ã€ŠBeginnings: A Kyprian Prophecy Origins Novella (Spellbinding YA Fantasy)ã€‹


 Prologue: She Should Have Seen It

    How hadn¡¯t she seen this? How, after all these years in exile with nothing to do but relive the memories of everything that had been taken from her¡­How hadn¡¯t she known?

    Yes, she was far from her homeland, her powers weakened, but she could still see things¡­and this was no ordinary thing. This was something that should have been ingrained on her very soul. It must have taken the most powerful Kengian magic to mask it from her all this time.

    Like every Kengian, she had been born with magic in her veins. With the right training and dedication, Kengians could become one with nature and with every living object¡¯s lifeforce, or kira. They could use their understanding of kira to weave a complex dialogue with the natural elements. They could harness the power within nature, performing feats such as making crops flourish in once barren lands.

    Then there were the silver-eyes, who were even more attuned to nature. They could hear and understand the gurgling voice of a waterfall. The air¡¯s whispers in the wind. The creaking greeting of a bamboo forest. Some could even perform simple tricks, like moving a stone without touching it, and one silver-eyes in every generation of the Kengian royal family was gifted with extraordinary elemental magic. They had the power to bend nature to their will ¨C magnifying it, manipulating it and moulding it to their own needs.

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    Those Kengians not born to wield magic learnt it. There were Shamans, who could meld their minds with animals and catch glimpses of the past and possible futures, and there were Scholars ¨C those who studied science and spells that captured and shaped the essence of kira.

    She was all of these things and none of them. She was much more.

    Not only could she be at one with a creature, she could transform herself into one. She didn¡¯t just see occasional visions of what may happen; she could divine the future and prophesise on command. She saw the invisible threads that bound every lifeforce in this world and could call on them to do her bidding. She was the light and darkness itself.

    So only she could understand that the most powerful magic in all of Kypria was in play, and only she knew who was capable of conjuring up the spell to conceal this from her¡­The only other living Firemaster.

    And now that she did know, she and all those she loved would be avenged.

    A new future must be forged.

    <hr>

 Chapter 1: Blah, Blah Blergh!

    ¡®What do you think?¡¯

    The Kengian Princess¡¯s silver eyes danced as she twirled in front of Laha. Her silver-and-blue brocade gown caught the morning light that streamed through the shutters.

    ¡®I think you would look just as good, and be more comfortable, if you weren¡¯t wearing those ridiculous Lamorian fashions,¡¯ Laha grumbled, much preferring her simple Kengian tunic and wide-legged pants over corsets and hoop skirts.

    And if Laha was being honest with herself, she didn¡¯t want to dress like Mary for reasons other than practicality. She would always be a poor imitation of the Princess. They were both silver-eyes, but that was where their similarities ended. Mary was tall, polished and graceful, while Laha was petite and had a disordered look about her that one might describe as wiry, if they were being kind, or downright wild if they were being truthful.

    Princess Mary ignored Laha¡¯s barb and examined herself in a mirror. She whirled her fingers over her head, her air magic creating a shimmering halo before strands of hair curled and fixed themselves in place.

    ¡®Ha!¡¯ she cried. ¡®Looks like my powers are returning.¡¯

    ¡®Good for you,¡¯ Laha muttered.

    Mary¡¯s face fell as she seemingly realised that Laha may not be as thrilled as she was about her powers returning. She changed the subject. ¡®You can¡¯t tell me you aren¡¯t even a little excited about this ¨C the joust is the best part of the festivities,¡¯ she said, overly brightly.

    Laha crossed her arms. Her monkey friend, Chaos, who stood on her shoulders, mimicked her. ¡®That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m saying. It¡¯s just another tournament. They seem to have them every second week around here.¡¯

    ¡®That¡¯s not true. The last one was the victory celebration almost a year ago, and the time before that was when we first came here¡­a lifetime ago.¡¯

    Princess Mary and her companion Laha had first arrived at the Lamorian Court with the Kengian King and Queen. The Kengian royal family had been visiting Lamore to negotiate a formal peace and trade agreement between the two neighbouring kingdoms. They couldn¡¯t have known that their visit ¨C or more specifically, Laha¡¯s actions on that visit ¨C would precipitate a deadly invasion that threatened all of Kypria. Now that there was peace again, Mary and Laha remained in Lamore to cement the alliance. One might think that Laha would prefer to be back in Kengia, but she didn¡¯t belong there¡­She didn¡¯t belong anywhere.

    ¡®I don¡¯t see the point of these things,¡¯ she whined. ¡®All the puffed-up pageantry. Swordplay with blunted blades. Firing arrows at targets made of straw.¡¯ Laha rolled her eyes. ¡®And don¡¯t even get me started on jousting¡­I mean, what is even the point of that? It¡¯s not like anyone turns up at a battle with ridiculously long pointed sticks and starts poking each other with them.¡¯

    ¡®So it¡¯s not exciting enough for you ¨C not like fighting for our lives?¡¯ Mary replied.

    Exciting was one word for what had happened. Exhilarating and thrilling were the other words Laha would use. She was the one who had accidentally opened a portal to another world. She and Mary, wielding their Kengian magic, and the Lamorian Princes, Emberto and Alfred, using temporarily acquired powers, had defeated the invaders, and life had gone back to normal¡­or become exceedingly dull, in Laha¡¯s view.

    ¡®Now that you mention it, yes, that was exciting. No pretend battles. It was real. We had real adventures!¡¯

    Chaos leapt from Laha¡¯s shoulder onto a settee and started throwing air punches.

    ¡®That¡¯s the difference between you and me,¡¯ Mary said. ¡®I¡¯d prefer boring old tournaments over nearly dying. Boring old tournaments mean we¡¯re at peace. And that¡¯s something we can really celebrate¡­with events like these.¡¯

    ¡®Blah, blah, blergh!¡¯ Laha shook her head. ¡®You¡¯re talking like a Queen already. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re going to marry that bore.¡¯

    Mary pursed her lips. ¡®I know you don¡¯t mean that. Alfred is a good man.¡¯

    Alfred and Laha made a habit of butting heads. She thought he was a goody-two-shoes and he thought she was a ¡®foolhardy troublemaker¡¯. Yes, they¡¯d fought side-by-side, but he¡¯d made it clear that he didn¡¯t fully trust her ¨C or the unpredictable darkness that lived inside her.

    ¡®A man now, is he?¡¯ Laha went on. ¡®What, because he¡¯s turned eighteen?¡¯

    ¡®He¡¯s man enough to have saved both of our lives more than once.¡¯

    Laha snort-laughed. ¡®I think you¡¯ll find we saved the stuck-up royal jackass just as many times.¡¯

    Mary took a deep breath. ¡®Look, we¡¯re not getting married for another twelve months or more, so you¡¯ll have time to¡­get used to it. And I¡¯m not marrying him because I have to, I¡¯m marrying him because I want to. I love him.¡¯

    Never had the two-year age gap between them felt so vast. ¡®I suppose there¡¯s no accounting for taste,¡¯ Laha replied.

    ¡®Why do you make it so¡­¡¯ Mary¡¯s voice rose angrily. ¡®So hard for people to¡ª¡¯ She bit her lip.

    ¡®Like me? Love me?¡¯ Laha yelled. ¡®That¡¯s what you were going to say, wasn¡¯t it?¡¯

    Laha hated fighting with Mary. The Princess was her closest friend ¨C had been her only friend for so long, but she was angry. Furious, in fact, that Alfred was taking Mary from her. It didn¡¯t help that Laha had lost all of her powers and had no idea if they would ever return. And where did that leave her? Who was she without Mary, without her magic ¨C with nothing but the darkness to sustain her?

    She was nothing now but a royal companion, sentenced indefinitely to a monotonous and ordinary life of service at court.

    ¡®I¡¯ll see you at the tournament,¡¯ Mary said in a weary voice, and left the room.

    Laha swung open the doors and yelled after her. ¡®You¡¯ll see me. I¡¯ll be the one dying of boredom.¡¯

    She stomped back to the settee, where Chaos yawned and pretended he was falling asleep.

    ¡®You get me. You love me, don¡¯t you, Chaos?¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s not just him,¡¯ came a familiar voice behind Laha.

    She spun around to see Prince Emberto ¨C or Bertie, which was what Laha insisted on calling him.

    ¡®What did you say?¡¯

    Bertie¡¯s eyes widened. ¡®I mean, I get you¡­not love you,¡¯ he stammered. ¡®Well, not like that¡­I mean¡ª¡¯

    ¡®I should think not. Love! Who¡¯s got time for that rubbish?¡¯ Laha forced a laugh. It wasn¡¯t like she was in love with Bertie, but she liked him above anyone, except perhaps Mary when they weren¡¯t fighting. So she couldn¡¯t say that his comment hadn¡¯t hurt a little.

    Bertie gave a relieved smile, oblivious to Laha¡¯s conflicted feelings. ¡®You¡¯re not dressed for the tournament,¡¯ he said.

    ¡®Yes I am.¡¯

    He grinned. ¡®Well, I think you look marvellous.¡¯

    Chaos jumped up and down, making a squeaking noise. He was wearing a purple velvet waistcoat ¨C the colour of royalty. Laha had made it for him as a joke. Everyone assumed Chaos was a pet, but he was much more to Laha. Ever since she had broken him out of the Lamorian King¡¯s private zoo, Chaos had become her confidant, her connection to the animal world and the Shamanic powers she¡¯d once had.

    ¡®Yes, yes, you too, Chaos,¡¯ Bertie addressed the monkey. ¡®You look mighty fine.¡¯

    Chaos bowed.

    ¡®You looking forward to today?¡¯ Laha asked.

    Bertie sighed. ¡®I know he¡¯s my brother and I should want to celebrate his birthday and his betrothal, but I find the whole thing¡­I don¡¯t know¡­boring.¡¯

    Laha nodded her agreement. Bertie got her. He got everything about her, and wasn¡¯t scared of her¡­not even of her darkness.

