Firemancer Collection (Fated Saga Box Set Book 1) (29 page)

Colin was instantly anxious, although he knew he could do this task, no problem. It was completely different though, with a classroom of twenty scrutinizing his every move.

“After fighting Scratchers, moving a stack of pillows should be easy, right?” he muttered.

“All you need to do is reach out and feel the energy around you,” the teacher instructed. “Collect it, focus on what you want to accomplish, and use that energy to
move those pillows
.”

Colin had already practiced moving objects with Uncle Eddy.
Piece of cake
he repeated over and over in his mind. Colin closed his eyes forgetting the students watching. He was aware of the energy surrounding him; it felt diminished in the crowded classroom. There wasn’t enough for what he needed. Colin peeked at the boy named Marvin, who was still recovering. It had taken nearly all the energy he had to move them.

“How can I draw more?” mumbled Colin. He reached out beyond the classroom, then the school, and then, beyond the Svoda wagons, where copious amounts of energy were just waiting to be collected. Within seconds he was over-filled. Colin’s eyes popped open. He moved his hand swiftly. The pillows were collected and stacked. He hovered the stack three feet in the air and then moved them deftly, landing them softly in the square, perfectly aligned.

The class observed Colin in impressed stupor, including Jae and Teacher Lindy.

“On the first try. So easy. Spectacular!” she stammered.

Colin smiled, quite satisfied with his performance. He was not tired at all and sat down next to Jae, who patted him on the back.

“That was great!”

“How did you do that?” asked the boy named Marvin. “You don’t even look winded.”

Colin answered honestly.

“I could do it again. I’m not winded at all.” Actually he felt incredible. Powerful. Like the day back in Cobbscott when he had tackled the three bullies. “I get what you mean,” he abruptly whispered to Jae.

“ ’Bout what?”

“The power you feel. It makes you feel… huge.” Colin did not know how else to describe it.

“I wish I could feel it again,” sighed Jae. “I haven’t since I got home.”

Colin wondered if he could help Jae, but how? Jae already knew more than he did.

The class forged on, with students trying their hand at moving the pillows. None of the remaining students succeeded.

Meghan never returned to class. Colin tried to reach out for her.

“Blocking me. Figures.” He hoped she was not out causing another scene. The rest of the afternoon crawled by. “At least tonight,” he thought, “I can finally visit Uncle Eddy.”

##

##

Meghan jaunted out of the school and retrieved a note from Juliska Blackwell, which included directions on how to locate her. She followed the map to the ocean’s shore, where a few hundred yards out an island of rock jutted out of the water; a fort had been forged into the rock. Meghan had to walk down a gravel road, which was lined with spike-like rocks, in order to reach the entrance. Ocean waves crashed over the rocks, splashing her. Juliska’s private Balaton guarded the entrance.

“What’s your business?” one of them asked in a gruff voice. He kept his gaze straight forward, not looking at her. The second guard’s eyes grazed down at her. He nudged his partner.

“Jenner, its okay, it’s the girl.” The other one darted his eyes, curiously, then opened the gate.

“You may enter. Banon Blackwell has alerted us to your possible visit.”

“Thanks,” said Meghan, curtsying her way through, gratified. Juliska had told them to expect her! Any insecurity Meghan had had about her unannounced visit vaporized into the mists of the ocean.

A woman dressed in business attire greeted Meghan at a stone door and led her inside. Before Meghan could make her request to see Juliska, another ornate stone door swung open; Juliska Blackwell elegantly strode into the room. She wasn’t dressed in her normal one piece long-jacket, but instead, a long sleeved tunic, which was form fitted down to her hips then flared slightly; it was a silky, crimson color.

“Meghan. I’m so pleased you came. Join me on the roof top,” she said. Meghan followed Juliska up a stone stairwell to an outside room. The floor they walked on was carved out of the rock. Juliska led them to the opposite corner, where a stone overhang could shield them from the sun.

“Please, sit,” insisted Juliska. Meghan did as she was told, sitting across from the Banon. A table separated them and before Meghan could speak, the same woman who had helped Meghan into the fort entered with a tray of food.

“Your timing could not have been more perfect, Meghan. I was about to have a late breakfast. Please join me if you’re hungry.”

“Thanks, I am a little hungry.” She helped herself to a biscuit and jelly.

“Thank you, Hollee,” said Juliska to the woman dressed in business attire.

After a few minutes, Meghan could no longer hold back why she had come. “This may be bad mannered of me…” she started.

Juliska put down her fork and gave Meghan her full attention.

“I’m not even sure how to begin. Something is happening, something terrible. Not to me…” she said, adding wearily, “Unless you count being a seer in the terrible category.”

“That bad?” asked Juliska, smiling sympathetically.

“Sorry, I think I’m just having a hard time adjusting.”

“That is entirely understandable, Meghan. It does take some practice and getting used to.”

Meghan knew instantly that Juliska understood her.

“Twice now,” said Meghan, getting to the heart of the visit, “I’ve had this overwhelming feeling. It tells me something is horribly wrong. The frustrating part is that I do not know what it is, or how to fix it. It’s all so mysterious. Not clear at all.”

“May I ask, is this occurring around one particular person?”

Meghan explained her encounters, leaving out Jae’s name.

“Interesting,” replied Juliska, afterward. “As I’ve said, seeing is a gift and a curse. I’m sure
that’s
a picture you’re seeing loud and clear.”

“Yeah, that one’s easy to see,” Meghan replied, rolling her eyes. Meghan enjoyed talking to Juliska. It was easy.

“Sometimes,” said Juliska, “seeding out the problem comes down to experience and, well, guess work.”

“How do you guess?” asked Meghan.

