Bird Furious

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, voice quivering. “Just stuck alone in a room with creepy dolls and no idea what’s going to happen and I’m also totally panicking and I could really use some company right now. Or some toast.”

Haly hadn’t noticed much of this. She was too busy trying to convince the power to leave her alone. It just kept building… there had been a second of relief after she dumped it all into Lerac, but now it was back.

“Lerac, here.” She hurried over and out a hand on his shoulder. The pressure released, flowing into Lerac instead. Haly gasped in relief, then stumbled back. So we’re safe for now? Maybe?

Haly dismissed the fire and stepped backward, not sure what had just happened. “Where did he go?” The power she’d pulled from built up, pressuring her. It felt betrayed to have so short a time. It battered at her insistently. “TAAron,” she remembered. “Lerac, we need you.” She tried to push down the pressure, but it wouldn’t leave.

Meet me over there. She became wind chimes and flew over, then circled, grabbed Tors, and attempted to kill Malum with her. But it probably didn’t work.

She summoned flames again. But this time it was willing to work with her. She sent them at Malum, to lick up his clothes, but avoid TAAron. They will not hurt him. Malum. Only Malum.

Haly felt something again… but this time jt was different. It understood this time. Instead of stoking her emotions, it prowled, a quiet offer. “You let him go,” she told him calmly and certainly. “Or I will just have to help you.”

“No,” Haly replied, stepping away from Sykel, who swore under her breath and put the glass ball away. “You leave him alone.”

“Yes, you can come. Touch me.” STOP NINJAING ME ”And you?” Sykel turned to TAAron. “You’re coming?”

“Who’s coming?” Sykel asked. Haly placed a hand on her shoulder.

Sykel produced a small glass ball. “You grab me. I ask somebody permission, and teleport to where they are.”

“No,” Haly replied quietly. “We’re going to go to my homeworld.”

“You’re coming,” Sykel snapped. “Just be careful. Everyone who’s coming, last chance, this is my only Permissive.” ”How’d you get one of those?” ”Essa.” “Don’t murder anyone… yet. But… we could probably use your abilities in some way…”

Sykel opened her mouth to argue, but caught a glimpse of Haly’s expression. I’ve never seen her look quite that deadly before. “Fine, you can come, but you—“ she pointed to TAAron— “stay out of sight. No Nolikan can know about you.” ”Why—“ “Because if they think for a second that you’re just leading him on, it’ll be death for us.”

“You realize you can’t come with us,” Sykel checked. Edit: argue please! Many arguings! I don’t want to do a storyline all on my own… *the things TAAron said* ”Yeah, I think so,” Haly said quietly. “Not much else to do.”

She nodded, looked down at her feet, then looked up. “I don’t know what you want, and I… don’t know what I want. So this should—this will be good for me.” She managed a small smile. “Anyway, it’ll be good to see my family again.”

“I’m not marrying some rich snob of a prince from Nolikar,” she insisted. “It’s just stalling.” She looked up at Sykel for confirmation, and she nodded.

She swallowed. “No, I just…” was wondering how you’d react if you had your memories. “Just thinking.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Sykel replied. Sykel looked rather unsure. “Well… I was talking to Eval—Haly about stalling for us. She’s betrothed. We were against a wall and made it in haste. We just need her to stall.” Haly found somewhere else to direct her attention.

“Is this about going back to Basilica? Because…” she glanced at TAAron. “I guess now would be a good time.” “It’s… yes. Eva—Haly, we need you… because you’re betrothed.” “WHAT?” ”Hear me out,” Sykel begged. “Nolikar just beat fillernamekingdom. Twice their size. They’ve been eyeing us, and we’ve been trying to secure an alliance, and we’ve tried everything. This was the only way.” She took a deep breath. “You don’t have to come. You don’t have to marry him. But all I’m asking—not for myself, for Basilica and all its people—is that you stall for us. Lead him on. Give us time to find some solution, or try to. Please, Haly.” She swallowed, looking more desperate than it would have been thought possible for her to look. “I’m begging you.”

Sure nuff! I’m in a room with dolls. Door closed before Quest could get in.

Haly and Sykel had somehow gotten there too, and Haly looked around in confusement. “That’s Spekkio? Hi Spekkio. Accolades to your greatness and all that.” ”Haly,” Sykel said, eyes full of uneasiness (emotion on Sykel? No way!). “We really need to talk.”

That gave her some hope. “Well… don’t feel obligated,” she repeated. ”Evalyn,” Sykel broke in, “There’s something you need to know.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know.” Weird that he knows that song, right, Tors?