Page 147 of Broken Veil
“But it was the blessing of a giant,” Cyrus said, “so the water is bitter. It is useful only for bathing and a few plants that are able to tolerate it.”
The ground around the spring was rocky, and there were only a few plants growing. And while Carys could see the water coming out of the ground, the pool had no outlet.
“The fae dug a deep well here centuries ago,” Naida said. “That way the water can return to the earth and join other springs that will cleanse it.”
“Got it,” Laura said. “So this water here is old.”
Naida nodded and bent down by the edge of the spring. “It’s very, very old.”
Carys approached the well with a pit in her stomach.Cadell?
He circled overhead, then came to land in the clearing beside the well.Do you need me in human form?
“No.” She looked into his great gold eyes. “I just need you here.”
Go to Hogg’s Well, take the water in your left hand, and put it in your right eye.
Do not drink it.
Do not put it in both eyes.
Only in one.
Carys knelt down next to Naida, and for a moment, she felt the heat of Dôn’s collar burning around her neck.
Your sister will be with you, and your eye will be opened. Then you will see the wounds you have dealt the crow goddess so you can send her back to the Shadows.
Carys dipped her left hand into the water, bracing herself with her right. Then she carefully brought the bitter water of Hogg’s Well to her right eye, as he mother had told her.
She blinked, letting the water enter her eye, then lifted her head, careful not to let any of it touch her lips.
“Carys?” Laura called out to her, and Carys turned. “What do you see?”
“Whoa.”
It was more than disorienting at first.
When Carys turned to look at her best friend, there were two images laid overtop of each other. Laura in her ceremonial clothing; Laura in her traveling clothes. Laura with her face painted with traditional tattoos. Laura with no tattoos.
And when Carys closed her left eye, she saw a massive bird on Laura’s shoulder, a giant black raven, silent and watching.
“Laura, when you did your initiation as pauwau inwe, what was your personal totem?”
“Honey, you know I can’t tell you that. I can’t tell anyone that.”
“Was it kwe gok?” She used the Yurok word for raven to keep things private.
“Yes.” Laura’s voice was soft. “How did you know that?”
“I can see it.” She covered her right eye. “And now I don’t.”
She turned to Cadell. When she looked through her right eye, she saw a massive green dragon with pebbled skin and a fire burning at his throat.
And when she looked through her left eye… she also saw a massive green dragon with fire at his throat.
“Yeah,” she muttered. “That figures.”
She stood up with Naida’s help and wobbled a little bit. “This is very disorienting.”
