I'd seen countless depictions of Elu, but none had captured the essence of the Two-Faced God quite like this one. It was mesmerizing, inspiring, and terrifying in equal measure.
As the doors opened, I was led into the antechamber, where a different cadet motioned for me to go through another set of doors that were left slightly ajar. "The shaman is waiting for you. You may go in."
Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the shaman's office.
The room was vast, with ceiling-high windows along its width, offering a breathtaking view of the mountains. Bookshelves lined the side walls, and Shaman Saphir Fatewever sat behind a large desk, with Moki sitting on the back of his throne-like chair.
"Cadet Kailin Strom," he greeted me, his voice warm and resonant. "Please, come in."
I walked further into the room, acutely aware of the significance of being here. I was sure that few cadets ever saw the inside of the shaman's office or had been summoned for a private audience.
"Shaman Fatewever," I said, dipping my head in respect.
He gestured to a chair positioned in front of his desk. "Please, sit."
As I settled into the chair, Moki regarded me with those large, dark eyes of his, his head tilting slightly as if he was assessing me.
"Commander Ravel has brought something remarkable to my attention," Saphir said, his piercing eyes never leaving my face. "He said that you can communicate with his dragon, Onyx."
"Yes, sir. I also heard other dragons speak to me when Commander Ravel arranged for a test. I heard each one of them."
He nodded, a slight smile lifting the corners of his mouth. "You didn't just hear them, Kailin, it was a two-way conversation with dragons you were not bonded with. That is unheard of."
I swallowed. "Commander Ravel mentioned that. He said it might mean that I'm a shaman, but that's ridiculous. I can't be a shaman. I can hardly believe that I'm a rider or rather, a potential rider. I still need to pass the test of the solo flight."
I was talking too much, too fast, betraying my stress and anxiety. I wasn't a showman like Saphir. I couldn't inspire people. I wouldn't be a good spiritual leader or even a passable one.
"All shamans are riders, but not all riders are shamans," he said. "The hallmark of shamans is additional gifts, and I have several of them. I wonder if you have any other talents aside from your unique ability to communicate with all dragons."
"It's not unique. You can do that too."
He nodded. "That is true, but I can do that because I'm bonded to Nyxath, who is their queen. You are not bonded to any dragon yet."
A hysterical laugh started bubbling from my belly at the thought that my gift seemed like something I would have inherited from Nyxath and not Elu. None of the myths claimed that Elu could communicate with all dragons, but that must have been an oversight. Obviously, the creator of our world could communicate with all its inhabitants.
"It is true." Saphir smoothed his hand over his long white beard.
"What is true?" I asked.
"That it is not mentioned in any of the written records that Elu could talk with all dragons. You are one of a kind, Kailin."
I gaped at him. "Can you read my thoughts?" I immediately slammed the trap door like I'd practiced with Onyx.
He looked at me as if that was obvious, and he couldn't understand why I was asking him that. "Oh, yes. I told your friend Alar about it, and I got confused for a moment. I usually don't read people's minds unless it's necessary for security, but sometimes the thoughts are so loud that I can't help but overhear them."
I was stunned. "Who else knows about your ability to read people's thoughts?"
"Only a select few, and I would like it to remain that way, so please don't tell anyone about my mind-reading ability."
There was a strange resonance in his voice that settled over me like a net, but I pushed against it, feeling it slide off me as if it was dissolving. "Can I mention it to Alar since you've already told him?"
Saphir pursed his lips. "You can try, but I compelled Alar not to talk about it either, so he won't be able to discuss it with you."
So, the net I'd just felt was compulsion? Had my mental blocks helped me get free of it?
I'd heard rumors that the Sitorian priests used compulsion to control their disciples, so to realize that Saphir could do the same thing was disturbing. I didn't want Elucians to have anything in common with those vile people.
"I don't like using compulsion," Saphir said, and I wondered if he'd heard my thoughts despite the barrier I'd erected. "As I mentioned, I only do so when security demands it. It's a convenient tool for making sure that secrets don't get out."
