“What did you feel?” asked Imbiad, his voice no less bitter.
“When the magic disappeared, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“It felt like … weight. I mean, I couldn’t move.”
Imbiad gave a single nod and then turned his gaze back down the stairway. “You know that the world is filled with energy, which various peoples absorb to different degrees.”
“Yes. Adhar.” Yu was not that stupid.
“A presence is your own energy felt by others. You may —“
“Rothar.”
Imbiad paused.
“Sorry,” Yu said quickly. “I didn’t mean … I mean, for interrupting.”
“Your presence is realised through Rothar, yes. You may learn to expand your Rothar beyond the boundaries of your physical body, and even direct it towards others. You can push it to such an extent that it disrupts their energy intake and flow.”
He was lecturing now. Detached.
It was too much information, and it came too slowly.
Doors. Estingar came out of the kitchen, crossing toward the entrance.
“A presence like that can make beasts quiver,” Imbiad continued. “It can make people falter. At its most powerful, it can disrupt magic entirely. That skill you witnessed has many names. In Teh, it is commonly referred to as a deflection pulse. Wizards, witches, and familiars can all learn it. Though it comes at great cost of Rothar. The Jabarrah applied it as well —“
“What’s that? — Sorry.”
“The bird. A female Jabarrah. Quite young. Her beak was not yet pronounced. Most likely the witch’s familiar.”
Another door open and shut as Estingar returned into the walkway.
“It did the same? It did — I mean, it cast a pulse?”
“To the immediate surroundings, yes. Around itself and the witch.”
Estingar told the borman and the krynn that the medical room was ready, handing them what must be another set of towels and final reminders.
Yu pressed on, words spilling faster. “So shamans can learn this skill? Because you said wizards, witches, and familiars can. But the shaman used it. Was she a witch before? If familiars can, then does that mean all sorts of beasts —”
“Yu.” A voice cut through behind him.
Tirran stood behind him.
“Leave Imbiad be for now. You are done out here. Go inside and assist Bubs.”
Pages:
Pages:
Pages: