to avoid letting her guilt show. Garild glanced her way, but his attention returned to the path ahead of them.
She felt very stupid. Here she was, constantly complaining about others trying to read her thoughts and she’d just tried to do the same to Garild. She was suddenly overwhelmed by the thought that maybe it was her curiosity that was the curse and not her powers. Either way, she wouldn’t try it again. Besides, what if she messed up? She didn’t know what she was doing and for all she knew, the same thing that Herzin did to her she could easily do to another. She didn't wish that pain upon anyone.
Trying not to look as guilty as she felt, she turned her attention back to the road and followed Garild.
By the time they reached their home, Kirheen’s head was throbbing. She could feel a tightness in her throat, a churning in her belly that made her glad she'd skipped out on breakfast. Garild led the way, Kirheen following sluggishly. She focused on her breathing, trying hard not to obey her bodies desire to heave up what little there was in her stomach. She just wanted to lie down, pull a blanket over her head and let the shattered fragments of her skull settle back into place. Had Tomias not been waiting in the doorway, she would have done just that, but the look on his face told her she wouldn’t be doing anything without being scolded first.
“Well, if it isn’t my two favorite students! What a pleasant surprise to see you both here. I’m glad I’ve finally been deemed worthy of your attention this morning,” Tomias chided, voice dripping with sarcasm. He wore dark blue robes with silver trim, his white hair pulled back away from his face in a high tail. He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. “I’d love to hear a good explanation for this one, either of you? An hour less of training for the one with the best excuse.”
Garild grimaced. “We’re very sorry, Tomias. We were talking to Ian and Isa and lost track of the time.”
Kirheen rolled her eyes. “Oh please, we weren’t really talking to them by choice. Apparently my personal problems are of great interest lately so I decided to waste the morning telling everyone about my tale of woe and eternal suffering.”
Tomias raised a brow, obviously intrigued. “And how did they like such a tale?”
“Oh, they really enjoyed it. I took great care to get all the details just perfect. Nothing like a good tale of mental anguish at the hands of my former master to get people motivated first thing in the morning. It was such an intriguing tale I even forgot to eat.” At the thought of food, she felt a sudden tremble in her throat and a wave of nausea rolled over her. She squeezed her eyes shut, taking a slow intake of breath.
There was a brief glance between Tomias and Garild. “Kirheen, are you feeling quite alright?” Tomias unfolded his arms and stepped over to her, taking her by the shoulders gently. She could only imagine what he saw; tired bloodshot eyes, dark circles, sweat on her brow. She was a mess. Raising her eyes, she gave a halfhearted smile. “Are you still not sleeping?”
“No,” she admitted sheepishly. “Those herbs have done very little.”
He frowned. “And your head aches?”
“I have one now.”
He could see the pain in her eyes, however hard she tried to hide it. “Let’s get you inside. I’ll have them fetch Trista. We’ll see if she can’t figure out something else for you. We’ll postpone training, for a while at least.” He smiled a crooked smile that was all pity. “Looks like your excuse won today.”
Fenir glanced over his shoulder as they entered the room, his dark eyes betraying a hint of anger. He was seated in one of the chairs next to the fireplace, his right arm draped casually over the back. Unlike his twin, his white hair was unbound and fell limp around his face.
One of the many things Garild had learned over the past week was that Fenir couldn't speak.
She felt very stupid. Here she was, constantly complaining about others trying to read her thoughts and she’d just tried to do the same to Garild. She was suddenly overwhelmed by the thought that maybe it was her curiosity that was the curse and not her powers. Either way, she wouldn’t try it again. Besides, what if she messed up? She didn’t know what she was doing and for all she knew, the same thing that Herzin did to her she could easily do to another. She didn't wish that pain upon anyone.
Trying not to look as guilty as she felt, she turned her attention back to the road and followed Garild.
By the time they reached their home, Kirheen’s head was throbbing. She could feel a tightness in her throat, a churning in her belly that made her glad she'd skipped out on breakfast. Garild led the way, Kirheen following sluggishly. She focused on her breathing, trying hard not to obey her bodies desire to heave up what little there was in her stomach. She just wanted to lie down, pull a blanket over her head and let the shattered fragments of her skull settle back into place. Had Tomias not been waiting in the doorway, she would have done just that, but the look on his face told her she wouldn’t be doing anything without being scolded first.
“Well, if it isn’t my two favorite students! What a pleasant surprise to see you both here. I’m glad I’ve finally been deemed worthy of your attention this morning,” Tomias chided, voice dripping with sarcasm. He wore dark blue robes with silver trim, his white hair pulled back away from his face in a high tail. He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. “I’d love to hear a good explanation for this one, either of you? An hour less of training for the one with the best excuse.”
Garild grimaced. “We’re very sorry, Tomias. We were talking to Ian and Isa and lost track of the time.”
Kirheen rolled her eyes. “Oh please, we weren’t really talking to them by choice. Apparently my personal problems are of great interest lately so I decided to waste the morning telling everyone about my tale of woe and eternal suffering.”
Tomias raised a brow, obviously intrigued. “And how did they like such a tale?”
“Oh, they really enjoyed it. I took great care to get all the details just perfect. Nothing like a good tale of mental anguish at the hands of my former master to get people motivated first thing in the morning. It was such an intriguing tale I even forgot to eat.” At the thought of food, she felt a sudden tremble in her throat and a wave of nausea rolled over her. She squeezed her eyes shut, taking a slow intake of breath.
There was a brief glance between Tomias and Garild. “Kirheen, are you feeling quite alright?” Tomias unfolded his arms and stepped over to her, taking her by the shoulders gently. She could only imagine what he saw; tired bloodshot eyes, dark circles, sweat on her brow. She was a mess. Raising her eyes, she gave a halfhearted smile. “Are you still not sleeping?”
“No,” she admitted sheepishly. “Those herbs have done very little.”
He frowned. “And your head aches?”
“I have one now.”
He could see the pain in her eyes, however hard she tried to hide it. “Let’s get you inside. I’ll have them fetch Trista. We’ll see if she can’t figure out something else for you. We’ll postpone training, for a while at least.” He smiled a crooked smile that was all pity. “Looks like your excuse won today.”
Fenir glanced over his shoulder as they entered the room, his dark eyes betraying a hint of anger. He was seated in one of the chairs next to the fireplace, his right arm draped casually over the back. Unlike his twin, his white hair was unbound and fell limp around his face.
One of the many things Garild had learned over the past week was that Fenir couldn't speak.
Similar Books
