Page 61 of The City of Zirdai
“I want to read your souls and see if I can find out why you have magic and if Mojag has the potential.”
“I thought you already read mine,” Mojag said.
“I only picked up on your surface emotions and thoughts. Nothing deeper.”
Gurice laughed. “That’s about right, there’snothingdeeper.”
“Hey!” Mojag protested. “Is this important?” he asked Shyla. “Will it help us?”
“Yes to both.”
“All right.”
She looked at Gurice who spread her arms wide and said, “I’m all yours. Just don’t blame me if you start having bad dreams.”
In order to have some privacy, they went up to Shyla’s room on level nine.
“Gurice, you’re first,” Shyla said, sitting on a threadbare cushion.
Mojag leaned his shoulder against the wall, watching them.
“Lucky me.” Gurice crossed her legs as she settled on another poor excuse for a cushion, facing Shyla. “What do I have to do?”
Shyla lowered her shield and stared into Gurice’s light green eyes. Or, rather, she tried. “Relax. This won’t hurt.”
“I’ve heard that before,” Gurice muttered, but she released a long breath and met Shyla’s gaze.
Despite Gurice’s bravado and dry humor, the woman was apprehensive about having Shyla read her soul. She liked the sun-kissed, even considered her a good friend, but what if her secrets scared her off?
“I’m not going to uncover all your secrets,” Shyla said, trying to reassure her.
What about her fears about the viability of the Invisible Sword? Gurice worried they’d never return to full strength. Never achieve any of their goals.
“Stop fretting.” All of Gurice’s chatter was blocking her.
“Then stop reminding me that you’re reading my thoughts,” Gurice shot back.
Shyla paused. Was it nerves or Gurice’s magic that prevented her from delving deeper? Perhaps she needed to change tactics. “Imagine you’re standing in the desert, preparing to erase your tracks with magic. You can close your eyes if you need. I’ve already established a connection.”
“Does that mean we’ll be connected all the time?”
“No. After this, I’ll break our link and I won’t invade your privacy without permission.”
Gurice bit her lower lip then touched Shyla’s arm. “If something bad happens like we’re being attacked and you need to…read me, you have my permission. I trust you.”
And with that, Gurice finally relaxed. Shyla briefly covered Gurice’s hand with her own. “Thank you. Now imagine—”
“Yeah, yeah.” She closed her eyes and soon her thoughts filled with rolling dunes. “Got it.”
Shyla let the scene encompass her as well. She stood next to Gurice. One set of footprints marked the otherwise smooth sand. Gurice held a hand out with her palm down.
“Now erase the tracks,” she ordered.
They disappeared, but there wasn’t a change within Gurice.
“Did you wield magic?” she asked.
“I pretended to. I can’t userealmagic on animaginarydesert.”
