Free WinterMaejic by Terie Garrison

can. You need only to learn how. Would you like to try?”
    “Yes!” I said eagerly. “I’d love that.”
    He rose to his feet and held out a hand to assist me. I took it with a smile. Maybe I could get used to this kind of gallantry after all.
    He glanced around. “There. That one will do.” I followed him to the one he’d chosen. A beech tree, with a pine growing right next to it, not two yards away. He placed his hands on the trunk of the beech and listened with eyes half closed. A smile came to his lips. “Yes. Here. Place your hand on the trunk, like so.”
    Facing him, I stepped closer, putting my right hand where he indicated.
    His voice softened. “Close your eyes. Feel the skin of the tree under your hand. Feel its sap flow in rhythm with your own blood.”
    I tried to do as he said, but I didn’t feel anything but rough bark. Maybe this was something I’d have to work at harder than usual. I concentrated, but still nothing.
    Anazian placed a hand on top of mine. It felt very warm, and I remembered how Yallick’s had done the same all those days ago. I squeezed my eyes tighter in concentration, but it didn’t help.
    All of a sudden, I felt a crushing pain in my hand, as if the bones had been smashed to powder and the flesh pressed flat. My eyes flew open as I cried aloud. I looked to find my hand buried up to my wrist in the tree itself.
    “What?” I gasped. “What’s happening?” My voice rose to a panicked shriek. “Help me!”
    Anazian struck me so hard across the mouth that my head snapped back. “Be silent, you fool!” I felt blood from a split lip trickle down my chin as Anazian reached for my other hand. I struggled against him, but it was useless. He captured my free hand and pressed it into the trunk of the nearby pine.
    The agony doubled, and I couldn’t help it: I screamed. But no sound came out of my mouth.

    The attack was brutal and effective. Klemma is gone. So, too, are Marby, Pellin, Forb, and Illid. Others are injured, and several of them may yet die. And still others—many others—are missing. Stam, Anazian, Doolh, to name only a few. And worst of all, Donavah.
    The few birds I was able to summon after the attack sought out any trace of her vibrational signature. All returned having found nothing.
    We must go on to Xyla, those of us who have regrouped. But for my apprentice, I must hold out hope against hope whilst I dread the worst. If she is lost, how very, very much more will be lost as well.

For a few moments, the pain threatened to engulf me. I took in great heaving breaths and tried to force myself to calm down.
    Anazian’s laughter rang through the woods. I blinked the tears out of my eyes and looked at him. He stood there scrutinizing me, hatred pouring from his very being. What had I ever done to him? Why was he doing this? I bit back the questions, not wanting to give him any more satisfaction than he was already getting.
    “And that should settle you,” he said, spitting out the words. “Pleasant dreams, my dear.”
    I could only watch in horror as he gathered his things, kicked out the fire, and strode off into the darkness.
    I stood there; what else could I do? The chill soon began to seep into my joints, and I began to shiver. After awhile, I realized that the trees, too, shuddered periodically, as if the invasion caused them pain.
    Attached to them inextricably, I tried to use my maejic to communicate with them. To no avail. It was some time before it occurred to me that despite having unblocked, I felt nothing. No vibrations of any sort.
    New panic rose up inside me, and I had to work harder than ever to gain control. The feeling eventually subsided, but was quickly replaced with despair. Tears of fear and frustration welled in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. I sobbed.
    And discovered that I truly had no voice. I tried to speak. Nothing. I tried to hum. Still nothing. I tried every way I could think of to make noise, but not a sound escaped my lips.