Disclaimer: I own everything. Absolutely everything. Oh, no I just woke up... dream's over. I own nothing (sigh). It all belongs to the great and wonderful Tamora Pierce (May she live forever and keep writing lots and lots of brilliant books)
A/N – I only just said goodbye, but I just had a thought… has anyone heard when Tammy's next books are coming out? I know she's writing some more, but I'm not sure when. The ones I really want to read are the Circle Reforged… the Circle books were the first TPs I ever read, so I've kinda got a soft spot for them. Anyway, I'll let you get back to reading my vastly inadequate story… if you're sure you want to. (Depressed moment, when the sky seems so big and I feel so small, and my story seems even measlier beside all the wonder of the stars…)
11. What the Chamber Said Continued
Her eyes were open, she was sure of it. But everything was black. Not just the black of night, but a nothingness that seeped into her skin. She couldn't see, couldn't feel; there was no floor under her feet and she didn't know whether her legs were still attached. She was a mind floating in a vast oblivion that consumed everything and threatened to take her with it. She was small, insignificant and powerless. The harder she fought, the further she was dragged under… She struggled for breath, struggled to regain control of the mind that was the only thing she had left. Then she remembered what the Chamber had said. She realised that no one else taking the Ordeal had ever been told what to expect, and they were forbidden to speak of it afterwards. She knew how to make it through, if only she could relax long enough to think clearly… Fear. I know their deepest fears, and make them surrender to it. Make them surrender to it… She took a breath and relaxed, letting the blackness seep in and around her, embracing it and forgetting everything else. She was in control now; she was mastering her fear and riding it. But the word 'fear' wormed into her head. She wasn't afraid of anything… Letting herself sink through the blackness, it was suddenly gone.
She was on all fours, and delighted in the feeling of solid ground beneath her hands and feet. She realised the ground was wet and sticky. She was sinking into a swamp, was stuck and couldn't move her limbs to free herself. The stench of the mire exploded in her nose, making her gag and retch and gasp for breath. But she wasn't afraid. This couldn't instil fear in her, and she was sure the Chamber knew that. She did not fear death. Her only thought on this was that dying in this way would be such a waste. She wondered why she was here. Ilane grew rather impatient, actually, kneeling there in the middle of a swamp slowly sinking, gradually becoming accustomed to the stench. There was no point to this – and then she saw it. At least a hundred metres away, a face. It stared at her, eyes glowing, suspended above the muck and drawing closer. Ilane began to thrash desperately, fighting against the death grip the mud had on her, throat locked in a silent scream as pure terror welled up within her. It was coming closer, and she couldn't escape…
A/N – I gave you a nice long chapter, and now a really really short one! Another cliffie as well, I'm afraid (and not very sorry, I love doing this! )Hope you don't mind too much…
Cya, Liss