    She remembered what he had been like when she¡¯d first met him. The awkward younger Prince who was desperate to prove he was as good as his brother. He¡¯d spent his whole life in Alfred¡¯s shadow, unable to match his brother¡¯s athleticism, strength or even his social skills. But Laha had showed Bertie there was more to life than wanting to be someone else, and had helped him leverage his own unique gifts, which included a perfect memory. She had introduced him to adventure. After she¡¯d opened the portal, Bertie had been given the ability to see across space and time, but he had lost that power too.

    Laha could tell by the lost look in his eyes that he didn¡¯t know where he fit in this new world, either. She wanted to cheer him up.

    ¡®Not to worry. We¡¯ll go together and I¡¯ll keep you entertained with witty commentary and scathing appraisals of the fashions at court.¡¯

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    Bertie laughed ¨C a genuine laugh that went all the way to his dark eyes. ¡®Agreed.¡¯

    * * *

    Tournaments in Lamore were an impressive sight¡­to most. The week-long events, which included swordfighting and archery, were open to all Lamorians to attend. But it was the joust that attracted the most interest.

    The tiltyard, an empty field of dirt on any other day, was bursting with activity. The competitors¡¯ armour shone in the silver sun¡¯s morning light. Squires and pages raced here and there, fetching shields, weapons and horses. Colourful banners from each noble house marked the edges of the field. Hundreds of spectators lined each side of the tiltyard. The nobility sat in tents or pavilions, while other Lamorians sat in wooden stands or on the ground. Between the tiltyard and the castle were rows of market stalls. Chaos jumped from Laha¡¯s shoulder as she and Bertie approached a stall selling honey cakes. He snatched a cake from the surprised stallholder before scurrying away.

    ¡®Oi!¡¯ the stallholder shouted after them.

    Bertie shot Laha a warning look.

    ¡®He was hungry,¡¯ she said by way of explanation.

    Bertie shook his head before returning to apologise to the stallholder and pay for the cake.

    ¡®Delicious?¡¯ Laha asked the monkey, and Chaos nodded with a grin.

    Bertie ran to catch up just as Laha reached the tiltyard. ¡®You can¡¯t let that monkey run wild like that.¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s not like I can control him¡­not anymore.¡¯

    Over the last year, Laha had learnt how to call on flora and fauna for assistance. As part of her early Shaman training, she had mastered the ability to reach into an animal¡¯s mind and ask for its cooperation. She had been forced to learn the difference between being at one with a creature and controlling it¡­but now she could do neither. Losing her powers had been like losing a part of herself. The loss festered away like a black hole in her heart.

    Seeing her pain, Bertie¡¯s eyes flooded with concern.

    Laha forced herself to look away. Her gaze went to the most elaborate pavilion, where the Lamorian King and Queen sat. Prince Alfred, in all of his finery, sat by his father¡¯s side, Mary next to him. They were the picture of perfection. As handsome as each other. The permanent courtier¡¯s smiles that came easily to them plastered on their faces as they acknowledged each noble and knight who came near.

    ¡®Look at them,¡¯ Laha sniffed, turning back to meet Bertie¡¯s gaze. ¡®Sitting up there like painted dolls.¡¯

    Bertie pushed back an unruly black curl from his forehead. The curl, of course, immediately sprang back to its original position. ¡®It¡¯s their job¡­I guess.¡¯

    Laha looked him squarely in his eyes. ¡®And what¡¯s our job? What are we supposed to do? Play the adoring friend and brother? Fill our days playing cards and reciting poetry? I¡¯d rather be dead.¡¯

    He grabbed her wrist, not too firmly but enough to ground her. His touch was warm and familiar. ¡®Don¡¯t say that,¡¯ he said in a low whisper.

    A single tear pricked her eye. She forced it back and extricated herself from his grip.

    ¡®Laha,¡¯ Bertie said, with one of his ever-so-serious looks. ¡®There will always be a place here for you.¡¯

    ¡®Perhaps¡­¡¯ She smiled, wanting to acknowledge Bertie¡¯s kindness, but she didn¡¯t believe there was a place for her at court¡­and she didn¡¯t desire it. She¡¯d seen enough at the castle to know that the life of a courtier was mundane, tedious and mind-numbingly boring. Laha ached for excitement. Opportunities to develop and wield her powers¡­if they ever returned. Why had she been born with such abilities if she¡¯d never have the chance to do anything with them? There must be a reason for the darkness that lived and called inside her.

    Laha¡¯s Governess had spent years working with her, trying to teach her to control the darkness. She¡¯d taught Laha to resist her most destructive urges, to bury those urges deep within her. But it was a constant struggle. Laha could sense the darkness clawing away inside at her, threatening to burst from her¡­and do what? She didn¡¯t know.

    But what if she didn¡¯t have to fight it? What if she embraced the darkness and learnt to harness it for¡­for whatever purpose it was needed? Surely Mary and Alfred could use someone like her as a protector¡­a weapon, even. Maybe there would be a place for her then, once her powers returned¡­because her powers would return. They had to.

    Laha turned back to Bertie. ¡®You¡¯re right,¡¯ she said with forced enthusiasm. ¡®Of course they need us. They¡¯ll be too busy trying to make everyone love them ¨C they will need us to do all the hard and unpopular stuff.¡¯

    Bertie frowned. ¡®I¡¯d like to be popular too.¡¯

    ¡®But you are¡¯ ¨C Laha batted her eyes dramatically ¨C ¡®with us.¡¯ She indicated herself and Chaos, who blew Bertie a kiss.

    Bertie shoved her playfully. ¡®Yeah, right,¡¯ he said as his cheeks flushed cherry-red.

    A herald¡¯s trumpet sounded and every eye went to the royal pavilion, where the King was announcing Alfred and Mary¡¯s betrothal. There was much cheering. The King leant over the front of the pavilion and released a gold cord holding up a velvet curtain. The curtain fell to the ground to reveal an emblem. In each corner was a different symbol. A Kengian starling, representing the element of air. A phoenix, representing fire, and a koi fish for water. At the centre of the emblem was a yew seed, representing the sacred tree ¨C the source of all Kengian magic. In the last remaining corner was a lion: the Lamorian King¡¯s insignia.

    The crowd cheered even more.

    ¡®It¡¯s Alfred and Mary¡¯s coat of arms, made to mark their betrothal,¡¯ Bertie explained.

    ¡®Blergh.¡¯ Laha and Chaos mimed being sick, and Bertie laughed.

    At that moment, Mary caught Laha¡¯s eye and compressed her lips. Alfred followed her gaze, his brow furrowed. Laha and Chaos pulled silly faces at them in response, and Bertie joined in.

    ¡®Don¡¯t you two have anything better to do?¡¯

    A stern voice behind them. The Governess.

    Battleaxe, Laha mouthed to Bertie.

    Laha and the Governess had a complicated history. When Laha had been orphaned as a baby, the Governess had put her in the care of the Institute in Kengia. There, she had studied with other Kengians who showed a particular affinity with kira and were training to become Shamans or Scholars. There, Laha had earned a reputation as a troublemaker ¨C someone who couldn¡¯t control her powers. The instructors had been scared of her. The other students had avoided her. After an altercation with the High Shaman, Laha had been kicked out of the Institute. So the Governess had found a position for her as Mary¡¯s companion ¨C a position Laha appreciated, but one that also meant she was under constant watch.

    Laha turned to give the Governess her most congenial smile.

    The Governess narrowed her eyes ¨C silver like Laha¡¯s and Mary¡¯s, but tired and dull like unpolished metal. With her grey-flecked dark hair coiled in a severe bun and the walking stick at her side, she looked much older than her forty-or-so years. The Governess blamed the stress of being Laha¡¯s guardian for her premature ageing, but that was only part of the story. Beneath her matronly exterior were magnificent powers ¨C she was a Firemaster, a keeper of the most powerful Kengian magic. Without her guidance and her ability to transform into a fire-wielding phoenix, Kypria may have been defeated during the invasion.

    Laha couldn¡¯t understand how someone with such powers could possibly be content with her current role, which consisted of nothing more than monitoring her charges and ordering them about ¨C or, more specifically, ordering Laha about to correct her behaviours.

    ¡®We were just admiring Mary and Alfred and how fine they appear,¡¯ Laha said in a sickly sweet voice.

    The Governess looked to Bertie for confirmation. He nodded vigorously ¨C Bertie was simultaneously terrified and in awe of the Governess.

    She sniffed. ¡®Mary and Alfred are deserving of everyone¡¯s admiration. They are doing the right thing for our kingdoms ¨C the right thing for all of us. From this day forth they must put their countries before themselves. They will be entrusted with heavy responsibilities and must make great sacrifices.¡¯

    ¡®Is that a vision you¡¯ve had?¡¯ Laha asked cheekily.

    A shadow passed over the Governess¡¯s face and she opened her mouth as if to say something, before changing her mind. After a long pause, she spoke. ¡®Mary and Alfred will need the both of you.¡¯

    ¡®There¡¯s not much of a calling for a second Prince,¡¯ Bertie grumbled.

    ¡®Or a rejected Shaman,¡¯ Laha said.

    The Governess¡¯s expression softened. ¡®You must both play a part.¡¯

    ¡®But how?¡¯ Laha asked. ¡®I¡¯ve lost my powers.¡¯

    ¡®Yours will come back¡­when you¡¯re ready for them.¡¯

    ¡®And mine?¡¯ Bertie asked hopefully.

    The Governess frowned. ¡®I¡¯m afraid not. You¡¯re not Kengian like Laha. Your powers were linked to the portal and died when it closed.¡¯

    ¡®A rotten way to be thanked for saving the whole known world,¡¯ Laha said.

    ¡®You will find your calling, Emberto,¡¯ the Governess told him, not unkindly. ¡®As will you, Laha. In the meantime, you must support Alfred and Mary. When they take their thrones, they will look to you for guidance and assistance.¡¯

    Bertie¡¯s eyes lit up, but Laha¡¯s face burned ¨C the Governess had given him false hope.

