Kolo, once a broken drifter, relishes in her newfound power and glory. However, Master Xigon has not been quite right since the night of her ascension, and he refuses to let anyone know what's wrong. Kolo, on the other hand, refuses to remain in the...
When they came home, anxiety seemed to seize all of them. They huddled by the bluehole and tried to collect their thoughts. Kolo sat between Azvalath and Channei, leaning against the former and holding the latter's hand. She didn't realize just how much she'd missed Channei. It felt strange. Why Channei more than anyone else?
Everything sounded muted, as if Kolo's head were stuck underwater. Ever since she'd blown her own eardrums out to stop hearing Slaaek's luring calls, she hadn't been able to hear right. To think it'd taken that to win. But she'd won nonetheless.
"-he'll get back?" Ido raised his voice at the end of a sentence.
"What?" Kolo cupped a hand behind her ear.
"I asked when everyone thinks Xigon will get back." Ido enunciated each syllable in a way that annoyed her immensely. When she glared at him, Ido folded his arms and lowered his head, as if to make himself look smaller. "Sorry, I shouldn't interrupt–"
"No, it's fine." She cut off his needless apology. "It's just hard to hear you all."
Channei squeezed her hand.
Master Qila came down and found them all. Her eyes widened upon seeing their faces, but then she forced a smile. "You all came in so quietly. Scared me."
Rizval stood up. "Master Qila, we–"
She hurried to meet them. "Rizval! What happened to your arm?"
Rizval looked down at their sling. "It was an accident."
Channei glared daggers at Rizval. "Why do you keep saying that?"
Azvalath stood up next. "Where's Master Xigon?"
"Why is that your first question?" Ido snapped.
Kolo covered her ears. Everyone's raised voices made her head feel ready to explode. "Will you be QUIET?!"
The silence that followed startled her into manic laughter. Then she inhaled her own spit and started coughing so loud it was like an icepick in her ears.
The old woman laid gentle hands on her and Azvalath's shoulders. "I need you two to come with me."
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Once they got to her study, Qila closed the door behind them and beckoned them to come sit. "What happened, you two?"
"There was a holf killing the villagers." Azvalath stood by the table but didn't take a seat. "Not an ordinary one either. Must have had our god's bloodline. Made everyone hallucinate."
Kolo clawed at her ears. "I killed it."
"You don't seem happy about that." Qila seemed to see right through them both.
Azvalath slammed his fist on the table. "How could we be?" His voice was a growl. "People died, Master Qila. Good people. Not in spite of us stepping in, but because we stepped in."
