Read Online Arbiter (The Arbiter Chronicles Book 1) by Elisa A. Bonnin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elisa A. Bonnin
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breaking your Source.”
“What happens then?” asked Rae.
“Well, mages that have done it tend to go mad. Those that don’t die, at any rate. But I doubt you’ll get as far as a Series spell. Those need to be taught, and there aren’t any masters out here.”
Rae frowned at him. “Can’t I learn yours?”
“You could,” said Cathel. “But you’d only learn it in part. I’m not a Master. Do you have any questions?”
She shook her head. “I think I’ve got it.”
“Good,” said Cathel. “So for your first lesson, I think we’ll start with the basics. Let’s go back to that light spell you tried to cast yesterday.”
Rae gave Cathel a nod, wincing inwardly at the memory of her less than stellar performance. He gave her a small grin, noticing her expression. “Don’t worry about it. We know you can get power out. That’s usually the hardest part. But because your Source is so strong, it looks like the hard part for you will be control.”
“Alright,” said Rae, nodding. “How do you do that?”
“Let’s start from the beginning. Drawing power out. Close your eyes and try to locate your Source.”
Rae took a deep breath, nodding hesitantly. She let her eyes drift closed, her hands resting in her lap as she tried to locate that large reservoir of power that she had felt yesterday. She could feel it there, just under her skin, but as she reached for it, she felt it shy away again, hiding deep in the recesses of her mind. She bit her lip, and dove in after it again. Rae tried to grab it. It felt like she was trying to grab water. Each time she reached for it, it slipped right through her fingers, leaving her frustrated and empty-handed. She squeezed her eyes shut in concentration, reaching down for it again and grabbing hold of a chunk of it. She saw light appear from behind closed eyes, a bright light beginning to shine around the area.
“No,” said Cathel quickly, as she drew the power to the surface. “No, let go. You’re going too far.”
Rae exhaled, releasing the power and letting it flow away from her. She scowled, shifting away from him as she prepared to open her eyes and get up, but Cathel stopped her, reaching forward and grabbing her hands to keep her in place. Her eyes snapped open at the contact, and she tried to pull away, but he held her firmly in front of him.
“Don’t give up yet,” he said, tone stern. His eyes met hers, giving her a look that told her he wouldn’t allow any argument. “You were almost there. Now close your eyes and listen to me.”
She hesitated, but nodded once, closing her eyes again. He kept his hands firmly on hers, keeping her in place. “Are you listening?” he asked. At her nod, he went on, his grip on her hands easing up somewhat. He didn’t let go completely.
“Your Source is a lot like you,” he said. “Do you remember how you reacted yesterday, when I tried to drag you to see the masters?”
“…I tried to get away,” she said.
“And why’s that?” asked Cathel. “Why did you react so strongly when I grabbed your hands now?”
Understanding dawned on her. “…I don’t like to be manhandled.”
“Your Source is a part of your soul,” he said. “It is you. If you run away when someone grabs at you, what do you think it’s going to do when you come charging in trying to grab at it?”
She waited for him to continue talking, but when he said nothing, she realized that he actually expected her to answer. “…Run away.”
“So…how do you approach it?” he asked. “How do you get it to work for you? How do you touch it without scaring it off and making it run away?”
For emphasis, he tightened his grip on her hands, reminding her that he was still touching her. She swallowed hard, but she didn’t pull her hands out of his grip. How could she reach out and touch it in a way that wouldn’t make it run from her…? How had Cathel managed to touch her without her pulling away?
“Try that
“What happens then?” asked Rae.
“Well, mages that have done it tend to go mad. Those that don’t die, at any rate. But I doubt you’ll get as far as a Series spell. Those need to be taught, and there aren’t any masters out here.”
Rae frowned at him. “Can’t I learn yours?”
“You could,” said Cathel. “But you’d only learn it in part. I’m not a Master. Do you have any questions?”
She shook her head. “I think I’ve got it.”
“Good,” said Cathel. “So for your first lesson, I think we’ll start with the basics. Let’s go back to that light spell you tried to cast yesterday.”
Rae gave Cathel a nod, wincing inwardly at the memory of her less than stellar performance. He gave her a small grin, noticing her expression. “Don’t worry about it. We know you can get power out. That’s usually the hardest part. But because your Source is so strong, it looks like the hard part for you will be control.”
“Alright,” said Rae, nodding. “How do you do that?”
“Let’s start from the beginning. Drawing power out. Close your eyes and try to locate your Source.”
Rae took a deep breath, nodding hesitantly. She let her eyes drift closed, her hands resting in her lap as she tried to locate that large reservoir of power that she had felt yesterday. She could feel it there, just under her skin, but as she reached for it, she felt it shy away again, hiding deep in the recesses of her mind. She bit her lip, and dove in after it again. Rae tried to grab it. It felt like she was trying to grab water. Each time she reached for it, it slipped right through her fingers, leaving her frustrated and empty-handed. She squeezed her eyes shut in concentration, reaching down for it again and grabbing hold of a chunk of it. She saw light appear from behind closed eyes, a bright light beginning to shine around the area.
“No,” said Cathel quickly, as she drew the power to the surface. “No, let go. You’re going too far.”
Rae exhaled, releasing the power and letting it flow away from her. She scowled, shifting away from him as she prepared to open her eyes and get up, but Cathel stopped her, reaching forward and grabbing her hands to keep her in place. Her eyes snapped open at the contact, and she tried to pull away, but he held her firmly in front of him.
“Don’t give up yet,” he said, tone stern. His eyes met hers, giving her a look that told her he wouldn’t allow any argument. “You were almost there. Now close your eyes and listen to me.”
She hesitated, but nodded once, closing her eyes again. He kept his hands firmly on hers, keeping her in place. “Are you listening?” he asked. At her nod, he went on, his grip on her hands easing up somewhat. He didn’t let go completely.
“Your Source is a lot like you,” he said. “Do you remember how you reacted yesterday, when I tried to drag you to see the masters?”
“…I tried to get away,” she said.
“And why’s that?” asked Cathel. “Why did you react so strongly when I grabbed your hands now?”
Understanding dawned on her. “…I don’t like to be manhandled.”
“Your Source is a part of your soul,” he said. “It is you. If you run away when someone grabs at you, what do you think it’s going to do when you come charging in trying to grab at it?”
She waited for him to continue talking, but when he said nothing, she realized that he actually expected her to answer. “…Run away.”
“So…how do you approach it?” he asked. “How do you get it to work for you? How do you touch it without scaring it off and making it run away?”
For emphasis, he tightened his grip on her hands, reminding her that he was still touching her. She swallowed hard, but she didn’t pull her hands out of his grip. How could she reach out and touch it in a way that wouldn’t make it run from her…? How had Cathel managed to touch her without her pulling away?
“Try that
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