    ¡®There can only be one King and Queen,¡¯ she snapped. ¡®They will neither need nor want our assistance ruling the two kingdoms. We¡¯re no more useful than the sycophantic followers and nobles at court.¡¯ Her voice grew higher and louder with each word. ¡®We¡¯re worse than that. We¡¯ve had a taste of what it¡¯s like to have a purpose. They don¡¯t know the difference¡­but we do. We know our irrelevance and the unfulfillment that comes with it.¡¯

    Seeing the crushed look on Bertie¡¯s face, Laha regretted going so far in front of him¡­but she didn¡¯t regret what she¡¯d said. She had meant every word.

    ¡®Laha!¡¯ the Governess barked. ¡®What am I supposed to do with you?¡¯ She threw her free hand up in frustration. ¡®Please¡­at the very least, show Alfred and Mary some respect ¨C they are our future.¡¯ She spun on her heel and hobbled away at an unexpectedly fast pace.

    Laha¡¯s fingers curled into fists by her sides. She did respect Mary and Alfred¡­sort of. She just couldn¡¯t accept that that meant living in their shadows and giving up her desires. She had her own destiny, she was sure of it, even if she didn¡¯t know what it was.

    She relaxed her hands and turned to Bertie with a mischievous smile. ¡®Do you want to get out of here?¡¯

    Bertie tilted his head and gave her a look that said: You remember what happened last time you took me on an adventure?

    She grabbed him by the hand. ¡®Come on, scaredy-cat.¡¯

    Laha led Bertie past the lines of stalls, weaving their way through the crowds. Chaos scampered away in search of sweets. Bertie wanted to stop at a stand that offered prizes for knocking over bottles with a ball, but Laha wouldn¡¯t let him. She wanted to get away, as far away as possible.

    She started running, ignoring Bertie¡¯s protests as she pulled him along. They reached the end of the stalls and the castle loomed before them. Laha did an about-turn, veering back behind the tiltyard and stalls and heading in the direction of the woodlands.

    ¡®Where are we going?¡¯ Bertie cried.

    Laha looked back at him and gave a wicked grin. ¡®Anywhere but here!¡¯

    They ran and ran across the grounds, carving a trail through a field of wildflowers. They only stopped when they reached the top of a small rise, where Bertie begged to catch his breath. The Prince doubled over, sucking in lungfuls of oxygen, but Laha was barely puffed. She put her hands on her hips and surveyed the landscape as if it were her own kingdom. To the north-west she could see the snow-topped Nymoi Alps on the horizon: the gateway to Kengia. She expected to get some kind of feeling from seeing the mountains ¨C a sense of home or belonging, but there was nothing.

    Her gaze went to the woods; they were still some distance away, but usually she would have heard something ¨C the baritone voices and rustling whispers from the oaks, elms, pine and silver birch. Laha missed even the simplest of her silver-eyes¡¯ powers. A bitter taste rose in her throat and she looked away.

    Her eyes fell on something at the bottom of the hill. Something entirely out of place. A lone tent, its battered sides rippling in the slight breeze.

    A chill rushed through Laha¡¯s veins. The cold gushed through her body, churning in her belly. She should have felt sick ¨C scared, even ¨C but she didn¡¯t. For the first time in months, she felt¡­alive.

    She took a deep breath and stood a little taller, embracing the powerful sensation that stirred inside her. Then the chill petered away like frost in the morning sun. A warmth grew in its place, spreading to every limb. A burning, exhilarating energy. The darkness dancing within her.

    ¡®What is that doing there?¡¯ came Bertie¡¯s incredulous voice beside her.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know¡­¡¯ she said slowly. Her whole body tingled, and a wide smile broke across her face. ¡®But I¡¯m going to find out.¡¯

    She ran down the hillside, uncaring of Bertie¡¯s cries for her to come back. Her smile grew even wider when she heard him say ¡®Blast¡¯, and hurried footsteps sounded behind her.

 Chapter 2: Too Late Now

    Laha and Bertie stood at the opening of the tent. It was made from heavily worn and patched canvas. It was the kind of tent one might expect Kengian travellers to use ¨C wandering folk who went from town to town peddling trinkets and trades. There was no indication of what or who may be inside, but the closer they¡¯d got to the tent, the more the glowing heat within Laha had grown.

    ¡®I don¡¯t think we should go inside¡­¡¯ Bertie said. ¡®Whoever they are, they shouldn¡¯t be here, and they might be danger¡ª¡¯

    But Laha already had one hand on the tent opening and was pulling it aside.

    She stepped inside with a grumbling Bertie on her heels. ¡®This is not a good idea,¡¯ he whispered into the blackness as he followed Laha into the tent. It was pitch-dark except for a few shafts of light coming through unpatched holes in the canvas. ¡®Not a good idea,¡¯ Bertie repeated in a low whisper.

    ¡®Too late now,¡¯ Laha said as her eyes adjusted to the darkness.

    She could just make out the shape of a small, hooded figure seated at a table by a central post made from a roughly hewn tree trunk. On the table was a single lit candle. The tent was otherwise empty.

    ¡®I¡¯ve been expecting you.¡¯

    The woman spoke in a voice that was neither young nor old, and she had a strange accent. It seemed Kengian, but wasn¡¯t a regional intonation Laha recognised.

    ¡®Please, take a seat.¡¯

    Sure enough, there were two seats opposite the woman, as if she truly had been waiting for them.

    ¡®I have something for you.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t clear which one of them the woman was speaking to.

    ¡®What are you doing here?¡¯ Bertie asked abruptly.

    The woman laughed gaily. ¡®I am here to help you.¡¯

    ¡®How?¡¯ Laha asked.

    ¡®However you need.¡¯

    ¡®You are on private property ¨C my father the King¡¯s property,¡¯ Bertie said. ¡®I demand to know your business.¡¯

    The woman took a moment¡¯s pause, as if considering her answer. ¡®I¡¯m a traveller from Kengia. I provide herbs, tonics and natural remedies to anyone in need.¡¯

    ¡®What, then, do you have for us?¡¯ Bertie demanded.

    The woman leant forward in her chair, her face catching the light. A face with fine features, framed by long, raven hair. A shimmering quality to her skin. Silver eyes. It was hard to tell her age ¨C in any case, she was beautiful. And there was something faintly familiar about her¡­

    Her rosebud lips twitched a moment before forming a ghost of a smile. ¡®You could do with learning some patience¡­but since you can¡¯t wait, here it is.¡¯

    She waved a gloved hand at a parchment piece on the table ¨C Laha could have sworn it hadn¡¯t been there before.

    Bertie snatched it up and examined both sides, frowning. ¡®But there¡¯s nothing on it.¡¯

    The woman¡¯s smile grew. She murmured some Kengian words. ¡®Isn¡¯t there?¡¯

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    They both looked this time, and suddenly words started to appear.

    Laha¡¯s heart raced. The woman had used a Kengian protection spell. Spells could only be used by some Kengians ¨C the most powerful¡­No, she thought. Laha knew every Kengian capable of such magic ¨C knew them personally from her time at the Institute. This woman was using simple trickery, illusions.

    Why, then, was Laha¡¯s body still tingling?

    She leant over Bertie¡¯s shoulder and read what was written.

    Darkness and defeat, a King is to blame;

    A regime must fall for everything to change.

    Heed the three signs by looking to the skies:

    The first will be seen in a blood moon¡¯s rise.

    On the brink of war, the next is firesky:

    Promises of destruction, many sure to die.

    An empire¡¯s fate uncertain, until comes the third:

    A catcher of water. Kengia¡¯s firstborn returned.

    Hopes will be tested; some will be betrayed.

    Fire or water ¨C the choice must be made.

    Bertie¡¯s fingers tightened around the parchment. ¡®It¡¯s a prophecy!¡¯

    The woman waved her hand. ¡®If you will.¡¯

    Laha snickered. A supposed ¡®prophecy¡¯ meant nothing unless it came from a highly trained Shaman or a Firemaster who had actual abilities to see the future. This woman had just jumbled together a few cryptic words in an attempt to earn some coin.

    ¡®It¡¯s not a prophecy, Bertie. She¡¯s just a traveller peddling made-up fortunes.¡¯

    Bertie¡¯s brow furrowed as he read and re-read what was written on the parchment. He looked up at Laha, his face deathly white. ¡®But it says a regime will falter, that there will be darkness and defeat.¡¯ He turned to the traveller, waving the parchment at her. ¡®What does this mean? That Lamore will fall under my father?¡¯

    The woman swished her hand across the table and a crystal ball appeared.

    Bertie gasped, but Laha snickered again. Sleight of hand ¨C simple tricks anyone could learn, with time.

    The woman appeared unperturbed by Laha and stared intently into the ball. ¡®No¡­the regime will not fall under your father.¡¯

    ¡®Who, then?¡¯ Bertie¡¯s voice rose. ¡®My brother?¡¯

    The woman flicked her fingers across the ball and frowned. ¡®That remains to be seen.¡¯

    Bertie¡¯s hands were shaking now as he gripped the parchment even tighter.

    Laha put a hand on his arm. ¡®Don¡¯t listen to her. You and I know real magic ¨C the magic needed for divining the future ¨C and this is not it.¡¯

    Bertie stared into her eyes, seeking reassurance.

    ¡®The woman¡¯s a fraud,¡¯ Laha said with certainty.

    The traveller stood up abruptly. ¡®Hold your tongue,¡¯ she hissed.

    Laha stepped toward her. ¡®I¡¯m not afraid of you.¡¯

    A smirk tugged at the corner of the traveller¡¯s mouth. ¡®You should be,¡¯ she said, then flung the cloak from her shoulders.

    She was dressed head-to-toe in black, from her corseted bodice with its high-necked collar and lapels to her front skirt, fitted breeches and knee-high boots. Her black gloves extended all the way to her elbows ¨C her upper arms bare except for a band of lace. Completing the woman¡¯s ensemble were bunches of what looked like raven feathers sprouting from her shoulders and wrists.

