FOREVER KNIGHTS: #15 Insatiable Beasts

WhiteHall, Paladines

RAESE

Two days Raese had been trying to figure out how to get the globe to work. She said I would be able to. There has to be a way.

He was lying on his massive four-poster bed with the green canopied curtains tied back against the posts. He was rolling the globe back and forth along his fingertips over his face. Watching the strange shining flakes inside it roll as though it snowed only beyond the heavy piece of glass.

I don’t understand why magic is so difficult. He’d tried for a long time make his staff appear but had failed in that to.

From every tale he’d ever heard of Dreads, theirs came easily. They were able to move things or manipulate natural elements at their bidding. So powerful they could will objects to comply with their wishes.

So far I’ve grown scales, and a tail, and not managed to control a damn thing.

He had managed a few times now to summon images into the globe. He could watch the dreams he’d had play out within the silver and white glow in the orb. Watch him stumbling through the woods after Calisto or her sliding off the horse to tend the bird in the meadow while wearing a shining ballgown.

But I can’t see her now.

Closing his eyes, Rodger Barnes sat in the wood chair in the corner. “Perhaps you’re only asking to see what you know has happened. Can you find a way to ask to see what you don’t know?”

“What the devil does that mean?” Raese turned.

“You’re very matter-of-fact, Good Man.”

“Yes?”

“Try to be less so.”

“Helpful. Thank you.” Raese nodded dryly. Sighing he relaxed and tried to let go of where he thought Calisto should be and things he knew her to be doing to envision what she could be doing now.

Closing his eyes he felt like he was suddenly seeing her in a dark cave, cowering under a cot holding a bit of blue fabric. Somewhere damp and cold.

Where is she?

The cot above her groaned as someone shifted and boots appeared off to the side of the bed.

Her pale hand shot out and caught the back of one large shin. Making the cot creak again as a man leaned over the edge to peer down at her.

Chavias. It came to him instantly this time. And he had another flash intrude of the man he’d bumped into at the ball at Delacroix Hall. It was him.

“Whiting, Man.” Rodger breathed. “Look what you’ve done.”

Raese blinked at him. Seeing he’d scooted to the end of his chair to squint toward the globe. Raese’s attention averted to it and saw the images he’d been considering in vivid color beyond the foggy shadows in the glass bubble.

“You’ve done it.” Rodger applauded. Unmoving.

Raese could see her and began allow the feeling of things moving below his skin, under his ribs. Things that wanted to adjust bone and move skin to free. His body began to vibrate. Nearly jouncing off the bed as it slowly rose until he hovered a foot off the bed.

Green light exploded from around his hands, embracing the globe in the center. Cascading the room in flickering gold and green lights with tiny dust flakes sifting through them as they fell on his glowing face. Streamers of the same color began to infiltrate that ball. Reaching for her.

Calisto scurried from under the cot and around the man’s legs to stand in the center of the room though she was only a filmy silhouette.

Don’t run from it. It’s just me. Raese willed her still as he viewed her like he was suddenly in the dank cell with her. Magic wrapped around his shoulders and reached out, pouring into her. Winding around her in a fisting grip that coursed through her. Yanking her from where her physical body was. Reaching through her spirit to touch her body, beyond that.