But it’d been more than a couple. An eternity of them weighed on her shoulders. To be fair, it was only twenty-six sun jumps since she’d sacrificed her eyes, but she’d expected to have accomplished more. Jayden was right. They lacked resources. They needed to strengthen their numbers. Especially if they were going to rescue Hanif and Kaveri, find the hidden maze, and stop a merchant from selling his valuable goods. She studied the four ex-acolytes.

“Oh no, do you see that look on Shyla’s face?” Lian asked her friends. “She’s up to something. Well, it’s been nice, but I’ve sand to shovel.” She gave a jaunty wave.

“Nice try,” Shyla said, tugging Lian back. “Sit down.” She explained her experiments with Mojag and Gurice to them. “I’d like to see if you have the potential to wield magic.”

“Does that mean you’ll read our souls?” Rae asked. She pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them.

“No. Yes. Not exactly.”

“That was clearly confusing,” Jaft said.

“I won’t dig for your innermost desires and secrets. I’m searching for your potential. I might learn something about you, but it’s usually just surface thoughts and emotions. It’s up to you.”

“I think knowing I have potential to wield magic is worth Shyla knowing I hate my father,” Lian said.

“We all know you hate him,” Elek said. “If I ever meet him…” He punched a fist into his hand. “I’m going to pummel him.”

“After I’m done with him,” Lian said.

“What if we’re cracked? Then what?” Rae asked.

“I’ll try to open it. Expand it.” Shyla mimed pulling apart a druk.

“Try to? That doesn’t sound very reassuring,” Jaft said.

“I’m still working on that part. Once I figure it out, then I’ll open everyone with potential.”

“I’m feeling better already.”

“Ignore him, we always do,” Lian said. “I’m in.”

The other three also agreed.

“What do we need to do?” Rae asked.

“Relax.” Shyla grabbed a handful of sand and poured it on the table. “I want you to gather your energy and try to move the sand.” She explained the process of using magic as best she could.

Lian went first, then Jaft, Elek, and finally Rae. Nothing she encountered while searching for that inner light surprised her, except for Rae.

The petite woman was a sun-kissed. Burn scars marked her skin from when she’d been abandoned in the desert. Rae dyed her hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes in order to blend in. Only the monks knew what she was and she wanted to keep it that way. And, of the four, Rae was the only one with potential. As Rae focused on the sand, a sliver of light glowed inside her.

“Figures,” Lian said when Shyla told them.

“At least I’m still young and handsome,” Jaft said, eliciting groans all around.