Elizabeth kept her mouth
shut.
The
smallest person there, a woman with silver hair and wearing chainmail and hip
sheaths spoke. “I’m Alexa Fitzwalter, come from Denver last year. I was an attorney.
Here in Lladrana I am a Swordmarshall and use the Jade Baton of Honor.” She
pulled out the baton. It flared green and silver and bronze. The flames atop it
turned from metal to real.
Impressive.
Does
her name sound familiar to you? Elizabeth asked Bri.
No,
but attorney…would Uncle Trent have said something about her?
Maybe
I want them to do all the talking, though, Elizabeth said.
Good
plan.
The
willowy blond cleared her throat. She wore a leather outfit. “I’m Calli Torcher
Guardpont. I am the Volaran Exotique.” Her brief smile lit her face. “Flying
horses.” She inclined her head to others dressed as she was, “and the knights
who ride them, Chevaliers.”
I
think I hit my head on the stones, Bri said.
Elizabeth
turned to her and sent her fingers roaming over her sister’s skull. Without
thought she drew power into herself, sent it flaring around Bri’s head,
checking for any damage.
Breaths
caught in gasps around them.
“You’re
a doctor?” Alexa asked.
Neither
of them answered. You’re fine. You have a hard head, Elizabeth said.
I’m
having massive hallucinations.
You
aren’t the only one .
“We
know this sounds crazy, but it’s true,” Marian said. “We can prove you’re in
another land. A place that needs you very much.” She pulled a stick about as
long as her hand from her pocket. It grew and shaped into a wand. Then as
Elizabeth watched, the piece of wood lengthened and thickened until it was a
staff.
“They’re
not believing us.” Marian sighed.
“It
takes a while,” Alexa muttered.
“Yes,
but it should be easier with a welcoming party like us,” Marian said.
Bri
snorted.
“Neither
one of them looks like the woman we’ve been having those intense dreams about.”
Alexa shrugged, peered at them. Then said, “How long are you going to sit there
and let us stare at you and talk about you?”
I
vote forever ,
Bri said to Elizabeth. Hallucinations have to end sometime. Someone will
find us in the elevator.
Elizabeth
chuckled.
The
blond woman’s, Calli’s, eyes narrowed. “Do you get the idea that they’re
mentally talking to each other?”
“Twins,”
said the short one, Alexa, philosophically. “And they’re very Powerful, you can hear the strength of their Songs. Telepathy might be the first thing
they notice.”
Good
guess ,
Elizabeth said to Bri.
They’re
all sharp. And now that she mentioned it, I, uh, hear tunes coming from
everybody .
Elizabeth
tilted her head. She was concentrating on her own vital signs, her pulse, her
breathing, and Bri’s, but beyond that she could hear small tunes
emanating from each person. Sometimes it was comprised of more than one melody.
She focused on Marian’s and discovered the tune became less of a string and
more of a woven rope—and led to a black-haired, blue-eyed man standing behind
her.
Bri
had followed her thoughts. Interesting .
“Time
for plan B,” Alexa said. She gestured to a tall man with powerful shoulders
dressed in gray raw silk shirt and trousers. He gave them a half-bow. His
expression was serious, his eyes haunted. He left.
Bri’s
fingers twined in Elizabeth’s. That bad feeling is back.
Yes .
“The
baby thing worked for me,” Alexa said conversationally. “Twice.”
I
definitely don’t like where this might be leading, Elizabeth said.
“Children
worked for me, too, in a different way,” Calli said softly. She held out her
hand and a man came up and stood with her. A definite couple. Their Song
spiraled out and snagged Elizabeth, so strong and loving and tender that she
had to block it out because it reminded her of what she’d lost with Cassidy.
She turned away from the sight of them.
Bri
squeezed her hand. They look very married, and he’s definitely a native.
Marian’s
shut.
The
smallest person there, a woman with silver hair and wearing chainmail and hip
sheaths spoke. “I’m Alexa Fitzwalter, come from Denver last year. I was an attorney.
Here in Lladrana I am a Swordmarshall and use the Jade Baton of Honor.” She
pulled out the baton. It flared green and silver and bronze. The flames atop it
turned from metal to real.
Impressive.
Does
her name sound familiar to you? Elizabeth asked Bri.
No,
but attorney…would Uncle Trent have said something about her?
Maybe
I want them to do all the talking, though, Elizabeth said.
Good
plan.
The
willowy blond cleared her throat. She wore a leather outfit. “I’m Calli Torcher
Guardpont. I am the Volaran Exotique.” Her brief smile lit her face. “Flying
horses.” She inclined her head to others dressed as she was, “and the knights
who ride them, Chevaliers.”
I
think I hit my head on the stones, Bri said.
Elizabeth
turned to her and sent her fingers roaming over her sister’s skull. Without
thought she drew power into herself, sent it flaring around Bri’s head,
checking for any damage.
Breaths
caught in gasps around them.
“You’re
a doctor?” Alexa asked.
Neither
of them answered. You’re fine. You have a hard head, Elizabeth said.
I’m
having massive hallucinations.
You
aren’t the only one .
“We
know this sounds crazy, but it’s true,” Marian said. “We can prove you’re in
another land. A place that needs you very much.” She pulled a stick about as
long as her hand from her pocket. It grew and shaped into a wand. Then as
Elizabeth watched, the piece of wood lengthened and thickened until it was a
staff.
“They’re
not believing us.” Marian sighed.
“It
takes a while,” Alexa muttered.
“Yes,
but it should be easier with a welcoming party like us,” Marian said.
Bri
snorted.
“Neither
one of them looks like the woman we’ve been having those intense dreams about.”
Alexa shrugged, peered at them. Then said, “How long are you going to sit there
and let us stare at you and talk about you?”
I
vote forever ,
Bri said to Elizabeth. Hallucinations have to end sometime. Someone will
find us in the elevator.
Elizabeth
chuckled.
The
blond woman’s, Calli’s, eyes narrowed. “Do you get the idea that they’re
mentally talking to each other?”
“Twins,”
said the short one, Alexa, philosophically. “And they’re very Powerful, you can hear the strength of their Songs. Telepathy might be the first thing
they notice.”
Good
guess ,
Elizabeth said to Bri.
They’re
all sharp. And now that she mentioned it, I, uh, hear tunes coming from
everybody .
Elizabeth
tilted her head. She was concentrating on her own vital signs, her pulse, her
breathing, and Bri’s, but beyond that she could hear small tunes
emanating from each person. Sometimes it was comprised of more than one melody.
She focused on Marian’s and discovered the tune became less of a string and
more of a woven rope—and led to a black-haired, blue-eyed man standing behind
her.
Bri
had followed her thoughts. Interesting .
“Time
for plan B,” Alexa said. She gestured to a tall man with powerful shoulders
dressed in gray raw silk shirt and trousers. He gave them a half-bow. His
expression was serious, his eyes haunted. He left.
Bri’s
fingers twined in Elizabeth’s. That bad feeling is back.
Yes .
“The
baby thing worked for me,” Alexa said conversationally. “Twice.”
I
definitely don’t like where this might be leading, Elizabeth said.
“Children
worked for me, too, in a different way,” Calli said softly. She held out her
hand and a man came up and stood with her. A definite couple. Their Song
spiraled out and snagged Elizabeth, so strong and loving and tender that she
had to block it out because it reminded her of what she’d lost with Cassidy.
She turned away from the sight of them.
Bri
squeezed her hand. They look very married, and he’s definitely a native.
Marian’s