“I’m a Siren, though. I can detect people’s emotions easily, I don’t need aura training,” Max said dismissively and Geraldine twisted around in her seat.
“Auras are different to emotions, you stagnant stingray,” she said and he pouted.
“Correct,” I agreed. “You may be able to detect emotion, Rigel, but if your enemies have strong emotional shields from you or if they are simply enjoying doing bad deeds, how will you be able to detect them any clearer than someone enjoying their dinner? Auras are more effective in reading a person’s intentions. It is a more subtle, and far more difficult skill to perfect, yet it can give a more accurate read on someone’s character.”
“If you’re so good at it, then why haven’t you found the murderer yet, sir?” Caleb asked, his eyes shooting over to Seth beside him who was fighting to feed himself air through the block I’d cast on his throat.
He was half keeled over the table and I flicked my fingers to release him from choking so he started gasping down air.
“There’s hundreds of people in The Burrows and most of them want absolutely nothing to do with me, Altair,” I gritted out. “If I can train you all in this well, then perhaps one of you will have more success than me in finding the culprit.”
They finally all gave me their full attention as I started explaining the intricacies of detecting auras. But before I could get them trying it out on each other, the door burst open and Hamish walked in with a handkerchief held to his mouth.
“Lance Orion, I need to speak with y-” He retched into the handkerchief and I released a weary sigh. “You,” he forced out, then waved his hand, clearly casting an illusion over me as my face dropped into a scowl.
“Why did you make him look like a lamp?” Darcy growled as Hamish moved toward me through the room.
“It’s just a Milly-modicom easier to address an inanimate object than him, my lady,” Hamish gushed.
“I find I can get used to it if I focus on a point just over his shoulder, Papa,” Geraldine said while my hands curled into fists.
“What do you want, Hamish?” I growled and he reared over, clutching his stomach as he retched, making irritation flare through me.
The Heirs cracked up as Hamish dabbed the corners of his mouth with his handkerchief like a little bit of vomit had come up that time.
“Sorry, it’s the shame, you see?” Hamish muttered. “It’s quite potent.”
“Well let’s have this conversation at double the speed then, yeah?” I pushed, wanting this over with as Hamish nodded, apparently unable to look at me even in lamp form, the bulb flickering as I spoke.
“We need to discuss you being the Master of the Zodiac Guild.” He dry retched several times before he was able to continue. “I am here to offer myself in substitution for that role. It will cause quite the hullabaloo and billabalong if we ask our most loyal royalists to join the Guild under the management of a Power Sha-” He retched. “A Power Sha-” He retched again and I carved a hand down my face in exasperation.
“Enough, Hamish,” I said. “My position isn’t one just chosen by me, it was by my father and the stars too. I can’t do what you’re asking of me. Destiny decided this. I can’t change it.”
“He’s the rightful Guild Master anyway,” Darcy said firmly and Hamish looked at her as he wiped a line of sweat from his brow.
“But what will become of the gallant Guild? How will it ever be reformed? No one will sign up to it under the rule of a shamed Sharleen,” he said in horror, then fell to his knees and gripped Darcy’s hand. “Please, my lady, think of the children.”
“What children? And Orion is the right person for the job, it was his fate. Why can’t you all let go of this stupid Power Shamed crap?” she demanded and Hamish buckled forward, retching like a cat with a hairball lodged firmly in its throat, his back arching and bowing as he heaved up nothing but air and the Heirs burst out laughing.
“Oh sweet, sensitive daddipops.” Geraldine jumped from her seat, helping him upright and he swayed a little as she guided him to the door. “We shall overcome this titanic task. There must be a way to see past his…shame,” she whispered the last word and Hamish battled with another retch as she led him out the door.
I folded my arms, flicking my fingers to dispel the illusion he’d put on me while a gnawing sensation in my gut told me maybe Hamish was right. No one was ever going to respect me as the Guild Master. How was I supposed rebuild it when most of the people in this place wouldn’t even look at me?