“I think I see what you’re saying,” I admitted. I nodded once to Thom who said nothing, grabbed his chair, and walked away.
I slid off Ilyan’s bed, my body aching at the movement. I moved to Ilyan’s head and smoothed his long hair. Thom had said that Ilyan had his strength for a reason. I couldn’t rely on him carrying all of my worries for me – I didn’t want him to – but I didn’t know if I had enough strength of my own, I didn’t know which I wanted to be, strong on my own; or strong enough to ask for help.
I didn’t know which I was supposed to be.
Twenty-One
I clutched the mug of Black Water and pressed it to my lips, a soft groan escaping as I felt the liquid flow through me. I tried to ignore Dramin’s happy chuckle from behind me and let myself enjoy the way the Black Water made me feel. It was better than a cheeseburger.
Dramin had been supplying me with the drink since he had returned earlier that morning. Although it had been weird to only eat a small amount of rice and vegetables for lunch, my body didn’t want food anymore. And I didn’t care. The Black Water was all I needed. Dramin was right.
“Do you need more?” Dramin asked.
“Not yet. It’s good this is just water, Uncle, or I might be worried I was turning into an alcoholic.” Dramin chuckled, and I heard Thom grunt loudly from beside me.
“Poisonous water,” Thom amended, which only caused Dramin to chuckle more.
A grunt and a chuckle. I couldn’t think of anything else that could explain the two men better.
“Well, if you don’t need more,” Dramin said, “let’s get back to work, shall we?”
I took another drink and let the warm energy pulse through me. So far it was taking away all my aches from having avoided the T?uha today. I enjoyed the feeling, but what I loved even more was that the Water had fully unlocked my abilities.
I had sparred with Thom this morning, and even through my sore and rigid body, I was able to beat him in three matches. I could tell he wasn’t as powerful as Ilyan, but I had never beaten anyone before – without cheating of course. It made me excited, while it only made Thom surly.
I sat on the floor of the large training hall, a large fur cloak draped around me. It was there not only for warmth, but also for some semblance of decency. I hadn’t had a chance to change clothes, or even take a shower, since before the fight in Santa Fe. And thanks to last night’s nightmares and today’s sparing matches, I was sweatier and more ratty than usual. I had tried to smooth my hair, but gave up when I realized I was fighting a losing battle. I would have to look a little bit derelict until I located a shower and a clothing store – both of which I had been informed the cave did not have.
Dramin stood about ten feet behind me and Thom slightly to my left. Even with my eyes closed I could see them. I had opened up my internal vision to include the whole room, much to Thom’s dismay. He could only manage about a ten foot circle. And even though I could see the whole cave, I was sure I could manage even more if I focused.
“Ready,” I called out. Thom stretched his fingers before he began to shoot objects away from him: real, magical, and conjured. I caught the real objects with my mind, only to set them down by the entrance where they had begun, I shattered the conjured objects with a pulse from my own magic, and intercepted each of the magical attacks with either an attack of my own or a wave of negative movement.
The room exploded with color and action for the brief time it took me to do away with each of Thom’s potential weapons. The ribbons of color snaked down to the ground last, only to fall in pools of glittering power before they disappeared back into the stone. And through it all, I did not move my hands an inch.
“Six seconds!” Dramin called out. I saw him running toward me, so I opened my eyes, stiffly moving to my feet again.
“How many was that, Thom?” Dramin asked as he came up beside me, his eyes eager.
“Twenty real, ten conjured, and five attacks.” He didn’t seem too pleased, although after our talk this morning I was realizing that Thom was not one to show his emotions in public.
“You probably could have gone faster,” Thom grunted.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Thom,” I said a bit sarcastically. Thom only rolled his eyes and moved away from us.
“Do you think you could do more, Siln??” Dramin asked as he bounced on his heels. He took my hand in his, but I pulled away, fighting the urge to ask him not to touch me. He looked a little shocked, so I grabbed my mug, drained it, and shoved it into his chest.
“More items or more magic?” I asked, not understanding.
“Both,” Dramin’s voice was so eager, he reminded me of a five year old being offered ice cream.
“Well,” Thom yelled from across the large space, “if you don’t need me, I am going to go check on our invalid.”