Kriki's Gift, Chapter XXIX, Reading 7

Her uncomfortable thoughts pulled her focus deeper into the fear until it was nearly choking her reason.  Unconsciously, her body translated her growing terror to her hands and she slowly started to tighten the reins and stiffened her position in the saddle.  Badger finally protested with a snort and he pulled against her grasp to loosen the reins.  His ears were turned toward her - not in an aggressive fashion - but as if he was trying to gauge her mood for she had so dramatically changed how she was connecting to him through rein and saddle.

Carra noticed what she was doing and eased her grip.  Fear still clouded her thoughts and out of instinct and long habit, she uttered a silent prayer for help.

"Spirit, please protect me."

The words reminded her of Flindra's chant, which she now drew back into her attention and repeated forcefully and emphatically in a low voice.  She didn't care if the soldiers heard her - she needed to hear herself pray.  Her thoughts cleared as she spoke and heard the protective words and she shook her head in disgust at her previous foolishness.  Why was she thinking this nonsense and getting herself all worked up into a panic?  The Valkea's forces had no chance of overwhelming the might of the men protecting her, much less the hundreds of experienced warriors who were in position to jump into battle as soon as the enemy surfaced.

She glanced about herself and saw tension and, yes, even fear on the faces of the men around her and she instantly knew the near panic she had felt was not of her making.  They may be an hour away from the spot they anticipated to be ambushed at, but the Valkea was already toying with their thoughts!

"Men of Unaya!" she called out loudly.  "The Enemy is upon us and clouding our reason.  Spirit around us," she shouted.  "Spirit within us!"

Lieutenant Haxton heard her and shook his head to clear the grim and dangerously foolish thoughts that had filled his mind to distraction.  He suddenly realized that the sanctity of his own thoughts had been violated, and was embarrassed that he'd allowed it to happen.  He turned his glance to Carra, took note of the courage filling her eyes, and was deeply impressed that she had been the first one to recognize that the lies of the Valkea's deceptions had been twisting their minds.  She may be a sheltered daughter of a noble family, but she possessed intelligence, wisdom, and courage in large measure.  She was an equal to any of the soldiers he'd had the privilege to serve with.

"Spirit protect us!" he chanted loudly in unison with her.  "Spirit direct us!"

Other men joined in the chorus of the Queen's chant and soon their impassioned voices became a clarion call of reason, a wave of truth that rippled outward to free the minds of their comrades from the grip of the Valkea's deceptions.