The Diaries of Cordelia Chan

From what I had seen of Isla during the short period we had been together, she was a confident young woman, sure of her position and abilities, yet as Llewella handed her the card there was, just for a second, a look of trepidation written on her face.

Llewella,trumped out and we sat and waited. As the minutes ticked by Isla started to fidget with the trump of Llewella. Her fidgeting intensified until after a couple of minutes I grabbed her arm. I don't think either of us were prepared for what happened next. She looked me straight in the eye, and I was no longer sitting on the terrace of a small villa but directing affairs in the Landsradt, electioneering in Arunkadia, signing deals for the explotation of Elektroneering, flying my first falcon, sailing through the air reeling in pain having been struck by some form of electrical discharge.

As I hit the ground I had a fleeting glipse of a winged creature bolting skyward, its skin flashing with electrical discharges. Then the pain from the electrical burns to my hand, face, and chest set in. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to situp. The terrace was a mess, splintered and burned tables and chairs lay on their backs, shards of broken glass glittered in the flickering light of the bits that were still on fire. Archie was slumped off to one side, but untouched in the middle of the carnage lay Llewella's Trump.

Fighting back the waves of pain I managed to get to my feet and stagger to where the trump lay. Picking it up I fell over and must of blacked out. When I came to I could hear Archie calling my name, he wanted to know what had happened and where Isla was. I said I didn't know and told him to shutup so I could concentrate. It took me some time to clear the fog that had enveloped my thought process enough to be able to concentrate on the Trump. It went cold quickly, and Llewella's mental presence appeared, "Need you to come here. Something happened Isla's gone."

I started forming a dorway, which in my curreent state took a lot of effort. I was now beginning to feel exceedingly tired and needed to sleep. I hoped Llewella had been able to read all the side thoughts I'd been broadcasting and would gauge the situation accordingly. She had. Barely had I made the doorway big enough for someone to get through and she appeared beside me. I let the doorway close and felt her hold the connection open - I wasn't in a position to resist so let her replay what had happened.

"Right Cordellia I need to hold this connection open. You're not to go to sleep. I need about 15 minutes to put a healing spell together and need to concentrate so can't maintain it myself. I'm going to channel the spell down this connection so don't resist it."

I don't know how long I'd been out when I finally woke. No longer was I lying on splintered wood and glass but in a bed. I replyed the events I could remembered. I had managed to keep the connection open as Llewella had requested, although it had wavered several times. I'd felt the surge as the spell bore down the connection, then nothing. It was all black. I looked around. I was in what I guessed was one of the villa bedrooms, watery sunlight peaked through the corner of the window, indicating it must be early morning. A jug of some sort of liquid and a glass rested on a table beside the bed. Realising I was extremely thirsty I poured myself a glass and tasted it. Some sort of fruit juice I thought but couldn't place the taste. I drained the glass and poured another. Refilling the glass for a third time I got out of bed. The spell had done its work, for although I was stiff, most of the effects of the burns had gone. I walked over to the door and opened it, walking out into a corridor. Several doors led off although they were all open. I walked to the end and into the open 'living' area. As I entered Archie turned then looked away.
" You could have at least put a robe on. Llewella left you one on the end of your bed. "
"Where is she?"
"Looking for Isla. Seems your litle stunt caused her to change into 'primal form' so she's not herself right now"
" What 'stunt'? I didn't do anything other than put my hand on hers to stop her fidgeting with Llewella's trump."
"Llewella said you did more than that. Said you invaded her mind. Said that you were reading her like a book, that you violated her like you did me and that her only response was to go primal to escape you."
I was stunned. Now I look back on it I had been reading her but I didn't force her. I just touched her and then she looked into my eyes. "When will they be back?"
"Don't know. Llewella left her trump on the table over there."
"How long have I been asleep? Have you tried calling her?"
About 40 hours, and No - those things give me the creeps."
At least he was looking at me now- well until he realised what he was doing. I walked over to the table and picked the card up.
"Are you going to put some clothes on? It's indecent walking around like that?"
"No. I'm going to call Llewella, then I might go for a run or a swim. Then I'll probably do some Tai Chi, you should find that very enlightening if you want to watch, then I'll have a think about it and see what I can find."

I turned my attention to the card. It was several minutes before Llewella answered. " Can't talk right now Cordellia. Will talk when I get back." and she severed the connection.
" I think she's found Isla." I said to no one in particular as I made my way outside onto the terrace and down to the pool.

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