Chapter 17

Me-la-ni

I travelled, following the light as it guided me. Sometimes, I thought I could hear someone whisper, but I could never make out their words. All the time, I felt the Seed dance within me, singing its song to my soul.

When I finally landed, I opened my eyes and looked around. I did not recognise this place, a wide-stretched plain with only rocks as far as the eye could see. I looked up, almost expecting the Seed to have followed, but the sky was clear.

“Now you wait, I heard her whisper inside of me.”

I glanced around. So she had followed me this far. I sat down, and my thoughts strayed to Se-le-ni and the others, but I pushed it away. I didn’t want to think about it, not now when there was nothing I could do about it. Something rustled, and I looked around, and I could see the shimmering of the air, heralding another healer. That could only be…

I stood up, wondering if I should have put up the protection, but it was too late. She materialised moments later, and the air went still. Si-ri, Bo-lo-to’s companion.

“What are you doing here?”, I snarled.

I raised my hands, wishing Se-le-ni was here, but to my surprise, Si-ri did not answer with a scowl but only looked down.

“I don’t have much time.”

I lowered my hands. Had the Seed brought her here? She looked up at me, and I thought tears glistening in her eyes.

“I will explain, but for now, just know that Bo-lo-to is stronger than you think. He’s found a way to fuse the weave, creating magic stronger and more powerful than we ever saw in the last war.”

I stared at her.

“You’re… not on his side?”, I asked, dumbfounded.

She shook her head.

“Not any longer. He doesn’t know it yet, and he can’t find out.”

She suddenly looked up at the sky, and I saw fear in her eyes.

“I need to go. We will meet again.”

I never had a chance to ask her more, because the air began to shimmer, and she was gone.