them with imagery, but mostly, to make them more amenable to the king’s wishes. But with the kundar around her neck, she could only use a small amount of her magic before pain stabbed her like a thousand knives.
Without the kundar , she had no idea what she was capable of. No one had ever used magic for anything like this at home, at least not that she could remember. Of course, not everyone could sing the way she could. Just before she’d been kidnapped, her grandmother had taught her to do simple things like light fire and heat water.
She remembered her grandmother telling her she was special, and that when she was older, she would take her place as Songmistress of the grove. She had no idea what that meant, but now it looked like she might find out.
After all these years she was going home. What would it be like? She had changed so much. Would her parents even recognize her? Ten years was a long time, and so many things could have happened. Excitement warred with nervousness. Would they still want her? Were they still there? She hoped so, but with Bran’s revelation about this magical elixir, she couldn’t help the worry that tightened her stomach.
Now Bran followed behind her, and she marveled at this change, all because he had trusted her enough to break the kundar . She tucked a small wisp or hair behind her ear, and remembered how Bran had touched it. When he’d leaned toward her, she was pretty sure he was going to kiss her. Her heart raced just thinking about it. What it would be like to kiss him? His dark eyes and chiseled jaw made him seem a little dangerous, but it also made him more desirable than any man she had ever known.
She shook her head. She couldn’t forget that Bran had a mission to accomplish, and she was just a means to an end. Once he found out what he needed to know, he would go back to his own country, and she might never see him again. Given that, it was probably better to keep her distance and make sure she didn’t get too close, but every time she glanced at him, her traitorous heart didn’t seem to care.
Dusk approached on a cool mountain breeze. Teya had no idea where they were, only which direction to go. The Kalorians lived in a valley deep in the mountains, but that was all she remembered. Her back and legs ached, so when Bran motioned to stop in a small clearing, she sent him a grateful smile.
“I think we’ll be safe here for the night,” he said, dismounting. Teya followed suit and swallowed against the pain in her legs. She took a few small steps, to stretch them out and tried not to groan out loud.
Bran set up camp while Teya watched, too sore and tired to do much to help. She managed to gather a few dry sticks together. Soon they had a small fire going. Finished with their preparations, Teya gratefully wrapped a blanket around her and sat down in front of the fire.
“Do you know how far your home is from here?” Bran asked.
Teya closed her eyes, feeling the strong pull. The Kalorians had to be close. “Not far, maybe we’ll be there tomorrow, but I could be wrong. When I was taken, it seemed further away.”
“Things are different when you’re young.” Bran took some food and water from the pack beside them and handed it to her. “I’ve heard a lot of things about the Kalorians. Most of the rumors are probably wrong. What can you tell me about them? Are all of them like you?”
Teya knew he meant her magic. “Yes, but only a few can use magic to do more than sing to the trees. My grandmother was one. She was the Songmistress of the Grove. I was supposed to take her place.”
“Was she your teacher?”
“Yes. She had just begun my training, so I was spending a lot of time with her.”
“What about the day you were taken?”
Thinking of that day brought a swirl of anger and fear she would rather forget, but she forged ahead, knowing Bran needed to know what happened to her. “It was a day like any other, except that my grandmother was busy.
Without the kundar , she had no idea what she was capable of. No one had ever used magic for anything like this at home, at least not that she could remember. Of course, not everyone could sing the way she could. Just before she’d been kidnapped, her grandmother had taught her to do simple things like light fire and heat water.
She remembered her grandmother telling her she was special, and that when she was older, she would take her place as Songmistress of the grove. She had no idea what that meant, but now it looked like she might find out.
After all these years she was going home. What would it be like? She had changed so much. Would her parents even recognize her? Ten years was a long time, and so many things could have happened. Excitement warred with nervousness. Would they still want her? Were they still there? She hoped so, but with Bran’s revelation about this magical elixir, she couldn’t help the worry that tightened her stomach.
Now Bran followed behind her, and she marveled at this change, all because he had trusted her enough to break the kundar . She tucked a small wisp or hair behind her ear, and remembered how Bran had touched it. When he’d leaned toward her, she was pretty sure he was going to kiss her. Her heart raced just thinking about it. What it would be like to kiss him? His dark eyes and chiseled jaw made him seem a little dangerous, but it also made him more desirable than any man she had ever known.
She shook her head. She couldn’t forget that Bran had a mission to accomplish, and she was just a means to an end. Once he found out what he needed to know, he would go back to his own country, and she might never see him again. Given that, it was probably better to keep her distance and make sure she didn’t get too close, but every time she glanced at him, her traitorous heart didn’t seem to care.
Dusk approached on a cool mountain breeze. Teya had no idea where they were, only which direction to go. The Kalorians lived in a valley deep in the mountains, but that was all she remembered. Her back and legs ached, so when Bran motioned to stop in a small clearing, she sent him a grateful smile.
“I think we’ll be safe here for the night,” he said, dismounting. Teya followed suit and swallowed against the pain in her legs. She took a few small steps, to stretch them out and tried not to groan out loud.
Bran set up camp while Teya watched, too sore and tired to do much to help. She managed to gather a few dry sticks together. Soon they had a small fire going. Finished with their preparations, Teya gratefully wrapped a blanket around her and sat down in front of the fire.
“Do you know how far your home is from here?” Bran asked.
Teya closed her eyes, feeling the strong pull. The Kalorians had to be close. “Not far, maybe we’ll be there tomorrow, but I could be wrong. When I was taken, it seemed further away.”
“Things are different when you’re young.” Bran took some food and water from the pack beside them and handed it to her. “I’ve heard a lot of things about the Kalorians. Most of the rumors are probably wrong. What can you tell me about them? Are all of them like you?”
Teya knew he meant her magic. “Yes, but only a few can use magic to do more than sing to the trees. My grandmother was one. She was the Songmistress of the Grove. I was supposed to take her place.”
“Was she your teacher?”
“Yes. She had just begun my training, so I was spending a lot of time with her.”
“What about the day you were taken?”
Thinking of that day brought a swirl of anger and fear she would rather forget, but she forged ahead, knowing Bran needed to know what happened to her. “It was a day like any other, except that my grandmother was busy.
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