Page 256 of Hunters and Prey

The seer next to me, whose eyes were silver, I realized, and opaque, almost the color of mercury, smiled, bowing in return.

“Thank you, Esteemed Bridge,” she said.

Turning to the rest of the circle, she raised her voice.

“As I said, we believe we have confirmed their identity… at least in part.” She nodded towards Black, gesturing towards him with one fluid hand. “Brother Kirev, now calling himself Quentin Black, definitely has some element of Dragon in his light. It is unclear how much. We are relatively certain that essence has been scattered in some way… that it is shattered, as is told in the old myths.”

Revik spoke up, looking at her with those glass-like eyes.

“Shattered? You mean like mine was?” He flickered his fingers towards the red-haired seer. “Or brother Feigran?”

Zarat returned his gaze, shaking her head.

“No,” she said. “Dragon is constituted differently. There is a will to his fracturing that does not exist even in brother Feigran.” She firmed her mouth, looking at Black, then back at Revik. “Although you are right in what you suppose too, brother Revik. We believe he was fractured and experimented on very deliberately in the place of you and your wife’s birth.”

Looking at Black, she shook her head, pursing her lips.

“Truthfully, Dragon is a bit of a mystery,” she confessed. “His spirit does not follow the usual rules of living beings… not even of other Elaerian. Not even when he manifests in the material plane. More than any of those in the Pantheon, he is one who possibly can never be fully known.”

Nodding towards Black, she added,

“Whatever Dragon is or isn’t, brother Quentin carries a great deal of that structure our ancestors mapped as belonging to that being. He carries an increasingly accessible well of Dragon’s presence and light-frequency in his light, as well. He is also… one might say exponentially, at least since completing his life-bond with his mate… developing… or learning… or perhaps relearning… the ability to use those gifts.”

Giving me a serious look, she added,

“I suspect his light will continue to change, sister Miri. Probably sometimes in shocking ways, and at a shocking rate. Like a child experiencing growth pains and hormonal surges, this may cause erratic behavior at times.”

Hearing the meaning there, I flushed, but only nodded.

“I understand––” I began.

“You may not,” another voice intervened. “And that is okay too, sister.”

I turned, seeing a very old, male seer watching me.

He had kind eyes.

Not sure how to respond to his words, I only nodded.

“As for you, sister,” Zarat added, smiling at me in that friendly, soft way again when I looked at her. “We believe we have identified you, as well. Your husband will find this no surprise, I suspect. The Sword tells us that your husband has suspected for some time you might be the being we call ‘Tortoise’… she who holds the worlds on her back.”

I looked at Revik in bewilderment.

I looked at Black next, but he was staring at Revik too, a frown at his lips.

Then Zarat spoke again, drawing my eyes back to her.

“This is very exciting for us, I admit,” she said.

Smiling at me again, I felt that shyness once more whispering off her light.

I also realized for the first time just how clear and soft that light was.

“We have no record of Tortoise having ever incarnated as a human, sister… or as a seer. I cannot tell you what an honor it is to meet you, and to have you here with us. We can only assume your being here is a portent of great significance.”

I blinked at her.

Unable to hide my bewilderment, I looked at Black, then back at Zarat. When she only smiled at me, that shyness in her light growing more prominent, I frowned.

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