Page 158 of A Touch of Stars and Stones
Right back to her.
Your mind is a powerful tool.The words from my mother slip between my thoughts, a powerful thought amongst the chaos, so I vow to test that. No time like right now, when I need everything I have.You hear that, Aslendrix.
My instincts war with the unfamiliar power I now will to respond. I’ve practised, but now I’m pushing the idea of possibilities based on what Kamari told me. Willing my power to respond, I cast a net out into the corridor, hoping to pick up on any sense of Ever.
She has to be alright.
But as my energy ripples out, there’s nothing. No sense or feel of her, and as I shout down the tether in my mind, it’s devastatingly quiet.
Fuck.
I shouldn’t have neglected training with her, practising. We might be able to communicate over distance if I’d just gotten a grip and…
There’s a tremble, a vibration against the energy I’ve cast. Nerves, maybe? I push again.
It’s not Ever. Butsomeoneis out there.
My mind all but races ahead with a plan that’s still unwinding inside itself, and before I’ve fully digested the actions I need to take, I’m already reaching for that other person with my mind with one clear intent.
It’s still trial day, and I need to test this now.
Concentration strains every muscle in my body, but I stay focused, willing my focus along the strands of energy I force out of my room until I’m met with something solid, my energy running up against it like water flowing against rock. But it’s not rock. There are holes, gaps, and I reach inside, the single thought clear in my mind, and I push it forward, urging it to take root in the other mind. Once it’s there, it’s like the energy fades, receding back to me.
A moment later, the steps of whoever I just invaded are on the other side of my door. The clunk of the lock tells me everything I need.
Holy fucking Goddess.
It works. But the triumph is dirty like a greasy trick. However, if it means getting to Ever, I shove that aside. It was only a little thought.
My door creeks open, and a Warrior with a frown and a tilted head greets me. He’s shorter than me and can’t be more than a few years older, so junior in rank.
“Aten Ciro?” he asks, doing that head tilt again like he’s unsure why he’s here.
I shift, pulling my blade from behind my back and use the handle to deliver a blow across his temple, all in one smooth move that renders him unconscious on the floor.
I prop him up against the wall and then scan down the hall before racing over to Ever’s door. It’s unlocked, and I barge right in, scanning the space, but she’s not here.
Next, I check for Calix, noting his room isn’t locked either. Same as Ever’s, empty. Crimson’s is the same.
But Micah’s door has a key in the lock. Looking down the hall, everyone’s door has the key in the lock except for Ever, Calix, and Crimson.
I go back to Micah’s door and twist the key before opening the door.
“Ten?” He startles.
“Yeah. What happened? Where’s Ever.”
“She’s not here.”
“I got that much, thanks,” my voice snaps at this obvious account.
“Kamari took her. Well, one of her guards knocked her out. If she’s not here, she’s in the cells.”
White hot rage floods through me at the thought of Ever in the cells.
“Why?” That’s the only question I needed an answer to.
“The trial, I guess.” He was on her team, so he saw what happened first-hand. All I got were the vague highlights before we were put in our rooms right as the alarm sounded. “She didn’t do anything wrong. It was the trial. We’re fucking meant to test our abilities.”
