“Ohhh, I’ve always wondered how she does that,” Fitz said.
“Who should I transmit to?” Sophie asked. “In my telepathy sessions I always practiced on Fitz. Or I call for Silveny, but I’m guessing that won’t work, since she’s not an elf.”
“Actually, that could be interesting,” Granite said. “It might open Fitz’s mind to two skills—distance transmission and telepathy with animals. I’m not sure the latter skill can be taught, but it’s worth the attempt.”
“Does Silveny think in the Enlightened Language?” Fitz asked.
“Only the few words I’ve taught her,” Sophie said. “Otherwise it’s her language or images and memories.”
“That may make it confusing,” Granite warned, “but still a good test. In fact, this should be a definitive indicator of your Cognate success. If Fitz’s mind can’t learn from yours, it’ll prove you’re not compatible.”
The last word dumped about a million pounds of pressure on everything.
I won’t care if this doesn’t work, okay? Fitz transmitted after she gave him permission to slip past her blocking.
But she could see the hope in his eyes—feel the excitement in his grip. And she definitely didn’t want him thinking they weren’t compatible.
“Okay,” she said, stalling one second longer.
She closed her eyes and pictured the Sanctuary, with its rainbow sky and rolling pastures. The dwarves had built the lush animal preserve inside the Himalayan Mountains to keep it secret from humans. The rock walls also prevented the alicorns from teleporting away. Sophie wished Silveny could’ve kept her freedom, but the precious alicorn needed protection. The Neverseen had tried to capture Silveny twice. One time they’d even broken her wing.
Silveny? she transmitted, making Fitz jump.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I should’ve warned you it’d be loud.”
“But it’s awesome,” Fitz promised. “I need to learn how to project with that kind of power.”
“Hopefully this process will teach you,” Granite reminded him.
Silveny, Sophie said again, and this time Fitz barely flinched. He even held steady as she repeated the call a few more times. But he did jump when an exuberant shout filled her mind.
FRIEND! SOPHIE! VISIT! FLY!
“That is so crazy,” Fitz said.
“Does that mean you can hear Silveny?” Granite asked.
Fitz laughed. “I’m surprised the whole universe can’t. Every word she sends needs to end with an exclamation point.”
“Tell me about it,” Sophie said.
“Can you understand what she’s saying?” Granite asked Fitz.
“So far. But I think she’s speaking the Enlightened Language.”
“She is.” Sophie’s mind filled with a new round of VISIT! VISIT! VISIT! plus several KEEFEs.
Wow, she really loves Keefe, doesn’t she? Fitz transmitted.
It’s adorable and obnoxious, isn’t it? Sophie asked.
There were so many KEEFE! chants going, Sophie almost didn’t notice when Silveny added a GREYFELL! to the mix.
Is everything okay? she asked.
Greyfell was the male alicorn who lived at the Sanctuary. He’d grown violent not long after Silveny arrived, but only because he was afraid of the ogre homing device hidden in Silveny’s tail. Once the aromark had been removed, he’d calmed down. Still, Sophie remembered the ferocity in Greyfell’s eyes and the darkness she’d seen in his memories. He’d lived a much harsher life than Silveny, and it had made him cold and wary.
And yet, the memories Silveny sent showed the two alicorns playfully dipping and diving through the hologram sky and chasing each other through the colorful meadows. If they hadn’t been sparkly flying horses, Sophie would’ve teased them for flirting.
Plus, she honestly hoped that was what they were up to. Silveny and Greyfell were the last of their kind, and everyone was counting on them to repopulate the species. That was why the alicorns needed so much protection. The elves believed that letting any creature go extinct would cause the planet irreversible damage. So whoever controlled the alicorns controlled the Council.
I’m glad you have a friend, Sophie said, wishing she could reach across the world and stroke Silveny’s shimmering nose. You’ll have to tell him “hi” for me.
MISS, Silveny told her, making Sophie’s eyes burn.
I miss you too. But you’re safe?
SAFE! SAFE! SAFE! Silveny promised.
Which of course led her back to more pleas for Sophie to visit, and a host of additional KEEFEs.
Somewhere around the tenth chant a new voice joined the mix—one with a crisp accent.
Hi.
It was a small word, but its effect was huge.
Silveny pummeled Sophie with worries as Fitz shouted, “I DID IT!”
Sophie could hear Granite and Fitz celebrating, but first she had to calm Silveny down.
That’s Fitz, she told the suspicious alicorn.