Trial by Fire (Worldwalker 1)

Lily’s brow furrowed. It was so easy for a witch to find out the truth. All Lillian had to do was share mindspeak with a suspect, ask a few questions, and she’d know if that person was a scientist or not.

“Did you refuse to let Lillian claim you?” Lily asked.

“No,” the tanner replied, offended. “She refused us.”

“She needs us down here,” another woman said. Her voice was weak. When Lily looked in on her, she saw that she was an old woman. “We’re the example so all those that the Citadel can’t reach are too scared to even try to learn science.”

Lily nodded and stepped forward. She positioned herself halfway down the corridor so as many inmates as possible could see her. “Who wants to be claimed by me?” she asked. Silence. She didn’t have time for this. “Let’s try that again. Who wants to be claimed by me so you can free yourself and fight the Citadel?”

The clamor erupted again. Arms reached toward her. Lily went to the nearest, the tanner, and took her stone between her fingertips.

… A baby. My sweet little man. He needs me.

Lily gathered the pattern and released that stone, moving on to the next.

… A pretty little yard. I just want to go back home and see my garden.

Lily moved on to the next stone.

… A stack of books. I have so much reading to do. And I’ll never get it done before testing time, especially not if I’m stuck in this stupid hole. I don’t want to die here.

Lily sped up as she went. By the time she arrived at the last few cells she was swimming in other people’s loves and losses. She didn’t have time to process any of it. She just gathered the patterns and the most basic sense of each individual. The clock ticking, she ran to the nearest wall sconces and pulled down a torch.

A witch wind rushed toward her, moaning as it raced down the passageways. She changed the heat into energy and poured it into her newly claimed willstones. She didn’t turn the heat directly into force. She didn’t know what the Gift would do to people who weren’t trained mechanics. Her instinct proved right. Most of the prisoners could only handle a tiny bit of power, barely enough to pull the bars of their cells apart, but still they gasped with awe at their first taste of a witch’s strength.

Lily grabbed the Outlander tanner by her shoulder as she raced by. She was physically the strongest of all the prisoners, but more importantly, Lily had noticed that she could handle a huge amount of power in her willstone. Briefly, Lily wondered why she hadn’t been trained as a crucible because she certainly had the talent.

“Free my sister,” Lily said, pointing to Juliet’s cell. The woman looked into the cell, recognized Juliet, and then peered into Lily’s face. She began backing away fearfully.

“You’re her,” the tanner whispered.

“No. I’m not,” Lily pleaded, reaching out again. The woman easily threw off Lily’s arm and began to run away.

The rest of the freed prisoners had already fled. Lily couldn’t let her go. No matter what she had to do, Lily knew she would do it to get her sister out of that cell. She hesitated a moment, but knew she had no other option. Lily played back the woman’s pattern to her willstone, unlocking it, and did what she’d promised Rowan she would never do. She took over the woman’s will. As Lily filled the woman like a hand in a glove, she resisted reveling in the delicious feeling of being in total control. She found the woman’s name in her mind and called to her.

Stop, Dana. Turn around. Come back.

Dana had no choice but to do as Lily commanded. Lily smothered a triumphant laugh, reminding herself that this was wrong.

Pull the bars apart.

Dana obeyed. Juliet slipped out from between the bent bars and hugged Lily. Then she looked at Dana.

“Did you—” Juliet asked, unable to finish her thought aloud. Lily nodded and grabbed Juliet’s hand.

“Let’s go,” Lily said, pulling Juliet along. “Good-bye, Dana. I’m sorry I did that to you, but I had to. She’s my sister.”

Lily gave Dana back her will, even though she had to force herself to do so.

Go be with your son. Good luck.

Wait, Lily! I’ll never make it over the wall without you.

“I’m out of strength. Give me some more power so I can fight my way out,” Dana called aloud. Lily stopped and turned. “You owe me,” Dana said in a low voice.

The torches flickered with witch wind, and Dana’s willstone flared with power. Dana smiled and rolled her meaty shoulders as a huge measure of strength filled her.

“Now I owe you. Get behind me, you two,” Dana said, rushing down the corridor. “If anyone comes up from the rear, you holler and duck.”