Page 66 of A Touch of Royalty
“Were you threatened?”
Emryn nodded. “The head wasn’t the head then, but he thought I was a danger and he forced his way into my head to make certain I wasn’t some sort of night monster.”
“I am going to open an investigation,” Asan said calmly. “If he did it to you, what else has he done to the children under his care?”
“I only know what was done to me,” Emryn said. “I wasn’t permitted to be among the other healers until I’d graduatedto the intermediate cohort and had the breaks in my control trained out of me.”
“I understand the training,” Asan said. “The method used is abhorrent. He should have come to the college when you were discovered and we would have assisted.”
“Alright, so what do I need to do?” Emryn didn’t want to talk about it anymore, didn’t want to think about it. She needed to focus on anything else or she was going to start crying.
“First, we must locate the pinch point,” Asan said. “There is always a pinch point between the core and the conduits.” He stopped, looking at her. “What does it look like when your mind is as it’s supposed to be?”
Emryn sighed and raised a hand. The conduits dissolved into a bright flame that all fell back into the well where her power stemmed from. “Like that.”
“Fascinating.” Asan looked around, bowing to look into the well. “This may prove more difficult. If there is no core, then there is no pinch point. But the Guardian Bird is responsible for your power, so perhaps there is-”
“He refused to speak to me,” Emryn said quietly. “He said it wasn’t time yet but also refused to tell me when the time would come.”
“I am going to map this,” Asan said. “This may hurt, but please believe I intend no harm.”
Emryn nodded and watched Asan raise his arms. She felt his power flow into her mind and wondered what he was doing. And then there was a massive concussion, a sound that wasn’t a sound and a presence lifted its head above the well.
“I said not yet, Seeker.” The voice was enormous, but somehow not painful. “She must take all three before she will be strong enough to hold all of me.”
“Guardian,” Asan bowed, the power fading from Emryn’s mind. “Her wings-”
“She has only to think them gone.” The presence faded out as fast as it had come, leaving Emryn and Asan to stare at each other.
“I guess that’s an answer?” Emryn shrugged. “I don’t know what it means, but I can try.”
“I believe I understood.” Asan still looked gobsmacked. “But the Guardian’s meaning has facets and we will have to experiment.”
“Alright.” Emryn watched Asan fade back out of her mind and walked to the edge of her well. “Guardian?” She tossed the timid word into the whorl of flame. “Can you help?”
“Find your Three, my heart.” The presence rose again, presenting an avian head with a single eye like a sapphire made of fire. “Connect, and you will find them.”
The presence vanished again, back into the core of her fire, and Emryn closed her eyes and turned outward.
When she opened them,it was to Cas who had her cheeks cupped in both hands. “Emryn, are you alright?”
She nodded, raising one hand to touch his face. “I’m alright, I just need to figure this out.” She turned her head, still in Cas’ hands, and looked at Asan. “He called you Seeker.”
“He did,” Asan looked puzzled. “I am a seeker, Emryn, of many things, and chances are not high that I am one of the people you seek.”
“It doesn’t really matter at this exact moment.” She looked back to Cas. “We have a sort of answer, but the execution is up in the air.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” He let her face go and wrapped her in his arms.
She buried her head in his shoulder. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I don’t know what the Guardian meant by what he said.”
“What did he say?”
“He said I have to think them gone,” Emryn replied. “But they’re heavy and hot, and I don’t think I can.”
“Can you think hunger away?” Asan asked, sounding odd. “Or thirst, or weariness?”
Emryn nodded. “Healers are trained to do that, to will away our needs to see to the people.”
