Author's Note: Thanks is due to Caladria Napea for doing the translation at the end of the song. I hope you enjoy this chapter, I had fun writing it. As always, reviews and critiques are welcome.

Esmora II

Chapter Two

Alaire concentrated on scanning the land about him. He did this daily to exercise his mind. Freyda sat a ways off and watched as always. Before long, she pulled the chain and jade stone out and held it in front of her. He soon lost concentration and simply watched with his mind what she was doing. Her blue eyes stared intently at the stone. Esmora said that she had inherited Cavan's eyes and one could read their soul through them. Her long, brown hair hung around the necklace and made a protective circle. He heard a faint humming coming from her. Ever since she spoke out at that meeting and saved their mother's life, she had hummed more often, but only in his earshot. For he already knew her secret. Or at least part of it. He still could not quite grasp it. As she hummed the stone would flicker as if alive, but it never stayed for long. She let out a little sigh and put it away. Alaire got to his feet and walked over to his sister. Sitting cross legged, they both stared off into the distance. Freyda lay her head against Alaire's shoulder and he smiled down at his sister.

"Sing to me," he asked, "That song Synedtia made for you." To his surprise, his request was satisfied. For the fist time in his life, he heard the sweet humming and clear voice lilted into music. He closed his eyes and let the words surround him.

Fate has named you, little one,

and sorrow given birth to life.

So set your face into the sun. . .

and hold on tight

'Cause hope in you is bursting forth,

and darkness flees before your voice.

So sing into the endless void. . .

and save our souls

Fear and evil

will find their death.

Life and forgiveness

stand by you always

Your future will find you…

Buried in the past

And don't be afraid to live

Don't ever leave your past behind

or fail to see the hazy future

and keep your brother ever near

unto your heart

Voros esi veirtunae

Freyda's voice faded away and it seemed to Alaire that the world seemed a little duller, a little paler, than when her voice permeated the air.

"Teach me," Freyda said suddenly and looked up at Alaire with her deep blue eyes.

He smiled, "What have I ever been able to deny you anything? But I'm not sure how much of a help I will be. It's different with you."

She simply nodded and sat up.

"Ok, try reaching out and touching the house," he told her. The house was out of view and he thought that was a good place as any to start.

Freyda closed her eyes in concentration and hummed the tune to Synedtia's song. Alaire watched her progress with his own mind. Her telepathy, for that was what he had found it to be, was like nothing he had ever heard of before. Even as she reached out with her voice he doubted any telepath but one who knew her would think it a telepathic probe. Freyda's voice flitted across the roads and meadows and up to the house where it spread out like a fine blanket, not as probes. Esmora, who could feel Alaire approaching with his mind, failed to realize her daughter was watching her. Suddenly, Freyda stopped and Alaire immediately regretted his failure to monitor his sister. She was exhausted though she would never own to it. Esmora had started his slowly at first and he had just told her to dive into it head first.

Freyda looked questioningly at Alaire. He could see wonder, fear, and excitement mirrored in her eyes. So she had never used it before though she knew she had the power. Had she waited until he came to the conclusion before asking for his help? He did not doubt that for a second. And he was also certain that she would never try it on her own in case she did something harmful. They stood as one and turned, as if on cue, toward the house side by side.

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That night, as Alaire lay in bed, he thought of how he could help Freyda. He knew that with all he knew he would hardly be a help to Freyda. Perhaps all she needed was someone to be there. Someone to guide her but leave most up to her. He smiled. His sister was an enigma alright. Everyone thought Alaire knew his sister inside out, but that was not true. He got impressions and could usually interpret her feelings and thoughts, but he far from understood them. He must also get her to exercise more, it would help her at some point. Perhaps he could convince his mother to let Freyda accompany him on his runs.

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"Now, tell that bird to come sit on your finger," Alaire said. It had been months since he had learned of Freyda's gift, but she moved slowly, not finishing a lesson until she had completely mastered it. He followed Freyda's web of voice as it touched the bird, but there it stopped. He could feel Freyda trying to enter the bird's mind, but she could not. His ever patient sister was growing restless at her circling. Finally, Alaire heard the humming stop and Freyda spoke, tough in a tongue which he had never heard. It sounded smoother than human, more unearthly than Ancient, and yet stronger than Wraith. The bird flew gently onto Freyda's hand and stayed though her voice was still. Finally, she uttered another word and the bird flew off.

"What did you say?" Alaire asked, but the confusion in Freyda's eyes told him that she did not know.