The Draykon Series (1-3)

Lokant: Chapter Thirty-Two

If there was one thing Eva particularly detested in life, it was being a failure. At anything, for any reason. Tren was certainly right about that.

She hadn't had much experience of it, perhaps that was why. So when Limbane pronounced her an inept healer and refused to teach her any more, she had been irritated, disbelieving and uncomfortably awash with self-doubt.

'Never mind,' said Limbane with offensive good cheer. 'You mastered mental control over both animals and intelligent species before you ever came here, and your performance with the PsiMap is creditable. With a bit more practice, you'll be very good at self-camouflage; your performance as Andraly was almost good enough to fool me.' He patted her arm in a grandfatherly gesture, which only irritated her more. 'No partial ever has a full spectrum of abilities. There had to be something you couldn't do.'

'Did there really,' she said through gritted teeth.

He chuckled. 'If you'd like to prove me wrong, you're welcome to try, but don't waste too much time on it. Regenerating flesh is not your strong point.'

Limbane declared her training over soon after that, and disappeared on his mysterious errands. Llandry and Pensould had already gone, followed by Andraly and the other Lokant, Jace. Eva hadn't found a reason to like him much, so far; he was laconic and unfriendly, his grey eyes lacking warmth. Perhaps she wouldn't see him again.

That left herself and Tren unattended and unescorted. She no longer needed the help of a full Lokant to get around. She could translocate herself and others without assistance. It was an empowering thought: almost enough to make up for her lack of mastery over regeneration.

Tren had stayed away from her since their conversation in the library. She didn't regret it. She certainly refused to admit that she missed him. The boy should stay away from her; it would give him some time to shake off her influence over him.

For she still doubted not that his blurted confession of affection had more to do with her Lokant heritage than any sincere depth of feeling. The gulf between them was too enormous for any other explanation to hold water. And it had come out of nowhere, this declaration. She had seen no sign of special interest from him before. Awful thought: perhaps he had been knowingly insincere, trying to make her feel better.

That was a still more humbling notion, one she tried to shake off. She really couldn't take any more belittling reflections.

A small but persistent part of her heart insisted on hoping she was wrong about Tren. With the utmost ruthlessness, she squashed it.

When she finally went in search of him, she adopted a brisk, business-like air designed to keep him at a distance.

'Are you ready to depart?'

'Perfectly.' He opened his door wider to reveal a packed bag waiting just inside.

'Excellent. I'm going to need to make some kind of physical contact in order to transport us both. I apologise.' She reached out and carefully locked her fingers around his wrist.

He smiled, but it was a sad smile. 'No apology necessary. I promise not to be scandalised.' He collected his bag with his free hand, then straightened. 'Where is it exactly that we're going?'

She didn't answer for a moment. Her mind was already busy, reaching for the PsiMap as Limbane had taught her. It opened in her mind's eye and she could see their Cluster, three worlds nestled around each other. She searched through, turning them about until she found the spot she sought.

'Ullarn,' she replied. 'Specifically, Wirllen.'

'Straight for Wirllen? Is that a good idea?'

'Trust me.' Selecting the precise location she wanted, she focused her will on translocation. Energy flashed through her and her body weight dropped away, fading to nothing. The process of preparing to translocate was bizarre and still unsettling; it had never felt that way when she had been merely a passenger.