Free Curse Of Wexkia by Dale Furse

called to stand before the councils and explain why you have taken your daughter away. You know they like to have mixed children watched.’
    The voices and images faded. She stared blankly at Sam, wondering who could cause her problems and why the council people wanted to watch her. Whatever the reason, it couldn’t be good if her father had refused to take her with him.
    As if on an impulse, Sam took Nell’s hands. ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Don’t fight with me. I’m on your side.’
    Overwhelmed by the many feelings and thoughts that flooded her mind; she pulled her hands free and pressed them to her aching temples. ‘It’s touching!’
    Sam raised his eyebrows. ‘Huh?’
    ‘I can read people’s minds when I touch them.’ She rubbed the sides of her head. ‘It hurts.’
    ‘So what did mine have to say?’ Sam grinned but it wavered as if he was worried.
    ‘I didn’t get anything specific,’ she lied. ‘Just jumbled images. But in future, don’t touch me.’ She thought for a moment. ‘Apparently I can control it with practice.’ Before Sam could ask, she added quickly, ‘And don’t ask me how I know that.’
    ‘Okay. I’ll believe you. Let’s go.’ He jumped up and hurried out of the room.
    She knew he didn’t. Thank goodness he didn’t press her. As she trailed after him, she noted, his usual easy gait appeared stiff and self-conscious.
    Knowing his feelings ran deeper than she could ever have imagined, Nell thought about him in that light. He was cute, at least the girls who went riding with him thought so. They shamelessly flirted with him and he was never self-conscious around even the prettiest girl. He had never acted the same way with Nell. She thought of him more as a bossy big brother, always telling her what she should or shouldn’t do.
    She didn’t want things to change between them. She’d just have to convince him by her actions that she didn’t learn anything. Anyway, he was only a boy, and feelings change. They might be changing already. Her nose wrinkled as she thought about how he blushed every time Dar-seldra smiled at him.
    Nell caught up to Sam by the time they arrived on the veranda.
    Dar-seldra sat on the porch swing. She smiled warmly as they approached. ‘I really like this,’ she said with a delicate laugh, as she swung her long legs up under her. ‘I think I’ll take one of these back to my house.’ She looked from one to the other. ‘Do you have any questions?’
    ‘Hundreds,’ Nell replied.
    ‘Mother! Mother!’ Cay-meka shouted as she ran up the stairs. ‘You must come!’
    She rushed at the swing and Nell had no choice but to move out of her way. Drops of water fell from Cay-meka’s hair and skin, but her dress appeared to be dry. A wide-eyed wonder filled her cousin’s face.
    ‘Mother, it is incredible. I’ve seen all different creatures and they are so wonderful. I swam with bottle-nosed dolphins and grey nurse sharks and I so wanted to meet the humpback whales swimming south, but they were too far out.’
    ‘Yes, yes, I have read about them.’ Dar-seldra’s laugh was melodic.
    Nell realised her cousin was still a young girl. She began to soften towards her until Cay-meka spoke in that whining voice of hers.
    ‘You should see if Nell can swim. I could, weeks before
my
birthday.’
    ‘That’s true. It’s still light, maybe we should go.’
    ‘Me?’ Nell gasped in astonishment ‘No way. There are lots of nasties out there.’
    ‘You have to! Mother said.’
    ‘Nell, it’s one way to learn if you are indeed gaining phib traits.’ Dar-seldra stood up. ‘Come with me and I will provide you with the correct apparel.’
    Nell glanced at Sam who gave her a ‘what-are-you-waiting-for’look. She rolled her eyes before she followed her aunty back into the library.
    Dar-seldra went over to one of two small blue cases. They looked more like large handbags and Nell thought they couldn’t possibly hold very much. Dar-seldra opened one. She