The Forever Blaze [3]

C H A P T E R - 1 7

"Tell me this," Tiergan said as he stood from his chair and started to pace the small telepathy room. "What will be your greatest asset during the healing—during any telepathic endeavor, actually?"

"My impenetrable mind?" Sophie guessed.

"That is a strength, Sophie, but not an asset," Tiergan corrected. "And you've already seen how our strengths can fail us. An asset, on the other hand, is a tool, ready to be utilized the second we should call upon it—and there's one asset in particular that you both must rely upon to the fullest extent of your abilities. Any other guesses what it might be?"

Sophie glanced at Fitz, but he seemed just as clueless as her. Then she looked at Meredith who was deep in thought.

"It's trust," Meredith told them. "Trust is what gives us confidence to step outside the safety of our own headspace and enter the darkness of another. What fuels us, guides us, pushes us to keep going, even when all hope feels lost."

 Tiergan nodded, looking impressed and said, "And for the three of you, trust is what will bond you together, so that your minds can face the coming challenge as one. So tell me, Fitz," he said, turning to face him, "do you trust Sophie?"

"Of course."

"Are you certain—and I mean absolutely certain?" Tiergan pressed. "If memory serves me, the two of you have had a somewhat tumultuous relationship recently."

Fitz lowered his head. "I know I was a total jerk for a few weeks. But I do trust you," he told Sophie. "I hope you trust me."

"Of course I do!" Sophie said—probably too quickly.

Tiergan then looked at Meredith and said, "Do you trust both of them Meredith?"

Meredith nodded seriously and said, " Of course. Do you guys trust me?" 

Sophie and Fitz nodded immediately. Meredith must be joking if she didn't know that both of them trusted her with their lives.

Tiergan studied them for a second, rubbing his chin. "Nope. I'm not convinced. I see friendship and familiarity. But what you need is absolute confidence in each other. Which is why I've prepared a special exercise." He folded his hands as he waited for them to look at him. "The better we understand someone, the more we can trust them, wouldn't you agree?"

Sophie, Meredith and Fitz nodded.

"I'm so glad you feel that way, because the success of the assignment will depend entirely upon how willing you are to open up and truly put faith in each other."

Something about his tone felt almost ominous, and when Sophie swallowed she realized her mouth had gone dry.

"Sophie," Tiergan said, forcing her to pay attention, "since Fitz can no longer transmit to you, I'm going to need you to open your mind to his for this exercise—and for now I want you both to keep your thoughts focused on something unimportant. Like socks, or napkins, or uvulas."

"Uvulas?" Fitz, Meredith and Sophie asked at the same time.

Tiergan smiled. "And now you won't be able to think of anything else."

He was right—Sophie's mind was filled with images of the hangy ball that dangled from the back of her throat, and when she opened her thoughts to Fitz's and Meredith's, they were picturing the same thing.

She couldn't decide if she wanted to laugh or gag.

"Okay, I'm in," she said.

Like old times, huh? Fitz thought.

Pretty much, Sophie transmitted—deciding not to mention that his thoughts were way easier to listen to than the blaring transmissions he used to send.