Page 253 of Sigils & Spells

“It went fine. I graduated.”

Daisy raised her eyebrows. “Graduated?”

“Yep. Priestess Francesca decided that I have exhausted the teachings she is able to provide me and I will be working with the High Priestess from now on.”

“Wow. Congratulations! I mean... That is a good thing, right?”

“Thanks, and yes, I think so anyways. It means that I am making progress, which is better than sucking at it all and remaining incapable of managing my abilities.”

Her voice dropped as she looked around us and leaned in toward me. “Can you show me something? Just a little?”

I giggled. “Maybe. I'm not really supposed to, but I am supposed to practice daily in my room, and there is no rule that says you aren't allowed to visit me there.”

“Ooh, that would be so cool.”

As we drew closer to the food line, and Diana, we dropped the subject. We gathered food, chatted with Diana for a few seconds and scooted our chairs into the usual table. The chicken fettuccine she made smelled amazing, and so did the garlic knots. I could happily live off of the soft, pillowy, garlicky mounds of homemade bread.

“Do you want to go for a ride after lunch? Or do you need to go see the High Priestess?”

“I don't think I have to see her until tomorrow morning, so we can ride. That sounds like fun.”

While I'd ridden multiple times since the day we lost Evie, I usually went alone and I'd never gone back to the waterfall. The memories were just too much for me to handle still and I couldn't bring myself to do it. Whatever had initiated the river rising also scared Maya, and she shied away from the trail branch every time we passed it.

We finished eating and headed out. Toby chatted with us while we tacked up, and then we exited the barn. Daisy led the way down the trail and Maya followed her pal with little direction from me.

As we drew nearer to the trail leading toward the water fall Maya grew more anxious, prancing to the side and tossing her head. Daisy led her horse down that fateful trail and Maya drew to a dead stop.

Daisy and her horse continued down the path for a ways before realizing we weren't behind them. She turned back, calling out to me.

“What are you guys waiting for?”

“Hang on!” I called to her and then dropped my voice back to a soothing whisper for Maya.

She had no desire to go down that trail again, and I wasn't sure I did either. Favorite place or not, the waterfall would be forever tainted in my memories. On the other hand, I didn't know if I wanted to explain to Daisy why I didn't want to follow that trail either.

Maya made her opinion on the subject obvious. Her emotions thrummed right through me as if they were my own.

“Maya doesn't want to go that way, lets circle around this other trail instead.”

“I've never been to the waterfall, though, and I hear it is absolutely breathtaking. I'd really like to see it.”

Something inside me grew tight at her insistence. For some reason it cemented my choice to not follow her.

“I'd really rather not, maybe another time? I don't want to force Maya.”

An emotion similar to irritation flitted across her features, gone in an instant. At some point, maybe I would need to explain the reasoning to her, but I wasn't ready to do that today.

“Okay then.” She drew the words out just enough to convey her unhappiness, but not quite enough to be rude about it.

As she pulled up alongside us again, I shrugged. “Sorry.”

She stuck her lip out in a pout, then traded it for a grin. “Just kidding, I won't pout about it. I can always see it another time.”

The rest of the ride passed with the two of chatting away. Something deep inside me kept trying to pull me under and make me feel edgy, but instead of giving in to it, I pushed it even deeper to examine later when I returned to my room and could be alone.

We returned to the stables and took care of our horses, grooming them and feeding them some dinner. Daisy rushed through and seemed in a hurry to separate, waving goodbye and not even asking if I wanted her to wait for me. Odd, but not particularly alarming behavior. I did see Toby staring after her as she left, though.

“Is she in a rush to get somewhere?”

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