Chapter 16

Miahally, I have finished all here. The leader can feel me. He’s asking me if it is me, he told Miahally.

This might be bad. Out here, we are safe for a while. We have affected well over 90 guards, but I know that there are many more. This is but a small amount. If we are to succeed, we need as many as we can get. Tell him it is you but you are across the city and will come by later. This may delay him long enough for us to affect a great many more. We will need as much time as possible with the daughter if we are to effect a significant change in her.

Ray didn’t like it, but Miahally knew his people far better than Ray did. They’d go with his plan for a bit. Reaching out, Ray felt the daughter a lot closer than he thought. Trying to delve into her mind, he again saw the thoughts she was having. Softly, Ray started to suggest that the Treg Trag that had hurt her mother and sisters was her friend. Her resistance snapped up far stronger than he’d seen it before, so he began to bathe that section with a generous amount of warm energy.

At first, Ray thought it wasn’t going to work, but slowly he saw that she was starting to accept him as a close friend. The only problem was that was all he could do. It seemed that Ray had indeed increased the power of his thoughts, but he’d also increased the amount of energy he was using. He had to keep it up ‘til she accepted. It nearly cost him getting both of them caught. Miahally had yanked Ray to the ground to hide him.

I managed to get her to think that the Treg Trag that hurt her mother and sisters was her friend, but that was all. It took a lot of energy, but I think she’ll be easier to affect now, Ray told Miahally. Just trying to think to Miahally was exhausting him.

Treg Trag, you are looking weak. You should go back for a bit. I think we have accomplished much. You need rest. I am afraid that if you do this again, it might be far worse than last time. Please, Treg Trag, go. Like the military leader, this may have more effects than you think. Nodding, Ray felt for his body and reached for it. Pulling just once, he was snapped back with incredible speed, and then he was opening his eyes. Looking around, Ray saw that Elizabeth was in bed with him. Strange, but she was asleep almost like ... Ray’s mouth dropped open. So they were finally out there. Good for them, but he was afraid that like him, if they were gone too long, they might also suffer like he did.

Sighing, Ray waited a few minutes, feeling his strength return. Then something strange happened. Ray was about to lay back down when he started to feel Elizabeth and Nali! Both of them? Shaking his head, Ray tentatively reached a hand out and was shocked that not only could he feel them, but he could see them also. What in the hell was going on? Laying back, Ray closed his eyes and was instantly next to Elizabeth! Ok, this was starting to get stranger and stranger. Elizabeth issued a little yell, then hugged Ray close. Immediately, Ray felt even stronger than he had back at his house. Nali turned, a shocked look on her face. Turning to the elder, she bowed and flew as fast as she could to Ray. The instant she touched him, a shock went through them all. A surprised look lit up all their faces, and each in turn turned to the elder. Drifting closer but not too close, he tried to explain.

It now appears that Ray has finally learned instant transference. This is good. Ah! I see that even in a weakened state, you were able to use it. Your solid selameat has the power as you do. Though she denied it for so long, it was this that was weakening her life force. Just traveling here has strengthened her greatly. We have done all we can. It is up to you to teach her to use it further. She must accomplish this, or she will again suffer the weakening that she did before. Though I warn you, Ray, go slowly. Her power is not as great as yours but can aid you and your non-solid selameat greatly. With that, the elder drifted away to the rest of the BLEMS.