The Truth Over The Wall

Chapter 34

The last couple of days of strenuous practice had paid off. Amara threw the fourth knife, and it arced through the air to hit the target almost dead-centre.

"I'm impressed." Dominic said smiling down at Hanalea. "Just how did do that? Between Emery and myself we'd only just managed to teach her the proper hold on a knife and yet with your tutelage her aim is just about perfect."

"All it takes is proper directive," Hanalea did not even pretend to be humble about it. Her smile was pleased and smug, "Maybe you're not as intimidating as you think." She teased.

Amara spun around and crossed her arms when she saw them talking. "You said you were looking!"

Startled, Hanalea tried to explain, "I was, Amara. I did see you, you've made excellent progress-"

"You did not!" Amara accused, her facing growing red. "And I am not. I'm horrible and it's pointless. I'm not doing this again."

"Maybe," Dominic shrugged innocently at Hanalea as he teased her back, "You're not as intimidating as you think either."

Hanalea rolled her eyes and ignored him. While they crossed the field to Amara, Hanalea went over what might have upset Amara, and rounded on Dominic when she had remembered his earlier comment.

"Just about perfect?" Hanalea scowled at him, offended.

Dominic opened his mouth, and closed it once more before he said, "She hesitates."

Hanalea's confused expression smoothed into understanding. She nodded as she turned back. "Always," Hanalea confirmed, "Just a second too long."

Amara sat down taking her head in her hands and muttering to herself. She had been very easily upset the last couple of days, and her slow recovery and poor sleep did not help matters.

There was someone calling to her from the dark. Over and over they reached for her to whisper... something. The same sounds repeated in loop. But Amara had no idea what they were trying to say. Just that someone was calling her.

They needed her. And for the life of her, she could not figure out who? Or why?

As a knight, Hanalea had reasoned. Amara should have at least the basic instructions in combat. The idea had seemed very exciting at first; something new and taxing that would help distract her from the darkness.

But it was not working. All her training did was tire her out, and make her an even easier prey for the voices. What they wanted, they could not explain, but they insisted on returning over and over, until they get it right.

Amara was exhausted and she was nowhere near the task they had taken up. While the moon was  at its Plymouth, the witches would circle the villages scattered at the edge of Tafah, gathering up children.

Dominic, Hanalea and Alistair had disrupted such a raid just yesterday and managed to save six children. And this morning Alistair had announced the arrival of two or more witches yet again.

The only difference in this routine would be that now Amara would join them. And the thought of it was making her sick.

She felt something soft rub against her ankle and immediately felt better.

"Oh, Fobos," Amara said gathering the cub in her arms, "you can fix just about anything."

She looked up in time to see Dominic and Hanalea walking toward her. She looked away from the sight just as quickly as she nuzzled Fobos.

"Just about." Amara confirmed as she felt a familiar prickle tear at her.

"Amara," Hanalea sighed, "I'm sorry. I really was watching you."