jaquar
pointed to the lights Calli had noticed. “This is the magical northern
boundary, Power strung between the fence posts—” he tapped the lights “—to keep
the horrors out.”
Nape
prickling, Calli took a few steps closer. Her mouth had dried. She swept a
tongue over her lips. “There are gaps.”
“Indeed,”
Jaquar said. “The old fence posts are failing. Only recently have we been able
to replace them—”
“Alexa’s
task,” Marian interrupted, her dark blue eyes serious.
“Alexa’s
task.” Calli cleared her throat. “And yours?”
Marian
shrugged. “I had a couple. The Marshalls hid the fact that the fence posts were
failing and the monsters were invading easily and in greater numbers. This
splintered already distant communities within the culture.” She gestured to
herself and Jaquar, indicating their golden headbands. “Such as the Circlets of
the Tower Community.”
“And
most especially divided the Chevaliers from the Marshalls,” Jaquar said. “Alexa
was Summoned for the Marshalls, Marian for the Sorcerers and Sorceresses, and
you for the Chevaliers.” He took his wife’s hand and kissed her fingers.
“Marian has done a brilliant job of mending the breach between the Marshalls
and Tower…as well as being an ambassador from the Tower Community to others.
They trust us now.”
“As
much as less magical people trust the most magical,” Marian said with a wry
smile.
A
hum came from the map and both Marian and Jaquar turned back to it. “Ah,” said
Jaquar. He tapped a spot on the border where bright flashes came. “The battle
is over and the Marshalls and Chevaliers are returning.” He let out a big sigh.
“We lost no one and there’s a new fence post. The border is strengthened to the
next post, so we killed some horrors.” He eyed the map critically. “No larger
monsters made it very far into Lladrana.”
That
was the second time Calli had heard “monsters.” She straightened her shoulders.
“Guess that’s what I’m supposed to do, right, kill monsters? Maybe stop the
invasion?”
Marian’s
forehead creased. “Since the volarans disappeared and only returned after you
were Summoned, it can be extrapolated that not only will you mend the divisiveness
within the Chevalier community, and their distrust of the Marshalls, but
also—um—speak on behalf of the volarans to everyone, particularly those who fly
on— with —them.”
Calli
blinked as she unraveled that sentence. She wished Marian had spoon-fed it to
her in little bites.
But
maybe she was just in an elaborate dream. Maybe a coma. Damn! Not more medical
bills.
Jaquar’s
penetrating stare pulled her from her thoughts. “But the Chevaliers fly to
battle. They are our—” he frowned as if searching for a word “—knights. They
would expect you to fly, train and fight with them.”
Marian
put an arm around her and squeezed, a small smile on her lips as they met each
other’s gaze. “I know it’s difficult to believe you’re on another world, let
alone understand what’s going on in a few short hours.”
Rubbing
her temples, Calli didn’t answer—but something else was telling her she might
not be in a dream. “Is there a toilet around here?”
The
Circlets smiled. Marian said, “We don’t know the Castle well, there’s one in
Alexa’s guest suite and in the Circlets’ Apartments, both in the Keep.” She
cleared her throat. “You’ll be staying there tonight. The medica recommended
you be close, and both Alexa and I would like to talk to
ever seen before. And it was animated. Bright yellow-white dots pulsed fast,
other dots, smaller and yellower, blinked slower.
Marian
marched up to the map and touched the largest island off the western coast.
“This is where Jaquar and I, and my mentor, Bossgond, live.” She indicated a
small castle in the middle of the map. “This is where we are now.”
Calli
gulped.
Jaquar
pointed to the lights Calli had noticed. “This is the magical northern
boundary, Power strung between the fence posts—” he tapped the lights “—to keep
the horrors out.”
Nape
prickling, Calli took a few steps closer. Her mouth had dried. She swept a
tongue over her lips. “There are gaps.”
“Indeed,”
Jaquar said. “The old fence posts are failing. Only recently have we been able
to replace them—”
“Alexa’s
task,” Marian interrupted, her dark blue eyes serious.
“Alexa’s
task.” Calli cleared her throat. “And yours?”
Marian
shrugged. “I had a couple. The Marshalls hid the fact that the fence posts were
failing and the monsters were invading easily and in greater numbers. This
splintered already distant communities within the culture.” She gestured to
herself and Jaquar, indicating their golden headbands. “Such as the Circlets of
the Tower Community.”
“And
most especially divided the Chevaliers from the Marshalls,” Jaquar said. “Alexa
was Summoned for the Marshalls, Marian for the Sorcerers and Sorceresses, and
you for the Chevaliers.” He took his wife’s hand and kissed her fingers.
“Marian has done a brilliant job of mending the breach between the Marshalls
and Tower…as well as being an ambassador from the Tower Community to others.
They trust us now.”
“As
much as less magical people trust the most magical,” Marian said with a wry
smile.
A
hum came from the map and both Marian and Jaquar turned back to it. “Ah,” said
Jaquar. He tapped a spot on the border where bright flashes came. “The battle
is over and the Marshalls and Chevaliers are returning.” He let out a big sigh.
“We lost no one and there’s a new fence post. The border is strengthened to the
next post, so we killed some horrors.” He eyed the map critically. “No larger
monsters made it very far into Lladrana.”
That
was the second time Calli had heard “monsters.” She straightened her shoulders.
“Guess that’s what I’m supposed to do, right, kill monsters? Maybe stop the
invasion?”
Marian’s
forehead creased. “Since the volarans disappeared and only returned after you
were Summoned, it can be extrapolated that not only will you mend the divisiveness
within the Chevalier community, and their distrust of the Marshalls, but
also—um—speak on behalf of the volarans to everyone, particularly those who fly
on— with —them.”
Calli
blinked as she unraveled that sentence. She wished Marian had spoon-fed it to
her in little bites.
But
maybe she was just in an elaborate dream. Maybe a coma. Damn! Not more medical
bills.
Jaquar’s
penetrating stare pulled her from her thoughts. “But the Chevaliers fly to
battle. They are our—” he frowned as if searching for a word “—knights. They
would expect you to fly, train and fight with them.”
Marian
put an arm around her and squeezed, a small smile on her lips as they met each
other’s gaze. “I know it’s difficult to believe you’re on another world, let
alone understand what’s going on in a few short hours.”
Rubbing
her temples, Calli didn’t answer—but something else was telling her she might
not be in a dream. “Is there a toilet around here?”
The
Circlets smiled. Marian said, “We don’t know the Castle well, there’s one in
Alexa’s guest suite and in the Circlets’ Apartments, both in the Keep.” She
cleared her throat. “You’ll be staying there tonight. The medica recommended
you be close, and both Alexa and I would like to talk to
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