Greylith, page 6
Handing us a wrinkled parchment, she sighs.
“Fuck,” Xander says.
“Yeah, you’re telling me,” I respond.
Lyric comes running up to us. “There you guys are! Have you seen this? What the hell!”
“We just saw,” I say. “How can they sit here and punish all the New Weavers for me being a Reality Weaver?”
“It’s not right, but the High Council can basically do whatever they want,” Wren says.
“Yeah, or whatever a certain Commander-in-Chief orders them to do,” Xander chimes in.
“I’m gonna go down and talk to them, they can’t just expect all of us to be able to Weave already after less than a day,” I look at Lyric.
“Well,” Lyric starts. “I’ve already managed to start Weaving.”
“Seriously?” I mutter angrily.
“Yeah, I’m sorry, I tried last night, and it worked. I didn’t do much, but I managed to talk to a spirit,” Lyric says as though she offended me. “I was going to tell you at breakfast, but then this happened.”
“No! That’s awesome! I’m happy for you,” I force a smile.
I shouldn’t be jealous but I am.
“So, it’s just me. What the hell am I going to do?” I look at Xander and Wren.
They both look at each other and give an odd look. “Do you think it could work?” Wren asks.
“I mean, maybe?” Xander replies. “Do you think you can do it?”
“I’m sorry, does someone mind telling me what’s going on? Did you guys just read each other’s minds or…?” Lyric and I both look confused.
“I have an idea, it’s a crazy one, but I think it could work,” Wren tells me. “Have you ever heard of the Ethereal Realm?”
“What realm?” I ask.
“Ethereal,” Xander reiterates.
I look confused.
“The Ethereal Realm is a place where Spiritwalkers go to commune with the dead,” Wren continues. “But it’s also used to help us guide our abilities, and I think it might also work for you too.”
“Well, great, the only problem is, I’m not a Spiritwalker,” I say sarcastically.
“It’s a stretch, but Wren may be able to get you to the Ethereal Realm,” Xander states. “There have been some reported cases of Spiritwalkers being able to alter what someone can see, and to do that, the person on the receiving end would have to have some type of access to the Ethereal Realm.”
“Okay great, so do either of you know how to get me there?” I ask.
“I’ve never done it,” Wren says.
I sigh.
“But, lucky for you, your sister is one of the best Spiritwalkers in Fort Weave. I can make it work,” Wren smiles.
“Well, let's do it then,” I say.
“Great, we’ll meet in Phoenix’s room in thirty minutes,” Xander tells the group.
“Why not now?” I ask.
“Because you haven’t eaten since you left Yanos. You need to eat.” Xander takes my arm and drags me to the mess hall.
I didn’t realize it until he said it, but he’s right. I’m starving and my hunger symptoms are kicking in. My stomach is growling so loud that even Xander has looked at me while my stomach rumbled and raised his eyebrows.
In the food line, I keep my head low to avoid gawking eyes.
Chicken and eggs. A very plain meal, but it’s light on the stomach and has good protein to keep us going for the day. Xander sits next to me. I look over and see him eyeing one of the members of the High Council.
“You good there?” I ask him.
“What? Yeah, sorry.” He brings his attention to his food.
“What are you thinking?” I look at him.
“I’m just confused why the High Council is allowing this?” Xander says, looking back at the lady at the far table in the mess hall.
“It’s not worth thinking about. They’re following orders, they aren’t going to disobey the Commander-in-Chief. This is the Army, not school,” I say.
He sighs, “You’re right.”
“Do you think this will work?” I say, trying to bring his attention back to our plan and take his mind off the High Council’s bogus rules.
“Will what work?” he asks.
“My sister and the Ethereal Realm?” I ask.
“You’re sister is the best Spiritwalker of all the Senior Recruits. If anyone can do it, it’s her,” he smiles. “Speaking of which, we need to get going.”
I look at the clock and see that it’s already eight o’clock. One hour until I need to be in the High Council Chamber.
