A small part of Rachel's mind told her that such teleportation shouldn't be possible. That, even if Grey-eyes could move herself out of the room so quickly it appeared to be instantaneous, there should be some sort of sound. A sonic boom or a clap as the air rushed in to fill the empty space—but there was nothing.

  She brushed it off. Kendra regularly made doors appear out of thin air in walls where they couldn't possibly be. Natalie could talk to animals. She herself could see emotional connections between individuals through some impossible means. This was still magic. She'd probably never get a logical explanation for everything.

  "What did she say?" Cinza demanded, taking a step toward Rachel with her lieutenant still hanging off her arm. Immediately, both Mason and Josh were at Rachel's side, while Jackie had risen to her feet.

  "She asked for privacy," Rachel said quietly. "Would you have me break her privacy?"

  Cinza held still, her eyes darting about the suddenly hostile room. Even poor Nate, still recovering half-prone on the floor, had turned to face her. After a few moments, she settled back. "You're right, of course. My apologies, dearest leader. I was overcome."

  "Right." Rachel looked down at Nate. "You okay?"

  "Dandy," he said, before hacking out a few coughs. "You could've warned me."

  "We did, but it wasn't supposed to get that bad. I'm sorry."

  "It's okay. What do I do now?"

  Rachel offered a hand, and Nate pulled himself to his feet. "Once you're feeling up to it, Mason will instruct you in the basics. How to move things with your mind. Everyone needs to know that one. After that, what direction you take is up to you. Keep the sensation you felt during your awakening fresh in your mind, as it provides a clue to your affinity. You don't need to tell it to me, or anyone else, but Mason can help you if you're unsure or you'd like further direction." She cleared her throat, and offered Nate a smile. "Congratulations, Nate. You've been awakened."

  Nate's lopsided grin cheered her up a bit, before he followed Mason out of the room and into the training tent down the road where Mason usually offered lessons. Cinza and her lieutenants turned inward and began chattering away quietly, too low for her to make out.

  "I'm surprised," Rachel said, as Josh brushed off his pant legs. The gesture was mostly futile as—being another dimension—there was almost no dust or dirt to be found in the entire place, but it was a habit. She'd felt the same urge to brush off her dress.

  "Well, yeah, that was all a bit crazy," Josh said.

  "No, I meant surprised by you. You jumped in there and probably saved his life."

  "Oh." He looked at her oddly. "What, you didn't think I'd just let him choke down there, did you?"

  "I dunno. You just seem like you don't care most of the time. I had to persuade you to even take this one, remember?"

  Josh sighed. "Rachel, just because I feel like sleeping through every one of your overly long meetings doesn't mean I'm not invested in this whole community." He grinned. "I got elected to this stupid council more than once. Clearly someone out there likes me."

  "Or they want someone they know won't mess with them."

  "Hey, give me no reasons and I won't break no fingers."

  She rolled her eyes. "Anything else?"

  "There's some grumbling. Mabel and some of the regulars aren't happy with how you've basically elected yourself leader."

  "Let me guess. Julian's in that group?"

  "Yup."

  "That… could be a problem," Rachel said, frowning. "You got time later to hash this out?"

  "Yeah, and I needed dinner plans anyway. You want something?"

  Rachel smiled. Josh—for all his faults—was an excellent chef. "You're cooking?"

  "Yeah. Bring Will over, we'll make it a thing. Text me what time."

  At that moment, Rachel's phone buzzed. Kendra had set up a cell signal repeater in the center of the Market, so that cell service and internet connections were possible, though she strictly limited who had access for security reasons. Rachel was one of the few privileged.

  It was Hailey Winscombe, of all people, calling her. "Hello?"

  "Hi, Rachel?"

  "Yes?"

  "I was at the meeting, I don't know if you saw-"

  "Yes. I… what can I do for you?"

  Hailey sounded like she was trying to talk over a small storm. There was a fierce wind howling across the microphone, though the weather outside had been plenty calm. "Can we meet up? At my place? There's something I need to talk to you about."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  "I'm kind of locked up tight right now. It might be a day or two before I can come over."

  "This is kind of importan— oh, crap! I have to go." The phone clicked off.

  "What was that?" Josh asked.

  Rachel stared at the blank screen, still confused. "I'm… not sure, to be honest. I think I need to check it out though."

  "Good luck with that, I guess. Let me know if you need anything." Josh waved over his shoulder as he left the room. "Later, Rachel."

  With Josh gone, Rachel approached the remaining group. She was impressed that, despite being the shortest and smallest in the trio, Cinza was still clearly in control. Physicality wasn't a factor for their group, only magical talent—which Cinza had in spades. "Cinza, Ruby, and…" she prompted.

  "Makoto," Cinza finished. Makoto inclined his head, still never uttering a word. Rachel had heard him talking to the pair in a calm and even voice, but apparently he favored the strong silent approach with strangers.

  "I'm assuming you have some questions for me anyway, despite what we said earlier."

  "What was said was for your ears alone. What you choose to do now is your prerogative," Cinza said. Ruby leaned in and whispered something in her ear. "Ruby would like to know if she mentioned us at all, though."

  "She did," Rachel said truthfully. She didn't feel like expanding on Grey-eyes' opinion, though. Cinza's cult was better as an organized unit for the time being; finding out that their deity didn't approve was likely to destabilize them beyond repair.

