Chapter Five

“Which one is which?” Essa asked, her gaze darting from one man to the next.

“You don’t know?”

“Well, Rey waded into the water when we arrived at the Silent Castle, so if I had to guess I’d say he must be king of water.”

Of course. Essa hadn’t heard them talking in her head. She didn’t know who was responsible for which spell that had got us out of the Stalwart Emperor’s citadel. The connection between myself and the kings didn’t extend to my sister.

“You’re right, Rey is king of water. Vashri is king of air, Axxon king of earth, and Zephon – Fon – is king of fire.”

Essa nodded. “Rey’s elemental creature is a kelpie, Fon can control the phoenix, Axxon leads a pack of wulvers, and Vashri —”

I did remember the stories, after all. “A dragon,” I finished.

“A wyvern,” she corrected. “Two legs, two wings.”

I watched the kings, trying to imagine it. Just as there was good and evil in our world, so there were good and bad creatures in the underworld. Bad ones, like the boggart or the serpent in the lake, could harm humans. Others, like the creatures the kings commanded, would help us.

The idea of the kings’ elemental creatures ought to terrify me. Instead, I was excited. I could picture a battlefield, the kings and an army of underworld creatures on one side with the Emperor and his human soldiers on the other. “The Emperor won’t stand a chance,” I breathed.

“I think that’s the idea.”

And my surge of optimism fell away like a fleeing wave. “But really – what do they need me for?” I was ready to take on my role, but I still had no idea what that role was meant to encompass. “They command beasts of legend and I … I’m an ordinary girl who can’t even use magic.”

“The guardian is in the legends. And the kings certainly want you.”

I thought Essa might be putting too much faith in Ma’s stories. “What if my role is to do something awful and feature as a fearsome warning to others, like Galosh the Prideful?”

“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.” She grinned. “You forget – I’m the one writing the story. I’ll make sure you’re covered in glory.” Her gleeful expression fell when she saw my face. “Of course, you won’t do anything awful, Kyann. Why would you even think that?”

I laced my fingers, understanding why Essa had taken her worries out on that twig. “I’m not prepared for this. I want to make Pa proud. I want to do the right thing, but I’ve got no idea what I’m supposed to do.”

She hitched to face me more squarely. “One thing at a time. I’m going to earn my keep on this journey by helping you rediscover your magic. Let’s start now.”

“What should I do?” I kept my voice steady, not betraying the sinking sensation in my stomach.

“I think … just try to feel the magic inside you.”

I bit my lip to hold back the protest that there wasn’t any magic inside me. There was magic in everything, even a flower or a stone. I still had it, I just couldn’t access it. That was what had to change. Essa closed her eyes and I followed suit. I tried to feel the magic inside my body.

Nothing. I took a deep breath. And then another. Still nothing. And then the breeze wafted the scent of stew towards us and my stomach growled. I clenched my fists. How had my magic felt when I’d used it before? I tried to think back in time, to when I’d been out in the forest with Pa as a child, learning from him. I’d pushed the memories away when I believed he’d betrayed us, but if the memories were painful now, it was because I missed him, because I was wrong to have doubted him for all those years.

A drop of water slid down my face and I brushed it impatiently away, opening my eyes to check that Essa hadn’t seen. Her eyes were still closed, her expression serene.

I dried the tear and sniffed. Those memories were no use, but I had others. The butterflies I’d conjured for Essa, to keep her walking when we were fleeing from the Emperor’s guards as children. I closed my eyes, reaching for enough magic to create a redwing. Nothing. There was no magic inside me. Or none that was willing to come out and be used.

“This isn’t working. I can’t feel anything.”

Essa’s eyes flashed open. She frowned, then nodded, smoothing her face. “Okay, well, we know I have magic, let’s see how we get on if I lend you some of mine.”

I’d done that as a child with Pa. How odd to be doing the same thing with my baby sister.

Essa held her hands out, palms upwards. Magic flitted down her arms in streaks of blue.

“You can see my magic, can’t you?”

“Yes, I can definitely see it.”

“Good.” She settled back. The blue pooled in her hands. “Now, try to manipulate it.”

My mind was immediately blank. “And do what?”

“Make a bird, or a butterfly.” Essa’s choice was immediate. She’d been remembering the same thing I was. Magic that had once been as easy as breathing for me – until I’d deliberately turned my back on it. I hadn’t tried to use magic – my own or anyone else’s – for seven years.

“You can do it,” Essa told me.

I focused. A butterfly, with her magic. I spread my fingers, trying to pull Essa’s magic towards me. The sheen of blue in her palms didn’t change. Frustrated, I pushed the fingers of one hand into the magic in Essa’s palms.

And the blue vanished.

Essa tugged her hands away as though she’d been burned. “What happened?” She rubbed her hands together, frowning.

“I can’t do this,” I complained. “I’m so bad I just destroyed your magic!”

“Don’t be daft, that’s not possible.” She flexed her fingers and I was more than a little relieved when blue streaks of magic flitted around them again. “No harm done. Give it another try.”

I took a breath, looking reluctantly at the magic wreathing Essa’s hands.

“I’m not going to bite you,” Essa prompted.

I sighed.

“Or we can give up and go back home to Myledene,” she offered.

“No!” I sat straighter. “I’m sorry.” I smiled. “I didn’t mean to be so negative. Just … I’m scared.”

Essa nodded, understanding. “You’re going to do Pa proud, I know it.”

He believed in me. I had to remember that. I did remember that. Confidence flowed through me. Magic settled once more in Essa’s cupped palms. I touched a finger into the blue, picturing the redwing I would send soaring into the sky.

And the magic vanished.

“I’m not doing—”

“Stew’s ready!” Rey’s voice broke my concentration. He stood beside the fire, hands on hips. “If you’re ready?”

I scrambled to my feet. “Very ready!” I sent a guilty look towards Essa. “I’m sorry.” I held out a hand to help her up. “We’ll try again later,” I promised. If I was going to be the guardian, if I planned to earn my place with the four kings, I would have to keep trying until I succeeded.