Read Online Changing of the Glads by Joy Spraycar - Free Book Online Page B

seemed improbable – impossible even – but everything Max told her up till now rang true.  In her chest it burned, the way she felt when she first heard the rich sounds, the way she had been instinctively drawn to it like it was a part of her.  Something missing in her life that gave it deeper meaning.  Something that kept her alive and free.
    “Yes.  You can feel the truth of it, can you not?”
    Opening her eyes, she nodded.  “Max, how come you can remember, but I can’t?”
    I believe that training from the arena has wiped your early memories away.  They sought to make you a fighter.  That is what you have become, and a very good one at that.  However, using mind powers to win fights... well, it is not right.  Did you never feel guilty for using their vulnerabilities against them?”
    Zalphia ran her hand over her eyes, and then covered her mouth with it.  It dropped to her lap, and her head fell to her chest.  When he said it like that, she couldn’t help but feel a stab of pain in her chest.  She always knew it wasn’t right to feed on opponents’ weaknesses, and then use those against them inside the arena.  But that was her training.  Use everything at her disposal to win.  Platy secured early on that Zalphia would do everything she was taught.  Guilt had to be set aside in order to win.
    “Do not be upset.  I am not judging you for your actions.”  He pulled back and placed a finger beneath her jaw, bringing her face up so their eyes met.  “I saw that you used all you had in order to win.  You were indoctrinated by Platy and the arena officials.  They knew exactly what they were doing.”
    “I assumed that someday I’d meet others with those abilities.  But I never did, not until you.”
    “Only those of us from Selestia have the ability.”
    “Only the two of us can do that?”
    He nodded.  “Only those sent from Selestia to correct the courses upset have the ability and the permission to do so.  You see, we are sent to change the minds of humankind, and that way, we can steer them in the right direction.”
    The idea of using her powers to help instead of incapacitate caused her mind to reel.  “You mean, I’m supposed to make others choose differently?”
    “Have you not done it before?  Used other’s minds to make the fight turn to your advantage?”
    She nodded.  “Of course, you’re right.  But I usually used what they wanted against them.  I used their fears or their ambitions.”
    “Correct.”  He took her hands in his.  “We do exactly that.  Use their fears and ambitions, but we show them a better way to use them, a way that will benefit all humankind, not just one.  With this power, you and I will turn these children back to the correct way, and the barbarism will end.”
    “I don’t understand.  What are they supposed to be?”
    Max dropped her hands and sprang to his feet.  He shouldered his pack and reached out to help Zalphia up.  “We will discuss all of this another time.  We must keep moving.  The Kilapon Mountains must be reached before sunset or the trackers will be upon us.” He strode off.
    The name he used struck something deep within her.  A familiar ring to the word, but try as she might, Zalphia couldn’t place it. 
    “Kilapon?” she asked, running to catch up.  “That sounds so familiar, but I can’t remember why.”
    He turned to her with that lopsided smile.  “That is where our home resides, yours and mine.  We were to meet there when you came of age.  But by that time, you were already fighting in the arena.  That is when I entered Glad training.”
    All of the strangeness settled behind her eyes, blending with the ever-increasing brightness of the sun.  Zalphia squinted and struggled to match Max’s pace.  Thoughts tumbled inside her skull, causing it to pound heavy thumps like the closing of cage doors over and over, shaking and jarring her brain.  He spoke of things she’d never heard of.  Or had