    The traveller murmured some old Kyprian words that Laha didn¡¯t fully recognise.

    ¡®The post!¡¯ Bertie pointed to the trunk supporting the centre of the tent. It had burst to life. Shoots of green sprung from the trunk, forming a vine. Leafy tendrils raced along the ground, skirting Laha¡¯s boots and heading for Bertie.

    Laha, the Prince mouthed. He appeared frozen to the spot.

    ¡®Stop it,¡¯ Laha ordered the woman.

    The traveller kept murmuring, the vines reaching Bertie and wrapping around his ankles.

    ¡®Enough!¡¯ she yelled, to no avail. Laha tried to call on something in the natural world to help her, but nothing happened.

    Bertie¡¯s eyes widened in terror as the vines encircled his legs.

    ¡®Leave him alone!¡¯

    The woman stopped murmuring and turned to Laha. ¡®He¡¯s of no importance.¡¯

    The ball of energy inside Laha flared in anger. ¡®He¡¯s important to me!¡¯

    The woman compressed her lips and started murmuring again.

    ¡®I said, enough!¡¯ Laha screamed. Instinctively her hands pointed to the candle on the table, and with a flick of her wrist it tipped to the floor. A ring of fire sprang up around the woman.

    She crowed with laughter as the vines withered away.

    Laha yanked a dazed Bertie from what was left of his leafy shackles. She ripped the parchment from his hands and threw it into the flames, then dragged him from the tent. Outside in the sunshine, Bertie blinked rapidly, as if waking from a bad dream.

    ¡®Can you run?¡¯ she asked.

    He nodded.

    ¡®Good.¡¯ Laha took his arm and they sprinted away from the tent, the woman¡¯s cackling still ringing in their ears.

 Chapter 3: Magic is Everything

    Laha and Bertie collapsed onto a pair of settees in the younger Prince¡¯s rooms, chests heaving, heads spinning.

    After a few minutes, when Bertie had finally caught his breath, he sat upright and crossed his arms. ¡®I have questions,¡¯ he said matter-of-factly.

    Laha sat up slowly, considering how much of her suspicions she wanted to share.

    ¡®Who was that woman? How did she do that thing with the vines? And how did you do that with the candle¡¯ ¨C he waved his hands dramatically ¨C ¡®just with a flick of your wrist?¡¯ He stood up and paced the floor before continuing his rapid-fire questions. ¡®Does this mean your magic is back? What does it¡ª¡¯

    Laha stood up as well and held out her hands placatingly, as if she were calming a spooked horse. ¡®It¡¯s alright, Bertie. Everything¡¯s going to be alright.¡¯

    Bertie spun toward her, wide-eyed. ¡®Alright? How can you say that? I was beginning to think I missed all the excitement of the last year, but after seeing that woman and what she may be capable of¡­¡¯ He shook his head, then fixed Laha with a serious stare. ¡®I never want to see magic again.¡¯

    ¡®Don¡¯t say that!¡¯ Laha stepped closer to him. ¡®Magic is¡­¡¯ She searched for the words to describe what her powers meant to her. There was only one word. ¡®Magic is everything.¡¯

    Bertie gave a heavy sigh and slumped back onto the settee. ¡®Who is that woman? What exactly are we dealing with?¡¯

    Laha sat down beside him. ¡®I don¡¯t know.¡¯ It was true; she didn¡¯t know anything for sure¡­except that the woman was not a simple traveller. Laha sensed they had only seen a hint of the woman¡¯s true powers ¨C the thought was heart-stilling and intriguing.

    ¡®Why do you think she¡¯s here?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t know.¡¯

    ¡®What about you and your powers?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t know¡­I just know that it seemed¡­different from before.¡¯

    ¡®We should tell the Governess.¡¯

    Laha shook her head adamantly. If the Governess stepped in, Laha would be sidelined. ¡®Not until we know more.¡¯

    Bertie frowned.

    ¡®What¡¯s the matter with you two?¡¯ Alfred asked from the doorway, Mary beside him.

    ¡®All tired out from mocking everyone, I expect,¡¯ Mary quipped.

    Laha poked her tongue out, but Bertie looked anything but amused. Alfred took in his brother¡¯s ashen face and strode toward him, his eyes darting over Bertie as if to check for physical injuries.

    ¡®I¡¯m fine,¡¯ Bertie said unconvincingly, backing away from Alfred.

    The elder Prince spun on Laha. ¡®What have you got my brother into this time?¡¯

    ¡®It wasn¡¯t her fault,¡¯ Bertie said weakly. It obviously was her fault¡­again.

    ¡®What happened?¡¯ Mary asked, her voice not unkind.

    Laha relented, telling them about how she and Bertie had come across the tent and the Kengian traveller. She told them how the woman had claimed to have a prophecy, but made a point of saying that it must have been made-up. She glossed over the details of the magic the woman had used ¨C mumbling something about simple trickery and illusions. Laha decided not to mention how she had magically caused a fire herself; she was intent on getting to the bottom of the mysterious woman¡¯s visit and her powers, and she didn¡¯t want any interference.

    ¡®A prophecy?¡¯ Mary asked.

    ¡®Something about death, destruction, the Lamorian regime falling¡­¡¯ Laha couldn¡¯t have sounded any more disinterested. ¡®Oh¡­and something about a saviour who can catch water¡­you know, the usual rubbish.¡¯

    ¡®No, it was much more than that,¡¯ Bertie cried. ¡®The woman had real¡ª¡¯

    Laha cast a pointed look at Bertie, silencing him. Mary caught the look and raised a questioning brow at Laha, who pretended not to notice.

    Alfred, ever the practical one, gave Bertie a sympathetic smile. ¡®I¡¯m sure she did seem convincing, brother. That¡¯s what these travellers are so skilled at¡­making everything seem real¡­but I¡¯m inclined to agree with Laha.¡¯ At this remark, Laha flung her hand to her head and pretended to feel faint. Alfred ignored her and continued. ¡®This woman sounds like a charlatan.¡¯

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    ¡®She wasn¡¯t,¡¯ Bertie cried. ¡®She was a silver-eyes ¨C a powerful one. The prophecy must be true.¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s not a prophecy, just the ramblings of a talented trickster,¡¯ Alfred said, with a confidence that Laha didn¡¯t share.

    ¡®How can you say that after everything we¡¯ve seen?¡¯ Bertie said. ¡®After everything we¡¯ve done? We know magic is real. Why wouldn¡¯t a prophecy be?¡¯

    ¡®Embert¡ª¡¯

    ¡®No! I know what I saw and heard.¡¯ Bertie paced the room, wild-eyed. ¡®She said there will be darkness and defeat, that the King is to blame.¡¯

    ¡®Emberto.¡¯ Alfred spoke as if he were talking to a small child, and not his brother who was merely three years younger. ¡®We have nothing to fear. The kingdom is at peace, Father will live for many years to come, and after that, you and I will continue his good rule.¡¯

    ¡®But the prophecy¡ª¡¯

    ¡®Nothing will happen while Father is King,¡¯ Alfred said with an assertiveness that begged to end the conversation. Mary nodded her agreement.

    Bertie stopped pacing and gave his brother a pained look. ¡®I know. She said as much. That it wouldn¡¯t be under Father¡¯s rule.¡¯

    Realisation washed over Alfred¡¯s face, replaced quickly with anger. ¡®So you think Lamore will fall under my rule?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t think that¡­and she didn¡¯t specifically say it was under your rule¡­but¡­¡¯ Bertie paused, then continued in a quiet voice. ¡®If you had just been there, you¡¯d see. You have to believe me.¡¯

    Alfred sighed and put his hand on Bertie¡¯s shoulder. ¡®Brother, I do believe you. I believe that this woman has gone out of her way to trick you. She would have known some of what we have been through over the last year and played into your fears ¨C it¡¯s her job to be convincing.¡¯

    Bertie shook his head miserably. ¡®To what end? She didn¡¯t ask for anything.¡¯

    ¡®Only because you ran away before she could.¡¯ Alfred nodded to Laha for confirmation.

    ¡®That¡¯s right, Bertie,¡¯ Laha said encouragingly. ¡®We got out of there before she had a chance to demand any payment.¡¯

    Bertie fixed an accusatory stare on Laha ¨C Mary seemed to catch the exchange again. She touched Alfred¡¯s arm.

    ¡®Perhaps we go take a look for ourselves. Just to be sure that this¡­traveller isn¡¯t planning on sticking around and targeting anyone else at court.¡¯

    Alfred looked between Mary and his brother, then nodded. ¡®Yes, let¡¯s do that.¡¯

    Bertie lifted his chin and bid his brother to go with him in search of swords for each of them. Once they were gone from the room, Mary directed one of her I¡¯m-being-serious-now looks at Laha.

    ¡®What do you think? Is this woman a traveller, or something more?¡¯

    Laha shrugged. ¡®She was a silver-eyes, so she had some powers¡­but nothing extraordinary.¡¯ She held Mary¡¯s piercing gaze. ¡®A failed Shaman, perhaps.¡¯

    ¡®Capable of divining the future or having visions?¡¯

    Laha didn¡¯t like lying to Mary ¨C least of all because they knew each other so well that the Princess could usually tell when Laha was deceiving her.

    ¡®No,¡¯ Laha said, unblinking.

    Mary narrowed her eyes, her penetrating stare unwavering. Laha said nothing and tried to focus on keeping her expression impassive.

    The Princess compressed her lips, then finally nodded. Laha suppressed the urge to sigh loudly with relief.

    * * *

    The group made their way through the grounds to the spot where Laha and Bertie had seen the tent, but it was empty. Not just empty ¨C there wasn¡¯t a single blade of grass out of place or any sign of a tent having been there.

    ¡®The tent was right here,¡¯ Bertie said, scratching his head.

    ¡®It was,¡¯ Laha confirmed, hiding her disappointment that the woman was gone.

    ¡®She must have moved on,¡¯ Mary offered.

    ¡®She should hope so,¡¯ Alfred said, his hand tightening around his sword.

