Page 25 of To Free a Soul
She had no one to blame but herself for that, especially as she was complicit in perpetuating Weldir’s ignorance by maintaining her silence regarding her wants. She just... the idea of being rejected so sharply like he’d done in the past still lingered as a sore spot and made her hesitant to reach for more.
It stopped her from being confident.
A small sigh flittered out of her as she threw the white-feathered cloak over her shoulders to test its fit. It hid her blue knee-high dress almost completely.
“Austrális is good. I’d like to check on Fenrir and Leonidas first.”
“What of Merikh?”
She scrunched her nose.I really hate that name.She hated that the name she’d given him was taken from her, and even more so because the name had been special to her – a tribute to her father and his memory.
But she would use it because she respected his wants.
“I think he’ll try to kill me on sight, so that’s not really a good idea. I’ve been practising at making scrying discs like the Anzúli.Once I’ve perfected it, I’ll be able to check up on him without him knowing.”
“I don’t think he’d like that.”
Lindiwe averted her gaze as guilt nipped at her stomach. “I know, but I just want to be able to check that he’s safe.” Then she shot him a little glare as she said, “You do it all the time.”
A wide grin revealed his fangs. “But I watch everyone. This is not unusual for me.”
But I watch everyone, mur mur mur.She opened and closed her mouth to mock him.
“Austrális,please,” she demanded, cutting him a playful scowl.
“Nathair does that.” Weldir’s tone held the mildest chuckle.
Her brows drew together. “Does what?”
“Mocks me when I speak. I find it quite humorous.”
“Well, heismy child.” She tried to laugh it off.
“That he is,” he answered, as darkness rushed out of her sight and she was hurtled into bright midmorning sunlight.
A little discombobulated, she tried to get her bearings and note her surrounds while searching for danger. Cool wind swept through her hair and clothing, pushing it all around and towards the canyon below.
Getting ready to leave the cliffside of the Veil, she took a step towards the forest, only to pause. She lifted the hem of her cloak, and a smile split across her face.
“Thank you, Weldir. Truly.”
“You are welcome, owlet.”
Lindiwe blinked.Did he just call me a baby owl?
A time unknown, but a curious one
Lifting a hand, Weldir made three fish manifest above it, creatures he’d practised sculpting after looking into the memories of fishermen.
He cast them into the water, and a bubbling trill came from its depths as Nathair chased them. His tail shimmied side to side as he swam, going along the edges so his side fins could brush up against the rock face.
The sail fin along his back made him look like a gigantic shark lurking, and it allowed Weldir to know exactly where he went beneath the surface.
His offspring playing often brought him great joy, and he lowered himself to sit on the edge of the rock. Nathair never tired as he tried to snap his maw around each fish – never to win because Weldir wouldn’t let him. He even tried to slap his hands around them, and occasionally head-butted a wall when the fish disappeared inside it and he didn’t have the intelligence to stop.
Weldir sat and watched him for a little while. Now that he was comfortable, and Nathair was distracted, he was able to moveonto other tasks.
Tiny dots of black, shadowy magic formed all around Weldir before expanding into viewing discs. Some were partially below his sight line, and others above it. Creating them dug into his well of mana, but he didn’t mind.
