Hessa screamed.
It was short and sharp, and then she folded forward over her knees with both hands pressed against her eyes. Big D caught her before she hit the ground.
"Hessa!"
"It's hot," she gasped. "My orb, it's... it's so hot."
Almond was beside her in a moment. He could see a faint white glow coming from between her fingers, as if she had a lamp held against her face.
"Let go of it," he said. "Stop watching. Close it."
"I'm trying."
She shook. The white glow flared once, very bright. Then it went out all at once, and she sagged against Big D's chest, breathing hard.
For a long moment, nobody moved.
"Hessa?" Orla said quietly.
Hessa lowered her hands slowly. Her eyes were red and wet, but they were her own eyes, and they could see.
"It's gone," she whispered. "It looked at me, and it... it pushed. Like a hand on a door. And then the door was shut." She swallowed. "I can't see the north anymore. I've tried. There's just white. It closed the door on me."
