Free The Cypher Wheel by Alison Pensy

the deeper they went. It seemed that they were being sent
like a relay further into the forest.
    Faedra saw Carina and Anwynn give a barely
discernible nod to either side of the path they were traveling. She
realized they were acknowledging someone and let her gaze roam to
the side of the road. She strained to see in the dim light and
couldn't make out anything but brush and undergrowth to either side
of them, until one of those bushes blinked and moved back behind a
tree. Faedra's heart leapt to her throat at the surprise movement.
The bush put a camouflaged finger up to a dirtied face and pressed
it against brown lips. She kept her eye on the 'bush' as she moved
forward. Just how many people were out here?
    They walked for a few more yards until the path
opened up and they were standing on the edge of a leaf covered,
bowl shaped dip in the ground. The area was surrounded by boulders,
and a sheer rock face rose up in front of them.
    Faedra looked above her and could see the odd head
peeking out above some of the boulders along the ridge ahead of
them. The energy in this area was palpable. There must be quite a
few people out here for her to sense it so strongly. Again, she
could sense anxiety, but the more she tuned into it the more she
could feel it shifting to hope. Hope that was aimed at her.
    They followed the two riders down the slope until
they came to the wall of rock. Carina dismounted her horse and
walked up to the rock face. She mumbled a few words and waved her
arm across the rock. It shimmered and then disappeared right in
front of Faedra's eyes, leaving a large gaping hole in the side of
the hill. Faedra realized, at that moment, this did not surprise
her. She thought it a little sad that she was now so embroiled in
other worlds, she didn't think anything would ever surprise her
again.
    Carina led her horse into the opening she had just
created, and Anwynn followed. She looked back at the four.
    Faedra looked at Faen. “I guess that's our cue to
follow.”
    Faen gave her hand a squeeze and stepped forward to
follow the two women through the opening. Faedra took a deep
steadying breath and fell in beside her Guardian.
    The Custodian looked up at the ridge above them as
she stepped towards the opening. More curious faces peeked out over
the edge; she took another step and froze on the spot, sucking in a
sharp breath. She stood in the opening looking like someone had
just poured a bucket of icy water over her head. Faen's face filled
with concern.
    “What is it, Faedra? Are you alright?”
    Faedra looked around her, then closed her eyes and
did an internal examination.
    Steadying her breath, she opened her eyes again. “I'm
okay...I think. Wow, there's some pretty hefty magic in here.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, I've walked through wards before, but usually
I'd just feel a tingle. This doorway felt like I was walking
through a freezing cold waterfall. Didn't you feel anything?”
    Faen shook his head.
    She turned her question to Etyran and Jocelyn as they
stepped through the opening beside her. “What about you two?
Anything?”
    “Nope. Not a sausage,” Etyran answered.
    “Jocelyn?”
    “I am afraid I did not feel anything either,
Faedra.”
    “It is because you have Savu's power,” Carina
interrupted. “It is mostly evil power, and we had to do some strong
recalibration of the wards for them to allow you entry.”
    Faedra did not like that statement one little bit.
She straightened her shoulders and puffed out her chest. “I am NOT
evil!” she exclaimed, trying more to convince herself of that fact
than the woman in front of her. It was something that had been
nagging at the back of her mind for six months now. What if
consuming Savu's power would turn her evil? She lost her temper
very quickly since absorbing it. Things that never used to bother
her before, would push her into a bad mood in seconds now.
    Her three friends took a step back. Just like
flicking a switch, the heat poured off