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Chapter 11
As soon as the two were alone in Don's room later that night, Mark turned around and confronted his friend head-on. "Okay, Don. How'd you learn to get into my head like that?"
Don met Mark's stony glare and found that he couldn't back down from it. Mark was too good a friend to hide anything from, despite having not spoken to each other in years. He explained how he'd started getting visions early in high school. Then he'd learned he could feel certain vibes from fellow Lhaam individuals. It was only a matter of time afterward that he started slipping into other people's minds without knowing it. He'd been able to train himself the very basics on how to do that, but that was all. When he had finished, Mark was still unimpressed. "Why didn't you ever tell me? Or Mel? Or anyone for that matter? A gift like yours isn't something you should ignore."
Don groaned, knowing he should have expected this reaction as well. "Look, I'm sorry, but I was scared too, all right? I mean, at least there were people around you who saw your gifts and knew what to do. No one paid attention to me and I wasn't about to volunteer that bit of info about myself. I see the hell you guys go through and I wasn't sure if I was ready for that."
Mark laid a sympathetic hand on his friend's shoulder. "If Tanek wanted you to have the gifts then there must be some reason. I guess there must be a reason as to why no one noticed them in you before but I guess that's not what matters. Since no one else is around, it looks like you're stuck with me for some informal training."
A worried look crossed Don's face. "Do you think I'm ready for it?"
Mark smiled. "If you have the gifts, then you're more than ready. Now, let's get you started. You already know how to get into other people's minds quite well. Good job in learning that on your own. It's not an easy task. But now to get you to actually talk to someone…"
The two sat on the bed and spent the rest of the night discussing the basics so that by the time morning came, Don had learned the basics in warfare, what he needed to know about communication, details about his people's hierarchy, and most importantly, his specialty. In the crash course, he leaned that he had a knack for being a Healer, a follower of Hyam.
Mark grinned as they finished his lesson for the time being. "We're lucky you're a Healer. Something tells me that we'll be needing those skills of yours soon."
Don stifled a yawn and smiled sheepishly. His eyes were dark though; serious thoughts lingered in his mind. "Let's hope not, Mark."
The two rose and left to join the others at breakfast. When they opened his door though, something lay at their feet. On a tray was an envelope. Seeing no one around, Don took the items back in. Glancing at Mark, he turned the envelope over and opened the flap. He took out the note and read it aloud.
Your dream of her pain and her blood will soon be reality, Healer. Her piercing screams will echo throughout the land and there is nothing you can do about it. If you want to find her, I suggest you start looking. X marks the spot, remember. Enjoy the treasure hunt guys. Here's your first clue:
Marshy land overtakes this famous lake. What will you find there? What else would you expect but mud at this time of year? Still, maybe you can find Half Dome's grand face reflected red in pools of water here and there.
And so begins the hunt. You won't find much treasure left after I'm through though. Then again, neither of you will be around much longer either. See you soon. I can't wait!
"What do you make of that?" Don asked as he handed Mark the letter.
After he'd skimmed it once for himself, he frowned. "I have no clue."
"Come on then. We may as well go to breakfast now before we're missed."
As he opened the door once more, a tapping sound was heard from the door handle. Don looked down and paled. There, his necklace swung. Mark noticed and went to touch it. Upon letting the cool wood touch his skin however, he drew back in pain. Don questioned him with his eyes before reaching to retrieve his stolen necklace. He felt nothing unusual and commented so to his friend.
"You forget I'm part Seer too, Don. I saw and felt something horrible," he whispered back. "And besides," he continued, watching closely as his friend drew to put the string of wooden beads around his neck. "The pendant's been soaked in blood."