Rae is banished from her homeland only to soon find herself spell bound to help a mage discover who infected his king with a spirit.
Rae is banished from her homeland because her people fear her senstivity to aura energy. Like all her people she can see aura energy and spirits, but she can also hear spirits and, at times, hear the thoughts of others. The sensitivity comes at the price of having terrible power headaches.
She travels with Nioclas, Ailin and his twin sister, in hopes of finding a place for herself in the outland world. When spirits attack Nioclas and Rae discovers the outland king is infected with a spirit and controlled by someone through it, Rae is spell bound by a mage to discover who is behind the attacks.
Excerpt
Rae pressed her fists into her eyes, wishing she could gouge them out. Her head throbbed with a rhythmic pulse punctuated with a deep piercing ache. Even in her solitude, the world seemed too sharp and every small noise grated. She lay curled up on her bed mat; feeling the pulsing throb grow in intensity, as though her mind were expanding beyond her skull. She opened her eyes slightly to see the world around her warping with the pulse of her blood, which made her feel ill to her stomach. There were flashes of light and sparkles but they were all false auras caused by the pain; not the true auras that surrounded all vibrant beings. Silent tears spilled from her eyes, because the effort required for a true cathartic release, or screaming, required motions that would amplify the pain.
Rae squeezed her eyes shut again and prayed the pain would relent soon. She even repeated the same litany she always did when afflicted with these acute episodes; ‘Let it end,’ over and over again. She repeated it until all she sensed was the words in her mind and the pain worming its way through her head.
Then she felt her aura contort and spread outward. She could no longer hold it back. Not when the pain fixed locked her into the moment. She began to hear whispers at the edge of her mind. The thoughts and desires of the people near to her and some far away all together in her mind. Soon a constant loud chatter that would not cease. She wanted to scream, but instead clenched her fists tightly until her nails cut into her palms. When a headache of such extreme intensity hit she became so sensitive to all the energy around her, until those voices threatened to overwhelm her. Voices like little daggers piercing her head. Mental thoughts from the minds of those around her were pulled in and she could do nothing to keep these thoughts out. No amount of inner aura shields could keep them at bay.
It was hours later, when her aura was drained enough, Rae finally felt the pain ebb and the voices became silent. She was exhausted but could not rest. Those voices were a jumble, but she heard more than she wished to. It was inevitable that she would hear the sharper more emotional voices, after all, it seemed emotion was the added element to project mental thoughts outward. Tears welled up in her eyes again and Rae brushed them away angrily. It was not as though she were intentionally spying into an open window, rather they inflicted their thoughts on her and she was powerless to prevent it.
A serpent of translucent blue light, with rows of fluttering wings, slithered in the air above her. Playfully, the lesser spirit twisted in a circle. Spirit beings were always drawn to those with bright colorful auras, which is why her people learned how to protect themselves from inadvertent harm from such spirits.
Rae watched the serpent, this one reaching at least four feet. It’s presence only reminded her of the outland world and its people. Lacking the aura sight, they could not see the energy that pulsed around all living entities. They could not see or sense energy spirits. Her skills and her strength would beyond their comprehension.
Rae heard the panel door slide open and her the dim outline of her Aunt Philomel appeared in the opening. “Rae? Are you awake?”
Rae sat up and rubbed her neck. “Yes.”
She did not want to have the conversation she knew was coming. She did not want to admit she had knowledge of what her aunt was going to say.
Her aunt moved into the room, without taking in a light, understanding Rae’s desire for darkness. It was a pointless gesture, since Philomel’s aura lit up the room with tones of unease and anxiety. Rae leaned against the wall looked slightly away from the brightness of her aunt’s presence and trying to adjust her eyes to focus farther away.
Philomel knelt down beside Rae’s pallet, demurely folding her hands in her lap. “These headaches are getting worse,” she said. “You are becoming increasingly crippled by them.”
“They are nothing unusual to our Triahd. We have ever been more sensitive and prone to power attacks,” Rae said. It was a feeble defense. Most people endured the occasional aura related headache, usually due to over working. They certainly did not get afflicted with the mental thoughts of others.
“Even the teas and herbs do not help, as they did when you were a child.”
Rae glanced away from the compassion in Philomel’s gray eyes. Philomel had raised her since her parents died doing work for the Triahd. She was more of a mother than Rae’s mother had time to be, even before her death. Even as others became wary of Rae’s increasing sensitivity Philomel had been there to take over her training. Her calm disposition had always been a comfort. Perhaps that is why it hurt so much more that she agreed with the town council.
