I reached for the well of my power, desperately hoping something had changed. But the kernel remained infantile, the internal avatar manifesting with the strength of a mewling kitten.
One of the HighFaesmiled, a female with long red hair and copper skin, her brown eyes wide with delight. The male next to her wore his nearly white hair in close-cropped curls, his full lips flattened. Silvery blue eyes set in a light gold face stared at us.
“Shield!”Édouardordered.
A handful of us possessed strong shields, a basic defensive ability any LowFaewith even a drop of power learned. It offered minimal protection. He faced the enemy chin lowered, braced as if ready to charge.
Aerinne,Darkan said, his voice absent the usual impatience or scathing, if affectionate, amusement.
Can you help me?
Brace.
I staggered, almost dropping mysabrefrom theicepicksof another mind layering into mine. I instinctively resisted before realizing Darkan’s intent. It felt as if I were strapped to a table, struggling while a giant rock pressed into me.
“Aerinne,” Juliette hissed. “What thefuckis wrong with you?Numair, cover her.”
Distantly aware of my personal guards shifting to stand in front of me, I sifted through the deluge of information settling into my brain. In a moment of clarity, I understood Darkan’s lesson.
Aggravation nipped at my heels. He could have taught me this before now, like say, during training rather thanin the middle of a battle.
The middle of a battle presents the most effective incentive for a lazy student to pay attention and master the skill.
I don't have the power to pull it off.I ignored his insult. I already knew his opinion of my haphazard approach to formal education.
Look deeper.
. . .Fine. I didn't need my own power.
I graspedNumair's shoulder, absently blotting blood at my nostril, requiring the physical anchor. He stiffened as I threw him off balance.
Igrabbed his shield and linked it to mine. Not a simple process, but my mind skipped over tedious internal explanations, using mental muscle memory that hadn't existed minutes ago.
Numairhissed. “Rinne, what are you doing?”
Now the next one,Darkan said.Bridge them one by one.
You've been holding out on me.I wasnotpleased.
It is difficult for me to fully grasp what you do not know. Like trying to fit a horse into an ant's glove.
That was utter horseshit.
Besides, the consequences of this kind of teaching. . .
Arewhat?
Unpleasant, girl. For you. You’dbest hopeyou do not find out.
Only moments had passed as I linked my people one by one, my painstaking efforts clumsy and marginally effective. Some of my warriors fought when I tried to bring them into the link, making my job more difficult.
“What is that?” someone asked. “What's happening?”
“It's me,” I said, bending my knees a little as the weight of the magic settled over me. “Don't fight me!”
Fire rushed towards us, streaming from the hands of the red-haired female. So cliché: a flame-haired fire wielder.
I widened my eyes, astonished when thecombinedshield held against the strike. But as the flames licked our defenses, something else came with it.
