Free Blood Prophecy: Kallen's Tale by Bonnie Lamer Page B

happen.”
    “What happens then?”  The
magic of the Angels will explode into the world and cause mass destruction.  At
least, that is what I have heard.  Angels like to live on the edge.
    “There are guardians of tree
magic and we do not want to anger them.  Nor harm their trees with magic.” 
    Xandra asks the question
that has been on my tongue since her grandmother brought this subject up.  “So,
because our situation isn’t dire enough, you want to teach the person who sets
air on fire, a magic that involves trees.”  Excellent point.
    “You have it within you to
perform this magic.  I am confident.”  That was the closest to the truth I have
heard the Angel come.
    Xandra does not look at all
convinced, but she agrees.  Not only agrees, but she is ready to start.  Um, we
have a bit more to learn here.  “Perhaps we should learn of the other Witan
members before we begin to prepare,” I say. 
    “There are six other members
of the Witan.  Three of them are the binders – Annika, Louhi and Midar.”
    “Do any of you have normal
names?  How am I supposed to remember all this?” Xandra asks in exasperation. 
Seriuously?
    I tilt my head and raise a
brow.  “I did not know that Xandra was such a common name amongst this realm.” 
I chuckle at the look she gives me.
    The Angel goes on to
describe three binders.  The first uses Ekstasis, the ability to separate a
Witch from the physical body, like in hypnosis.  This makes the Witch almost
brain dead.
    “So he creates vegetables?” 
Xandra asks.
    What is she talking about? 
Losing your mind is not equivalent to becoming a carrot.  Not even broccoli. 
Many of her metaphors are lost on me.  “What do vegetables have to do with the
power of Ekstasis?” 
    She smiles.  She enjoys when
I am the ignorant one.  “It’s just a term we use when things happen like a car
accident and the person’s body is still alive but their mind is gone.”  Okay,
now I am imagining a giant green bean driving a car.  I still do not get the
reference.  But, I will let it go for now.
    “That sounds like an apt
description,” the Angel says.  She goes on to explain how this Louhi can hold a
mind hostage indefinitely.  He must be fun at parties with all those minds
inside his head.
    The next binder is able to
plant emotions in one’s mind.  What a useful skill that would be.  As I watch
Xandra and think of all the emotions I would like to plant in her mind, I can
see how this power could easily become addictive.  If I had it, we would not be
sitting here talking to an Angel about Witches.
    The third binder practices
Sympathetic magic.  Such a cowardly branch of Witch magic.  You do not ever have
to face your enemy to use this.  It is sort of like playing with evil dolls. 
Instead of tea parties, you torture the dolls to cause physical harm to whoever
they represent.  I shake my head at spinelessness of it all. 
    “Do I even want to know what
the last three can do?” Xandra asks. 
    I am about to speak when the
Angel says, “One must always know their enemy.”  She took the words right out
of my mouth.
    “Fine, lay it out for me. 
I’m guessing they can walk on water and control the elements.”  Doubtful, but I
would not be surprised if Xandra can do those things eventually.  That is a
scary thought.  The weather changing to match her mood swings.  Crops would
never have a chance.
    Needless to say, the Witches
cannot do those things.  The next one the Angel describes is a scryer with a
thousand mile range for finding errant Witches.  I have to admit, that is an
impressive range.  Xandra compares him to a bloodhound, which makes me chuckle.
    Even her grandmother
smiles.  “He could be compared to one, yes.” 
    Xandra’s lips purse for a
moment before she says, “If he’s so good at this, why couldn’t he find Mom?” 
Excellent question.
    Her mother’s translucent
lips curve up into a smile.  “Because a very powerful