"The animals." He was watching me like I'd missed something obvious and my anger flared, until I realized the implication.
The fury rushed out of me in a huff. I was winded, like I'd been punched in the chest. How could I have been so oblivious? They were lining up in my head, the details that I'd so blatantly missed. Some more apparent than others but they were all there. The battle with council, when I'd felt someone else in the mind of the bird, the glaringly obvious fact that there had been practically no animals on our path, Fannie's apparent abilities that I had seen so clearly in my dreams.
Fannie. Suddenly, my head was spinning, joining the images from my dreams with the last few hours, minutes. I was speaking before I was aware of it. "We were running." I felt his hand grip my arm and knew he could hear the change in my voice, as I had. "Running from Fannie." I'd known she was coming for me. Coming. Something to look forward to, worry about later. Not that she was already here, not now.
I looked into his eyes and I didn't know what he saw on my face but he was abruptly trying to calm me. "Frey, she hasn't gotten near you at all." I felt my features twist at his words. "The wolves are taking care of them."
The wolves. Taking care of them. How many times had she tried? How long had this been going on? I opened my mouth to speak but I couldn't process the anger. The humiliation. The irritation. I growled in rage, throwing my fisted hands to my sides, when the sound of shattering stone caught my attention.
And then I realized it had been me. I sighed, ashamed that I'd unintentionally exploded the rock that had been my intended seat moments ago. I loosened my fists, throwing my hands up in surrender.
I started walking back to the temple, or at least in the direction I thought it had been, unwilling to look at Chevelle. I heard his quiet steps behind me as he followed my slow progress. I remembered his words from the time I had been attacked by council, when they'd found me and rebound my magic. He'd said they had known council was close but they were mistaken in thinking council intended a physical attack. They had been prepared for that, and I now knew more than capable of defeat. But they had not been prepared for the binding, not prepared for the direct attack on my mind. He'd assured me that council would not get so close again.
And now they were, what, destroying every animal that came near because Fannie was tracking me too? The wolves were my guard dogs? I was too far gone to laugh. I could see their first demonstration of power, hear their vicious snarl, see their jagged fangs. Ruby's words came back to me now. No, silly, no one can control animals. The wolves attack who they want, protect who they want.
I kept walking, slowly, attempting to process it all, struggling to find a place for it. Twice I spun on Chevelle, ready to fling accusations at him, but each time his expression was such that I could only look at him, my mouth open ready to speak, before I turned and continued on.
Eventually, the hot sun was directly overhead and I knew I'd been walking far too long. I couldn't decide if I'd passed the temple or gone in a completely different direction. I sighed and turned, finding Chevelle standing quietly behind me, exactly where I'd expected him.
He waited.
I took a deep breath. "I don't know where I am."
His face was pained as he took a step toward me. "I know, Frey. We are trying to help you."
I put my hands up in front of me, a "stop" signal, embarrassed and annoyed. "No. I mean I don't know where I am," I said, emphasizing my point by waving my hands toward the surrounding trees.
He almost smiled as he took another step closer. "They will be waiting for us." Before I could respond, he pulled me up, carrying me again, as he spun and stepped into a run toward the temple.
I hadn't even been close.
Chapter Six
Compliant
So, now that I knew I was being hunted down by the remaining members of Grand Council and my crazy Aunt Fannie in various animal forms, it was considerably easier to forgive the seven others who were willing to help me, regardless of their reasons.
It was in that state of mind that I resumed my training with Grey upon returning to the temple. The others were planning again, something about moving since Fannie had likely found us. I wasn't sure what "likely" meant, since the wolves had apparently slaughtered various beasts throughout the morning, but I ignored their discussions, confident that they would not have let me join in even if I preferred.
We found a quiet spot near the center of the temple. The floor was open so I hoped I'd have a better chance to follow Grey's movements as he flitted around trying to lose me. But I was often disappointed. I readied myself, standing motionless, eyes and ears on alert when he stepped in front of me, wearing a temperate smile.
I stiffened, certain he was making fun of me, though I had no idea for what.