We both run to my room where Wren and Lyric are already waiting at the wall. The wall washes away and we all get in the room as quickly as possible.
“Sit on the bed,” Wren orders.
“Is it going to hurt?” I ask.
“It shouldn’t,” Wren laughs. “But I also don’t know because I've never done this before.”
“Good point,” I say. “Well, let’s do it.”
“Good luck, you’ve got this,” Lyric smiles.
I look at Xander and he gives me a slight nod.
Wren places her hand on my forehead and whispers something in the same ancient language as before, “Qeunjino Ifrfre, oho Jxiiek Ito ehuo yijra njneaimi.” All of a sudden, everything goes dark.
I come to and see Wren standing at the edge of my bed. Xander and Lyric look as though they haven’t moved. I feel dizzy and lightheaded.
“Did it work?” I ask.
“You tell us,” Xander says. “Did you see anything?”
“No,” I reply. “Everything just went dark.”
“Dammit!” Wren walks away and punches the wall where the entrance of my room is. Her knuckles instantly turn red.
“So now what?” I ask.
“Well, you have to go in there, and just tell them you haven’t used your Weave yet,” Xander says, disappointingly.
“We’d better get going,” Lyric says. “We have to be there in five minutes.”
“Five minutes?” I ask. “We had forty-five when we started.”
“Greylith, how long do you think you were out for?” Xander looks at me.
“Five seconds?” I say, looking at the three of them, who all look concerned.
“Phoenix, you were out for forty minutes,” Lyric grabs my shoulder. “We almost called a Water Weaver to try to bring you back.”
“There’s no way,” I say. “How can that be? I feel as though I barely blinked.” I look at the clock see that they are telling the truth.
“We’ll figure it out later,” Xander steps up. “We need to leave. You can’t be late or they’ll have more reason to punish you.”
We all make our way down to the High Council Chamber. Xander and Wren insisted on escorting us. All the other New Weavers are already there, waiting inside.
“Good luck,” Wren says. “I’ll come find you guys after training.”
“Thanks, Wren!” Lyric shouts. “And thanks for the advice!”
“What advice?” I look at her.
“Oh, she gave me some tips on how to help summon a Spirit Familiar.”
“Oh, sweet!” I say.
Lyric grabs the door and looks at me, I gesture to her to go ahead without me.
“Thanks for the help,” I say shyly to Xander. “I appreciate it.”
“Anytime,” Xander smiles.
I smile back at him, and for the first time, I actually think I like him back, but really like him.
“You’d better get in there,” he points to the door and then the clock that says 8:58 a.m.
“Is there any chance you can come in there?” I look up at him.
He smiles. “I wish, but they won’t let me in. They know I’ve been watching out for you, and they want us separated.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” I say, not making eye contact.
“But, it’s like I said before,” he places one hand on my shoulder, and then lowers his finger and lifts my chin to look into my eyes. “I’ve got you.”
My heart skips a beat. His ocean blue eyes are glowing like sapphires. I feel his pulse through the tip of his finger. I feel every part of his muscular hand. I want this man. I want him and every part of him. I want to kiss him and more.
“Get in there,” he says, dropping my gaze and taking his hands off of me.
I let out a low breath. “Right. We’ve got this.”
“You’ve got this.”
In the chamber, all the New Weavers are standing against the old, dank, stone wall. The High Council is sitting at the table in a half circle shape. One seat is empty, I assume it’s the seat reserved for Ironleaf. Every eye turns to me when I walk in.
General Darkflame stands. “Welcome New Weavers. This year we are doing something new. We want to make sure you can Weave before your training begins, so we will be evaluating you all beforehand.”
“Good luck,” I say to Lyric, assuming she goes first as she always does.
“First up, Recruit Greylith,” Darkflame looks at me.
Shit! I wasn’t expecting to go first. I turn to Lyric.
“Breathe, you can do this,” she nods.
I can do this.
