07-25-2018, 10:51 AM
It sneered at him as it taunted him, helish eyes daring him, challenging him. Its coal black skin seemed to ripple, the fissures of red glowing hot. And it refused to move. Refused to obey him.
Armande cast his mind back to the scroll, tried to think if there was an override command he had missed. This could not fail.
He was aware of Valeriya but refused to look away from it. He could not show fear or submission to it in any way.
And suddenly, she was in front of him, between him and the ijiraq, stepping up to it. His arms went out to move her out of the way when suddenly she slapped her palm to its forehead.
He heard a hissing sizzle and she spoke so softly he could not make out the words. The creature went stiff.
And then, just as suddenly, its skin swirled and it was mist again. It said nothing, just sped away into the night.
The quiet was deafening. The whine inside his head had disappeared the moment she touched it. He came around to look down at her, a sense of awe touching his voice. "What did you do, Valeriya? How?"
He took her hand gently, holding it, lightly touching the burn on her palm, tracing it with his finger. It was an angry color. He thought he saw a shape, though that may have just been his imagination.
His blue eyes were cool as he studied her curiously. A slight breeze stirred her dark hair. His queen.
Armande cast his mind back to the scroll, tried to think if there was an override command he had missed. This could not fail.
He was aware of Valeriya but refused to look away from it. He could not show fear or submission to it in any way.
And suddenly, she was in front of him, between him and the ijiraq, stepping up to it. His arms went out to move her out of the way when suddenly she slapped her palm to its forehead.
He heard a hissing sizzle and she spoke so softly he could not make out the words. The creature went stiff.
And then, just as suddenly, its skin swirled and it was mist again. It said nothing, just sped away into the night.
The quiet was deafening. The whine inside his head had disappeared the moment she touched it. He came around to look down at her, a sense of awe touching his voice. "What did you do, Valeriya? How?"
He took her hand gently, holding it, lightly touching the burn on her palm, tracing it with his finger. It was an angry color. He thought he saw a shape, though that may have just been his imagination.
His blue eyes were cool as he studied her curiously. A slight breeze stirred her dark hair. His queen.