Free The Seer by Kirsten Jones

real names!’ 
    Phantasm
rolled his eyes and gave his twin a warning look, ‘Please don’t wind her up
tonight!  For once, can you two please behave with some decorum and not
bicker like schoolchildren?’
    A mutinous
look crossed Phantom’s face but Mistral could hear his thoughts and knew that
this, their long awaited for moment of victory, was as important to him as it
was to his brother.  They walked on in silence behind Leo.  Mistral
was concentrating so hard on successfully putting one foot in front of other
that at first she didn’t recognise the gentle humming sound for what it was; a
multitude of voices all talking at once.  Leo paused in the arched doorway
of the Main Hall, his blue eyes raking the room with deliberate
importance.  Mistral and the twins waited silently behind him all sharing
the same thought.
    Drama queen
…
    Mistral caught
a glimpse of the room when Leo strode forwards and felt a wave of panic crash
over her.  A fire was blazing in the huge fireplace at the far end of the
Main Hall, casting warmth and light over a crowd of at least a hundred
people.  Mage Councillors wearing garish flowing robes, bearded Arcane
chieftains, wary-eyed Ri ... and every single one of them fell silent and
looked over as she and the twins stepped into the room.
    Keep your
head up!
    Phantasm’s
snapped instruction pierced the fog of fear surrounding her brain.  She
jerked her chin up and stared blindly at the sea of curious faces, desperately
seeking the one, the only one, that would enable her to keep moving ...
Fabian’s dark gaze drew her own with mesmerising force, his thoughts bursting
into her mind in a profusion of pride and joy.  She kept her gaze locked
on his, seeing nothing but the wild exultation on his face.  Filled by the
love that flowed from him in an irrepressible wave, her feet seemed to glide
across the floor of their own volition, keeping pace perfectly with the
twins.  Their triumphant thoughts filtered into hers; background music to
the glorious song of Fabian’s joy. 
    ‘Ah-ha!’ 
Mycroft’s ponderous laugh boomed out in the sudden hush that had fallen. 
‘Mage, Arcane and fellow Ri!  Allow me to formally introduce you to the
Gemini and the new Seer to the Ri!’
    Leo stepped
aside, leaving Mistral and the twins facing the appraising stares of the
gathered crowd.
    Keep your
head up and look back at them!
    But Mistral
didn’t need Phantasm’s encouragement.  She met every stare coolly, her
mind full of Fabian’s unwavering belief. 
    ‘We salute the
Gemini and the new Seer!’
    Imperato’s
deep voice rang from the heavy shadows by the side of the fire.  Mistral
lifted her eyes to meet his profound gaze and his thoughts instantly surged
into her mind … he was fiercely proud at her achievement.  She was
momentarily perplexed by both his reaction and how easily she had heard his
thoughts, but there was no time to consider the puzzle.  A sea of people
converged on them, all applauding loudly and heralding the Gemini and the new
Seer ... the dawn of a new era. 
    Assured by the
presence of the twins on either side of her and Fabian’s silent love, Mistral
remained calm while an endless procession of tribal chieftains, foreign
delegates and high-ranking Councillors appeared before her.  All were
eager to greet the Gemini and the new Seer, their congratulations followed by
furtively whispered requests for them to agree to accept the work they offered
above other Contracts.  Mistral felt her eyes glaze over.  She smiled
and nodded to each face, not even bothering to listen any more.  Suddenly
a shard of ice slipped into her mind, piercing through the warm haze of
Fabian’s thoughts.
    Have
Mycroft stop drinking … now!
    Mistral
blinked, the yarthkin chieftain before her gazed at her expectantly with brown
eyes so reminiscent of Saul that her heart gave a painful lurch.  She
realised that it hadn’t been his voice but Leo’s thought, recalling her to