Chapter 20: Talk with Tiergan
Sophie met Linh and Tam at the Wanderlings at 3:00 the next day. They hesitantly hung around the entrance, waiting for the Black Swan to show up.
In the end, it was only Tiergan.
"Hey, Granite," Sophie said jokingly. He smiled, but it vanished quickly.
Sophie pulled out a silver sphere from her pocket. "Um..."
Tiergan took it without letting her finish. "Thank you," he said.
"Wait." Sophie said as he tucked it away. "Mr. Forkle said you'd know what to do with that."
"I do."
"What? It's got secrets in it. I deserve to know some of them."
"Actually, Sophie, we have important things to discuss."
She opened her mouth to protest, but he began to talk.
"There are two things I need to share with you today." Tiergan said.
"One..."
"There are a few more abilities we can trigger. You don't need them, but it might be easier with them."
"Okay." Sophie swallowed. Hard.
"What are they?"
"There are a lot of options. The two I'm offering today are Colori and Animilay."
"What?" Sophie asked as Linh gasped.
"Colori is a talent of little use, but it is still one we can trigger. It enhances Color in everything. Animalay means you can speak with animals."
Sophie sucked in a breath.
She thought for a moment and Tiergan took the time to pull Linh and Tam over privately. Sophie caught glimpses of:
Have you...
Yes...don't...we...
Well...she's...very...
...tommorow...
Got...ah...
The trio turned back toward her and she looked at Tiergan. "Trigger Anamalay."
He looked at her sternly and sucked in a breath, reaching for her temples.
After three heartbeats, he broke away. She felt dizzy.
"One more thing, Sophie."
The last piece of information.
"The prisoner who was in Lumenaria." Tiergan said shakily. "His name is Graeme Rhys."