I nodded. “I will, thank you.”
I went to see Maverick next, hoping that might take up some of this dreadful time waiting. He wasn’t in the house. Sparrow, studiously reading in the library, told me he was probably out in the back pasture.
That shocked me a little.
I wandered out into the fields behind the estate as the day waned. The sun was dropping toward the west. It would be time for dinner soon.
I saw a large lone bull grazing in an open field. An actual bull would have been in an enclosure. Still, I didn’t approach right away. I’d never seen Maverick in his avatar form before, and he was quite the sight. He was a bull of a man, but this was something else entirely. The heavy body, thickly muscled… everywhere, that heavy head with long horns. I’d thought him imposing as a man, even if he wasn’t as big as Ant or Fin, he had a quiet power about him… and now I knew why. The thought of that massive bull charging me, sent chills through me.
He is impressive as man and beast,Auwei commented.
“Maverick?” I called out as I tentatively approached.
That large, heavy head swung in my direction and a moment later it was the man standing before me. And now I could see it. The latent power in his easy stance.
“Legs?” He crossed the distance between us with a few long strides and gently enfolded me in his arms. “I know. I hate waiting too.”
I tried not to cry, though I think a tear did escape one of my eyes. The earthy musk and latent heat of Maverick’s body soothed me. I’d never felt such nurturing warmth from another person, even my foster parents. Sure, they had hugged me, but never like this. After a moment, I sighed, feeling much better than I had when I’d come out here. I also rememberedwhyI’d come out here.
“Auwei thinks I might have a spirit-gift,” I confided. “And Crane said you’re good at figuring out things like that.”
A deep and rumbling chuckle emanated from that thick chest. “Yes, it is one of the few things I’m good at.” He released me, stepping back, but keeping his hands on my shoulders. He looked me over, eyes narrowed. After a moment of this, he drew in a breath. “Yes, there is something there. It’s new and young still, but there’s something. Tell me what effects you’ve been seeing, and I’ll see if I can’t divine your spirit-gift.”
He motioned to a patch of grass, sitting himself down cross-legged. I did the same, hands resting in my lap. “Well…” I pushed one hand up the loose sleeve of my dress, revealing the unbandaged arm. “I seem to heal quickly. I… I don’t know, but I suspect I can’t heal others though, like Ant does.”
Maverick nodded. “Go on.”
“Well, I told you some of what happened when we were escaping from the Vauphan palace, but I didn’t really tell you…”Any idea how to describe this? I asked Auwei.
You did things you shouldn’t have been able to do. You pushed through and past exhaustion and pain and fear and showed strength far beyond what should have been possible.
You make me sound super-human when you say it that way.
You have a glowing ball of energy residing inside you and possess powers of a spider already. You were superhuman to begin with. This is even more.
Right…
I relayed what Auwei had said.
Maverick’s brows rose.
“To be specific… well… you saw what state I was in when I got back, but still, somehow I managed to find the strength to lower the prince down a three-hundred-foot cliff-face on my spider silk. I kept thinking I couldn’t do it, that I’d drop him, but… I didn’t.” I shrugged.
Maverick nodded.
He seemed to look within me again, and asked: “Auwei… why did you Choose Legs?”
This would be interesting. I stilled my body and let her take over, so she could respond. Her spirit bubbled up to fill me and I heard and felt her speaking through my lips. “At first… I saw just an ordinary girl, but then… there was a flash of something: a spirit and energy that called me back to her. I have sensed it on and off. She is… so determined and driven. She wanted to be a Noble, even though she didn’t know quite why. But I think it’s because she’s driven to stop people from hurting others.”
I smiled at that, as Auwei retreated within me.
Maverick drew in a long breath. “I’m guessing Ant told you where spirit-gifts come from?” He asked. He didn’t wait for an answer, just went on. “They come from what we love, what we need.” He looked away. “Ant needs to ease the pain of others. Amber needs to be in control. Fin needs to see all the wonderous places of this world. I… I need… to kindle the fire in others, while remaining cool myself.” He shrugged. “That’s the best way I can describe it.” He looked at me for a long moment. “What do you think you love, Legs? What do you need most in this world?”
I thought about that for a moment, considering Auwei’s words.
“I can’t abide bullies. I need to help those who can’t help themselves?” I hadn’t meant for it to be a question, but it had. “I love… helping?”
He laughed a little. “No Legs… it’s a bit more than that, I think. Yes, you need to help, to defend, to stand up to those who would push others around, but I think what you love most isn’t so much the helping part, as the feeling you get once you’ve helped, when you’ve put a bully in their place.” He nodded to himself. “You, Legs, need to be a hero.” He kept nodding. “And I should have seen it sooner, especially given what we heard from that mistweaver. They saw the future. We know you’re going to disrupt the plans of the Nobles behind all of this. You couldn’t not do it. It’s in your blood. They’re bullies, and you’ll stop them at any cost.” He laughed a little. “Oh… I think you’re going to be a handful for… anyone and everyone in your life. You’re always going to be running toward danger, not away.”
