Read Shadows of the Realm (The Circle of Talia) for Free Online

into their blankets next to the dwindling fire. "Aunt?"
    "Yes?"
    "Will I have my own creatura one day?"
    Her aunt s miled but her voice was serious. "It’s possible. More likely than not, however, first you have to pass a test in the Second Realm."
    "What? Why?"
    Her aunt shook her head. "Well, you obviously aren't ready if you have to ask me that." Bronwyn scowled at her aunt’s chastisement.
    Bronwyn mustered up as much host ility in her voice as she could. "Goodnight then." She lay down with her back to her aunt.
    Avruellen shook her head again and smiled. "Goodnight , dear. If you plan on getting a good night's sleep, I suggest you stop grinding your teeth." Avruellen couldn't resist provoking her niece sometimes. The girl had to be tough if she wanted to withstand what was ahead. Avruellen knew Bronwyn's anger would keep her awake for ages. Avruellen, on the other hand, shut her eyes and was asleep within minutes.
    Bronwyn still carried her scowl at lunch the next day. The energy needed to sustain the beast was making her tired, so she finally dropped it. In order to keep to Avruellen ’s schedule, they ate whilst walking. "I'm sorry I got angry. I know it’s an important and sacred thing to have a creatura, and dangerous if someone has a weak character."
    Avruellen had hoped a night of frustration might make her niece think about why The Circle required her, or anyone for that matter, to successfully complete a task before they could bond with the animal of their choice. "Well I'm glad you worked that out. I once had a friend at The Academy, Milly, who was quite jealous when I bonded with Flux." Br onwyn listened intently, for her aunt’s stories were infrequent and always interesting.
    "She had only been studying the mysteries of the Second Realm for a year and was not nearly ready, and maybe never would have been. She lacked discipline you see." Avruellen raised her eyebrows at her niece. Bronwyn had relatively good discipline but was prone to daydreaming. "Anyway, she was jealous that I had Flux and kept bragging to everyone about how much greater her creatura would be. ”
    “ She doesn’t sound very nice. So what happened?”
    “ I was getting to that. When our teacher at The Academy of the Second Realm found out what she intended, he embarrassed her by punishing her in front of everyone. Three quick cane cuts to the bottom were considered an appropriate punishment for pride and jealousy. To wield power fairly, one must learn humility.  Her punishment made her want to punish everyone in turn, so, without permission, she completed the rites of bonding a creatura.”
    Bronwyn was incredulous at how disobedient Milly had been. Bronwyn would never dream of disobeying her aunt in such a way.
    Avruellen continued.  “It was spring, and the bears were coming out of hibernation. There was a large, black, male bear who had wintered in a cave near the academy, his ferociousness known far and wide. Bears are not recognised for being co-operative and this one was even less co-operative than the average bear. He was also cranky at having been prematurely woken from his slumber by Milly, who bonded him before he could react. What she didn't realize is that the animal must agree to the bonding, as it must spend a lifetime of working hand in hand with a human, or hand in paw as the case may be. If they don't agree, it won't work properly. As I remember it, she was in the cave ordering the bear to come and eat the Professor when the bear decided she was closer and would fill his belly just as well. By the time we arrived, the bear had already gone back to sleep. You know how tired you feel after a big meal—a nap is just the thing to help you digest." Bronwyn thought Avruellen's smile a bit mean, but if Milly was so arrogant and foolish hadn't she deserved it?
    “I have a question. I thought if the animal was bonded to you it would suffer if you died? But the bear went straight back to sleep. How