Philomel sighed. “The town council has come to a decision. It is to be banishment. Exile to the outlands.”
Hearing the confirmation was like a slap to the face. “I see. You think to inflict upon foreigners the fate you fear? When I can no longer stop the headaches and shut out all those intruding minds whispering their little secrets into mine. Maybe it will drive me insane. The pain alone can make a person mad in a way. Even you don’t know if insanity is inevitable though.”
Philomel remained outwardly calm, but her aura flickered with shades of pity. “It has happened before. That one, who was like you, went mad.”
“I’m not him,” she hissed, unable to repress her emotions. Now that the moment had come, she felt panic flush through her. “He was a tyrant that abused his power. Recall that he was blessed before we cursed his name, aunt. Isn’t there one person here that believes we can find a way to help me learn to control my greater sensitivity?”
“There are a few, but most are simply afraid, Rae. Too much power corrupts. We have seen it time and time again within our Triahd. It is better you live in the outlands, among those that have no sight. They won’t fear you, for one thing.”
“Because they are blind. They come to us seeking healers. Thinking everyone in Mayhalar is a healer and every Triahd is identical. They have no understanding of their own ka, let alone how to care for it, so it seems like healing to them when someone knows the basic skills on how to maintain it. Even a farmer here could match one of their healers.”
Everyone knew of foreigners. They blundered across the border quite regularly. Always seeking miraculous healing or some spontaneous quest for inner peace. They always claimed Mayhalarans were so helpful, skilled and polite. They knew nothing of the Way Mayhalarans lived by. Their misconceptions of Mayhalar culture were ludicrous considering the countries bordered each other. Even though they viewed Mayhalar in a positive manner, their ignorance was almost offensive. Every foreigner she had encountered seemed to wear their ignorance like a badge of honor, shrouded in their own self importance.
“Outlanders are ignorant to be sure, or they would seek our farmers for their skills. However, the point is, that out there you will be considered a valuable healer. We are welcomed in any foreign court.”
Philomel began to blur her aura so that Rae could not see how she truly felt. Her soothing tone and rational suggestions were offensive coming from a woman who was Rae’s only remaining family.
“I’m not a healer. I’m of the Len Triahd. I have been trained since I was a child to purge people and places of violent spirits,” Rae stated. “You would take from me my family heritage to honor my house.”
“Rae, the Triahds are all houses of knowledge, that, yes, serve particular functions, but our training often overlaps. Often illness is caused by spirits. Your knowledge will be useful.”
“I don’t know the finer points of healing.”
“I doubt you will need them. What you do know, is more than any outlander. And you can learn more.”
Rae was silent a moment while she fought back tears and repressed the sudden wave of anxiety. Her aunt should not be so calm about a decision that was so cruel. “Yes,” she said finally, “I can learn more. Did you know spirits whisper to me as well? Such strange, almost incomprehensible secrets they share. Someday I will learn their secrets. Of course, by then I might be mad. What is to stop me from coming back here with spirits at my command? Who in the Len Triahd would be able to control a rogue spirit soother like me? Perhaps then you all will regret your choice to banish me instead of taking the time to try and help me train.”
“That threat will not change anyone’s mind. The choice has been made. Even if you had control, people would fear someone with the ability to read their minds, Rae. Start a new life somewhere else and hopefully you will find that control and with it peace.”
Rae closed her eyes. “Get out. If that is the decision then this will be our good-bye. I assume they will want things over with as soon as possible.”
“Tomorrow. You will be allowed to take with you anything you need to support yourself. We will grant you some funds and food as well. After the banishment your name will be stricken from the Len Triahd records. There will be no Raechel Hillsborn. No one will speak or acknowledge your presence. If you try to talk to anyone, they will turn their backs to you.”
“I said leave. Your back is turned to me already, as it was in the council chambers today, aunt.”
Philomel’s eyes widened in shock, but she did not deny Rae’s words. Her aura flickered in fear as she stood up and backed out of the room. “I’m sorry it had to be this way.”
Rae said nothing; bitterness leaving her empty inside. The townsfolk were lucky Rae was not a rogue spirit soother willing to take her revenge and call forth spirits to torment them. No matter what they thought of her, or what she might become, Rae adhered to all the principles of the Triahd. She would never use a spirit to harm another. How could they think she would use her ability to read their thoughts against them? It had never been something she could control or direct. If she could manage the ability she would block it, as it was an insane and painful chaos.
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