by Jenna Pitman - August 2008

Not enough, Siemain thought to herself, licking the last bit of blood and flesh from a fragment of skull. She let it slip between her fingers, discarded and forgotten. Even when taking all eight of the children into consideration there was nowhere near enough Mana to fuel even the most basic Shift. She knew that Vascin and Trosel would not be pleased. Trosel would undoubtedly find some way to make this her fault. It seemed the older female always did that.

It seems that we over-estimated the Magi-hybrids, she sent on the shared thought-spear. The strongest, purest Mana lived in the blood and muscle of Magi. In the days before the Wars, Mana was plentiful enough that Shifters had no need to drain the body to work their Shifts or other feats that they were known for. Not that it was an unknown event (there was no love loss between the two factions) it just wasn't a necessary part of the process. Since the wars had ended, Mana had been in short supply, slowly seeping away and never replenishing.

Vascin lifted his head, his steel grey eyes taking in the carnage. These hybrids at least, he finally responded, Remember, never think too little of your opponent.

Siemain tried to suppress her sigh, failing. Vascin was a very cautious creature, overly so in her opinion. His favorite advice, his only advice, involved discretion, caution, and never underestimating any situation. Had it not been for him, Trosel would have led them in their plan to destroy the World a millennia ago.

I told you they were weak, ripe for our destruction, it was Trosel's mind now THESE ones, perhaps. But we have only just begun to re-encounter the humans. This line has always been more diluted than others due to their proximity to others of the Blood, Vascin almost sounded upset.

Trosel snorted, a very horse-y sound. Siemain tried not to think about that. Even when she didn't project, Trosel still managed to glean some of her thoughts, a serious breech of edict she had little respect for. Even among the Draconic, the least trusting, the least social of all Shifters, some thoughts were left private.

Trosel was very unhappy that she had been forced to remain in the form of a horse. While it provided them a way to avoid much attention, she was a member of the most powerful race on the face of the World. She found it repulsive that she was forced to remain in the shape of an herbivore, a creature that inspired little in the way of primal terror among other beings. It irked her even more that because of her physical strength and because of her form she often found herself forced to carry Siemain about as though she were a common mount. Never mind that Vascin was a dog or the ability to blend in had been the driving force behind the form in the first place...

Siemain pulled her thoughts abruptly away from the subject before Trosel caught on. So what should we do now? Continue crawling slowly across the continent? Draining each individual one at a time, hiding our true identity like cowards? Trosel's dripped scorn. Of course, Vascin shot back, We have no other choice but even if we did it is the only prudent option.

If horses could sneer Trosel would be doing so. She walked over to the nearest broken skull and nudged it carefully. She flicked her tongue out, futilely trying to find more energy on the gleaming white surface. There was none, they'd cleaned it all.

Siemain glanced at her own feet. She'd gravitated back to the skeleton of the second boy, the younger one who had brought her to the homestead and offered water. His brother had been mildly stronger though just as senseless. They'd encountered him two days ago, out in the red waste of the desert with a herd of sheep. He'd been so surprised when she stuck her hand through his throat. They were mostly human, humans were not known for great intelligence, they were hardly better than beasts.

Shall we continue on to Killekos? She looked to Vascin.

He sat and cocked his head toward her, I'd prefer to put off trips to the larger cities for as long possible but I fear that will prove impossible to dissuade you two now. It's a long enough trek so there is time. I suppose we shall.

Let us pray the next kill will prove more endowed, Trosel looked sideways at Siemain, Do you think you can do that? Siemain resisted the urge to ball her fists. Such an unreasonable demand, how could she control something like how much power they find? I'll do my best. Was the sarcasm too strong?

Trosel blew more air through her nostrils and turned away. We should rest. Rest and push this small energy into our reservoirs as far as it will go, Vascin commanded.

Siemain nodded. When this was over she would never have to deal with either of them again...

Next Chapter