Page 161 of Swords of Soul and Shadow
Screams erupted around them as embers fled the scorched tree, catching its neighbors in her blaze. She dropped the goggles as her power winked out, going stone cold as she reached for the fire, trying to put it out with sheer force of will. Instead, the flames leapt out to her, scalding her skin, and she screamed through clenched teeth.
Fely leapt up, thrusting her hands into the ground. In seconds, the flames were gone as if they never were. Ash floated down like macabre snow, dressing the moss-covered stones and Kase’s goggles with a light dusting. Hallie didn’t have the courage to look up at the tree…or down at her burned hands.
“I’m so sorry,” Hallie gasped as Saldr took her hands and pressed Vasa into them, singing softly as he healed her. When she finally got up the courage to look, she found they were more mild than when he’d healed her in the ruins. She still hissed through her teeth as they healed, her skin crawling as the magic restored it.
Saldr shook his head and continued his healing until he was satisfied with her condition. “The important thing is that you did not lose consciousness, which is one of the many reasons why I started with this skill.”
Fely’s locket caught Hallie’s eye. An ethereal glow lit her from below, casting shadows across the angles of her face. Her Relic could’ve lit a moonless night. Fely eyed it carefully herself before clasping her hand around it. “This might actually be helpful to your friend in the ward. He’s doing much better, but he requires replenishment at least once a day.”
Hallie’s stomach turned. That felt like her fault, too.
Saldr stood and paced in short bursts, his long robes hissing over the grass, scattering ash with each step. “You are clearly a strong wielder, but you have a severe lack of control, though we knew as much beforehand.” He paused. “Did you try any particular technique to control it? You seemed to be doing well at first, but then it…escaped you.”
Hallie shot a glance at Fely before saying, “King Filip and Fely taught me to visualize the power as tendrils of flame. I was holding onto one, but I lost hold of it the second time I said the word of power.”
Shame coated her words, and she looked down at her healed hands.
Saldr nodded, taking up his pacing again. “Another method may suit you better. It might be helpful to observe others at tonight’s celebration, as each Yalv will be performing the skill to light our traditional fire.” He tapped his chin in thought. “I want you to practice finding your tendrils and holding onto them without pushing your power into a skill.”
He then tugged out something from beneath his collar. A locket.
Hallie furrowed her brow. It looked very much like the one Fely had around her own throat. Saldr didn’t quite make eyecontact with her as he said, “Lady Felyra also informed me your Relic may need replacing, though it is nigh impossible to do so.”
That seemed in keeping with everything else on her to-do list, at least. Master her power. Save the world. Replace an irreplaceable Relic.
As for the celebration, Hallie would’ve wanted to observe anyway from a scholarly standpoint, but it stung that he’d given up on this session so quickly. He’d made it sound like quite the simple feat. She’d failed only once—had failed spectacularly, yes, but still only once—and he’d already decided she couldn’t do it.
All the more proof she wasn’t good enough. Not good enough for this power. Not good enough to save the world. Not good enough for Kase.
“Why this spell?” she asked.
“It’s not only useful, as you can observe by our light here,” he said, gesturing to the hanging torches that looked like something more out of a fairy tale, “but it requires a certain level of control because the nature of this specific spell is fickle. Considering our time constraints, this might take longer to learn than some other spells, but I believe it will teach you control faster than a more gradual approach.” Saldr tented his fingers and pressed them to his lips in thought. “It is also the basis for many of our fighting techniques, and despite you needing your power for the Gates, it might very well aid you in that quest. We do not know when the final fight will be, but the time for us to act may be upon us much sooner than we think. We must equip you in every way we can, as efficiently as we can.”
No pressure, Hallie.
Saldr replaced the locket inside his collar. “I have a few things to finish up, but I will see you at the celebration tonight.”
He left them with a bow, his robes scattering ash flakes with each step he took. Each soft swirl only reminded Hallie of her failure.
Fely stretched and gestured for Hallie to follow. “Don’t let him fool you—he doesn’t have a thing to do. He goes on walks when he needs to think.”
Hallie retrieved the goggles and brushed them free of ash and Vasa. She still hadn’t looked up at the tree. She tucked her useless Relic and the Vasa pouch into her satchel. Maybe she should go on a long walk, too; but doing so might mean running into Kase. He was officially off house arrest. It should have been good news.
She didn’t think she could handle another argument on top of everything else.
Fely set a soft hand on her shoulder. “Don’t fret. It’s difficult for everyone at first, and you were given a worse start than most. I apologize for my hand in that.” Hallie looked up to the woman’s sad smile. “I used to believe that my lot was one of the worst, but alas, we all have our struggles and limits. Tonight is one of my favorite holidays… one I haven’t been able to celebrate since my betrothal contract was signed.” She took a moment to compose her features. “It is truly magical, in all senses of the word.”
Hallie didn’t really know how to respond to any of that. She would’ve argued that having a power thrust upon you and then being expected to save the world was the worse lot, but she couldn’t speak for what the other woman had lived through.
Fely led her back through the meadow, pointing to a large circle of tents. “That’s where we’ll be celebrating tonight. Come by around dinner rations and spread the word to anyone you’d like to join. It would lift morale for everyone here, I’m certain.” She paused and plucked a wildflower Hallie didn’t recognize and tucked it behind her ear. “There will also be music and dancing. Maybe I’ll find a decent partner.” Fely winked. “Maybe you will, too.”
Hallie only nodded. All she could think about was how badly she wished she could dance with Kase. She doubted he would want to, not after their argument.
As they left the Yalven cavern and entered the dark stone corridor beyond, a sense of loss flitted over her without the magic of the meadow to muffle it.
She could only hope the celebration would work its magic on her.
THE FIRE WAS ODD. IT neither smoked nor smelled like burned wood. Instead, it floated in the air like a shimmering, blazing ball of energy. It still burned like real fire on her skin, though.
