the temple. It wasn’t that she disliked the place—everything about it was beautiful and clean and smooth as ancient stone. And she had plenty of friends here. The students who were wards of the temple had been so glad that she was staying for a little while, and she was happy to spend more time with them. Plus, she liked her studies and understood how important it was that she excel.
But it wasn’t the same as being home.
At home, no one was grading her.
At home, she didn’t have to win anyone’s approval.
At home, no one judged her. Mama just loved her, no matter what she said or did, and that made it restful, even if the food wasn’t as good or the beds weren’t as comfortable. Being there made her feel comfortable on the inside.
In her soul.
I feel like I belong, instead of always trying to belong.
Her teachers would have said that was ridiculous. She belonged here, with others like her, whose past lives mirrored hers. But they aren’t like me—at least, they don’t have a mama as nice as mine.
Shalla grinned at the thought of Mama’s reaction to being called “nice.” “Nice is for people without ambition,” Mama liked to say. “I’d rather you be strong.”
Mama was nice and strong, and Shalla was happy that she’d found another rider who seemed to recognize that. Shalla was proficient enough at reading auras to tell that Raia was a good fit with their little family. No bumpy edges, Shalla thought.
That’s what auras looked like to her: shapes. More advanced students saw colors and patterns, but she saw layers of shapes. Or at least she could when she concentrated properly.
The door to the waiting room opened, and one of her teachers, Augur Clari, entered. Shalla looked at her with her second sight and saw a blur—it was impossible to read the aura of a highly skilled augur. As a side effect of their power, they were always shielded, kind of like a racetrack. Shalla thought it made them very calming to look at.
“Apprentice Shalla, I come with questions.”
“Then I will offer answers,” Shalla replied immediately, using the traditional response.
“And if you cannot offer answers?”
“Then I will posit questions that will lead you to the path of peace.”
Augur Clari nodded her head approvingly. “You have told us that your mother, Trainer Verlas, has taken on a new student by the name of Raia.”
“Yes, they are on their way to their first race.” By now, Mama and Raia would have already left. Shalla wished she could have gone with them. She knew if she’d told Mama that, Mama would have fought for her to be allowed to go, but she also knew the augurs would say no. There was too much for her to learn. Besides, I don’t want to be behind in my lessons. She had a duty to Becar—and, as her teachers said, to her destiny.
A slight frown. “Did I ask that?”
Shalla lowered her head. “You did not.” She should have realized that Augur Clari already knew. Mama had been planning on talking with her before she left for the race.
“Focus yourself, child.”
Shalla looked again at the gold star and traced the swirls with her eyes. Augur Clari waited motionlessly as she completed the first wall, then spoke again. “Where did your mother meet this student?”
“Gea Market.”
“Very good. And can you please describe this Raia?”
“She has no bumpy edges,” Shalla said. “Some shimmering lines. Overlapping ovals but they are full of holes.” The holes, she knew from her studies, were from fear. The lines were choices not yet committed to. But the ovals indicated she was on the right path. A truly balanced soul would be all circles, with no sharp or rough edges.
Augur Clari graced her with a slight smile. “Tell me her appearance when not seen with the inner sight.”
“Oh! She’s medium height, as tall as the middle of our kitchen cabinet.” Shalla didn’t know her exact height, but she could picture her, standing in their kitchen. “Black hair that she wears in three braids that she ties together. Her skin is more olive than mine, and she’s prettier when she smiles. Like she’s so surprised that she’s smiling, so she smiles even more.”
“Can you guess her age?”
“She’s seventeen. She told me so.”
“What else did she tell you, about where she’s from and why she’s here?”
Shalla wondered why Augur Clari was asking so many questions about Raia. She wanted to ask her own questions, but that would lead to a