Page 146 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
She offers one last grin as she leaves, and then I bury my head against the pillow, savouring the softness that’s already pulling me under before I’ve even closed my eyes, vanishing into the dark.
Invisibility seems to have been the highlight of the newfound powers amongst us, at least in Rowan’s eyes. After spending the morning going through a range of mixes of magics, all with me, he finally relents and allows us to split into groups to start exploring other combinations. If they all focus on me, we’ll be here for weeks, and it won’t be beneficial to the others. This is their opportunity to find their Triune, not just work out what I can do.
Training outside is easier, less confining, and it stops me from feeling like I’m under a looking glass. The Custodians still all observe, Perrin’s presence more reassuring out in the open rather than sequestered away in the classroom next to where we practise. And with a little help from Ten and Calix picking our group, we’re together, along with Micah and Ravi.
The outdoor space is appreciated when Calix and I connect with Ravi. He’d needed some gentle persuasion from Calix, and Ten kept a safe distance, but he stands up to me, his jet-blackhair gleaming in the sun. Where we had generated a rainstorm just the two of us, adding Calix into the mix turned that into a much bigger, much darker thunderstorm, with clouds rolling in, conjured from nowhere, splitting the air around us with growls and crackles as if Aslendrix were warring with someone in the skies above.
There is logic in our combined gift that makes sense, like a sum, the single parts adding to the whole. Nothing like what happens with me and Ten, though.
When Micah switches with Ravi, the usual tremors start, but then the threads of power that I feel channel, and I force them down into the ground. It cracks the earth apart at our feet, a gaping wound, jagged and brutal, splitting through the outline of the third training ring for over twenty metres.
Calix is like a kid, the glee bouncing from him as if his power just grows in him again. But I can see the edge of panic in Micah and in Ten as the ground opens up around us.
As we keep working through pairings, there’s an air of anticipation as we edge towards Ten, Calix, and me combining. So far, I’ve not hurt Calix, only amplified him or drained him.
What the three of us might accomplish has my mind dancing, but it’s shadowed with worry. What if it strengthens the pain, which I cause Ten?
And it isn’t just me feeling anxious. A collective intake of breath whispers around us as we step forward, our eyes going between each other. Ten’s brows are drawn, and even Calix’s blue eyes seem edged with worry.
We nod, and I raise my hands. There have been multiple ways of forming the connection, but directly touching hands seems to be the easiest and least threatening.
I watch Ten as he tries to hide the initial jolt and inevitable rush of pain. Calix simply takes a breath, and my mind stays clear. No visions, no possible futures.
“Ten?” I ask.
“Nothing. Cal?”
“I feel fine. Nothing.”
“Is that it? All this, and you have nothing.” Crimson’s voice drips with amusement as if she’s rubbing our faces in it. Her voice breaks into a cocky laugh, and I whip my head towards her. I didn’t notice her approach and see that all the other trainees have stopped to watch, too.
She steps forward and raises her arm as if she’s going to slap Ten’s shoulder or put her arm around him. Her blatant approach scrapes against every instinct in me to shove whatever weapon I can lay my hands on at her, but her hand doesn’t reach Ten. It hits a barrier, throwing her back a step.
The smile disappears from her lips, replaced with confusion as she tries to reach us again and fails.
She growls her frustration, but I stop myself from giving her all my attention and focus on Calix and Ten. I concentrate on their power, looking for it, and find a web of energy protecting us.
Calix turns towards his sister and beckons her with a jerk of his head, and I fight my own eye roll. “Calix, we don’t know…”
Crimson launches towards him, a blade I hadn’t seen yet, drawn and raised in her dominant hand.
“Oh, shit,” I mutter, but my feet stay put, forcing myself not to blanch or flinch as Calix positions to take the blow. But her blade just glides off the invisible forcefield around us.
“Bad luck, sis,” he taunts.
“Ten?” I check again.
“I’m fine.” But I recognise the strain around his eyes and his locked jaw.
“We can stop,” I offer.
“No.” He spears his eyes to mine, determination set in them. “Rowan,” he calls. “Have everyone use their individual powers against us to try and break through the shield.”
“Are you sure about this?” I look between him and Calix.
“Yes. We need to test what the limits are. Now, can we all focus?” Ten orders.
“Can you two feel the energy around us? Like a tangle of threads woven together?” I ask.
