I have explored the city more, with a veil on, of course, and I have created things with my hands. Like pottery and ceramics. Each one brought me closer to knowing myself. Yet, there are still mysteries like my silver magic and Lyra’s magic.
Sunlight slants through the windows and illuminates Corvin as he pours hot water over dried chamomile flowers. Once the tea has steeped to perfection, he places steaming goblets before Emerin and me.
I lift the stoneware to my lips, savoring the warmth that spreads through me as I sip the chamomile tea. The delicate floral notes dance on my tongue, soothing my senses.
Emerin leans forward, her copper hair catching the light as she rests her elbows on the table. “Rora, Corvin was just telling me about a festival in the city next week.”
Corvin nods. “It’s quite the sight to behold—with dancers, entertainers, and acrobats. And there are games of skill and chance.”
“It sounds absolutely wonderful,” I say, letting my imagination paint a vivid picture of the festive scene.
Emerin’s eyes twinkle with barely contained excitement. “We should go. It would be a shame to miss out on such a delightful experience.”
“I’ll ask Ash in the morning.” I smile and slip the book Emerin gave me into my leather satchel. “I’m sure with a little persuasion, we can convince her to join us.”
As we laugh and talk, time slips by unnoticed, like grains of sand through an hourglass. The once golden shafts of light that filtered through the cottage windows have gradually shifted to a deep, burnished orange.
I glance at the window, knowing we need to hurry back to the fortress before we are missed, and Asha sends out a search party. “We should go, Em.”
Emerin nods, and we both stand and head toward the door. Corvin follows and promises to hold on to any new books he finds for Emerin.
ChapterFourteen
ANNORA
As we step outside,I glance up at the lavender sky bleeding into navy blue. My mouth parts at the sheer beauty of it.
“Asha is probably very worried about us,” I say as we walk by a group of children playing a game of chase.
“I know.”
As we thread our way through the thinning crowds, Emerin hums a soft tune. I smile as I think about her secret friend in the city. Her Corvin. She would probably object and say he isn’t hers, but I saw the way they looked at each other.
A sudden movement catches my eye, a cloaked figure darting toward us. His eyes meet mine for a fleeting second before he crashes into Emerin with a sickening thud. With a vicious snap, he rips her silk bag from her belt. Emerin staggers backward and falls to the ground.
“Emerin!” I cry out and help her to her feet.
The thief turns to me next and reaches for my bag, but I react instinctively, kicking him as hard as I can in the leg. He hisses through his teeth and retaliates, smacking me across the cheek with a stinging blow. The force of it knocks me back a step and sends pain throbbing through my face like a pulsing drumbeat.
As if summoned by some unseen signal, another man steps from the shadows. I jerk back, taking Emerin with me, my heart thundering in my ears like a galloping horse. Fear rises in my throat, bitter and choking, as both men close in on us.
I push Emerin behind me, shielding my younger sister with my body. The men lunge toward us, their clammy hands grabbing at my arms like the tentacles of a deep-sea monster.
Rage ignites inside me, a white-hot inferno of uncontrollable fury. It explodes through my veins, setting my blood aflame with its scorching heat. Before I can stop it, before I can even think to try, fire erupts from my palms in a blistering torrent. Twin infernos blast the men away from me with a concussive force that sends them crumbling to the ground.
Horror spikes through me as I stare at my hands. What have I done?
Emerin’s frightened whimper distracts me from my horrified thoughts and spurs me into action. I grab her hand and pull her into a run. We race down the narrow street, booted feet slapping against the dry earth. My lungs burn with effort, and my eyes water against the wind.
I glance back, and my heart drops when the men stagger to their feet. They spit curses and give chase, their longer legs quickly eating up the distance between us.
Fear lodges in my chest as I encourage Emerin to run faster. We dart around startled people, who jump out of our way with frightened cries. But the sound of pounding footsteps only grows louder behind us.
Determination blinds me as I grind Emerin to a sudden stop and push her behind a fruit stall. She crouches down, making herself as small as possible.
Anger once again brings flames roaring to life in my palms. An inferno erupts from me, a wall of fire that slams into the men’s chests with the force of a battering ram. They fly backward and crash into the side of a building before crumpling to the ground like marionettes with their strings severed.
The fire dies as quickly as it came, leaving only the bitter taste of ash in my mouth. I stand there, chest heaving, staring at my trembling hands. The skin is smooth and unmarked, but I still feel the ghost of the flames licking at my fingertips.
