Free The Call by Elí Freysson

event is. Violence, murder, sorrow, births, suicides, disasters and especially dark sorcery. Such things leave a...” Serdra hesitated. “Let's call it a mark . The more fateful the event, the longer it lives to those who can see such things. That was how I knew what happened in your village. I snuck in at night and looked . It doesn't have to be something so extreme. Peaceful events which carry great consequences can also be quite clear, if one knows how to see them.”
    “And what am I to see here?”
    Serdra stood up and nimbly stepped behind the chair. She put her hands on the back of it.
    “Have a seat.”
    Katja looked at her for a few moments and then stood up herself. She had almost forgotten about Flat Top's nasty reputation and didn't like the tingle of fear which took the strength from her legs and made her thump into the seat.
    Why is it so hard to argue with her?
    Serdra put her hands on Katja's shoulders and leaned her into the chair's back.
    “There are dangers inherent in peering far,” Serdra said calmly, behind Katja. “Especially forward. As you know by now the future is constantly in motion, and the more divergences that enter the picture the more complex it becomes and more difficult for a mind to grasp. One of our sisters, Mia, is called The Seer by many. I don't know whether she was born with abnormally sharp sensitivity or whether she just honed it too well, but in any case she sees the future better than any of us and only the future. All of its possibilities.”
    “That sounds overwhelming,” Katja said.
    “Yes. Even the elders wouldn't be able to handle it and she is younger than me. And the sight costs her dearly. She cannot examine the past, isn't as powerful a warrior as one her age should be and most who meet her think her mad. And in a certain way she is. She wanders the Outskirts and obeys the Call by pulling on the various strings which bind the future together; trying to steer it in the best channel.”
    “And what's the danger in seeing past events?”
    “Well, then you aren't seeing possibilities. You are seeing events which happened and left marks. If those events were bad it can be risky to immerse oneself too deeply. One must maintain a balance between seeing the event clearly and yet keeping a certain distance between it and you. Do you understand?”
    “I think I do.”
    “Then let's get started.”
    “But... but...”
    “Just do as I say. This shouldn't be too difficult for you and I'll pull you back if you gaze too deeply.”
    Katja attempted to calm herself with a deep breath. Fights were a simple matter. One just had to attack and defend from attacks. But this? How was she to do this safely?
    “Keep breathing deeply,” Serdra said softly and Katja felt the tone was meant to be soothing. “Relax and try to empty your mind. This takes concentration.”
    Katja breathed slowly and deeply and tried to release the tension in her body. Serdra started to gently rub her shoulders, which felt rather strange. She hadn't touched people with any tenderness for a while, except for Maria.
    It took a while, but eventually she managed to calm herself. It took yet more time to stop the mind wandering, but Serdra seemed to sense it immediately.
    “Now listen ,” she whispered. “Strong events took place here. The marks endure still. The threads. Close your eyes and feel for them.”
    Katja closed her eyes. She sat in darkness and heard nothing except the crackling of the fire and her own breathing and heartbeat. It was difficult to think of nothing. Something always sought to bubble to the surface. Worries, contemplations and memories.
    Somehow she nonetheless managed to keep herself in this mental void and she started to feel it.
    The sensation was strange. As if something was happening around her which she could almost see, almost hear, almost smell. As if she only needed to rip a blanket off her head to experience it.
    She heard Serdra's voice somewhere in the distance