I step up to the middle of the room. I face each member of the High Council, but I feel the eyes of every New Weaver on me, craning to see me Weave.
“You may begin, Mr. Greylith,” Finnian Frostfall says. I remember him, he was the one that went over the New Weaver rules with us on the Ship.
“Right,” I nod. I close my eyes and try to reach out mentally to anyone or anything, and nothing. I keep trying, trying to feel some sort of energy through any part of my body.
“Guess he’s not the strongest of us, is he?” I hear Thorne whisper behind me.
“Silence, please,” a small Councilwoman says.
I slam my eyes shut, I try to reach out. I think of all the support I’ve got from Lyric, Wren, Caspian, and Xander. My mind falls back to him, his smile, his narrow eyes, his wavy dark hair, his body. God, his body.
“Focus,” I whisper to myself.
I draw my mind back to the power, I reach for any type of spirit I may have connected with if I went to the Ethereal Realm.
Nothing.
“Ah, very well,” Finnian stops me. “We’ll see you back here tomorrow, Recruit.”
I open my eyes, my head hangs low. Dammit, I failed.
“Please step to the back of the Chamber,” Darkflame orders.
“Weak,” Thorne whispers in my ear.
One by one, all the other New Weavers step up and show their Weave’s with ease.
Lyric goes last. She closes her eyes and begins to form her hands into a ball, the top of her hand glows purple, as she starts muttering the same language that Wren did earlier, except this time I understand it.
“Spirit Guardians, provide me a protector.” As Lyric speaks, a ball of energy begins to form in her hands. The orb is growing, and quickly, it’s gotta be as tall and as wide as me. Suddenly, the purple sphere bursts into a shower of sparks around the chamber. Where the giant ball once was stands a giant, transparent, silver wolf.
“Oh my god! You did it!” I cheer with Lyric back in my room. “That’s so awesome! What’s their name?”
The giant wolf is staring me down in the corner of my room, but quite frankly, it feels like the wolf’s room right now.
“Her name is Niko,” Lyric tells me.
There’s a knock on the wall, four knocks to be exact. As a group, we’ve decided that if anyone wants in, they need to knock four times, that will assure myself and anyone with me that it’s a friend.
I go over to the wall, tap it and it fizzles away. Wren and Xander are both standing there.
“How’d it- holy shit!” Wren hollers when she sees Niko.
Xander seems equally surprised and gives Lyric a nod of approval, she smiles back.
“And you?” Xander turns to me.
I shake my head.
“You’ll do it,” Wren says. “Who else didn’t show their Weave?”
Lyric gives her a look and shakes her head slightly, with her eyes avoiding mine.
“Oh, shit,” Wren mumbles solemnly.
“It’s fine,” I reassure them. “I’m fine.” Or, maybe I’m trying to assure myself.
Xander puts an arm around my shoulder, and all my worries melt away.
* * *
It’s late October now and I haven’t even started any military training because I can’t use my Weave yet.
“It’s been weeks!” I shout at Wren in my room. “They may as well just send me home because I’m not Weaving!”
“Phoenix, calm down!” Wren says. “You’re going to Weave.”
“Really, Wren?” I say. “That’s easy for you to say, you’re the best Spiritwalker at Fort Weave. It took you what? Two minutes to Weave?”
“An hour, but that’s neither here nor there,” she says sarcastically.
“Oh, that makes me feel so much better,” I sigh.
“Everyone Weave’s at a different rate!” Wren exclaims.
“Oh, who else has taken eight weeks to Weave? Cause I’d love some tips!” I yell.
She’s silent.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” I say coldly.
I walk over to the wall and let Xander in who just ran down to grab my dinner. Outside of going to the Council Chamber, I don’t leave my room. I’m tired of everyone staring at me like I’m some sort of freak.
“You got mail,” Xander says, taking a bite of a roll.
“From who?” I ask, grabbing an envelope from under his arm. “It’s from Mom.”