    Laha scanned the grounds ahead of them, still visible in the setting sun. Nothing.

    ¡®We should get back,¡¯ Mary said to Alfred. ¡®They will be expecting us at the Great Hall for supper.¡¯ She nodded at Bertie and glanced at Laha. ¡®All of us.¡¯

    Bertie¡¯s eyes were fixed on the ground.

    ¡®Come on, brother,¡¯ Alfred said. ¡®Whatever this trickery was, it¡¯s over now. Please don¡¯t make me celebrate my birthday without you.¡¯

    Bertie looked up at his brother, who was nearly a foot taller, and gave a half-grimace, half-smile.

    Alfred put his hands on his brother¡¯s shoulders and looked him squarely in the eyes. ¡®Prophecy or not, Lamore will not fall under me¡­It can¡¯t, because you will be by my side.¡¯ He looked at Mary. ¡®By our side.¡¯

    Mary nodded encouragingly, and Bertie gave a real smile then. None of them looked at Laha.

    The two brothers turned back and started heading toward the castle.

    ¡®Are you coming?¡¯ Mary asked.

    ¡®In a minute,¡¯ Laha said, unwilling to leave yet. Mary gave her an inscrutable look, then left.

    So this was what it was going to be like. Alfred, Mary and Bertie, together, ruling Lamore and Kengia. Laha should have felt happy for Bertie, that there would be a place for him ¨C a place that would be enough for him. But all she could think about was the lack of a place for her.

    Gone were the light and energy that had stirred life in her. All that was left was the familiar dragging weight of darkness.

    A breeze suddenly whipped up around her, her tunic flapping in the wind. Then an eddy formed where the tent had been, silver specks swirling through the air. The eddy quickened until there was nothing but a blur of silver ¨C then, just as suddenly, the wind stopped. The silver specks vanished.

    Laha looked around, hoping to see the Kengian woman, but she was disappointed. Then her gaze fell on a parchment piece on the ground. She rushed to pick it up.

    It was the prophecy ¨C the same parchment Laha had thrown into the fire, but completely unmarked. She traced the opening lines with her finger, an ember of excitement sparking inside her.

    Laha grinned and tucked the parchment into her tunic. She wasn¡¯t sure what the significance of finding the prophecy was, but she was sure it had been meant for her. That the Kengian woman had left her a message. And that message was simple¡­Laha did have a place ¨C a purpose. And the mysterious woman with the unusual powers would help her discover it.

 Chapter 4: The Firemasters Book

    It occurred to Laha that before she went in search of the Kengian woman again, she should try to find some clues to the stranger¡¯s identity ¨C or at least her kind of magic. Unfortunately, there was only one person who may have answers ¨C the Governess ¨C and Laha wasn¡¯t about to ask her for help. She would have to access the Governess¡¯s knowledge another way.

    She hovered in the shadows outside the Governess¡¯s room, waiting for her to leave for the feast in the Great Hall. Sure enough, at the appointed time, the Governess hobbled from her room, leaning heavily on her walking stick, fashioned from a branch of Kengia¡¯s sacred yew tree.

    She stopped for a moment. Laha¡¯s heart caught in her throat, sure that the Governess was aware of her presence. But she had stopped to rub her leg in the spot that Laha knew was marked by a fist-sized scar. The Governess grimaced, then took a deep breath before continuing.

    Laha slipped into the room and quickly found what she was looking for. The Firemaster¡¯s book: the Governess¡¯s record of all of her spells and discoveries ¨C her way of preserving the most powerful Kengian magic for future generations.

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    Laha surveyed the red leather book in front of her. Her fingers traced the cover with its embossed phoenix rising from flames ¨C the symbol of the Firemaster.

    She opened the book to reveal blank pages and murmured the Kengian protection spell, not expecting it to work.

    ¡®Thoughts to words

    Words to action

    Reveal thy words

    Speaketh your secrets.¡¯

    To her surprise and delight, words appeared before her. Of course, using a simple Scholar spell wasn¡¯t the same as having her silver-eyes¡¯ powers back, but it was something. She went to the most recent entry ¨C musings about how the Governess might be able to create colourful bursts of light in the sky. It was vaguely interesting, but wasn¡¯t what Laha was looking for. She went back a few pages and found another entry: scribbles in shaking handwriting about the future being clouded and ¡®a carousel of shifting shadows of possibilities¡¯. It was slightly more interesting, but still provided no clues about the mysterious Kengian woman.

    Laha flicked through the whole book, looking for any mention of a prophecy, but found nothing.

    She murmured the protection spell again and closed the book with a resigned sigh. She would have to find out who the stranger was all by herself.

 Chapter 5: They Dont Understand Us

    Laha endured the feast in the Great Hall¡­but only just. Other than Mary and Bertie, no one at court had any interest in speaking to her ¨C and the feeling was reciprocated.

    Laha scowled at Alfred, Mary and even Bertie as they danced and laughed the night away, like they didn¡¯t have any cares in the world. Bertie, it seemed, had completely forgotten what had happened in the tent and hadn¡¯t wasted any time slotting back into his princely life. Laha was alone in her discontent and spent much of the night sneaking food to Chaos under the table while smiling sweetly at the Governess, whose eyes were never far from her. All the while, the parchment with the prophecy written on it called to her from where she¡¯d stashed it in her tunic.

    She examined it again by candlelight before going to bed, marvelling at the lack of burn marks and wondering whether the words were in fact a real prophecy. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the Kengian woman, and tossed and turned for most of the night, impatient to find her.

    The next morning Laha was up and dressed before the sun had fully risen. A sleepy Chaos rubbed his eyes from his custom-made bed on the floor and squeaked a question about Laha¡¯s early rising.

    Laha bent down to address the monkey. ¡®Are you ready for an adventure?¡¯

    Chaos leapt from his bed and scampered up Laha¡¯s arm, settling on her shoulder.

    ¡®You never disappoint me.¡¯ Chaos saluted her and she rewarded him with a grape. ¡®Now, this adventure must be our little secret, you understand?¡¯

    Chaos mimed buttoning his mouth closed and she nodded her approval.

    Together they slipped from Laha¡¯s room and out to the castle¡¯s central courtyard, which was a hive of activity with servants and groomsmen going about their duties ¨C a stark contrast to the sleeping elite inside the great stone walls. No one paid Laha any attention until she reached the gatehouse at the main keep.

    The guards recognised her as Princess Mary¡¯s companion and asked what her business was. She told them she was searching for medicinal herbs and plants in the woodland ¨C for the Governess. The guards immediately ushered her through the gate, aware that the Governess practised Kengian magic and no doubt scared of being on the receiving end of one of the gruff woman¡¯s famous tongue-lashings.

    Laha crossed the moat and took a path around the tiltyard, heading toward the woodland, as she and Bertie had done the previous day. The silver sun had emerged from the Kyprian Sea to her right, dusting the landscape with pearly shades of rose, peach and lilac. The Nymoi Alps winked back at her in the distance. The morning sun warmed her body, burrowing through her skin all the way to the darkness. The sensation of light and dark dancing inside her returned.

    She tramped up the hillside, pausing just before she reached the top. ¡®Do you think she will be there?¡¯ she asked Chaos.

    The monkey shrugged.

    ¡®I suppose there¡¯s only one way to find out.¡¯ Laha sucked in a great lungful of air and strode purposefully to the top of the hill.

    She blinked once. Twice. A further three times before she convinced herself she wasn¡¯t seeing things.

    The tent was back. But now what? The last time she had seen the woman, Laha had nearly set her on fire. Would the stranger be angry with her? What kind of reception would she get?

    Laha would get her answers sooner than expected, because Chaos jumped to the ground and ran straight down the hill toward the tent.

    ¡®Chaos! Come back!¡¯ she called futilely as the monkey disappeared through the tent¡¯s entrance. ¡®I should have come alone,¡¯ Laha grumbled before running after him.

    On reaching the tent, Laha tentatively grasped the canvas. She froze for a moment, thinking it wasn¡¯t too late to turn around¡­but a tinkling voice called from within.

    ¡®Come in, Laha. I¡¯ve been expecting you.¡¯

    Laha stepped inside the tent, toward the voice. The beautiful Kengian woman, dressed all in black and raven feathers, was sitting at the same table as yesterday. She smiled at Laha as she fed a delighted-looking Chaos a handful of red berries, their blood-coloured juice ringing the monkey¡¯s mouth.

    ¡®You know who I am?¡¯ It was the only thing Laha could think of to say.

    ¡®Of course. You are the reason I am here.¡¯

    ¡®Me?¡¯

    The woman stood up in one graceful movement and appeared to glide toward Laha. A voice in Laha¡¯s head told her to run, but the sparks of life stirring in her belly kept her stuck to the spot.

    The woman clutched Laha¡¯s chin in her hand. Bursts of energy jolted from her fingers, flooding Laha¡¯s entire body. She scrutinised Laha¡¯s face, looking for something. The finest lines creased her perfect forehead. She tilted Laha¡¯s chin one way, then the other. Then she gave a knowing smile before releasing Laha, who stumbled backward in shock as the woman¡¯s energy was sucked from her.

    ¡®Who are you?¡¯ Laha panted, clutching her hands to her stomach. She felt like she was going to vomit.

    ¡®You can call me Zayaka,¡¯ the woman said, returning to her chair. ¡®Please sit.¡¯

    Laha shook her head vehemently. ¡®Come on, Chaos. We¡¯re going.¡¯

    But Chaos was unmoving. Only then did Laha notice the monkey¡¯s glazed eyes, which had changed from brown to silver.

    Zayaka was inhabiting him, controlling him. It was against all of the Institute¡¯s teachings. It was magic born of darkness.

    Laha forced herself to stand fully upright. ¡®What do you want from me?¡¯

    ¡®To help you.¡¯

    Laha scoffed. ¡®I don¡¯t need your kind of help.¡¯ And she meant it. She had worked so hard to fight her dark impulses. To use her magic to ask creatures for their cooperation, to be at one with nature rather than command it. The Governess said mastering the light and the darkness was key to her harnessing her full potential.

