SpringFire Read Online Free Page B

it a little hesitantly. “Don’t complain to me if it’s undercooked. You want yours now, too, Donavah?”
    I glanced from one to the other, the tension thick between them. “Uh, no, that’s all right. I’ll wait.”
    Grey set the partly whittled branch on the ground and went outside. I took a step to follow him, but then Traz made an impatient sound and said, “Jerk. He always ruins everything.”
    “He does not! He’s just hungry.”
    “And we’re not?”
    “Who’s being surly now? Look, Traz, we’re all hungry and tired and confused. Can’t you hurry those rabbits up a bit? We’ll feel better once we’ve eaten.”
    With a sigh, he turned back to the fire.

    After Traz and I had finished eating, I went outside to talk to Grey but couldn’t find him. Wondering where he’d gone—and why—I went back inside where it was warmer. I took my meditation kit out of my pack and went deeper into the cave. It was too dark to tell what colors the candles were until I lit them, when I found that I’d somehow picked two that were the same: ivory for peace. Using a matched pair, although the tradition among magicians, wasn’t the most powerful use of magic, so I blew one out and selected another: lavender for clarity.
    It was hard to clear my mind, harder than ever before. I could feel the rhythm of life, but couldn’t seem to align myself to it. I concentrated harder, thinking that if I could only catch the beat, I would be able to proceed with the meditation routine.
    Cacophony pressed in on me. For a moment, I thought I would go mad from the disruption of my spirit. The sound tugged me in opposite directions, threatening to rip my sanity to pieces.
    Lights of red, green, and blue spiraled around me, driving me to distraction without providing illumination.
    Then the gentlest of touches on my psyche. I focused on it, willing myself not to lose contact. I didn’t question what it was. It had a sweet taste and sensuous odor that drew me toward it.
    Bit by bit, my spirit moved through the ether, nudging itself into rhythm with this world. With each passing moment, I felt more and more at one, once again, with nature around me.
    Then, with a psychic jolt, my soul fell into the proper rhythm, and the world blossomed around me. Overcome with the richness of it all, my senses momentarily closed up and everything went black.
    And quiet. And still.
    I floated on the nothingness.
    Then a whisper of wind formed into melodious words.
    “Ah. What have we here? Who are you?”
    I said nothing.
    “Such power. Power that is raw and young and beautiful. Such power as I crave. Where are you?”
    And still I said nothing.
    “You refuse to answer? I have tasted you. I shall find you.”
    Tentacles of thought exploded the blackness. My spirit recoiled, and my body crashed to the floor.
    I sat up, feeling a bit dizzy. When I scrunched my eyes closed, the whole world felt like it was spinning, but it wasn’t much better with them open.
    I put out the candles and sat for a few minutes, waiting for everything to return to normal.
    Then Grey was there. He placed a supportive hand on my back and said, “Are you all right?”
    A different sort of confusion flooded through me. All of my attention focused on his touch.
    “Donavah? Are you all right?” he repeated.
    “Um, yeah,” I finally managed to say. “I think so.”
    “Come to the fire where it’s warmer.” He stood up and reached a hand down to me. I took it and let him pull me to my feet. “Your hands are as cold as ice! Let me make you something warm to drink.”
    I left the candles where they were and went with him, Grey still holding my hand in his.
    Traz frowned at us from where he sat near the fire. He scowled without saying a word as Grey wrapped my cloak around my shoulders and helped me to sit down, then made me tea.
    I was glad Grey didn’t ask again about my meditation session, because for now, I didn’t want to talk about it. Who did that voice belong to? It