The Eye of Elicion: The Kinowenn Chronicles Vol 1 (18 page)

“Yes,” said Lucy, “although, it would have been fun to watch them shatter.”

Eric smiled at her and left. Justin added that he would bring her breakfast and lunch. Althric might remember Maya and wonder where she was going with food. On the other hand, he would probably not pay any attention to Justin.

“Are you going to be ok?”

Lucy nodded, and he left. Lucy lay back down in bed, but it was a long time before she fell asleep.

Lucy awoke the next morning to Justin’s light knock on the door bringing her breakfast. He opened his bag and brought out an apple, a cinnamon bun that he had carefully wrapped in a napkin, and a blueberry muffin.

“I hope this will do,” said Justin doubtfully. “You would not believe how many of the breakfast items they serve are untransportable. Then it occurred to me that I didn’t even know what kind of muffins you liked.”

“This will be perfect. Thank you,” Lucy interrupted him. She did not need to hear him apologize for bringing her breakfast. “Besides, it’s not like I’ll be doing anything more strenuous than sitting in my room for most of the day. I’m not likely to need that much food.”

He smiled. “I also brought you another book on Kinowenn and the next book on spells.”

“Thanks. It will give me something to read.”

“Read only though, I would advise. I’ll come back with food for lunch, and we can try some of the spells if you like, but you know how they feel about trying unassigned spells on your own.”

“I promise to behave. Too many crazy things have happened for me to ignore the voice of caution.”

“How do you feel this morning?” Justin had been putting off asking the question, but he was concerned. Also, it was best not to hide from feelings or brood on them.

“I’m good. Last night was scary, but now that I know the door is magic it helps. Besides, I don’t ever have to see Althric again, and that’s comforting. How is it going in the school? Does everyone know? Honestly, I feel slightly embarrassed about the whole thing. I really don’t want everyone staring at me. I hate being the center of attention.”

“Eric and Quinn arranged it so that everyone had a note appear on the inside of their door so they could not leave the room without missing it. It looks like you have one too.”

Justin went to her door and took the piece of paper down.

Good morning Lucy. I thought you would want to see a copy of what the other students have. I hope you are feeling ok this morning. Feel free to knock on my door at any time if you need to talk. ~Eric

Attention students: An event occurred last night that I feel you ought to be informed about. Althric and his counsil attempted to break into one of the rooms of a female student. We modified his memory so he knows nothing of this. We plan to send him home at the regular time this afternoon. We hope you will be polite to them, but we strongly advise all female students to turn down any offers he may give any of you. Please watch out for each other today and inform me immediately if anything seems amiss. Have a good day.

~Eric

“As you can see, he left your name out of it so not everyone knows. When you did not come down right away, Maya guessed. Gavin was so busy shoveling down pancakes that I doubt he would have come to that conclusion on his own. However, he was irate on your behalf and wanted to pound Althric until he felt better. I’m not sure how long that would take,” he added almost as an afterthought.

“Well, at least the whole school does not know,” said Lucy, somewhat relieved. “I wonder if they ever learned why he chose to come after me.”

“Perhaps you should make it a point to see Eric today and find out,” suggested Justin.

“I probably should.” Then, because she had been wondering about something since last night she thought, “
Can I ask you a question
?”

“Of course,” responded Justin out loud, not realizing he had heard the voice in his head and that she hadn’t said it out loud.

“I think you just answered it,” Lucy said with a smile.

Justin looked confused for a minute and then figured out what had happened. He grinned.

“I was wondering when you would put two and two together and figure out that if we could both talk to animals, we might be able to talk to each other like that. I do wish it had been under better circumstances though.”

“Me too,” Lucy agreed. “I suppose Eric has a similar talent and that’s why he heard even though I was directing my thoughts at you.”

“Yes and no. Eric does have a similar talent. Talking with your voice or with your mind sends certain vibrations through the air. If you talk to me with your voice at a normal volume, someone 10 feet away probably won’t hear. If you shout someone 20 feet away will probably hear. The same thing applies. You shouted for help so loudly, I’m not surprised Eric showed up.”

