Haven kept its peace throughout the night, watching over me as I slept curled up with Fable before the Firstlight Inn's fireplace. My sleep was troubled by dreams and visions, and the weight of mana against my soul continued to mount.
I awoke feeling lazy and lethargic, yawning and blinking groggily. "Gods," I mumbled, pressing a hand to my temple. A dull ache pounded behind my eyes, and worse, my soul throbbed. I felt like I hadn't slept at all.
Fable's tail slid under my arms and lifted me to my feet. I yawned again and stumbled to the table. The inn room was too cramped for a creature of his size, and his shaggy flank blotted out the only window.
I collapsed into a chair, groaning and clutching my head. The pain faded as I whispered a life magic spell, but using mana drew my attention to just how tight my soul was. Every fiber strained and stretched, tearing in long, jagged lines of fire. I hissed through my teeth, gripping my horn so hard it ached something fierce.