Juliska laughed softly. “Time, I am afraid. Learning to decipher what you feel or see. Understanding if what you’re seeing is the past, present or future is a good place to begin.”

“Even if I somehow decipher that, what can I do? I mean, say it’s a current problem, can I interfere in someone’s life, if they truly are in danger?”

“That depends,” admitted Juliska. “This is where things get tricky. You see, if it is the past, obviously you cannot do anything. If it is the present or future, is it something you
can
fix? Is it something you
should
fix? In the end, you must decide what to do with your knowledge, Meghan.”

“Wow,” she replied, her eyes wide. “That’s so much to decide. What if I’m wrong? What if I make things worse?”

“I am afraid I may be burdening, more than helping today,” sighed Juliska.

“I have a suspicious feeling,” accepted Meghan, “that the
burden
part, will be around for awhile. I guess I just did not realize how complicated Firemancy would be. I don’t know why, but I thought having visions would make things easier to understand.”

“With time and practice, it will become easier, Meghan. No, easier is not the word I’m looking for. Manageable. Controllable.” Juliska rose from her chair, pacing elegantly, deep in thought. When she sat back down Meghan caught a glimpse of something crawling in her pony-tailed hair, which fanned out, falling around her shoulders.

“Banon Blackwell, you’ve got a spider in your hair,” spat out Meghan. A glass-like, black and silver spider posed on Juliska’s shoulder, cleaning its self.

“Not to worry. That’s Pajak, my pet. He serves as a fantastic hair piece when he sleeps.”

A spider for a pet! When would this new world begin to make sense? Meghan was not fond of spiders and this was the biggest one she had ever seen. It had to have been at least four inches round.

Juliska ignored Pajak.

“I’m going to give you something, Meghan. Something an old friend once gave me. Pantin Hollee,” she called out. The same woman that delivered the food came striding in.

“Yes, Banon Blackwell.”

“Oh, Hollee, when will you start calling me Juliska?”

“As I have always answered, only when not on duty, and I’m never not on duty, ma’am,” the lady called Pantin Hollee replied dutifully.

“Oh fine, then. Will you please go to my study and grab an unused journal, and bring it to our new Firemancer?” The woman nodded and departed. “I want you to keep this journal with you at all times,” she instructed Meghan, “and whenever anything occurs that you think is Firemancy related, write it down. Keep track of where you were and who you were with. This, after some time, may begin to give you a better picture of what may be happening, if certain patterns arise.”

“Okay, I will,” decided Meghan, as she was handed the journal.

“Thank you, Hollee,” said Juliska.

Meghan flipped open the journal, all the while keeping her eye on Pajak the spider.

“Is Pantin a title or a name?” Meghan asked.

“Title. Hollee is my most trusted personal assistant, and, she will show you out. Unfortunately I must get back to work. But promise me, Meghan, if anything out of the ordinary happens, you will come to me immediately. No work I am doing is more important than helping a new Firemancer!” Her eyes twinkled. She leaned over to Meghan and touched her shoulder gently. Meghan could not take her eyes off Pajak, who she swore winked at her.

Juliska’s touch was powerful, energy emanated through her. It was easy to understand why Juliska was the Svoda’s leader. Just then, Meghan’s pocket stirred and Juliska glanced curiously. The kitten had been sleeping so soundly that Meghan had again, forgotten about her. Meghan opened her pocket and let Juliska see the Catawitch.

“My, my. To be chosen as the master and companion of one of these is truly an honor.” Juliska gazed at Meghan with even more fascination now.

“Thank you, Juliska, I mean, Banon Blackwell,” Meghan bowed slightly hoping she had not offended.

“I insist that you call me Juliska. I may not be able to force Hollee to do it, but frankly, it is nice to hear my real name once in a while.” She winked and then departed, asking Pantin Hollee to show Meghan out of the fort.

Meghan hurried back into town wanting to get started right away in her journal. She stopped at the one open shop to get a pen. The man behind the counter showed Meghan his selection; she couldn’t get over the fact that she did not need to pay. He simply bid her a good day and sank behind a shelf.

##

##

Colin found Uncle Eddy talking to Timothy in the old mill. After learning that Meghan had cut classes and not made contact, Uncle Eddy insisted that Colin send a leaf, once she had.

“We also found out that after the holidays we are moving on,” Colin informed him.

“I assumed that would be the case,” said Uncle Eddy. “We still have some time, though. Come whenever you can.” This did not cheer up Colin, but he pretended to be happier, and told Uncle Eddy about successfully moving the pillows in class.

“I did it no problem. I couldn’t believe it was so easy.”

“Good, good,” he answered. “I had no doubts that you would fit right in.”

The rest of the hour his uncle helped him get a start on his homework, and they watched Timothy play. Colin, too soon, realized it was time to leave.

“No Meghan yet?” Eddy asked, hopeful of some news before Colin’s departure.

“No, still nothing. She is completely blocking me.” Timothy followed most of the way back and left him near the wagons. When Colin arrived home he spied his sister sitting alone in the back near the fire pit, writing. He stormed through the house ignoring the Mochrie’s, and yelled at her.

“Thanks for not telling me where you were all day! I had no idea if you were all right or not.”

“I’m obviously fine! Maybe I didn’t feel like having you in my brain all day,” she whispered angrily, hoping no one would overhear.

“Fine. Whatever. I’ve got to send a leaf to Uncle Eddy and tell him you’re all right. He was worried, too.” Meghan could see that her brother had been anxious, but for some reason, this made her even more furious.

“Don’t worry about me, okay? I went for a walk, I needed some air.”

“You know, I don’t think you can play by your own rules in this place. You missed classes all day, and the teacher is expecting you to have some kind of letter of excuse for not being there. I think
she
is worried that you won’t have enough practice time to pass to the next level or…” he stopped.