Oh crap. I hadn't really thought my plan through until I was standing in the large open room where I'd oft been tortured by fire and whip, facing the two dark, silver-haired elves that towered over me. And, to make matters worse, before we'd even began, Chevelle had rounded the corner to join us and Ruby, smug in her triumph, popped through the second door only moments later.
Rhys held a staff that I hadn't noticed him carrying before and announced, "It begins."
I barely had time to let his serious tone concern me before the staff tilted forward slightly, toward me. I immediately took a step back but stopped when I realized the stones at my feet had changed. I was staring at them when a crack sounded and I looked up just in time to see the flash of light coming at my chest. Before I had a moment to react, the light was knocked aside and Chevelle stood between me and the pair of opponents.
He didn't need to speak the word, but he did anyway. "Stop."
Rhys smiled softly and, for the first time, he looked almost menacing. "You overreact, Vattier. We know of her capacity."
"She is bound," Chevelle replied icily.
"You shield her," Rider interjected, breaking their stare. "She will not find her potential without cause."
"We have observed her with the others," Rhys said, "she has the faculty, when you are absent."
Chevelle took two steps toward him at the intimation but, before he could react the way I feared he would, Grey spoke up from the door. "It's true."
I glanced around the room and, though all other eyes were on Rhys and Chevelle, everyone was hanging on Grey's words. To my surprise, Steed had also joined us, standing quietly by the second doorway. He stepped forward as Grey continued. "Her instincts have returned."
I cringed as I remembered flinging him across the room.
The tension in Chevelle's shoulders eased just a fraction as he turned to Grey and I breathed again, now that the confrontation appeared to be over. "Since the temple," Grey added and I recalled catching his fist during our last practice.
"Why did you keep it from us?" Ruby asked, plainly irritated with him.
The group had gathered closer and I let myself relax as Grey answered, only in trouble with Ruby now. "You knew she was improving, she'd bested you without aim." I saw her eyes narrow on him. "Besides," he said, "you seem to make her uneasy."
Ruby was prepared to argue but he persisted, "But mostly, it's him." He indicated Chevelle with a tip of his head and my face flushed bright red.
All eyes turned to Chevelle as he watched Grey. It was several seconds before he finally reacted, glancing at me briefly and then walking from the room.
An unpleasant silence lingered until Grey spoke up. "I mean not to offend you, Elfreda."
"Uh, no, not at all," I stammered.
He glanced at Ruby, as if to extend his apology, and she sneered back at him. "Then we should carry on," he suggested to Rhys and Rider.
"Wait," I interrupted, not so anxious to resume, "what happened to the floor?" I glanced down as I spoke, seeing only the same, normal stone floor that had been so obviously writhing and swelling beneath my feet moments ago.
"Merely an illusion," Rider explained.
"And the ball of light?"
He smiled at my term. "Not an illusion. And quite painful, I might add."
I raised a brow at Rhys. "So, what's with the staff?" I heard a snicker and turned to glare at Steed, but he was gone; Grey tried to flatten his smile.
"It is merely an instrument to control my focus," Rhys explained.
"Even so," Rider said, "never hurts to have a big stick in hand."
The subtle, and painfully familiar, sound of Ruby's whip unfurling brought me around to face her as she spoke. "Earlier, Grey and I were discussing how helpful it would be to give Frey the experience of a more complete battle."
Understanding her intention, Rider stepped a pace back to open the group and Grey fell in beside Rhys, making a circle of sorts.
"I mean, even if we make her uneasy," she taunted, "it is not as if we will not be in battle beside her." I ignored the implication, knowing they were my guard, fully aware that, at this point, I would be no help in a fight, could in no way stand beside her. As I backed away from her, I simply concentrated on not getting hurt, but then, knowing that was next to impossible any time a whip was involved, I thought I might settle for not getting hurt badly.
"Do not think of us, Freya," Grey instructed. "Better still, do not think."
Geesh.