Silla’s hand flew to her chest.Silla Margrét, you are going mad.
If you’re mad, then that bodes poorly for me,said the voice. I’m already quite out of my mind. And now I’ve taken to speaking to myself. I wonder if Alfson has a tonic for this?
Who is this?thought Silla, bewildered.
Oh fine,said the voice.I can play along. ’Tis I, Saga Volsik. How absolutely splendid to meet you, Silla.
Silla’s hands clenched around the furs she sat upon.Is this a twisted joke? W-who is this? Has someone put you up to this?
Wonderful,thought the would-be-Saga.My delusional voice is now yelling at me.
Who?demanded Silla.Who is this?
Silla felt a foreign trickle of irritation.Look,thought the would-be-Saga.It’s not the best time for me to be hearing voices. I’m in a bit of a predicament. I need my mind to myself, if you please.
It’s not the best time for me either,thought Silla, her current woes forcing their way forth and flooding her mind.How can I go to an Uppreisna meeting and tell them who I am? If I tell them, they’ll expect things of me. Things I cannot ever give them…
Saga seemed to hesitate.Uppreisna? What is this? A joke?Another pause.Are you a friend of Ana’s? One of the Mind Galdra?
Galdra?thought Silla, her thoughts spiraling quickly.Do you think…is this…a Galdra trick? Are you…infiltrating my mind?
A pause from Saga’s end, then,I don’t know. In truth I know little of my Sense. But Ana would know. If only Signe’s mice weren’t watching me…
An incredulous feeling crept through Silla. She heard the crackle of the shield-home’s hearthfire, felt the tickle of furs beneath her fingers. Yet foreign sensations also filled her—the damp scent of old stone in her nose, the whisper of finespun linen against her skin.
Could it really be?Silla thought, shifting on the bed.But no. This is madness. But Signe, and she knows of the Uppreisna. And I know nothing of Mind Galdra. What if this really is Saga?
Your thoughts are rattling my skull,thought the would-be-Saga.You think like a squirrel on its fifth cup of mead. I’ve just checked outside my chambers, and no one is there. I do not understand…
Tell me something, Mind-Saga, thought Silla. Something only the real Saga would know. Tell me about your sister’s scar.
A flash of confusion, and then,Eisa cut her eye on Sunnvald’s fountain…
Gods’ sacred ashes,thought Silla, confusion and wonder and incredulity battling within her.Is it really you, Saga?
Hesitation and doubt filtered from the other side.
It is you!erupted Silla’s thoughts.I know it. Gods, Saga I don’t know how this has happened, and I don’t think you’ll believe me, but it’s me, Eisa, though I prefer to be called Silla. Tómas stole me from the castle. He couldn’t get to you in time.But now he’s dead, and I’ve fled to the north. Oh gods, maybe I shouldn’t have thought that.Silla clasped her hands tighter.
How do you know such things?demanded Saga.If this is a joke, it’s not the least bit funny. Tell me why you contacted me.
Silla’s nostrils flared in irritation.I did not contact you; you contactedme. I was only trying to clear my mind, and I heard your voice. You thought about Magnus the Black Cloak and someone named Ana?—
Plague and boils,thought Saga.
Silla blinked, then smiled.Did you just think about the plague and…boils?
How in the gods’ names do you know about the Black Cloak?was Saga’s reply.
You told me!
Delusions, replied Saga. The queen must have slipped something into my food. She’s on to me. Knows I’ve been interfering with her letters.
Wait,thought Silla.You’ve…what?
I sent the Wolf Feeders to the east, but I’m certain it’s only a matter of time until they discover it was forged.
Tears pricked Silla’s eyes.That is…incredible. Though I dare say, you needn’t worry about the Wolf Feeders anymore.
