Liam looked down at the crackling fire below, he recognized it, but his mind swam as he adjusted to no longer being inside the strange cave. Voices floated up to him, they too were familiar, important, and close to him.
Where am I? He thought as he raised his hands to his throbbing head.
And that was at that moment that the realization struck: he was in the inn at Tommen’s Rest, specifically in the common room. But he had never seen it from this angle, floating above the spot where he had sat so often growing up?!
Tor was speaking, answering questions from the assembled other voices. His heartbeat throbbed in his head, as he tried to focus on what was being said below him. Who else would be there? The Mayor he guessed, and maybe Friar Belvedere.
The air felt thick and heavy like he was underwater and unable to get to the surface, drowning. Something was tethering him to the rafters, he was hanging, suspended over the room.
The room seemed to shimmer and swirl about as he focused on the sense of tethering above him. He was aware of the wood, the lacquer that had been applied a generation ago, and the care that was taken daily to maintain the common room. The presence of life and laughter-the lack of laughter was like an echo at this time. This room, the inn, and the folk below were alive, and he could sense it.
Liam spotted the nearby railing in the common room, the one that extended from the balcony of the second floor. He had stood on that balcony many times in his life, sticking his head through the railing and watching those that gathered round the hearth. As he reached out with his senses, the railing came closer. NO-he was drifting towards it, gliding as if he had taken a single step.
Liam reached the balcony and seemed to just connect to it, floating gently above, but somehow now tethered there instead of the rafters above. He felt woefully inadequate to control what was happening to him.
What has happened? Is Glitterrs’ doing this?
Tamblin’s voice rose up to him, more clearly than before. “Why do you think they were attacking the estate of your family, Tor?” Liam took notice and tried to focus on the words.
Tor took a long draw from the wooden mug he gripped and answered, “I believe it was a raid. I think they wanted to steal valuables, and supplies, bring harm to those who reside outside of the town. They knew that with ample warning the estate would present a formidable defense. It was best to strike quickly, sowing confusion. And also limiting those folk from arriving here as reinforcements.”
The Mayor nodded in approval, as did the Friar to his left. Aris sat across from Tamblin, looking into the fire, remembering. Liam noticed this and tried to call out to her, but instead of words, he made a strange whispering noise that seemed to echo in his head. But the tethering shifted to the table, to where Aris sat, and he began to descend towards her. The staff leaned against the hearth itself, the flicker of green light caught his attention and Glitters’ musical voice filled Liam’s head.
They will not be able to hear you, Liam. Your body is currently resting in one of the rooms above, I overheard that it was your regular room.
What is happening to me? Liam thought, and Glitters quickly answered.
You are Scrying. Your senses have awakened and your thoughts, your mind, have traveled out to the room. You can see and hear what is happening there. Perhaps even sense more than normal. But they cannot hear you, as your voice remains with your body.
My voice? My…body? thought Liam. Am I dying?
Liam was suddenly filled with fear and the heaviness of the air, the room and its emotions quivered, and his sense of the Scrying began to fragment. He felt the pain in his body and was drawn away, above, to his room.
His thoughts drifted to Aris, and she felt his presence.
Aris reached out to the staff suddenly, grabbed and stood, looking up into the balcony and the upper level. “Liam, is that you? Are you here with us?”
The assembled group suddenly fell silent as Aris addressed the air above them, looking frantic as she scanned for Liam’s presence. Emrys watched his daughter with concern as she gripped the staff tightly, its top flicking in green pulses of light. Merlitz stood and followed behind her, scanning the air above them, a confused but weary look on his face.
“Aris…” began Emrys, “What are you seeing?”
“Glitters is talking to Liam, I could hear it, it is more clear now if I hold the staff. He was above us, watching, there near the table!” Aris exclaimed and pointed towards Merlitz, at the spot where a few empty plates had been stacked along with a half-eaten red treebobbing.
Merlitz froze as if something invisible was near him, looking around for something he could not sense. “Here, by me?”
“No Merlitz, he isn’t a ghost, how little you people know about magicks,” responded Gren. The little trinketmeister shook his head in disgust and leaped off his chair, walking towards Aris. “Scrying, perhaps? Is the young sage showing some aptitude for magick now?”
Aris whipped her head towards the elderly man, “Yes, that exactly. Glitters is teaching him about scrying. That is what I heard, but now it is gone.”
“Does that mean Liam is awake?” asked Friar Belvedere as he took in the odd turn of events.
“Hmm. Yes, no, perhaps. If the boy isn’t tapping into the powers of the staff, he could be awakening,” explained Gren, stroking his multicolored beard as he pondered the possibility.
“Awakening?!” said Melitz, shocked.
“Yes, that makes sense…that is why the boy is special…” said the Friar, looking to the Mayor.
“No, absolutely not! You cannot have the boy for the Sect, Belvedere!” Responded Tamblin as he too rose from the table.
Liam grew dizzy as his senses focused, taking in the conversation below, suddenly about him. Did Perekoss mean that he was going to wake up, or that he was going to go through the awakening of a mage?
There is much to consider in that question, Liam. Mayhaps you should close your eyes and focus on your body. Return to it, and let the sleep fully end.
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