“Oh,” Wren starts. “That’s weird.”
I look at Wren oddly, because why is she sweating. I tear the seal and begin reading the torn parchment out loud.
“Really, Wren?” I look up from the letter. “You told Mom?”
“She had a right to know, Phoenix,” Wren says.
I throw the letter on the bed and walk over to the window and look out into the ocean. Sometimes I wish I could just dive into the water, swim away, and never return.
“Don’t be mad at your sister,” Xander butts in. “Your mom is right, you need friends.”
On her way out, Wren says, “Listen, our family has been full of powerful Weavers and when the time comes, you will be no exception.”
I nod somberly.
“Mind if I join you?” Xander asks, with his dinner also in his hands.
I turn away from the open window where it’s dark and peaceful. “Yeah, sure.”
“She’s right, you know?” Xander glances at me, taking a mouth full of food.
“About what?” I say, walking over to the bed where Xander placed my tray.
“All of it. Your family's abilities, and you,” he stares at me, raising his eyebrows. “You’re going to Weave.”
“Am I?” I ask, playing with the food on my tray. “Because it really doesn’t feel like it.” Tears begin to well in my eyes.
“Hey, stop that,” Xander says, pushing his food aside and wrapping his arms around me. “You’re a Reality Weaver, that’s a lot of power that your body is trying to harness. It’s fucked up that the High Council isn’t letting you do any type of training, but the more you fight it, the more they’re going to push you into Weaving and punishing you when you don’t. I’m so fucking sorry that I can’t stop them.”
“I can’t just sit in my room all day and fall behind,” I say, trying to collect myself. “I need to find a way to train myself.”
“That’s it!” Xander pulls away from me. “You’re a genius! That’s what we’re going to do.”
“What is?” I say, startled and confused.
“We’re going to train you!” Xander smiles. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Who is?” I ask with sass.
“Wren and I. We’re going to train you!” Xander jumps out of the bed.
“Where?” This time adding even more sass.
“Right here, in your room,” Xander heads for the exit and then turns around and smiles. “Oh, by the way, this Friday is the Halloween Dance. You wanna go with me?”
I blush.
At three the following morning, Wren, Lyric, and Xander are all knocking at my room. The ladies are both still wiping the sleep from their eyes, while Xander on the other hand is all smiles.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Xander says happily.
I mumble a greeting that is meant to be a 'morning,' but it doesn’t quite come out as intended.
“And why are we here before the sun is up? Wren asks through her yawn.
“Your brother needs to be trained, and we are going to help,” Xander says to the girls, both of whom are curled up in my bed. To say I’m jealous would be an understatement. “First things first, put on your uniform.”
I blink at him slowly.
“Today.” He walks over to my dresser and tosses me the new clean uniform that was delivered yesterday.
“Mmkay,” I say as I barely catch the black clothes and shuffle over to the washroom.
“You really weren’t kidding about you not sleeping, were you?” I shout through my toothbrush and paste.
“How could I sleep when I was just too excited about training you!” Xander shouts.
“Xander, no,” Wren says as she yawns. “No one is allowed to be this excited before the sun comes up.”
“I second that,” Lyric says, as I hear her head hit a pillow.
After a few minutes I make my way out of the washroom and as soon as my foot crosses the threshold into my room, I’m slammed to my back and pinned to the ground. Xander is on top of me. “Rule number one on training, always be prepared for an ambush.”
“What the hell was that?” I yell.
“Xander, go easy on him,” Lyric yawns. “Maybe teach him how to defend himself before you start beating on him.”
He pulls me up back to my feet and I stumble a bit. “Yeah, a little warning would’ve been great next time,” I say.
“The Shadow Army could come to the gates of Fort Weave at any moment, without a warning,” Xander stares at me. “And quite frankly, the way the Commanders around Fort Weave have been training will get anyone killed. So, we will train you my way. Are you ready?”
I nod.
“Alright, come at me,” Xander smirks.