    ¡®But you do need my help. I know this because I know you. I understand what it¡¯s like to be you. What it¡¯s like to have the very essence of you suppressed ¨C bottled up like a corset drawn too tight. The feeling of not being able to breathe.¡¯ Zayaka was on her feet again, murmuring to Laha as if her words were a lullaby. ¡®I can help you become who you were meant to be¡­to fulfil your purpose.¡¯

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    Zayaka¡¯s gloved hand was on Laha¡¯s arm then, guiding her to a seat. Laha didn¡¯t struggle against her.

    Sitting across from Zayaka, Laha felt inexplicably calm. She noticed that Chaos¡¯s eyes were back to normal.

    ¡®If you still want to leave,¡¯ Zayaka said, ¡®you are free to go.¡¯

    Laha considered it. She should go. Zayaka¡¯s seemingly mercurial nature and powers were a dangerous mix, but perhaps that was the very reason she should stay. Maybe Zayaka was the only person who did understand her. Maybe she could help Laha master her powers and make sense of the darkness.

    ¡®What do you know of me?¡¯ Laha asked.

    Zayaka stroked the top of Chaos¡¯s head, the monkey leaning into her touch. ¡®I know you have great potential. I know they are all scared of what you can do.¡¯

    ¡®They?¡¯

    ¡®Everyone at the Institute. Everyone at court.¡¯

    Laha shook her head adamantly. ¡®Mary isn¡¯t afraid of me. Bertie isn¡¯t¡­¡¯ Most of the time, she should have added.

    Zayaka shrugged. ¡®Perhaps not. But they will never understand you. They don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to be stifled. They don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to be an outcast.¡¯

    Laha jutted out her chin. ¡®Bertie does. He¡ª¡¯

    ¡®The younger Lamorian Prince? Come now.¡¯ Zayaka gave Laha a sympathetic look. ¡®He will always have a place here. He may be different from his brother, like a yew tree is to stinkweed, but they are still plants.¡¯

    ¡®Hey!¡¯ Laha protested, thinking how upset Bertie would be at the comparison.

    Zayaka waved her hand dismissively. ¡®As I was saying, you are different. You are special.¡¯ The heady way she said ¡®special¡¯ was delicious to Laha ¨C she had never been called that before.

    Zayaka placed her hand over Laha¡¯s. She dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡®You know, I too was exiled from my kind. Sent away from the Institute because they feared what I was capable of.¡¯ Her voice began to rise. ¡®I was a threat to them, just because I was different ¨C because I was more powerful than them.¡¯

    She snatched her hand away from Laha and dug her fingers into the table.

    ¡®They made me think there was something wrong with me,¡¯ she hissed to herself, her eyes looking somewhere beyond Laha¡¯s shoulder. ¡®They took everything from me. They wiped away my existence as easily as a puff of smoke ¨C as if I¡¯d never been born. Then banished me across the Kyprian Sea, where my powers were dampened, my essence trapped like a bird in a cage. I lived a shadow of a life.¡¯

    A jagged lump caught in Laha¡¯s throat. Was that what would happen to her if she couldn¡¯t master her darkness? Would the Governess banish her?

    ¡®Why did you stay there? Couldn¡¯t you come back? Why did you come back now?¡¯ The questions tumbled from her in a mad rush.

    Zayaka looked back at Laha and smiled. A smile that made Laha believe, in that moment, that she was actually special.

    ¡®I stayed there because there was nothing left for me here¡­at least, that¡¯s what they led me to believe. I stayed there because I believed them when they said if I didn¡¯t go, I would destroy this world.¡¯ Her silver eyes swam with glittering diamonds of tears. Laha caught herself wishing an impossible thing ¨C that she could be as beautiful as Zayaka. That she could be like Zayaka.

    ¡®I believed I was beyond saving¡­but I was wrong. I didn¡¯t need saving. I just needed to get back what was taken from me. And that is why I¡¯m here.¡¯

    ¡®What did they take from you?¡¯ So many questions. ¡®Why is it here in Lamore and not back in Kengia?¡±

    ¡®Soon I will share everything with you. But first I am going to help you. I¡¯m going to help you unlock your full potential.¡¯ The tears were gone from Zayaka¡¯s eyes, replaced by a fiery anticipation.

    Finally someone is really going to help me, Laha thought.

    ¡®You won¡¯t recognise yourself.¡¯

    A seed of doubt planted in Laha¡¯s mind. If she wasn¡¯t herself, who then would she be?

    Zayaka must have sensed her apprehension. She patted Laha¡¯s hand. ¡®I mean you will be the most powerful version of yourself. You will feel things you¡¯ve never felt before.¡¯ She shivered with excitement. ¡®And I know this because in the short time I have been back here, I have felt those things. The fulfilment of the magic I was born with ¨C living, breathing, expanding in every part of my body. I want to share this with you.¡¯

    With every word Laha fell deeper under Zayaka¡¯s spell, believing the Kengian woman could actually help¡­but then she remembered.

    ¡®I lost my powers¡­All of them.¡¯ An apologetic shrug. ¡®Except for that once-off thing with the fire.¡¯

    Zayaka tilted her head in question. ¡®I don¡¯t understand.¡¯

    So Laha told Zayaka the whole story about opening the portal to another world. She told her about the battles, proudly highlighting and perhaps making more of her own achievements. Zayaka was the perfect audience, listening attentively, asking questions, marvelling at what Laha had done. Then Laha explained how, when they¡¯d closed the portal, her powers had disappeared.

    At the end of the story, Zayaka sat back in her chair and folded her arms. After a long pause, she spoke. ¡®But I don¡¯t understand how I knew nothing of this. Surely the whole of Lamore would still be talking about such a thing?¡¯

    Laha shook her head. ¡®The Governess cast a powerful spell so that no one in Lamore, other than us ¨C Mary, Bertie, Alfred and me ¨C would remember. Of course, the Kengian King and many back in Kengia know, and were witness to much of it, but that kind of magic isn¡¯t foreign there. Here, they wouldn¡¯t understand¡­and the Kengian King didn¡¯t want to risk his alliance with Lamore. So the Governess made sure little was remembered.¡¯

    ¡®This Governess you speak of. She sounds very¡­powerful. I think I would like to meet her.¡¯

    Laha screwed up her nose. ¡®I don¡¯t think you would. She is as dull as she is powerful. And just as bossy.¡¯

    Zayaka laughed, the sweetest tinkle of a sound.

    Laha bit her lip, then sighed. ¡®So I guess you can¡¯t help me¡­since I don¡¯t have any powers.¡¯

    Zayaka grinned at her. ¡®Of course I can help you.¡¯ She stood up and straightened her skirt. ¡®Your training starts tomorrow.¡¯

    Laha leapt to her feet. ¡®Great! I guess¡­I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡¯

    Zayaka nodded. ¡®Tomorrow.¡¯

    ¡®Right. Tomorrow. Did you hear that, Chaos? I¡¯m going to get my powers back.¡¯

    Chaos clapped his hands in excitement.

    ¡®I¡¯d better get going then,¡¯ Laha rambled. Her feet caught on her chair legs and she nearly fell over.

    Zayaka merely smiled.

    ¡®Come on, Chaos.¡¯ The monkey ran up Laha¡¯s arm onto her shoulder.

    Laha half skipped, half stumbled away, only stopping at the doorway of the tent. ¡®But what about your tent? People will find you here.¡¯

    Zayaka gave a knowing smile. ¡®Not people. Just you, thanks to a cloaking spell.¡¯

    Laha breathed a sigh of relief. ¡®Of course¡­Till tomorrow, then.¡¯

    * * *

    Brimming with excitement at the prospect of getting her powers back, Laha raced Chaos from Zayaka¡¯s tent all the way back to the castle¡¯s central courtyard. ¡®No fair,¡¯ she panted. ¡®You went¡­before¡­I said go.'' The monkey shrugged and popped a berry in his mouth.

    Laha was about to make her way inside when she noticed the approaching figure of the Governess. The woman raised her cane and pointed it at Laha.

    Prickles erupted on her arms. Did the Governess know where she¡¯d been? What would she say?

    ¡®Kraa!¡¯ a bird called.

    The Governess appeared to freeze mid-step.

    ¡®Kraa!¡¯

    The shadow of a bird passed over Laha. In a burst of black feathers, it descended on the Governess.

    ¡®Kraa!¡¯

    The raven perched itself on the top of the Governess¡¯s cane. It tilted its head and peered at her, then lifted its beak and cawed.

    ¡®You can¡¯t be here,¡¯ the Governess said in a wobbly version of her usual authoritative voice.

    The raven cawed again in response.

    ¡®Shoo!¡¯ The Governess stamped the bottom of her cane on the ground. ¡®Shoo!¡¯

    The bird flapped its wings and launched itself into the air. It circled above the Governess¡¯s head twice before flying off with one final ¡®Kraa!¡¯

    The Governess caught Laha¡¯s gaze, her chest heaving. She took a deep breath and lifted her chin, then hobbled toward Laha. ¡®Where have you been, young lady?¡¯

    Laha¡¯s eyes widened, all innocence. ¡®Chaos and I were just taking a turn in the delightful grounds this wondrous place has to offer¡­enjoying this splendid morning.¡¯

    The Governess¡¯s eyes narrowed. Laha never used words like delightful, wondrous or splendid. She would know Laha was hiding something.

    Laha flung her hand to her heart. ¡®Time seems to have gotten away from me¡­I must get ready for the archery tournament.¡¯ She desperately wanted to know why the Governess had seemed so upset by the raven, but thought asking about it would only lead to more questions about her own activities. ¡®Please excuse me.¡¯

    She curtseyed and raced back toward the entrance to the castle, the monkey scampering after her. Laha was beginning to think she would need her own cloaking spell if she had any hope of continuing to meet Zayaka without the Governess finding out ¨C but of course, she would need powers for that.

