SeraCross

Syra woke to her feet dragging across a dark stone floor and rough hands clenching both arms. She flinched at the screeching lock and was hauled into a long, narrow room. “Where…where am I?” Her throat stung and her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. “Home.” The man drug her farther into the room as her eyes adjusted to the dim. Wall to wall, cages towered three-high, all meticulously fashioned from stone and iron. Each inhabitant was pale and crumpled on the floor, eyes ringed and shivering. No cloth was given for cold nor dishes for food. The reek of puss and piss burned the air and seeped from every crevice. The man tossed Syra into a bottom kennel where light from the street window mocked her from above. "Get some rest while you can," he grumbled as he left with a cold slam. The lock clinked and Syra shoved her hands through the bars towards the window. Her hands glowed, but so did her new collar. Searing pain bit into her neck and she heard the sizzling of flesh accompanied by

“Teach it to me,” Syra said, keeping her voice low to not wake the dozing head nestled in her lap, “that songspell you did.” Her strength returned with the mountains and the threat of the approaching city. “Me teach you?” Petra smirked at the proposition of teaching magic to her Lightblooded sister. "Do you even know how to Sing?" “Of course, I do. That's how you found me wasn't it?" "That was screaming. Not Singing." "Either way, I can learn. Plus, if Marrak does attack Altaira, we could be caught against their dragonlances. It’d be safer if we both knew it, just in case.” Petra's brow wrinkled as she rolled the idea around. “Fine,” her raised finger cut off Syra’s yipping, “but, it’s not easy.” She wiggled her fingers, “There's no weaving involved, so it might take you a lot of prac—.” Petra scowled as Syra rummaged through her bag, giving her no notice, “Are you even listening?” “Yes.” Syra pulled paper and quill from her pack. “No weaving; just voice,” she recited as she

Mana leaked from Syra's body before they even reached Rozenfall's station. "We can't stay here." Syra told Aidan as she drained her last mana stone. "Doesn't look like we have much of a choice," he said, surveying the city from the window. "The Manarail is our only way out, so we're stuck until it leaves." Petra groaned and stretched a leg against a crate, "So, what? We just sit and wait?" "Yes. This is Black Thorn Headquarters, remember? Valen specifically told us not to come here." Petra grumbled and attempted a better slipping position, "I hate hiding." "What if we have to...relieve ourselves?" Cassius earned himself raised brows as he tried to hide his fidgeting. "Are you serious?" asked Aidan. "It has been a long ride." "Lovely." Aidan peeked out the window, but only saw guards clustered by the head-end speaking with the engineer. "Alright, hit the bushes and come right back." He slid the door open enough for Cassius to squeeze through. As Cassius vanished behind the