Read Online Dire Sparks (Song of the Aura, Book Five) by Gregory J. Downs - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Gregory J. Downs
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and she didn’t think they could see, either… so Elia nodded, feeling tears welling in her eyes.
Gramling’s frown grew so deep she thought his face would crack… but he slowly backed away, blood trickling down his sword, turned, and vanished into the darkness again. She heard no door open, but in moments she knew he had left.
What would happen now? She barely dared guess. Would the Spines take Gramling’s visit to her as positive, or negative? It could mean her life, now… Then why did she feel so little worry?
I’m thinking of him, she realized. And not Gribly. What is he trying to do? What does he want with me?
“ Can’t… can’t… can’t…” Tressa was moaning. Elia squeezed her eyes shut, and one tear leaked down her cheek from each eye.
I just can’t keep doing this.
Chapter Six: Flaming
Days flowed into weeks. Elia’s body grew lean and hardened, and when she stared in a piece of glass her reflection looked back at her with darkened, haunted eyes. But she was more powerful than ever, in strength and in Striding. The other Acolytes grew jealous of her prodigious talent, whispering insults behind her back and sometimes straight to her face. It didn’t help at all that she was one of the few nymphs in the Sepulcher, and the only one with skin as pale as a human’s.
The only comfort was Tressa. To Elia’s utter surprise, the young Kinn did not die from losing a hand… in fact, it seemed to strengthen her resolve. None of the other Acolytes had been able to put a knife in her back, yet, and she even seemed to be attempting friendliness with Elia on several occasions. Elia didn’t know why, but she accepted it: if it came down to a fight, someday soon, Tressa might be her only ally.
Now though, she once more had to put her thoughts away and concentrate. Through intense sessions of lectures and lessons, she and the other Acolytes were being taught the basics of Pit Striding at a previously unheard of rate. It seemed the entire Golden Nation was mobilized for war, and hundreds of groups like hers were being trained by the Institution to be leaders in the second wave of invasion into Vast.
“ Now shall we learn it, the process of fire-making,” explained her teacher’s voice, snapping her out of her reverie. She was gathered with the rest of the Acolytes in a long, vaulted hall lit by stained-glass windows. Their teacher, a newly raised Malcyte Pit Strider with limited experience, was placed on a medium-height stone platform just wide enough to stand on. She and all the other Acolytes stood on similar platforms, straining to see in the dim light.
Anticipation filled the room. Most of the Acolytes were too weak to make fire at all, and looked forward to overcoming their weakness. Elia allowed herself some grim satisfaction: at least here she had some advantage, unlike the previous exercises.
“ Assume with yourselves, the First Stance.” Elia complied, crouching slightly with one fist at her side and the other pointed straight at the ground, her mind focused completely on the task. A trickle of heat ran through her chest, as it always did when she practiced this. It surprised her that Pit Striding was even possible for her… but then, nothing here seemed to follow the rules she had known as a child.
When her legs began to hurt from the strain, the Malcyte licked his red lips and ordered them into the Second Stance. Again, she complied, and the trickle of heat grew stronger. The Third Stance, and Fourth, and Fifth… they were practiced over and over, until she was in the hypnotic, throbbing state needed for Pit Striding.
“ Assume with yourselves, the Sixth Stance.” A thrill ran throughout Elia, and she knew instinctively that she could make fire now , without preparation or training… but she held back. No need to draw any more attention to herself.
“ Assume again, the First Stance… and close the eyes of your
Gramling’s frown grew so deep she thought his face would crack… but he slowly backed away, blood trickling down his sword, turned, and vanished into the darkness again. She heard no door open, but in moments she knew he had left.
What would happen now? She barely dared guess. Would the Spines take Gramling’s visit to her as positive, or negative? It could mean her life, now… Then why did she feel so little worry?
I’m thinking of him, she realized. And not Gribly. What is he trying to do? What does he want with me?
“ Can’t… can’t… can’t…” Tressa was moaning. Elia squeezed her eyes shut, and one tear leaked down her cheek from each eye.
I just can’t keep doing this.
Chapter Six: Flaming
Days flowed into weeks. Elia’s body grew lean and hardened, and when she stared in a piece of glass her reflection looked back at her with darkened, haunted eyes. But she was more powerful than ever, in strength and in Striding. The other Acolytes grew jealous of her prodigious talent, whispering insults behind her back and sometimes straight to her face. It didn’t help at all that she was one of the few nymphs in the Sepulcher, and the only one with skin as pale as a human’s.
The only comfort was Tressa. To Elia’s utter surprise, the young Kinn did not die from losing a hand… in fact, it seemed to strengthen her resolve. None of the other Acolytes had been able to put a knife in her back, yet, and she even seemed to be attempting friendliness with Elia on several occasions. Elia didn’t know why, but she accepted it: if it came down to a fight, someday soon, Tressa might be her only ally.
Now though, she once more had to put her thoughts away and concentrate. Through intense sessions of lectures and lessons, she and the other Acolytes were being taught the basics of Pit Striding at a previously unheard of rate. It seemed the entire Golden Nation was mobilized for war, and hundreds of groups like hers were being trained by the Institution to be leaders in the second wave of invasion into Vast.
“ Now shall we learn it, the process of fire-making,” explained her teacher’s voice, snapping her out of her reverie. She was gathered with the rest of the Acolytes in a long, vaulted hall lit by stained-glass windows. Their teacher, a newly raised Malcyte Pit Strider with limited experience, was placed on a medium-height stone platform just wide enough to stand on. She and all the other Acolytes stood on similar platforms, straining to see in the dim light.
Anticipation filled the room. Most of the Acolytes were too weak to make fire at all, and looked forward to overcoming their weakness. Elia allowed herself some grim satisfaction: at least here she had some advantage, unlike the previous exercises.
“ Assume with yourselves, the First Stance.” Elia complied, crouching slightly with one fist at her side and the other pointed straight at the ground, her mind focused completely on the task. A trickle of heat ran through her chest, as it always did when she practiced this. It surprised her that Pit Striding was even possible for her… but then, nothing here seemed to follow the rules she had known as a child.
When her legs began to hurt from the strain, the Malcyte licked his red lips and ordered them into the Second Stance. Again, she complied, and the trickle of heat grew stronger. The Third Stance, and Fourth, and Fifth… they were practiced over and over, until she was in the hypnotic, throbbing state needed for Pit Striding.
“ Assume with yourselves, the Sixth Stance.” A thrill ran throughout Elia, and she knew instinctively that she could make fire now , without preparation or training… but she held back. No need to draw any more attention to herself.
“ Assume again, the First Stance… and close the eyes of your
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