Page 36 of Sigils & Spells

I don’t blame him. Rachel does tend to be a bit of a drama queen.

“Rowan took her to the kitchen,” Lucy says, “to get her something to drink.”

Lucy sits forward in her seat. “She’s having second thoughts about tonight.”

I don’t miss the admonishing glare Val shoots in Lucy’s direction.

“Why? What’s happening tonight?” I ask.

“Just a little gathering, that’s all.”

Val’s words make my heart sink. I’m really not very social. It took a lot for me to come on this trip with people I barely know. I didn’t realize there was some sort of get-together planned. I must have missed that in the emails Val sent out about the weekend.

“Will there be many people at this gathering?”

“Yes, a great number of my friends will be in attendance. I predict it will be quite a celebration.”

Well, that’s just fantastic. It sounds like it will be a full-grown party, which is not my idea of fun.

“But, anyway, that is for later. For now, why don’t we concentrate on the reason we came here, which is to spend some time lost in our imaginations? We can fit in an hour or so before lunch.”

Considering creative writing is the reason we came to Dunshee, the response from the others is surprisingly flat. As everyone takes out notebooks and pens, I realize my things are upstairs.

“Where are you going, sweetie?” Val asks as I get up and walk to the door.

“I just have to fetch my laptop.”

“Oh, don’t use one of those dreadful things.” She goes to the desk and opens the top drawer to take out a sheaf of paper and a pen. “Do it the old-fashioned way.”

I’d much rather use my laptop, since my hand tends to cramp after I’ve been writing for a while, but I don’t want to refuse Val. Taking the pen and paper from her, I retreat to the back of the room and make myself comfortable.

“Right, everyone,” Val says. “I want you to take a moment. Close your eyes, breathe in deep, and then start to write whatever comes to you.”

I do as she asked, taking a moment to center myself. I picture a scene, noting everything in minute detail. Then I open my eyes and put pen to paper.

Running through the corridor, her bare feet on the cold stone floor, she follows him toward the exit. Freedom is within their grasp as light shines up ahead. As they run out onto the hillside, he lifts her into her arms and spins her around. They made it. His lips descend to hers, claiming them in a gentle kiss.

Cries from behind tell them they’re not alone. He pushes her behind him as dozens of soldiers spill out from the realm beneath the hill.

“Run, my love,” he cries.

“No, I can’t leave you behind.”

“You must,” he says. He kisses her once more. “Now go. I’ll find you. I swear it.”

I put my pen down, read over what I’ve written and sigh. When the image of the couple running toward freedom was going through my mind, it was much more vivid than these words express. I pictured them with absolute clarity, the raven-haired woman I visualized earlier, and a tall, handsome man in what looked like a military uniform from some fantasy film. I felt their kiss on my lips. It had been so real I felt like I was actually there, but now that I’ve written it down, it lacks something.

“How are you getting on?”

I look up as Val approaches.

“You seemed lost in thought for a while there.”

“No, I just…” I glance past her and realize the others are gone. “Where is everyone?”

“Dining room. Lunch is ready.”

“Oh.” I had no idea I’d been daydreaming for that long. “Guess I’d better leave this for now.”

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