Heart of the Hunter Chapter 16
Cover Art by Natalie Metzger
Please enjoy Chapter 16
“The Brother Alobar is an excellent teacher.”
“What does that mean?” Shandra asked.
“When you use energy, Shandra, it uses you. If you do not properly go about it, you will find that you are on the bad end of the bargain. Magic always has its cost, but with skill and practice you can minimize that cost. The steps he led you through, the grounding and centering, that was for your benefit.”
“I..I see. There is so much that I do not know. Brother Alobar says that all power eventually comes from the Light. Do you believe that?”
“I believe that if one has gifts, one should use them. That is something that was hard won for me. I have…well, sometimes its a curse, sometimes a blessing. The Sight.”
“How does it manifest?”
“Sometimes I can see that which is, or was, or sometimes even that which will be. It is a gift of my Valisti blood.”
“You see these things as if they were real, there in front of you?”
“I have to find the middle spaces, the shadows, the places in between to look. Then the visions come to me. They rarely, if ever, come unbidden.”
“I see. And you…you saw how Father died that way?”
“That I did.”
“H-how did he die?”
“As I told you when first we met…he was killed by Gnaeltongues. Most likely by the same warband that attacked my people while I was away. Apparently, Uline has been patrolling this land as if it were her own.”
Shandra nodded. “I thought..I thought he was just away. Just delayed. That he would return. We should have left last year, but he thought to wait out the winter. We had enough supplies, and the stone house. It was not difficult to convince the Gnaeltongues to leave us be. But when the snows melted, he had to go for supplies. He wanted to take me with him, but I refused because I knew that would mean we would lose all that we had gained. I didn’t think it would take so long for him to come back. And then it was too late.”
She collapsed into tears of bitter grief, and Auryn drew her into an embrace. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her softly in the dim light of his tent, and her tears stained his threadbare silk shirt.
December 15th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Yay!!
And yes, that part was really, really icky, but completely engaging anyway. I’m glad I was outside in the cool, clean air while I listened to it!
Thank you for all your hard work on this - I’m enjoying every chapter very much **hugs**
December 15th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
I’m glad you liked it! Sorry for the ick, but that’s where the story went.
December 16th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Nothing to be sorry for - it was, indeed where the story went. And let’s face it. Life is rarely ick-free.
**attempts to wait patiently for chapter 17**
January 31st, 2008 at 9:43 am
Hey Sam! Been really busy so you haven’t heard from me but absolutely loving the story! BTW This new site of yours is just beautiful! as you can see, been actively following your feed but havent said much on this domain…. I hate working 3rd shift… destroys all your time in a day. Keep up the good work, hey are you on skype ever at all? Peace Sam, try to catchya later!
January 31st, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I have Cynthia to thank for the beautiful site - she found the theme for me and made it work. I’m really pleased you like the story. More coming soon - I have Chapter 17 in editing and nearly ready to be recorded.