Chapter Seventeen - Secrets
The first time a spark of a flame appeared at her fingertip, Iris nearly fell off her chair. The second time it lasted longer and singed her bangs. The third time took about thirty-five tries and flickered out even quicker than the first.
They had begun the lesson at dusk and by the time the moon was setting, Iris could kindle a palm-sized globe of flickering white flames. She knew how to hover it at shoulder-height, and after suffering a painful burn or two, she understood the danger as well as the wonder.
Brigan taught her that Fire was both the easiest element to call, and the hardest to learn to control. It was for those reasons that they taught flame as the first conjuration. The fickle nature of fire made it a perfect learning tool. You may be amazed at the breadth and scope of Magic and its many uses, but you must also respect its power for it is not to be taken lightly. That coda was one of the first rules they taught the Trubor children. Iris took it to heart immediately but she could tell that some of the little ones were much more in awe than frightened. They would soon begin lessons too, but for now, it seemed that the bronze lady and the Elders were content to keep them in the lower levels of their headquarters. Safe and secure and easily defensible.
Each morning brought new worries that no one would explain to her, and it frustrated Iris more than she could say. She had heard her father's name more than once and she was even certain that she had heard him crying out late one night after they had first arrived.
Sometimes she asked Brigan if he knew anything, but she believed him when he said she didn't. Mostly. He had kind eyes and he seemed sincere, but she had lived long enough to realize that many people were not as trustworthy as they seemed or as she wished they were.
She lay abed despite the glowing water-clock which told her that outside, on the surface that she had not seen since arriving, dawn was breaking upon the forest, turning away the gloom and sparkling upon the dew. She sighed heavily and sat up in her cell. Her eyes were closed, the room was dark, but she could see as clearly as day - not the small room she called her own, but the forest floor. A smile played upon her lips as she set out for a morning constitutional without leaving her cot. She watched a squirrel scampering along a branch so thin she was certain it would break, but it didn't. Its little tail bobbed along behind it like it had a life of its own. After a time, she let the images go and climbed from the bed to wash her face at the basin and rebraid her hair neatly. Today was going to be a big day, if Brigan told it true. He said that they were going to work on a new conjuration - something special.
Iris discovered she was excited as she sat on the edge of her bed with a book in hand, not reading it. Too eager to continue learning to sleep and too impatient to study, Iris Trubor again closed her eyes and let her gaze wander throughout the forest. Idly taking in the sights of the early morning and enjoying each illusory step amongst the trees.
Iris had not told anyone about her Secondsight.
If they were so determined to keep their secrets, she would damn well keep some secrets of her own.
Posted by Pheenie @ 10/08/2008 06:53:00 PM