Free Lies and Prophecy by Marie Brennan Page A

It was the Irish word for “wild,” and an international committee formed after First Manifestation had agreed it would be given to all of his kind, who had no families.
    I still had the flower, dried and sitting in a bud vase on the windowsill. And the surreal quality of the whole thing had stayed with me, untouched by our subsequent friendship.
    A year later, when I was on my way home again, full of disappointment that Julian hadn’t come by or called to wish me a happy birthday, I found him waiting in the circle again. This time he gave me a pendant of smooth quartz crystal, intricately wrapped in silver. I’d used it as my focus in magical work ever since.
    So now, even though it was quite out of my way, I headed for the circle.
    He was there, of course, and just as striking in the monochrome setting as before. He rarely wore black. Why he did it for my birthday, I didn’t know. His smile, though, lessened the effect. “Happy birthday, Kim.”
    I smiled back. “Thanks. Fancy seeing you here.”
    He extended one hand. I never quite shook the feeling that he did this by rote, as if he’d read in a book that normal people gave their friends presents on their birthdays. Still, I appreciated the gesture. This time, a black silk bag nestled in his palm; when I lifted it, the contents clinked. Reaching in, I felt stone, and pulled one piece out.
    It was a rune. Raido, the symbol of movement and journeys.
    Julian touched my wrist lightly. “Are you all right?”
    Fleeting as it was, the physical contact jolted me. He did that even less often than he met people’s eyes, and for the same reason. I looked up, involuntarily, and found his face lined with worry.
    â€œNo,” I said, the admission leaping free of me. “I came to Kinfield this afternoon, but you weren’t there—something weird’s coming up in my divination.” I gave him the story of the Moon reading, in simplified form. The warning of hidden threats. Then today’s second act: the Tower, and Hagalaz.
    Julian didn’t need the significances explained to him. “But you drew Raido this time.”
    â€œYes. It seems to have stopped now. But I don’t think anything’s changed. Julian….” There was no rational explanation for the fear lurking in my subconscious, no reading or omen I could point to. Just my gift, whispering in my ear. “I think this has something to do with you.”
    He didn’t move, not even to blink. But in that stillness, everything drained out of him, leaving behind a person I hadn’t seen since freshman year—not Julian, my friend, but the wilder who first came to Welton. Focused. Prepared.
    And not entirely human.
    Then he breathed, and broke the effect. “It’s possible. I’ll try to find out.” Life came back into his face. “You should get home, before you freeze.”
    I curled my hand around Raido. It was inscribed in silver on a flat piece of black onyx, and absolutely gorgeous. He lived off a government stipend. How did he manage gifts of this quality? “Thank you, Julian. For these—not for the mother-henning.” He smiled, and on impulse, I offered a hug.
    He accepted it, surprising me. No skin-to-skin contact, but still, wilders didn’t do that kind of thing. Then he stepped back and nodded me onward. “Good night, Kim.” He turned and walked away across the circle, hands in his pockets. He wasn’t going toward Kinfield.
    I rubbed my shoulders to erase the lingering chill. Then, curling my fingers around the bag of runes, I went home to the bed I so desperately needed.

Chapter Three
    Weeks went by, and nothing.
    No one else had seen the Tower like I had. Nothing leapt up to threaten me or Julian. I went to class, to Div Club, to the library. I fought methodically to think myself past my CM doubts, and made a little progress.
    College. Nothing strange about it.
    Waiting for the