 Chapter 6: Trust the Darkness

    Laha played the role of the perfect courtier. She smiled gaily and clapped for all the archery competitors. She made idle conversation with the nobles. She even complimented Alfred when he won the archery contest. She did it all under the watchful eye of the Governess.

    The Governess obviously suspected Laha of something, as did Mary, who had watched her friend¡¯s performance through narrowed eyes. Several times throughout the day, the Governess and Mary tried to corner Laha or get her by herself, but each time she managed to evade them, surrounding herself with the Queen¡¯s ladies, joining and encouraging their insipid commentary.

    When they weren¡¯t competing, Bertie and his brother were deep in conversation, discussing a trip they were all supposed to be taking tomorrow to inspect the King¡¯s late brother¡¯s properties in Lakeford. Laha had never seen Bertie so engaged in the court¡¯s business. Alfred spoke with extreme confidence about his plans for the kingdom and its prosperous future, with Bertie seemingly believing his older brother had the power to make something happen just by willing it. Certainly Bertie gave the impression that he saw a future for himself at court.

    Laha shoved aside her annoyance ¨C or her sense of betrayal ¨C focusing instead on how she would continue meeting Zayaka. That night, she left the feast in the Great Hall early, claiming she was unwell. She locked the door to her room in Mary¡¯s apartments, and told the Princess¡¯s attendants not to let anyone disturb her.

    The next morning, before dawn, Laha, with Chaos in tow, slipped from her room and out of the castle, anxious to meet Zayaka.

    The sun was just rising when she arrived at the tent. Laha¡¯s whole body tingled as she pulled aside the canvas and stepped inside.

    ¡®Good morning.¡¯ Zayaka strode toward her, enveloping her in a hug.

    Laha¡¯s arms hung limp by her side, unsure of what to do. ¡®Good morning,¡¯ she managed to respond through a mouthful of the feathers pressed against her face.

    Zayaka released her and stepped back with a triumphant smile. ¡®Well.¡¯

    ¡®Well?¡¯

    ¡®We begin.¡¯ She indicated a box sitting on the table at the centre of the room.

    Laha approached it with cautious steps, Chaos mirroring her a few steps behind.

    ¡®Go ahead. Open it.¡¯

    Laha did so. A brown field mouse with twitching whiskers peered up at her.

    ¡®We start with a simple animal inhabitation,¡¯ Zayaka began. ¡®And since you seem so attached to that monkey, I found you a different subject.¡¯

    Chaos nodded approvingly, but Laha¡¯s shoulders fell. ¡®I don¡¯t think I can.¡¯ Or should.

    ¡®Don¡¯t think. Know. Then do.¡¯

    Laha made a scoffing sound. Zayaka pressed her lips together and folded her arms. Her stance was eerily reminiscent of the Governess.

    Laha focused on everything the Governess had told her. Connect with the creature¡¯s mind. Hear its voice. Call on it for cooperation. She scrunched up her eyes, tensed her jaw, focused so hard she forgot to breathe. But she could hear nothing other than the mouse¡¯s nervous squeaks. She huffed loudly in frustration.

    ¡®What was that?¡¯ Zayaka asked.

    ¡®I was calling on the creature to hear me. To be at one with me.¡¯

    It was Zayaka¡¯s turn to scoff. She put the lid back on the mouse¡¯s box.

    ¡®That¡¯s the problem. Asking for an animal¡¯s cooperation is the harder path. You must build trust with the creature ¨C it can take time and great energy, and even then the animal has a mind of its own and may ignore everything you ask of it. You must inhabit it. Command it. Control it. Surely you have done this before.¡¯

    Zayaka¡¯s dismissal of Laha¡¯s abilities flared embers of anger in her. ¡®Of course I have done it before! It¡¯s how I got kicked out of the Institute ¨C inhabiting a giant snake and trying to attack the High Shaman.¡¯

    ¡®Ha!¡¯ Zayaka cried. ¡®I bet the old hag deserved it.¡¯

    ¡®She did.¡¯

    ¡®So do it again now.¡¯

    ¡®But¡­¡¯ Laha wasn¡¯t sure if she should explain her hesitation. That it was the Governess¡¯s teachings that held her back. She didn¡¯t want to sound weak in front of Zayaka.

    ¡®But what?¡¯

    Laha heaved a great sigh. ¡®I thought trying to control an animal was giving into the darkness. That you needed to master the light and conquer the darkness to succeed as a Shaman.¡¯

    Zayaka¡¯s beautiful mouth formed into a scowl. ¡®Yes, that¡¯s what they say¡­but they¡¯re wrong. They want you to smother the darkness, but doing that means destroying the source of half of your power. I say surrender to the darkness, bring it to the fore.¡¯ Her eyes sparkled. ¡®Dance with it!¡¯

    Laha didn¡¯t understand. It was the complete opposite of what she had been taught. ¡®But what if the darkness leads you to¡­¡¯ She thought of all the dark things she had seen: the world of the portal, death ¨C that wasn¡¯t what she wanted.

    Zayaka grabbed Laha by the shoulders. ¡®The darkness must exist, as must the light. Accepting both and trusting your darkness is the key to unlocking your full potential. Do you see?¡¯

    Laha nodded, unwilling to admit she didn¡¯t really see, even though she wanted to.

    Zayaka released her grip on Laha¡¯s shoulders and lifted the box¡¯s lid. ¡®Try again,¡¯ she whispered in her ear.

    Laha stared into the black orbs of the mouse¡¯s eyes. She stared so hard she could see her own reflection in them. Trust the darkness, she said to herself, without really knowing what that meant.

    Nothing happened.

    ¡®You¡¯re overthinking it,¡¯ Zayaka murmured. ¡®Think back to what you did the time before ¨C when you inhabited the snake. What were you thinking? How did you feel?¡¯

    ¡®Angry. I¡¯d had enough of how I was being treated at the Institute. The only thing I remember thinking was how good it would feel being more powerful than any of them.¡¯

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    ¡®Exactly! Harness that. Harness the anger. Harness your hunger for power.¡¯

    Laha thought about the things that made her angry. How Mary had prioritised her relationship with Alfred over their friendship. Still nothing. The judgemental sniggers at court because she looked¡­because she was different. Again, nothing. She thought back to her time at the Institute and how she¡¯d been made an outcast, how she¡¯d been made to feel she wasn¡¯t good enough, that because of her powers she was undesirable.

    A flicker of silver in the mouse¡¯s eyes.

    ¡®Yes.¡¯ A hint of a smile in Zayaka¡¯s voice. ¡®Keep going.¡¯

    Laha thought about how the Governess had instilled in her a fear of the darkness, a disgust in anyone who gave in to it and couldn¡¯t control their powers. Laha could feel the mouse fighting her as she reached into its mind. At first it tried to escape, scuttling from the box, but then it froze. Laha could hear its cries for her to stop, but the darkness had erupted inside her, cavorting like a wild cat playing with its prey. The light was still there, but overshadowed; it was a marionette, the darkness its puppeteer.

    The burning energy and exhilaration she had felt when she had first visited Zayaka¡¯s tent was back, feeding her, fuelling an indescribable need for more. The mouse thrashed its head, trying to resist her presence, but Laha didn¡¯t stop. She thought about how it felt having to quell her instincts in battle ¨C her urge to use everything at her disposal against her enemies.

    The mouse stilled and blinked back at Laha with silver eyes. She had inhabited the creature.

    ¡®Yes. Yes. Yes!¡¯ Zayaka crowed.

    What next? What would Laha get the mouse to do? The answer was obvious.

    Laha¡¯s mind reached into its limbs, her commands pulsing through the animal¡¯s body. The mouse suddenly stood upright and began dancing a merry jig.

    Zayaka broke into laughter and applause. Chaos screeched and leapt about, trying to mimic the mouse.

    A dreamy smile crept across Laha¡¯s face. She was overwhelmed by a sense of serenity, something she couldn¡¯t name. Something that came from not fighting herself. From just being who she was meant to be¡­A sense of completeness.

    ¡®I did it,¡¯ she purred, then released the mouse from her control. It shook its head and wobbled for a moment, before launching itself off the table and scurrying to freedom. ¡®What next?¡¯ Laha asked with undisguised enthusiasm.

    ¡®We go back to everything you have learnt before. Everything you could do before. And we do it all again¡­¡¯ Zayaka¡¯s eyes shone. ¡®But this time you¡¯ll be doing it with your darkness unshackled. You will do everything bigger and better, be more powerful than you ever dreamt!¡¯

    Laha tilted her head, imagining what it would be like to feel the way she had just felt, every time she used her magic. The prospect was altogether irresistible, but she forced herself not to get too far ahead. There were going to be some obstacles. People would already be wondering where she was and would come looking for her ¨C and the first one would be the Governess.

    ¡®We have much to do ¨C starting immediately,¡¯ Zayaka said.

    ¡®But¡­¡¯ Laha explained how her friends and the Governess were suspicious of what she¡¯d been up to, and how she was expected to join them all on a visit to the countryside, leaving later that morning. They were to stay for several days at a property owned by the Lamorian King¡¯s late brother.

    ¡®Perfect,¡¯ Zayaka declared. ¡®Feign sickness. Tell them you are too unwell to travel. It will give me enough time¡ª¡¯

    Laha raised a curious brow. ¡®Enough time for what?¡¯

    Zayaka pressed her lips together, as if realising she¡¯d said too much. After a pause she said, ¡®It will give me enough time to help you harness all of your abilities. Then our business will be complete.¡¯

    ¡®Complete? Are you planning on leaving after that?¡¯ The words rushed from Laha in a terrified torrent. ¡®Leaving me?¡¯

    She didn¡¯t want to imagine having to stay in Lamore by herself, without the only person in the world who really understood what it meant to be her and didn¡¯t punish her for it. Not now.

    Zayaka reached a gloved hand to Laha¡¯s chin and lifted it. She looked Laha squarely in the eye. ¡®Leaving you is not an option.¡¯ The woman had never sounded so serious, but Laha was confused by her words. Did she mean that she couldn¡¯t leave Laha behind, or that she had no options, that her only choice was to leave?

