The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2 by Elizabeth Price (good e books to read .txt) 📗

allowed Sedom to enter her mind. Sedom continued soothing her fingers behind Ratisha's ears and jaw, tracing over all of the muscles in her face.

“Sortec?” Rosanheer questioned.

“I'm relaxing her mind. By placing her in a trance, she won't feel any pain. I don’t like doing it because it will make her feel locked in her own mind, but I don’t like seeing her in so much pain. It should last for a while,” Sedom explained, but as she spoke her hands began to violently shake.

“You can do that?” Qilo asked amazed.

“Sortec?” Zion questioned, noticing her hands shaking.

Sedom continued wrapping her fingers around to the front of Ratisha's ear, massaging it beneath the blindfold. She continued tracing her fingers over Ratisha’s forehead. Softly, she placed her hand over Ratisha's blindfold. Ratisha crumbled forward against Sedom, her breathing slowed and her body softened from the tension. Behind her, Sedom could hear Zion's sighs of relief.

“That’s amazing. I've only heard rumors of those with talents like yours,” Rosanheer muttered.

“You're improving,” Zion mentioned. He took hold of her hands, feeling them tremble within his. “You okay?” he questioned low, looking into her eyes with concern.

Sedom stood, holding onto Zion’s thick forearm. “I've been studying my people’s techniques and using Garric to practice,” she admitted. “It’s easier to practice at home.” She felt to her brow, her vision blurring. She rested her forehead against his arm, closing her eyes for a moment. “Lack of sleep,” she admitted to Zion.

“Take it slow,” Zion encouraged low.

“Garric?” Rosanheer questioned to Zion.

“Her pet. The same son-of-a-sool who murdered Asa,” Zion growled. “Glad he's good for something.” He hoisted Ratisha over his shoulder. “Time to go,” he insisted.

Qilo was about to drink from his canteen, but hearing the word to go, he set it aside. Zion took the lead, followed by a thirsty Qilo. Rosanheer remained behind, noticing Sedom lagging.

“You okay?” Rosanheer asked.

Sedom didn’t respond. Rosanheer touched Sedom shoulder, causing her to jump. Her first response was to throw a punch, but stopped herself before making contact. Rosanheer jumped back, his hands raised. “I’m just checking on you. You look a little pale.”

“Yes, fine. I’m fine,” Sedom repeated several times.

Rosanheer continued to watch her. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Hum? Oh, yes. It takes effort to do… that.” She waved to Ratisha. “It clouds my mind for a while and makes it hard to focus,” she squeaked, squeezing her temples from a fast-forming headache. “I'll be okay.”

“You can heal wounds and control minds. What else can you do?” Rosanheer asked, enamored.

“Heal brain injuries,” Zion mentioned over his shoulder.

“Not exactly or Asa would still be alive.” Sedom held onto Rosanheer's arm for support. He wrapped his arm around her to keep her upright. Oddly, she didn’t mind. “Some Narkoy learn to heal minor abrasions. Others, like me, were taught to take over higher body functions. I can let my heart beat for another, my lungs breathe. By convincing the mind that your body is undamaged, it helps to speed the healing process. Mixed with our energy, tissue regenerates at a heightened rate. And it seems to work on just about every species I’ve encountered so far. I don't know exactly how it works, it just does. Medicine has never been my strong suit.”

“So you’re like the Windrit? You have the ability to manipulate the mind?” Qilo mentioned.

Qilo grabbed a long, thick branch, which happened to be the perfect size walking stick for Sedom. He tossed it back to Rosanheer who handed it to Sedom.

Sedom shook her head, unnerved by the man's statement. She tapped the stick on the ground to test its density. “We can't tell you how to think. That's a part of the soul and is completely off limits to us. We only work on the mechanics of your brain.”

“Can't or won't?” Qilo questioned.

An evil grin appeared on Sedom's lips. “Nom'kel forbids us from being intrusive into other’s minds, unlike the Windrits. But… I’ve healed people in the past whose minds were open to me. Sometimes… I see more than I’d like to.”

“Like?” Zion asked concerned.

Sedom grinned, understanding his concern. She stepped up beside Zion. “That she blamed no one but herself,” she spoke low.

“Asa Daveric?” Qilo asked. Zion nodded, turning away to hide his embarrassment.

“Nom'kel?” Rosanheer asked.

Zion grunted, motioning to the sky. “The Narkoy’s God. I don’t do religion,” he scoffed. “Enough of the philosophical. We're going to need shelter from this storm.”

Sedom turned her eyes to the sky just as a raindrop landed on her forehead. The area of the forest they traveled within was familiar to her. She turned to the distant mountain ridges, noticing a rather large tree growing from out of a deep crevasse. She was near home. Not home as in Gathow, but home as in the cave she lived in for nearly a year.

“I know a place to hold up. Follow me,” she waved, tittering off towards the right.

***

Cidele’s pacing footsteps echoed in the halls of the ancient library. Her long blue dress tickled the bright white tiles of the floor as she walked from one end of the stacks to another. Garric glanced up from his book, his legs and hips sore from hours of sitting.

“I thought you liked books?” he called to Cidele.

She paused, spun around and pointed her finger. “I do like books, but there is no bathroom in here and I can’t leave until you’re done,” she spoke bitterly.

Garric grinned, his eyes turned back to his book. “There’s a restroom over there,” he said, pointing down a long row of books.

Cidele didn’t hesitate to run down the row. Moments later she returned, her face noticeably more relaxed.

“Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?” she asked.

Garric shrugged. “You didn’t ask. Words can be both hurtful and helpful,” he mentioned. He flipped