Frey (The Frey Saga, #1)(53)

Dizziness incapacitated me. They rushed to kneel beside me and I was sure that was how they had been before my gasp had moved them to standing. I opened my mouth to speak but my throat was too dry. Chevelle gave me a drink, I would have taken anything but I was glad it was water, not that foul-tasting elixir.

“What happened?” I was finally able to choke out.

They were tight-lipped. I waited.

“How do you feel?” Chevelle asked. His tone was off, a little shaky. I couldn’t tell if he was cross or something else. My thoughts weren’t working right yet, I tried to clear my head before answering, take stock and see how I did feel.

“I don’t know.” It was the best I could do.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

He paused and then finally asked, tentatively, “Do you know who I am?”

Something about that was funny and I laughed a hoarse laugh.

He looked torn as he posed the next question, slow. “Can you tell me your name?”

I wondered how bad I was messed up that he was approaching me with this line of questioning. “Frey.”

“Your full name?”

Ugh. “Elfreda Georgiana Suzetta Glaforia.” Geez.

They all took a deep breath.

“What?”

Chevelle relaxed a bit as he continued, “You don’t have pain?”

“No.” I clarified, “Not anymore.”

He nodded. “What do you remember?”

“I was–” I stopped. I didn’t know why but I felt protective of my secret, I didn’t want to tell anyone I was in my horse’s mind. I started again and I could hear the annoyance in my voice. “I don’t know. I was just following you guys and then wham!” That pretty much summed it up. “Just pain and screeching.”

Ruby and Steed bolted upright as someone came in. It was Grey. Chevelle was still kneeling over me as he turned to him. “What is it?”

He hesitated. “A horse is at the door.”

Chevelle glanced at me, I hoped he didn’t see my smile. I knew it was Steed, he’d followed my direction.

Grey was waiting. “Well, should I let him in?”

Chevelle turned back to him and nodded once. He left as quickly as he’d entered.

And then it hit me. The door. I glanced around, confused about where I was. It felt as though I were laying on cold rock, I could see the sky above. I was careful not to move my head too swiftly as I tested for dizziness. It seemed better.

There were gray stone walls on either side of us. I couldn’t see behind me, but I thought we were in a room. A room with no ceiling? “Where are we?”

“Fort Stone,” Steed answered.

I snickered and Chevelle’s irritated look surfaced. I didn’t know if it was from my stupidity or Steed’s interjection. “Fort Stone?” I asked.

“Named for Lord Stone,” Steed explained. Yes, Chevelle was definitely irritated with Steed.

“A Lord?” I tried not to sound too impressed as I took another look around, reassessing the walls with the new information. I wondered how old it was.

Chevelle stood, directing Ruby to stay with me until he returned. Steed followed him out.

Ruby must have known I was curious. Or she just wanted to talk. “It’s been abandoned for centuries.” She made me a bed as she spoke, telling ancient stories.

As she helped me move onto the blankets, I asked, “Why are we here?”

She twisted her mouth and then decided on an answer. “We were in need of shelter after your… episode. It was close enough to work. Are you cold?” she asked, tucking me under a blanket.

“I’ll get it,” I said, waving my hand to form a fire beside us.

Nothing happened.

The dizziness was almost gone now; I was feeling close to normal, just a bit fuzzy. I tried once more but it would not light. I pressed down the panic as I concentrated on pulling the burn together.

Nothing.

I sat up and held both my hands in front of me, palms up, as I focused on lighting a flame, any flame.

Still nothing.

I reached out to move a rock from the floor, it didn’t budge. I concentrated on a pebble beside me, it didn’t shift in the least.

“Ruby?” She was already watching me. “I… it doesn’t work.” I held my hands uselessly in front of me, helpless.

Panic was taking me when she laid a hand on my shoulder and leaned forward. I expected her to calm me, explain it would come back, it would all be okay. Glitter was in the air before I could stop her.





By the time Chevelle returned, I was full-on goofy with it. He and Ruby sat facing me. She must have filled him in on my problem.

I resisted the urge to touch him.

“Frey,” Chevelle began, using a slow, even tone.

I cut him off, trying to sound calm. “What happened?”

“It would seem the council has attacked us.” I was too numb to draw in the sharp breath I expected. My cheeks tingled. “Attacked you,” he clarified.

Something came out of my chest that sounded like a moan. I struggled to focus on what he was telling me. “Attacked?”

“They must have tried to strengthen your bonds.” I knew I should have been shocked but I couldn’t produce the feeling.