CHAPTER 66
Durvla
Beneath the cloudy sky,a gentle breeze rustles the shrubbery around me. Sweat breaks out across my brow as I focus on the tree several paces ahead of me. I’ve lost track of how many times my dagger has landed in the grass. A moment ago, it landed directly in front of me as if I hadn’t even thrown it. I could’ve lost a toe.
Kilkenny gives me the space I need, but his focus on me is tangible.
“Stop looking at me,” I say.
“How am I supposed to teach you if I don’t look at you?”
He has a point, but I don’t admit it. These dagger-throwing lessons are overdue—I know it’s important that I’m able to defend myself in the case of another ambush or something, but I hate this. I cannot fathom ever throwing a dagger at someone.
I adjust my stance again, one foot forward, my knees slightly bent. I have the blade of the dagger lightly in my hand just as Kilkennyshowed me. The tree is far away, and I need to lift my arm higher, or is it lower? Perhaps I need to bend my elbow more so that my hand reaches my ear or is it supposed to be above my head? My mind buzzes with all the information that I thought I knew.
I’m not cut out for this. Better I just quit rather than continue to embarrass myself.
“You’re not embarrassing yourself.”
Kilkenny’s voice in my head still startles me, and I flinch, the blade of the dagger biting into my skin. I suck in a sharp breath and drop the dagger to the ground as blood wells and trickles between my fingers. I clutch the wound with my other hand and turn to face Kilkenny. He’s already right beside me and I nearly jump out of my skin. “Gods, Kilkenny…” I mumble.
He frowns at me. “You’re extra skittish today.”
“Well, it’s hard not to be when I can get pulled into a terrifying dreamscape at any moment.” It’s been a couple of days since that happened, but it still has me on edge.
Kilkenny’s expression softens.
“I hate that I can’t control it. I keep thinking I’m going to drop again. What if I fall off Ghendor?”
“I won’t let that happen,” he signs. He extends his hand to me. “Let me see.”
Blood is still dripping, and the sight makes me slightly woozy as I extend my injured hand to Kilkenny. I turn my head away, but he waves my attention back to him. “Permission to heal you?” he asks.
My brows knit together before I remember he can mimic any power in the vicinity.
I shrug, but he says, “I need you to say it.”
“By the gods, Kilkenny. Please heal me before I collapse.”
The corners of his eyes crinkle. “Are you afraid of blood?”
“Not afraid. I just don’t like it.”
He smirks as he places his hand over my wound. A slight wince plays over his face as my pain melts away, and my palm itches as the skin is mended. When he releases my hand, the ache is gone but it’s still covered in blood.
“Does it hurt?” I ask. “Healing, I mean.”
“I’m not entirely sure about Healers in general—you’ll have to ask Alys. But as a Whisperer, I can feel what others feel.”
“I didn’t realize that,” I say, frowning. “So, it’s more than mind reading.”
“Right. It’s also empathy. Reading or speaking into someone’s mind takes a lot of energy. Except with you… Sometimes, your thoughts justjumpinto my mind.”
I’m not sure I like that…
“Sometimes!” He holds up a hand as though making an oath. “When your thoughts are particularly loud. But please know that the last thing I want to do is invade your privacy.”
That’s sweet of him.
