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Raven's secret-keeper
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Memory 3 (slight continuation of 2)
Dove had had Sieara for a week. Her wing was healing nicely, but the dove was still unable to fly. They were starting to bond, but the bird was still a little stand-offish.
On the seventh day, Alerina told Dove to go into the room, her tone hurried and urgent. The high magistrate was coming, and Coman was the last person Alerina wanted to find out about Dove.
Dove called Sieara, but the bird wouldn't come into the room. Dove had to run out, grab Sieara off the floor, and run back into the room. She stopped behind the door. "Sieara-" Dove snapped her mouth shut. She sensed the presence of two more people in the home. The dove in her hands cocked her head and began to shake her head left and right to be let go.
Hold on… Dove told the bird with her telepathy. She waited for Alerina to lead the visitors into the main room. Her heart stopped when she heard a boy's voice saying, "I thought I saw something, that's all." But she heard the footsteps going away from the door and let herself breath again.
She walked across the room and put the dove on the bed before sitting down herself and sighing.
We were nearly caught! What were you doing?
Dove felt herself almost release a bolt of energy from her anxiety, then she closed her eyes and took a few breaths.
Calm down… If I lose control, I might be discovered… Azarath Metrion Zinthos…
Dove crossed her legs and put her hands in the proper position before she began mouthing her mantra. She wasn't sure if simply mouthing the words would have the same effect as chanting, but she knew she had to calm down a bit.
Dove was ripped out of her calm, centered state by Alerina saying, "Yes, there's a dove here. She has a broken wing, so I thought I'd keep her until she healed."
Dove muffled her gasp just in time with her hand, and ran to the compartment in the floor, leaving the bird on the bed. It was a lot smaller for her than it used to be, but she still fit comfortably and closed the door not a second before she heard three sets of footsteps above her.
Dove heard a chuckle. "He loves the doves with all of his heart."
Dove guessed it was Coman.
"He's your grandson, right?"
Dove's heart was pounding. She could sense that Sieara was confused, wondering where she had gone.
"Yes. He looks most like his father."
"He has your eyes. Shape, not color."
"Yes, I agree."
"She's hurt." It was the same boy's voice Dove had heard before.
"He took one look and he knew," Alerina said. "Is he an empath, or-"
"He's being trained in the subject of Azar's magic. He may have sensed it."
"Azar's magic?" Dove could sense that her mother was amazed.
"Yes. He is gifted with the abilities to use it quite effectively."
Dove suddenly began to feel worried. Her mother had told her that Azar's magic was strong enough to do almost anything. What if he sensed her presence...?
"She's happy here. She likes it," he observed.
"Good to know." Alerina seemed fascinated.
"Is her name Sieara?"
"Yes, it is. How'd you-?"
"Mind reading."
"He is talented!"
"May we continue?" Coman asked.
"Yes. I forgot… My apologies."
"May I stay in here with the bird?"
"Uh…" Alerina wasn't sure how to react.
"It is not causing harm. Yes. I'll come and tell you when we are leaving."
Dove heard the two adults leaving and could sense that her dove wasn't worried.
"It's okay," Dove heard him say. "You're not in danger."
Dove held her breath, realizing that without the sounds of the others' voices, every noise might be heard.
"You can come out."
Dove's eyes grew wide and her heart skipped a beat. He was talking to her!
"I won't tell."
Dove could sense no treachery and only curiosity, so she slowly pushed open the door and came out.
The boy had wild blue hair and he had an alert expression that made Dove nervous. His blue eyes seemed to stare straight through hers and made Dove wonder if he could see her soul.
"I'm Srentha. And… You're Dove."
She nodded and began shaking.
"Don't worry, I told you what I meant. I won't tell." He smiled warmly at her.
"Um…"
"I could sense you."
Dove's expression was one of many unreadable thoughts.
"How?"
"Well… There aren't many people like me… I think you would've heard our guardians…"
"About what…?
"Azar's magic. I can use it without difficulty once I know the spell good enough. How old are you?"
"Eight." Sieara cocked her head.
"Me too. She's got a bit more to go with her healing…"
"Yeah… I hope she's okay."
"She will be once she heals. Why were you hiding?"
"Nobody should know I exist."
"Why not?"
"It's… Complicated."
"Oh. You don't wanna tell?"
"No. Please don't read my mind!"
He laughed softly. "I only use Azar's magic when necessary. If I use it more than that…"
"You saw me before."
"So I did."
"Did your grandfather?"
"No. He was busy talking to your mother. You look a little like Raven…"
He inspected her closely. Dove grabbed her robe and held the fabric tightly.
"What's wrong?"
"I just… I'm… I don't want to…"
"You look scared. Are you okay?"
"Well…"
"Hey… They might not come back for a while, and we have nothing better to do. Wanna play until they come back?"
"I...I don't play… No one's ever played with me besides my mother…"
"Want that to be different?"
His friendly smile made Dove relax and she nodded with a smile.
They did more talking than actual playing for a long time before Dove said, "They're almost done."
"I don't want to leave yet…"
"I want you to stay. But we can't tell your grandfather, or…"
"How did you know-?"
Dove blushed. "I'm not supposed to be this happy… Because I could read their minds, and I sorta lost control of my powers."
"Want to play again sometime?"
Dove nodded. "How?"
"My mother told me of a place that no one ever goes. Wanna meet sometime?"
Dove nodded.
"When?"
"I don't know… We should hurry."
"Can I talk to you again soon?"
"I…" Dove thought about it for a moment. "My mother said that her mother told her that some people use the doves to write letters to far-away people. Maybe I could use Sieara."
Srentha nodded. "Good idea. And my mother will ask why she's in my room… I'll say your mother lets her visit me."
"Okay. I've gotta go back now… I hope I can see you again someday. I'll miss you. Friends?"
He nodded and Dove ran back into her hiding spot, glad to have made her first real friend.
And so Dove met Srentha, who turns out to be her best friend until Raven enters her life.
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When I wrote this, it reminded me of one of my friends. But my friend came along when I was 6, and I didn't have Fizzy (my dove) then.
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-Raven's secret-keeper