Mera: A Byshen Story (ch. 6) by Acton Bell

(1 rating) Rate this Story (5 best) 1 2 3 4 5

She wiped at suddenly teary eyes with the back of her hand and took a deep breath before plunging into speech. The words came in a torrent as she explained everything that had happened to her since leaving House T'o'lz that morning. She was barely aware of framing her words they came so quickly. The men let her speak without interruption.
She left nothing out. Not the fact that G'ar was a Wild. Or that Yod was assassinated. Ladye Alinora's suspicions. Alinora and G'ar's plan to Psi attack L'ars Ca'dean. Her own suspicions. The visit to L'ars Ca'dean. She told her silent audience everything.
When she was finished, she swayed on the edge of the bed, feeling unaccountably light headed.
"You have brought us an interesting puzzle Daughter."
Mera yawned widely. She shook her head and was overtaken by another yawn. Darkness closed in on the edge of her vision.
She barely heard T'o'lz Inik's "Rest now Mera" before she slumped down beside G'ar and turned into the solidness of his body. Unconsciousness claimed her immediately.
Mera awoke alone. Her outflung hand confirmed what her sleep fogged mind took moments to process: G'ar was gone, though the rumpled bedclothes were still warm. She rolled from the bed then swayed. Where was G'ar? Was he all right? The questions repeated over and over in her mind.
A familiar solid, bluntness touched her mind. "K'ihn!" she cried, throwing open the door before the surprised man's upraised hand could tap at it. "Where is G'ar? Where is my husband?"
"Peace Sister." K'ihn caught her hand in his own. "El-Zora Fe'nix is with the Head of House." Mera released a silent sigh of relief as he continued. "I have been instructed to bring you to breakfast."
The hollow feeling in her stomach reminded Mera of just how long it had been since she last ate. "Breakfast?" she said. Though she normally had an excellent sense of time, the heaviness of her sleep had left her disoriented. "What time is it?"
Instead of a direct answer he said, "We meet with Master Trenton and L'ars Ca'dean in two óratími." Entering the dining room, he pulled out a chair and motioned for Mera to sit. "Unless we are delayed again."
Mera ignored the gentle jibe and the chair, her attention focused outside. The sliding doors were pushed back to reveal the house's garden where T'o'lz Inik and G'ar walked. They spoke in low tones. Mera couldn't decipher their words.
"He is fortunate you are so strong," K'ihn said, coming to stand at her side. He continued as she turned in surprise. "I've never seen a Wild before. His power...." He shook his head. "It is incredible. We stayed with you through the night," he explained. "The strength of his Psi ability...we could not trust...." Mera's cheeks burned but she kept her gaze locked on his face. For the first time she noticed the shadows under K'ihn's eyes and the grey pallor of his face. He had had as little if not less sleep than she. "We felt his Talent surge, but your shields matched it while you slept." He took her hands in his, a thoughtful expression on his face.