Page 29 (1/2)

Opening lows and threads of power being manipulated by the Denai I marveled at how nized the one using his gifts It was Tydus, the Denai who had sat next to me to record the council session last season The session during which the Valderstal clan came to find me

Tydus pushed back his spectacles and frowned in concentration over a particular spot in the dirt He waved his hands in a coaxing an to sprout He e tree Most impressive were the vines that wrapped the bed that hung suspended froreat accomplishment was completed, Tydus smiled and crawled into his bed with his wrap and iht light flashed I turned over inDenai, Brecken,back to life He took his bedroll and lay down unnaturally close to the wall of heat

I watched a young girl naainst her shoulders She got comfortable next to her older brother Marcel The thispered back and forth I was able to catch bits and pieces as Marcel told her a bedtime story By the time the story was over, the princess was saved by the powerful Denai and the young Karni was fast asleep Marcel opened his hand and created a soft ball of glowing light and placed it near his sister, in case she became scared

My soul was conflicted I was jealous of their gifts that were so natural and the way their inner light glowed brightly Whenever I looked inside myself, all I saere shadows My eyes burned and a s sorry for ain I wanted to be like them, a Denai from birth who always kneho she was and what she caifts I would never have thought to spend the energy and create a bed out of a tree or build a wall of fire to keep s excessively because he thought it was a waste of valuable energy I had forgotten for a second hoonderful the Denai truly were, but noas to go hoain And I realized right then, I didn’t want to go horace But if I stayed with the caravan, there would be no way to avoid it

Because Kael was on duty as a hired guard, I kneouldn’t sleep anywhere near ht I doubted he would sleep at all over the next few days My deterht, I would leave my cooing to head, but I knew I didn’t want to cos, and I didn’t want to lead the clan More tears slid down my face as I mentally walked out the consequences of ain I found it hard to breathe The wagon htly and I opened ainst the wheel to try and sleep sitting up I caught a hiccup inHeht, my soul all but shriveled up and died

I was a terrible person

~~~

Another night I turned over and looked at the fires

So coals remained I tried to take stock of the camp, but the moon was hidden by shadows Someone tiptoed past me and went over to Brecken, whose wall of fire had dissipated The silhouette leaned forward, and a second later, Brecken was lifted into the air and slung over the taller person’s shoulder

The wagon creaked above as so "Here, take the girl I’ll grab the older one Make sure you stuff their mouth with cloth The others will start to wake up soon, and I would hate for these couple to start screa"

I was instantly wide-awake I slid my hand over to try and shove He soundly on his side I shook him, but he didn’t move I even tried to pinch hi loudly

Soon, and I saw the flash of red robes

My body froze The Septori They were here They are kidnapping the Denai students I heard a branch break and my head snapped in the direction of Tydus So the branches around Tydus’s hanging bed

Faraway!

Hmm? A sleepy voice answered

The Septori are stealing the students!