“You okay?”I asked Lu.
She nodded, her breathing a little fast.
“Five more,” she said.
“Five,” I said.
She turned the page.A shower of wind chimes and bleached bones sang out ancient curses.
“Four.”
She turned the next page.
The flash of light was blinding.
I yelled, Card shouted, and Lula jerked backward, the book tumbling to the stone floor.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
“Brogan?”she asked.
“Can’t see,” I said.“Give me a minute.”I pulled the glasses off and rubbed the back of my hand over my eyes.I shivered, even though it was sweltering.“Are you hurt?”
“No.I dropped the book.I’m not going to pick it up yet, so don’t step forward.It’s close to your feet.”
Her hand rested on my arm.I pulled her to me in an awkward hug.
“You okay, Card?Abbi?”I called out, my arms around Lula, both of us shaking.
“Card is lying down,” Abbi said.“But I’m okay.The room is okay.I don’t hear anything bad outside.”
“I’m fine,” Card said, his voice coming from somewhere near the floor.“I just need to catch my breath.”
“We need a break,” I said.
“Card said five.We have three more pages,” Lu said, not moving an inch away from me.
“Maybe we need a snack?”Abbi asked.
“I can do three,” Card said.“Brogan?”
My sight was returning from the edges inward, as if I’d stared too long at the sun.
“Not until I can see,” I said.“But, yes.”
Lu nodded against my chest.
Abbi made encouraging noises, helping Card back to the chair and getting his tea.My throat was dry as if I’d been talking non-stop.I could drink a gallon of water, but we’d all agreed bringing food or drink inside this protected circle spell space was a terrible idea.
“Okay,” I said, “I can see.Just three and we take a break.Yes?”
“Yes,” Lula agreed.
She leaned away but held my forearms so she could study my face.“How many fingers?”she asked holding up her hand.
“Five.But you’re holding up two.”
She smiled briefly.There were shadows under her eyes, shadows that hadn’t been there this morning.Holding the book, turning the pages was taking more of a toll on her than she was admitting.