“That makes sense. I wasn’t sure it would even work or how loud to be, and I was scared. I decided I’d rather be too loud than not loud enough. Besides, I figured I might have to wake you up and wasn’t sure how sound of a sleeper you were.”

Justin laughed. “I’m a pretty sound sleeper, but I tend to hear someone calling in my head. You were so loud I almost fell out of bed. I definitely knew something was wrong. I’m sorry, but as long as you are ok, I should really go to class.”

“Have fun at class.”

“I will. I’ll bring you lunch,” he said and left with a smile.

Lucy ate her muffin while she paged through the new spell book Justin had brought in for her. Even if she was not supposed to try the spells yet, an introduction to what she would have to try soon was always good. Besides, if she wanted to work on a spell, she could always work on the voice versions of the ones in her previous book. She was still weak where voice was concerned. Some people might think that didn’t matter, but Lucy was a perfectionist, and she obviously had the time today to work on those things.

After giving her book the verbal commands to skip across the room, do somersaults, climb the wall, shrink and grow, spin like a top, and balance on her finger, she decided she’d had enough of that.

She opened the book on Kinowenn and studied the map in the front some more. Lucy figured, it could only help to be acquainted with any land she was sent to and looked at the map until she could close her eyes and still see it. She decided that every night before bed, she should visualize that map. She knew it was not the same thing as being there, but she was directionally impaired in her old life, and she was not going to let it become a detriment here.

Lucy mused on that for a minute. Old life versus new life. She did wonder what her family was up to. She even missed them a lot, but she would not give up this experience to go back there. Despite all that had happened, Lucy felt like this was where she was supposed to be. This was the happiest she had been in years, she reaffirmed. There was nothing like going for a horseback ride on a sunny afternoon and talking to the horse.

Lucy pulled open her book on healing and read through the magical ways to heal. Reading about non-magical ways didn’t interest her as much. The idea of stitching through someone else’s skin to close a wound gave her the shivers, but she supposed they would learn that here as well. She wondered if she would ever be as good Justin was. Probably not, she decided. Everyone seemed to have specific talents. She could shoot fire out of her hands. Somehow, being able to do something so destructive did not mesh in her mind with being able to heal. About the time she was ready to go stir crazy, Justin appeared with lunch.

“I brought you meat, cheeses, and bread to make a sandwich, a banana, some carrots, and some chocolate cookies. I may not notice what kind of muffin you like to eat, but I know you never skip dessert at lunch,” he said with a smile.

“Too true,” she agreed and took one of the cookies to eat first before she started on the healthier stuff. “How was your morning?”

“Good, I was with Nerek looking after a turtle that hops about like a rabbit. You?”

“Ok, but I’m getting a little tired of reading. I’ve already gotten used to being active and going to classes and such.”

“It’s good that you are used to being active. Sorry you are getting kind of bored. Eric said I could escort you to his room for a chat when you were done with lunch. If you are interested, that is.”

In response, Lucy hurriedly took a large bite of her sandwich and nodded.

“Darren figured it out too, when you weren’t in class. He offered to come see you, but I thought Althric might notice something was odd if students were sneaking off during lunch. Also, I wasn’t sure how you would feel about more company or having him in your room for that matter.”

“You’re in my room,” Lucy pointed out. She guessed what he was getting at but couldn’t avoid teasing him a little.

“Yes, but he’s a guy.”

“And you are…?” she asked raising an eyebrow.

“I know I’m a guy, but I’ve been here before…and after last night…”

“Oh, you mean the fact that you were here with your shirt off? Are you jealous?”

“What? No! This has nothing to do with anything like that,” he sounded flustered. “A guy tried to break into your room. I wasn’t sure how you would feel if a guy who hadn’t been to your room before asked to come in.”

“How do you know he’s never been in my room?”

