“Says another magic wielder.”
Gurice threw her hands up in the air. “See? This is why I didn’t tell you about magic. I knew you’d accuse me of using it to influence you. And, as much as I was tempted, and believe me, I was very tempted a number of times, I never used it on you.”
Mojag failed to appear mollified.
Gurice shook her head, then turned to Shyla. “Did you need something?”
“Yes, I was hoping for your help.”
The woman sprang to her feet. “What do you need?”
“You and Mojag.”
They waited for her to continue.
“You can say no. There won’t be any hard feelings or a change in our…friendship.”
“Just spit it out,” Gurice said.
“I want to read your souls and see if I can find out why you have magic and if Mojag has the potential.”
“I thought you already read mine,” Mojag said.
“I only picked up on your surface emotions and thoughts. Nothing deeper.”
Gurice laughed. “That’s about right, there’s nothing deeper.”
“Hey!” Mojag protested. “Is this important?” he asked Shyla. “Will it help us?”
“Yes to both.”
“All right.”
She looked at Gurice who spread her arms wide and said, “I’m all yours. Just don’t blame me if you start having bad dreams.”
In order to have some privacy, they went up to Shyla’s room on level nine.
“Gurice, you’re first,” Shyla said, sitting on a threadbare cushion.
Mojag leaned his shoulder against the wall, watching them.
“Lucky me.” Gurice crossed her legs as she settled on another poor excuse for a cushion, facing Shyla. “What do I have to do?”
Shyla lowered her shield and stared into Gurice’s light green eyes. Or, rather, she tried. “Relax. This won’t hurt.”
“I’ve heard that before,” Gurice muttered, but she released a long breath and met Shyla’s gaze.
Despite Gurice’s bravado and dry humor, the woman was apprehensive about having Shyla read her soul. She liked the sun-kissed, even considered her a good friend, but what if her secrets scared her off?
“I’m not going to uncover all your secrets,” Shyla said, trying to reassure her.
What about her fears about the viability of the Invisible Sword? Gurice worried they’d never return to full strength. Never achieve any of their goals.
“Stop fretting.” All of Gurice’s chatter was blocking her.
“Then stop reminding me that you’re reading my thoughts,” Gurice shot back.
Shyla paused. Was it nerves or Gurice’s magic that prevented her from delving deeper? Perhaps she needed to change tactics. “Imagine you’re standing in the desert, preparing to erase your tracks with magic. You can close your eyes if you need. I’ve already established a connection.”
“Does that mean we’ll be connected all the time?”
“No. After this, I’ll break our link and I won’t invade your privacy without permission.”
Gurice bit her lower lip then touched Shyla’s arm. “If something bad happens like we’re being attacked and you need to…read me, you have my permission. I trust you.”
And with that, Gurice finally relaxed. Shyla briefly covered Gurice’s hand with her own. “Thank you. Now imagine—”
“Yeah, yeah.” She closed her eyes and soon her thoughts filled with rolling dunes. “Got it.”
Shyla let the scene encompass her as well. She stood next to Gurice. One set of footprints marked the otherwise smooth sand. Gurice held a hand out with her palm down.
“Now erase the tracks,” she ordered.
They disappeared, but there wasn’t a change within Gurice.
“Did you wield magic?” she asked.
“I pretended to. I can’t use real magic on an imaginary desert.”
Of course! Shyla bit down on a groan. “Mojag, can you bring that bucket of sand over here?”
He lugged the container and set it between the two women.
Gurice scrunched up her nose. “Uh, that’s not exactly my forte.”
“Doesn’t matter as long as you use your magic on the sand.”
“All right, but you’ve been warned and if sand gets all over your room, I’m not cleaning it up.”
“Noted.”
Gurice reached out so her hand hovered over the bucket.
“Why do you do that?” Shyla asked.
“It helps me focus and aim. Otherwise, I’ll spray sand in your face.” She gave her a pointed look.
“Okay, I’ll be quiet.”
After a few moments, a bright yellow glow filled Gurice as if someone had uncovered a druk lantern deep inside her. The light intensified and filled her, but Shyla only saw it through their link and not with her own eyes. An odd disconnection.
Soon, the sand grains lifted into the air and shifted, forming a…lumpy sleeping cushion…no…a…sand snake that had just eaten a rat? The glow disappeared and the sand sculpture thudded back into the bucket.
Mojag peered at his sister as if seeing her for the first time. “That was cool. But why did you make a dead rat with a really long tail?”
“It was a velbloud with a tether,” Gurice said, sounding offended.
“Clearly.” But Shyla couldn’t suppress a grin.
“Everyone’s a critic.” Gurice crossed her arms. “Was there a point to this exercise?”
“Yes. Did you see a…anything unusual when you used your magic?”
“Other than the sand blob,” Mojag added unhelpfully.
After shooting the boy a glare, she said, “No. Nothing different. Why?”
“Mojag, did you see anything?”
“Just the floating sand.”
“Can you do it again?” Shyla asked. This time she put her shield back in place, blocking both the siblings’ thoughts.
“All right.” Gurice concentrated.
This time a…scroll formed above the bucket. No light emanated inside the woman.
“Jerky?” Mojag asked.
A sigh. “No. It was a shovel.” She released it. “And, before you ask, no I didn’t see anything unusual. Did this help you?”
“I think it did. Now, I just need to test my theory. Mojag?”
“Yes?” His voice squeaked.
“Your turn.” She removed the shield.
He hesitated but then exchanged places with Gurice. Meeting Shyla’s gaze with an almost bold defiance, he braced as if awaiting a blow. This magic thing was still new to him even though he had known Jayden and his sister were hiding things from him. Hurt feelings over not being confided in mixed with jealousy. Figured she’d be able to do magic. Things always seemed to work out for his sister. He knew he shouldn’t be like that—she raised him after their parents were murdered—he was grateful and—
“Mojag, focus on…” Shyla considered. He couldn’t manipulate the sand or influence anyone. But he had other…talents. “Can you slip out of the temple without anyone seeing you?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. It depends.”