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A/N: As promised I have started posting Shattered on Gumroad. It’s PWYW (and £0 is acceptable so there’s no risk) so subscribe today. If you want to sample it first then you can read the first chapter on my facebook page. If you like my stuff you’ll love Shattered.

—

“She’s doing very well, Marateka,” Halia said. “And useful as those potions are, Ophelia can’t take them all the time.”

“Of course she can,” Marateka said.

“You know better than that!” Halia snapped. “You can’t go more than a few days without natural rest. She’ll burn out if she uses them too often.”

“Her predecessor used them every night. She was properly trained – I saw to that.”

Ophelia narrowed her eyes at that. The woman hadn’t denied what Halia had said, just its importance. Right now, though, there was something else she was interested in.

“You trained my predecessor? What happened to her?”

Marateka shrugged. “Someone decided to get in the way. Someone very powerful – a strong alrari or maybe even an idri – I’m not sure. Whoever they were they were strong enough to boost a latent human into an active and send them to fight her. When I ordered her to kill the wretched human she balked for once and it got her killed. It was essence venom so I guess it was whoever sent that other girl who did it.”

Ophelia stared at Marateka – the chill emanating from the key and her own gut were both warning her that the woman was, at the very least, not telling them everything about what had happened. But before she could open her mouth to challenge her another blast from the key warned her that this was not the right time. So instead she rephrased her question.

“You don’t know who did it?” she asked.

Marateka shrugged again. “Well, apparently Alsia-ida was active back then so perhaps it was her.”

“That really doesn’t sound like Alsia,” Halia said. “She might do the empowering humans part but not the rest.” She frowned to herself. “But it might explain what Kyl has told us about Alsia and Darlryan being at each other’s throats.”

“It would,” Tilaran said. “Not to mention the other thing he told us about Darlryan.”

“What other thing?” Marateka asked.

“If I wanted to you to know, I’d already have told you,” Halia said coldly.

Marateka glared at her for a moment before shaking her head and starting for the door. “I’ll make the potion. Start teaching her to shield.” She slammed the door behind her.

“No offence, Silver,” Sera said. “But I don’t think I like you mother.”

“I know I don’t like her,” Ophelia said.

“Well, yes,” Silver said. “I don’t like her very much when she’s like this either.”

Tilaran scowled at the door. “She’s not always like that, I wouldn’t have married her if she were, and she’s right that Ophelia does need to learn to shield.”

“Yes, but I don’t think tonight is the right time.” Halia smiled at Ophelia. “You’re still recovering from what happened earlier. You should go home and sleep. We’ll start training you tomorrow. Shielding is easy. I’m sure you’ll pick it up quickly enough.” She winked at Silver. “You had better take Ophelia and Sera home before your mother comes back with that potion or she’ll throw a hissy fit.”

“She’ll throw one anyway,” Silver said. “You know what she’s like. But I’ll do that.” She held out her hands to Sera and Ophelia. “Come on, I’ll teleport us back.”

—

A/N: As promised I have started posting Shattered on Gumroad. It’s PWYW (and £0 is acceptable so there’s no risk) so subscribe today. If you want to sample it first then you can read the first chapter on my facebook page. If you like my stuff you’ll love Shattered.

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