Page 75 of The Fury She Holds
Rain tipped his drink in Carrick’s direction. “He probably should have. The bed sat empty since Tal went missing for the next five days.”
Sybil cackled. “Not missing, just drowning her fury with Pochette’s Mud Water at Gale’s.”
“Is that why you’re always drinking?” Faron asked.
Talwyn sipped her ale to hide her shame. “It doesn’t block my fury completely—”
“Unless you’re four pints in!” Sybil interrupted.
“Which she usually is.” Carrick shook his head.
Tal held her hands up in surrender. “My fury calls to me. The stronger the call, the harder it is to resist. The more ale I drink, the easier it is to ignore it, and the harder it is to pull my fury out.”
“And then when you get good and pissed off, nothing but a batch of the revolting poison that is Mud Water can keep the flames at bay,” Rain chimed in. He shivered at the mention of the bitter drink that could knock out a horse.
Tal shrunk further into her spot against the wall. “It’s notthatbad. You gain a taste for it eventually.”
“Sure.” Sybil threw a bite of bread at Tal. “Just don’t plan on kissing anyone for a while.”
Tal’s gaze shot to Faron, and she noticed the way his lips twitched. She forced her focus to the cool drink in her hands before she turned as red as a rose.
Faron shook his head. “And none of you are concerned that a Fury spends a majority of her time surrounded by highly flammable substances?”
He received blank stares.
“Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it.” Tal shrugged. He had a point.
“And no one tells Tal what to do,” added Egan.
That was the last night Tal drank anything to dull her fury. She’d had control of her magic for weeks now and had built her stores significantly as she practiced each night.
A week later, she and Faron sat in the common area working on Tal’s hold on her magic. “Alright, wise tutor, what new task will you have me do today?” She set down her faerie water, a mix of mashed up fruits, fresh water, and honey.
Faron stopped bringing ale when he learned it dulled Tal’s fury. “You need a clear head to train properly,” he’d said.
Tonight, the faerie water offered not only a substitute to her usual pint of ale but also a reprieve from the stifling summer’s heat. Tal wore a torn-up shirt with ties up to her shoulders to give her arms some air.
Faron stretched out across from her, his back against the wall. “What did we master last? One flame on each finger?”
“Almost.” Tal called up the flames and stared pointedly at the noticeably flame-free pinky on her left hand.
“Poor little guy. He’s trying.”
Tal grunted and snuffed out the flames.
“You and your flaming toes will get there soon.” He winked when Tal stuck her tongue out at him. “You know what would be really impressive?”
She crossed her arms. “Do I want to know?”
“I can see it now. Talwyn the Fearsome, engulfed in flames, stalking the streets as her enemies run in fear.”
She snorted and shook her head. “More like Talwyn the Turbulent. It’s easier than concentrated spots, but I’ve only managed full body flame when I can’t control my fury.”
“You’ve already done it? Fascinating! You really are incredible, do you know that?”
Tal didn’t answer.
“What happens to your hair?”
