Chapter 7

Aug 23rd, 2019 - evening

"A Threadreader?" Heidi said, disbelief coloring her voice.

"I know it's hard to believe," Tianna began.

Heidi snorted. "No, what you said really makes sense. Like you understand what I've been dealing with better than even I have."

She shook her head. "No, what is unbelievable is that when faced with someone reading the- What did you call them? Threads of reality? When faced with someone reading those, you settled on calling them Threadreaders. That's lame."

She sighed. "Why not oracles? It's mostly the same thing, right?"

Tianna's eyebrows rose with every word. Then she broke into a grin. "Well, I certainly didn't name the gifts. I'd have definitely gone with a different label for my own."

"Oh? What are you?"

The redhead tilted her head. "I'm a Timesinker. I can time travel, with restrictions." She paused, considering. "Actually, Threadreaders and Timesinkers have often worked together. You can 'see' problems in the past, and I can get us there to fix it. You monitor to make sure it doesn't make things worse."

It was Heidi's turn to raise her eyebrows. "I think that might be a little above my pay-grade."

Tianna smiled and nodded. "For now."

"So you want me and Erik to come live with you and... who, exactly?"

Tianna nodded. "We are M.A.G.U.S. The Magecrafters Alliance Guild of the U.S. We are, all of us, Magecrafters, and we take care of each other, teach each other."

Heidi smirked. "Sounds a bit like a cult."

The woman shrugged. "Yeah, it kind of does, I suppose. But we remember the Burning Times, when those who were too different were murdered by those who were jealous or afraid of us. Safety in numbers, though you don't actually have to live with us once you come of age. Several of the young adults prefer to spend some years away from M.A.G.U.S."

"And the 'work'?"

Tianna smiled. "Well, we can't exactly go around telling people we have a gold Mattermaker, can we? We find things to keep us occupied and feeling useful."

Heidi gaped for a moment. "Mattermaker? Is that what it sounds like? You have someone who... makes gold?"

Tianna nodded. "We did deserve the reputation in the Middle Ages for being miracle workers and alchemists, you see."

Heid pressed her lips together, thinking it over. "What if Erik isn't a... a Magecrafter?"

"He is. We've been watching you for some time, and we are certain your brother is a Golemmer."

The girl shook her head. "Wait. What? You've been watching us? And what is a Golemmer?"

Tianna shook her head. "All of this is just a rabbit hole of information, and not exactly the kind of thing you want to talk about around those who already suspect you of some form of insanity." She stood abruptly. "We can leave now, pick up Erik, and settle you in tonight. Full tour and questions whenever you want after we get you safe."

"Safe?"

"Narida is Unseelie. Selfish, self-serving, power-hungry. She has her eye on you for a reason, and saying 'no' won't slow her down too much." Tianna hesitated. "Unless you are seriously considering her offer?"

"No!" Heidi burst out. She promptly flushed red. "I mean, she freaked me out. I didn't like her."

"Do you trust me?" Tianna asked, holding out her hand. "At least enough to find out more?"

Heidi thought about her choices, or rather, her distinct lack of choices. She eyed the woman in front of her, then slowly reached out to shake the woman's hand. Images flickered through her head for a moment. "I think I do."