Book One – Chapter 15

Estingar kept playing around with his name, as if he were the first to notice how stupid it was. Eventually, though, he explained that the guild was heavily warded against most forms of elemental magic. Additional seals prevented intrusive spells, like the abilities witches used to access or manipulate minds. All protective enchantments were upheld through energy crystals, both the ones Yu had spotted in the common room and others stored safely in designated rooms.

Yu was also told that Deltington was watching from a balcony above them, which confirmed his earlier observations. Gurs was stationed at a second entrance on the third floor, which Yu had yet to see.

“All seals are fully charged,” Estingar assured. “There hasn’t been a witch in months.”

“None that we noticed,” said Tirran.

Yu hesitated. “What happened last time? When a witch came here? Or witches? How many were there?”

“Three came,” Estingar explained. “Just before the last rampage on the Barnstream wizards, eight weeks ago. You came from there, right?”

“I live in Undertellems.” Lived.

They did not have to tell Yu about the attack. He had been there. Well — not there exactly. He had not seen the Shaira directly. Tria had made him hide, like she always did when witches were near. The settlement was heavily warded against magic.

“They came to fight here too?” Yu asked. “To capture wizards?”

“Surprisingly, they didn’t,” Estingar replied. “Not this time. They sought oracle. From a Transcender who was staying with us then.”

“Oracle? Was he a guard?”

“Quiet now,” Tirran said. He spoke with what was probably meant to be a whisper. Yet, to Yu, his voice only grew darker. More threatening. “Yu, are you familiar with the Shaia’s abilities in mind manipulation?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

It was not. It was not good. Not really. Yu did not know why he had answered that way. Maybe because he did not want to hear more from Tirran. Maybe because he did not want to learn more about just how powerful the Shaia really were. He knew it was dangerous to listen to them, with or without T̰́̇ͦ̀è̸̷̸̬̤̗̊_̸̵̰̦̗̒͜ȟ̗̍ͤa̶͉͉͍̭̰̅̀̈͜ͅȓ̶̶̛̦͇͙̟̈̿͒ͮ͑̋̚͡u̟͖͔̖̙͙͆̄̿ͩͧ̃̽̓̈̌̀͟͞n. Their voice carried spells — spells that distorted reality and warped perception, even if they had been cast far in advance.

Yu listened.

For such spells.

For anything.

The travellers’ heartbeats pulsed just beyond the storm. He strained to hear more – words, clues, any sort of exchange – but they did not speak. Or maybe he was simply too nervous to —

Shadows emerged at the edge of the storm.