“I was…I thought…I was trying to…I don’t know…has he? ...Oh never mind.”

“I know, I know, I’m just teasing you,” said Lucy laughing. “I understand you were concerned for my wellbeing.”

Justin was glad she understood what he had been trying to do and had not been offended. Really he had no business telling someone not to come to her room. That was her right, not his. Then he decided to tease back a little.

“Hmmm, so you noticed I didn’t have a shirt on?”

Lucy winked at him and stuffed the rest of the sandwich in her mouth. Both of them silently agreed to let the matter drop.

“Darren also told me to pass on the intro to healing reading. It was pages 121-156 I believe.”

“I read that already,” said Lucy around the sandwich.

“I figured as much.”

Lucy peeled the banana and took a bite.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat this fast.”

“I want to make sure we have time to get me out of here and to Eric’s before you are late for class.” She took another bite. “Thank goodness Althric’s leaving today. I couldn’t stand being cooped up in here for too long.” Another bite. “Besides Eric might have some answers.” She swallowed the last bite of banana, grabbed the other cookie, and stood up. “I can eat a cookie and walk at the same time. Let’s go.”

Justin stood up and they walked out the door. He waited until she was safely inside Eric’s rooms before going to his next class.

“Good afternoon,” said Eric as Lucy entered the room while motioning for her to take a seat.

“Good afternoon,” replied Lucy.

“You don’t look too worse for wear.”

Lucy laughed, “I feel fine. I never have to see him again so I’m not worried. Besides, there was no actual physical harm done.”

He nodded. “I assume that Justin also explained why I could hear you?”

“Yes, I guess I shouted a little loudly.”

“Loudly for normal conversation yes, but not too loud for being in trouble.”

“Did you find out what they wanted?”

“They wanted you. I thought that was obvious.”

“Yes, I guess I more meant, why me?” Lucy clarified.

“It turns out that they had a stone that seems to measure raw power. Quinn possesses the stone now and has blocked that from their memory as well.”

“So they were after power?”

“So it seems. More so, I think they assumed that the more power the woman they chose had, the greater the chance for any child conceived to have more power.”

“Does it work that way?” wondered Lucy.

“No, it does not work that way. Even if you were to have children with another person here, your child might not have any powers. They could be magically weak or strong, but it is random chance not proven science.”

“So, they planned to kidnap me, rape me repeatedly until I bore them a child with magical powers, and then what?”

“I’m not sure they thought that far in advance, but I’m sure they would have killed you, eventually,” replied Eric.

“I’m not sure I want to know the answer to the next question, but I feel the need to ask. Obviously, after pounding on my door, they must have realized that there was no way I’d go willingly. How did they plan to control me, and is that possible?”

“It sounds like they were very primitive-minded and did not understand what they were dealing with,” said Eric. “They should have known that going after someone with power was dangerous. They seemed to think that you were not a danger to them because you are a woman. They assumed they would be able to overpower you, knock you out, take you back to their country, chain you to a wall, and all would be accomplished.”

“And if they managed to do all that, they expected chains to hold me? And no one to come after me?”

“Like I said, a very primitive plan. They had no idea what they were dealing with.”

Lucy rolled her eyes, “It is hard for me to be afraid of someone that stupid.”

Eric laughed.

“Remember, even stupid people can get lucky. In regards to your other questions, yes, there are certain objects that can offset magic.”

“Really?” asked Lucy, suddenly worried.

“A nasty thought, I know. However, it is not as bad as you may think. The knowledge to make them is no longer available. Some of the simple objects are not a threat. There are a couple rings or trinkets that let the wearer know someone is performing magic, and they can neutralize some smaller amounts of magic, but a large scale attack would overcome them. There is nothing that allows someone the ability to funnel your power through themselves. There are a couple of necklaces that when put on, would make you unable to do anything but the smallest things. That is partially why we do arms training here too. If a student ever found themselves in that situation, the necklace would not impede them from fighting normally. Althric and his cronies did not have anything like that with them.”