"It's not a gift. It's a loaner."
Moki leaped onto the desk, from there onto my lap, and then to my shoulder. He lifted my braid with one hand and draped the fabric string around my neck with the other, dropping the medallion so it rested against my chest over my uniform.
With that done, he settled in my lap again and projected an image of me holding the medallion in my hand.
"Can I take it off so I can look at it?" I asked.
"Of course," Saphir said.
It was a replica of the effigy on the double doors to Saphir's office, or maybe it was the other way around, and the artist who had carved the door had copied the design from the amulet. Beautifully done in silver, with a blue sapphire for Elu's eye on his compassionate and creative side, and a ruby for the one on his destructive and punishing side.
There was power in the amulet. I could feel the subtle energy emanating from it. There was only one reason for Saphir to loan me this incredible artifact, and it was that he believed I was a shaman and wanted to test me with the help of the sacred object.
"So, it's true then?" I asked. "I might be a shaman?"
"Becoming a shaman is not merely about having certain gifts—it's a calling, a path of service to both dragons and humans."
"I'm not well suited for such a position," I said. "I'm not a people person like you, Shaman Saphir. I'm not inspiring or charismatic. I'm not even all that likable because I spend too much time in my own head instead of interacting with others."
"I disagree." He motioned toward Moki. "He thinks that you are very likable."
"I'm not the kind of person others gravitate toward. Shovia and Codric are charming, Morek is heroic, and Alar is commanding, and so is Commander Ravel. I'm accommodating and sensible, which are good traits but not the kind that inspire a following."
Shaman Saphir didn't dismiss my observations offhand, and for a long moment, he just watched me stroke Moki's tiny head. "Yes, I see what you mean," he said. "But you are still very young, Kailin, and you might discover that those traits you admire so much in your friends are already part of you. They might justneed a little nurturing and coaxing to bloom. However, if that's not the case, perhaps getting help from your friends might be the solution."
I liked the second option better, but I couldn't imagine for the life of me fulfilling a role like Saphir's even with my friends' help.
I continued stroking Moki's fur, drawing comfort from the soothing tactile sensation. "So, what happens now?"
"You need to continue training with Onyx to learn how to shield your mind. An open channel to dragons is dangerous—not because they would harm you intentionally, but because their thoughts and emotions might overwhelm you. And if you are indeed developing shamanic gifts, there may be other abilities that will start manifesting as well."
"Like what?"
"That varies from shaman to shaman. Some can only sense emotions and not read thoughts like I can, others can perceive intentions or even glimpse fragments of possible futures. I've heard of one who could absorb information from objects." He looked pointedly at the amulet. "Maybe that's the reason Moki wants you to have it."
Then his expression darkened. "A potential shaman would be a high-value target for the Shedun, putting you in grave danger. Hence the need for secrecy."
The gravity of his words sent a chill through me. I'd already witnessed the Shedun's brutality firsthand during the attack on my village. The thought of being specifically targeted by them was terrifying.
Moki must have sensed my distress and looked up at me with those large, luminous eyes of his. A wave of reassurance flowed from him into my mind.
"Thank you," I whispered to the small creature, not entirely sure if he could understand words but certain he could sense my gratitude. "You are very helpful."
"Moki is a great companion," Saphir said with a fond smile. "If not for him, I would have probably gone completely mad."
I nodded. "He has a calming presence."
"He does," Saphir agreed. "Now, back to the need for secrecy. You shouldn't tell anyone about your abilities, not even your closest friends. The more people who know, the greater the risk of the information reaching our enemies."
I understood the logic, but the thought of keeping more secrets from Alar and Shovia unsettled me, especially after I'd seen how my secrecy about Commander Ravel had affected Alar. Still, the safety of Elucia had to come before my personal relationships.
"For how long?" I asked. "I can't keep this from my friends forever."
He smoothed his hand over his long beard. "Not forever, but I'm not a seer, so I can't tell you for how long. When the time comes, it will be obvious."
He couldn't have sounded more vague if he'd tried.
"Thank you, Shaman," I said for lack of anything more profound to say.