  Ruby smiled in the strange, offputting smile of a fervent believer. "As we knew she would. We are her faithful servants." She leaned down and gave Cinza a kiss on the cheek. "Let's go."

  Cinza was clearly suspicious, but she didn't press the topic further. She brushed Ruby's dark red hair affectionately, but her eyes were locked on Rachel. "Not yet, Ruby. About other matters..."

  "We have a lead," Rachel replied. "Jackie, you should hear this as well." The sheriff joined them, eyeing Cinza's group with concern. It was a step above suspicion, at least, but Rachel wished Jackie could hide her disdain better while Rachel was trying to establish diplomatic ties.

  "Sheriff," Cinza acknowledged.

  "What's this lead, then?" Jackie asked Rachel, determinedly not looking at the robed trio.

  "The golems—"

  "The what now?"

  "Men of stone and fire," Cinza supplied.

  "Oh god dammit," Jackie muttered.

  "The golems," Rachel continued as if she hadn't been interrupted, "were being controlled by a man out in the forest. That man was working for Omega, the only person who could have created those golems."

  "We already knew all of that," Ruby said dismissively, but Cinza herself remained attentive. Makoto continued to be unreadable, but Rachel suspected him to be the muscle of the group. Maybe he's the water manipulator?

  "Something Grey-eyes said reminded me that Omega isn't in the town, and won't be. Can't be. So we can discount any magical activity nearby. Which means we only need to monitor activity out in the woods. Normally that would be a problem, as none of us—even our sheriff—are particularly good at tracking someone through that thick of a forest. But we have another way."

  "The animal whisperer," said Cinza.

  "Exactly. She can call out to something that can track them across a forest for miles. A wolf, if she can manage it."

  "Sorry, what?" Jackie asked, thoroughly confused.

  "Natalie Hendricks, Brian's daughter."

  "Wait, she's one of you?"

  "Yes. She was awakened before most of us, actually," Rachel added. "I don't know when or how, but she's been doing this a long time now."

  "But, she's just a kid!"

  "A child with powers well beyond us," Cinza intoned.

  "Right. She's the only one who knows how to talk to animals," Rachel explained.

  Jackie sat down in the nearest chair. "I'm gonna need a minute." She took out a handkerchief and dabbed at her brow. "Does her father know about this?"

  "Well, he's… missing."

  The sheriff's eyes snapped up. "What?"

  Rachel frowned. She'd expected the sheriff to have known that one of her flock had been unaccounted for a week. "We've been looking for him as well."

  "Have you been taking care of her?" Jackie asked, eyes narrowing. "Not saying you couldn't, but you seem far too busy to care for a child."

  "No, and you're right. Natalie has been staying with a close associate of ours."

  "This is one of those times where I have to ask for names, Rachel," Jackie said firmly. "The girl's twelve, she needs proper care. If I'm not happy with the answer, I'd be forced to call her mother."

  Rachel grimaced. The last thing Natalie needs is an overbearing, harsh mother like Lori Hendricks coming to town. "Kendra Laushire, the economics professor."

  "Oh!" Jackie's eyes widened. "Her too? Good god."

  "Yes, but for obvious reasons, her identity must remain absolutely private," Rachel said firmly. "The Laushire conglomerate would be after us all in a heartbeat. She doesn't exactly see eye to eye with her family."

  "Understood," Jackie said sharply.

  "Kendra is also the one currently keeping the ground under your feet stable," Cinza added with a grin. As if on cue, the world shuddered a little, sending the ceiling tiles wobbling. Jackie stood up straight with a shock.

  "Are we—"

  "Yes," Rachel answered impatiently. "This is normal. Kendra has never failed to keep the Market open while people were still inside."

  Jackie didn't seem reassured. "Seems like a perfectly good time to leave, to me."

  Rachel glanced at Cinza, who nodded. "We have business to attend to. You have my number if you need anything."

----------------------------------------

  Jackie shivered as they re-emerged into the world from the door behind the Kettle and Bones. The noise of the town assaulted them immediately. It wasn't truly loud, but compared to the stillness of the Market, even the snatches of conversation from inside the bar and the few cars rolling about sounded like a bustling city.

  "Kettle isn't usually open this early," Jackie commented, glancing at the back door.

  "Rowan asked them to for a few days, to help ease the transition as more people find out about us," Rachel replied, digging in her bag for her phone once again. "I don't know if it's working, but I know at least a few people who'd be glad for the early bar."

  "Probably," she agreed. Her radio squawked, startling them both.

  "Jackie, Preston… Jackie, Preston. I swear to God, please pick up."

  "Shit, we didn't have radio signal in there, did we?" Jackie muttered. She scrambled for the radio strapped on her shoulder. "Preston, this is Jackie. Send it."

  "Where the hell have you been? Over."

  Jackie shot an amused glance at Rachel before she responded. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, over."

  "Right, very funny. Rowan's been trying to reach you, over."

  "What's happening? Over."

  "Wilson kid's parents want to talk. Sounded angry. Also something about a funeral. Over."

  "Oh hell," Jackie murmured. She looked at Rachel, who nodded. It was time to tell them what had happened to their child. To prolong it any further was cruel, and didn't do them or the town any good. "Roger. We'll be over soon. Over."

  "Acknowledged, sheriff. Out."