Page 20 of Grave Situation

“Is that someone a councilor?”

~No~

“Someone in this city?” Master Leng’s question smacks of desperation.

~Yes~

I pick up my last tart as, beside me, Master Cranch stands. “Is that person Talon Silverbright?”

I drop the tart. It bounces off my empty plate and spatters on the floor.

~Yes~

Tia yanks urgently at my mind, but I block her completely. She’ll make me pay for it later, but right now, my focus has to be on the utterlyasininebullshithappening in this room.

As the councilors erupt into chaos, I get to my feet, take three quick steps onto the dais, and ask the stone, “Are you out of your fucking shale?”

Unfortunately for me, the question comes a beat after the stone sends out another wave of displeasure, and my voice carries clearly through the resulting silence. Shocked and appalled eyes turn to me.

“Mage Silverbright, you are speaking to the source of all creation,” Master snaps. His private warning is much sharper.“Embarrass me here, and you will regret it.”

I take a deep breath, fighting the instinctive urge to swear, and scramble for an appropriate response. “I only meant that perhaps the stone has confused my name with someone else’s. I’m a level-2 mage. This is a serious undertaking, surely better served by an esteemed master.” I try not to choke on the words.

Master Cranch coughs and comes to stand beside me. “To be clear, you believe the stone of life has mixed up your name with that of another person.”

It sounds even less believable when he says it. “Yes,” I lie.

“Whose?” His mouth is twitching in a way that suggests he’s enjoying this. Maybe hedoesknow it was me with the chocolates.

“Whose?” I stall.

“Yes. Whose name could sound like yours, Talon Silverbright?”

For the first time, I curse my name. Why couldn’t I be called Pat Miller? “Uh… Malon Wilversight?”

The amusement that comes from the stone puts paid to that attempt, though someone asks, “Who’s Malon Wilversight?”

“Fictional.” I recognize that voice. It’s Master Eldridge, the Dean of Students. He sounds thoroughly entertained, and I come to the sour realization that I’m not likely to find a lot of support in this room. I’ve pissed off too many of them.

“Well, let’s ask again, to be perfectly clear,” Master Cranch declares. “Mage Talon Silverbright, who is standing beside me at this moment, is the person you will guide to your chosen champion?”

~Yes~

“That seems clear enough.” Master Cranch is decidedly chipper, but I can only stare at the ugly gray rock in the box, my thoughts whirling. What in the actual fucking gods is going on here? Has the stone been damaged in some way? I’m the last person who should be a tool of prophecy.

A sensation of confidence seeps through me, and I freeze. The councilors are still quietly conferring amongst themselves, Master Cranch with his head bent toward my master. None of them seem to have felt that.

But…

Can you read my thoughts?I don’t use any of my telepathic ability, none of my magic at all. It’s a thought, a private one. Nobody should hear it.

~Yes~

Another glance around. Nobody noticed. The stone is speaking only to me.

Oh, goody.

Seriously, did Wat accidentally chip part of your brain or whatever?I ask it.Because this is a bad idea.

---