Free A Darkness Unleashed (Book 2) by J.T. Hartke Page A

paladin, or even a Talented healer, they could very easily turn your power back upon itself, causing a disruption in your own psahn .”
    Dorias lit the pipe with a strand of Fire. The sweet scent rose to Tallen’s nose, making him wish he had brought his own pipe up from below. “I think I understand,” he said, his mind going back to that day. “When I reached out with Psoul, when I entered their life force pattern, I felt…exposed…like my clothing had been ripped away.” He scratched his chin, concern welling up in the back of his mind. “I tried to attack the doctor, but he slapped me back, numbing my sense of Psoul.”
    Drawing upon the pipe and puffing out a ring of blue smoke to drift along in the wind, Dorias gave Tallen a hard look. “You must have caught him by surprise, or he could have cut it off permanently. When you reach out, you open yourself up to attack. Your power gives a direct line to the heart of your psahn . If you are extended too far, you cannot withdraw quick enough to protect yourself. A skilled, prepared Dreamer could snuff out your life before you even entered his psahn .”
    “Then I am lucky you are the only other skilled Dreamer out there,” Tallen joked, hoping to cover the fear that spiraled into his bowels.
    Dorias frowned. “So far as we know. Plus, from the description of his powers, I have no doubt the Lord Doctor could have done much more had you not caught him unawares and weak from attacking Maddi.”
    Tallen’s thoughts raced down the dark paths full of unknown dangers. Those paths led in a thousand directions, each one warning him of rampant destruction or his own grisly death. A chill, heavier than winter on the river, settled into his bones. He wrapped the gray cloak more tightly about his shoulders.
    Clearing his throat, Dorias spoke around the pipe clenched in his teeth. “Regardless, I am glad that you seem to understand, though I doubt anyone truly can.” He puffed blue smoke into the wind. “Come. Let us use our power in Water to see if we cannot speed our journey.”
     

     
    L ight snow covered the banks of the Andon, the scattered whiteness having fallen during the night. Steam rose from the hot tea as Tallen blew across it. He sipped at its lightly sweetened contents, and it warmed him as it went down. The smell of bacon frying on a charcoal fire reached his nose over the fruity scent of the tea. The clatter of wood sounded behind him, followed by a burst of laughter from a man and the giggle of a girl.
    “That’s right,” the man’s voice called. “You’re already getting the hang of it.”
    Tallen turned to see Gwelan Whitehand parry a swing from Tanya, who held a carved wooden sword. The clack echoed across the deck and the water.
    “I’m not letting anyone hurt Ami or Maddi again,” the girl shouted with another hearty swing.
    Gwelan parried. “Well, you are a good beginner, but you still have a lot to learn.”
    He twisted his own wooden sword and sent hers flying across the deck, where it skidded to a halt at the head of the gangway. Maddi emerged from below just as it stopped.
    “What are you doing?” she shouted, stamping up onto the deck. She looked at Tanya who shook a stinging hand. “You’ve hurt her!”
    Maddi ran to hold Tanya, who pushed against the embrace.
    “I’m all right,” she said, pulling away and jogging over to the little sword. “I want to learn and Mister Gwelan promised to teach me.”
    Tallen noticed the wary look Maddi cast in Gwelan’s direction. The swordsman bowed his shaven head, mostly covered by a black knit cap. Leaning over with fluid grace, Maddi picked up the sword herself and took a few steps toward Gwelan.
    “Then let’s see if you are good enough to teach my girl,” she said, hefting the sword and staring at Gwelan.
    The man nodded. “Fair enough.”
    He lifted his sword to salute her, but it quickly turned into a parry of her first blow. The harsh smack of wood on wood echoed in Tallen’s