Stormlands ( Book 2 of the Torrent Skies Saga)

Chapter Forty: Gauging the Storm, Pt 2

Katerin glanced past the simply dressed giant, to the long hall behind, and the imposing figure on a throne, at its end. She squeezed Brazen's hand, and straightened her shoulders.

As Brazen relinquished his grip, he offered her a small smile, and whispered. "Even if they say you messed up, I don't think you did."

She nodded, fighting back her nausea, and marched herself forward. She did not hear the doors close, but she felt the gaze of her companions leave her back, and she grew cold as she approached the throne and knelt before it. There was a long moment where all Katerin heard was her heartbeat in her throat.

Finally Kul Galysa broke the silence. "Rise," she said.

Katerin rose to her feet with as much dignity as she could, using all her months of training here to somehow quell the shaking in her limbs. Thrones are nothing more than a cheap trick to inspire fear, she thought as she straightened her shoulders.

Kul Galysa's expression did not seem to be angry, was there amusement in it, instead?

"You have done well with the gifts we offered to teach you. That was quite a display." Kul Galysa's voice was strong, belaying no hint of her feelings.

Her tone caused the hairs on the back of Katerin's neck to prickle. "Thank you. I... I did my best."

"You truly did. And your efforts exceed my expectations... however." Kul Galysa looked her over intensely, her gaze narrowing.

The armored form behind her chair coughed, and shifted only slightly.

Katerin did not fidget under her gaze, instead she raised her chin, and ignored her rapid heart.

"My expectations were very high indeed." Kul Galysa's stone expression broke, and a smile lit up her face. "You look so terrified, I couldn't help myself."

Katerin let out a heavy breath, after studying the sincerity of her expression. "What happened? What was that? I didn't mean to do it," Katerin blurted out her words, forgetting herself.

Kul Galysa chuckled and there was a snort from the armored figure behind her throne. It seemed even he was not immune to a good joke. "You bear the mark of the storm bearer, girl!" Her voice was a shout, but one of excitement. She lifted her arm and her sleeve fell away, to reveal a similar set of marks. "Your dreams are strange, and strangely affected, aren't they?"

Katerin coughed, her eyes widening. "I... Yes. I suppose they are." She stared at the marks on Kul Galysa, and bit her lip. "I thought those to be ceremonial, or..."

"Makeup? No. Not painted on. A part of me." She grinned again. "Give your dreams every heed. You have an ability few will ever know of."

Her words chilled Katerin to the bone. But she kept her face composed. "How... how did it happen?"

"The mark chooses its recipient. It is an old magic, not even we know where it originated, though I am sure it began before the world was broken. Those of exceptional ability, with the correct affinities, are given it. It is a gift of power. What you did in the arena today, is one of its facets. Some say it is a mark of the chosen of the gods, some say it is a simple mark of your status and ability."

Katerin paled, at her mention of the gods. "Which gods?"

"I do not know. Old gods, if you would believe the writings."

Katerin nodded, her thoughts wandering once again to Lodyne, and her dreams. "But, did I... did I pass the test?"

This time the suit of armor let out a full laugh, though the giant within it stayed still.