    Laha played the words over in her mind. Had Zayaka stressed the word not or option? Had she stressed any of the words? She needed clarification but dared not ask for it. She didn¡¯t want to appear desperate or scare the woman away.

    ¡®Sure,¡¯ she said casually.

    Zayaka gave an inscrutable smile and released Laha¡¯s chin. ¡®So that just leaves us with the business of the Governess. I expect she will not trust you enough to leave you at the castle alone?¡¯

    Laha nodded. Zayaka reached for a bejewelled chest on the ground, which Laha hadn¡¯t noticed before. She opened the chest and retrieved a small bottle.

    ¡®Put three drops of this into the Governess¡¯s tea¡­she still drinks Ivanian tea?¡¯

    She knows her. Zayaka knows the Governess. But how?

    Zayaka clicked her fingers. ¡®Laha? She still drinks¡ª¡¯

    ¡®Yes¡­she does.¡¯

    ¡®Good. Put the drops in her tea after the others leave today and we will have the time we need without interference.¡¯

    A chill ran up Laha¡¯s spine. ¡®It¡¯s not going to¡­¡¯ She dropped her voice to a whisper. ¡®¡­kill her?¡¯ Laha didn¡¯t particularly like the Governess and her bossy ways. She liked her even less when she thought about her insistence that Laha rid herself of darkness. But the woman had saved her from the Institute and come to Laha and her friends¡¯ aid more than once during their battles. So she didn¡¯t wish the Governess dead.

    Zayaka laughed, almost a cackle. ¡®No, that is not what will kill her.¡¯

    Laha wasn¡¯t exactly assured by Zayaka¡¯s words, but she was scared to ask for more information, certain she may not like what she heard. And while she wouldn¡¯t dig deeper into Zayaka¡¯s business, Laha could happily accept the woman¡¯s offer to make her more powerful than she had ever dreamt.

    ¡®Where have you been?¡¯ Mary demanded.

    Laha found the Princess waiting for her in her room when she returned from Zayaka¡¯s tent. Her friend stood cross-armed, tapping her silk-slippered foot on the floor. Bertie was behind her, offering an apologetic shrug.

    ¡®Aren¡¯t you supposed to be sick?¡¯ Mary continued.

    ¡®I was sick¡­and then I felt better, so I decided to go for a walk.¡¯ Chaos nodded his agreement. ¡®But now¡­¡¯ Laha clutched a hand to her stomach. ¡®I just feel awful again. Like I could be sick at any moment.¡¯

    Mary glared at her. ¡®Too sick for today¡¯s trip, I suppose.¡¯ Her sarcasm lay thick.

    Laha matched her tone. ¡®I know, the timing is terrible.¡¯

    ¡®Fine,¡¯ Mary said through clenched teeth. ¡®But the Governess will want to stay, to¡­to make sure you have everything you need for a full recovery.¡¯

    ¡®How kind of her,¡¯ Laha hissed.

    Mary unfolded her arms. ¡®You know, Laha¡­I am your friend. Your best friend. Whatever is going on with you, you can tell me.¡¯

    ¡®What¡­so you can tell Alfred all about it?¡¯

    Mary sighed. ¡®I¡¯ll see you when I get back. And we¡¯ll make some time to do something special together¡­just the two of us¡­like old times.¡¯ She gave Laha a disarming smile. ¡®How does that sound?¡¯

    Laha¡¯s defences crumbled. She loved Mary, and she knew the Princess cared for her, even if she devoted most of her attention to Alfred these days. ¡®Sounds good,¡¯ Laha managed with a pinched smile.

    Mary¡¯s face brightened. ¡®I¡¯ll see you when I get back,¡¯ she said and left Laha¡¯s room.

    ¡®She made me come with her,¡¯ Bertie began, ¡®for support¡­in case you tried to bite her head off.¡¯

    Laha scowled at him. ¡®And what were you going to do if I did, Your Oh-so-great Highness, Prince Emberto, the Oh-so-important-now?¡¯

    Bertie pulled a face. ¡®I¡¯m just doing my duty, Laha. It¡¯s my responsibility to take a role in the running of this kingdom.¡¯

    ¡®I¡¯m just doing my duty,¡¯ she imitated him in a whiny voice.

    Bertie¡¯s shoulders slumped. He mussed the dark curls on his head. Laha¡¯s determination to punish him for abandoning her in favour of Lamore began to evaporate in that one simple movement.

    ¡®Look, I know things have been hard for you since you lost your powers,¡¯ Bertie began, ¡®and with Mary and Alfred getting engaged¡­and I¡¯ve been distracted¡­but when we get back from the trip, how about you and I spend some time together too? Just us.¡¯

    ¡®Like old times?¡¯ she teased.

    ¡®Yes, like old times.¡¯ He punched her playfully on the arm. ¡®Without, you know¡­opening magical portals and the like.¡¯

    ¡®Alright then,¡¯ she agreed.

    Bertie¡¯s smile threatened to break his face, and it occurred to Laha that when he got back, maybe they could go back to the way they had been. Maybe she could tell him about Zayaka and the training she was doing. It would be good to have someone other than Chaos to share her excitement with ¨C as long as Bertie didn¡¯t start getting worried about that stupid prophecy again¡­

    The prophecy. Her eyes went to her overcoat hanging over the back of the settee. Laha suddenly had more questions and was fast getting the feeling she was in over her head.

 Chapter 7: Losing Everything

    As Zayaka predicted, the Governess went to her sickbed soon after Laha put the drops in her tea. She complained of light-headedness, saying she was going to take a brief lie down, but shortly after she fell into a deep sleep, punctuated by incoherent muttering. Laha had seen her try to get out of bed several times only to collapse back onto the mattress. The master of the King¡¯s household had called on a physician, who¡¯d shaken his head, perplexed as to the cause of the Governess¡¯s condition. He said he would visit each day and ordered a maid to keep watch on her.

    A moment of guilt-induced doubt afflicted Laha, but Zayaka assured her the Governess would make a full recovery. In any case, Laha¡¯s mind soon became fully occupied with her training.

    Her silver-eyes¡¯ powers had returned in a sudden rush. It was as if the act of inhabiting the mouse had opened a floodgate for her magic. She was attuned with everything in nature again, hearing the voices of the grumbling stone walls in her rooms, the crackling calls from the fire in the hearth. They spoke of a reckoning. The culmination of the past and present. Destinies awakened. Frustratingly, they revealed nothing specific.

    In her training, Laha revisited all of the basic skills she had learnt at the Institute. She spilled a mug of water by merely imagining it so. She shifted stones with the flick of a finger. She made a flower bloom at her touch.

    Zayaka watched with a critical eye and pursed her lips when Laha was done. ¡®They are simple tricks,¡¯ she said, ¡®and all that most silver-eyes will ever be capable of, because the Institute¡¯s teachings are flawed. They ask you to speak to the natural elements, connect with them, ask them for their cooperation, but true power isn¡¯t a partnership. It is you taking control.¡¯ She held up her gloved hands and clenched them into fists. ¡®Like I taught you with the mouse, lean into your darkness. Embrace it!¡¯

    Laha took her advice, remembering the anger she had tapped into. She seized the darkness within her and repeated the same exercises. But instead of spilling the mug of water, she used her mind to make its contents boil. Instead of shifting a stone, she lifted a boulder the size of a large dog from the hillside by the tent and launched it through the air, propelling it a dozen feet before it landed in a spray of dirt. Nearby, Chaos cowered in fear. Finally, instead of making a flower bloom in a pot, she made the whole plant shrivel and die. Chaos disappeared at that point.

    ¡®Well done!¡¯ Zayaka cried, as Laha stared at her hands, wondering what she had done.

    ¡®I don¡¯t understand. How is this even possible?¡¯ In all her time at the Institute, she had never seen anyone do what she just did.

    Zayaka¡¯s hands went to Laha¡¯s shoulders. ¡®It¡¯s possible because you¡¯re not like anyone at the Institute¡­You¡¯re special.¡¯

    Laha took a step back so Zayaka¡¯s hands fell away. Was this what she wanted? The ability to extinguish life? Who exactly was Zayaka? And why was she teaching Laha these things?

    Laha jutted out her chin. ¡®You said you were at the Institute, that you were exiled. What happened?¡¯

    Zayaka¡¯s beautiful face contorted for the briefest of moments before she gave a practised smile. ¡®I told you ¨C they didn¡¯t understand me. They said there was something wrong with me.¡¯

    ¡®Why would they say that? What did you do?¡¯

    Zayaka waved her hand dismissively. ¡®Should we move on to something else?¡¯

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    Laha stepped forward, so she was just inches from Zayaka¡¯s face. ¡®What¡­did¡­you do?¡¯

    Zayaka¡¯s nostrils flared. Silver flames erupted in her eyes. ¡®Fine! You want to know? I fell in love, that is what I did.¡¯

    She strode back to her chair and lowered herself slowly into it. She spoke in an even tone.

    ¡®I fell in love with the Head Scholar at the Institute, Jidwya.¡¯

    ¡®Jidwya?¡¯ Laha knew the name from Kengian history. ¡®Wasn¡¯t he the Kengian King¡¯s brother?¡¯ He had died in some kind of accident.

    Zayaka nodded. ¡®He was the King¡¯s younger brother, and was tired of always being second best. Jidwya was the smartest man I¡¯d ever known.¡¯ A whimsical note ran through her voice. ¡®It was he who should have been King, not the goose of a man currently acquiescing to inferior nations like Lamore. Jidwya had a vision for Kengia. A vision where his country, our country, would be the undisputed leader of all of Kypria. Where we would never need alliances. It would be all the other kingdoms paying homage to us. He tried to speak to his brother, influence him, but the King wouldn¡¯t listen to anything Jidwya had to say.¡¯

    Laha didn¡¯t know where this story was going, or how it explained why Zayaka was here teaching her, but she did hear the genuine hurt in the woman¡¯s words. And if there was one thing Laha understood, it was hurt. She sat down in the chair opposite Zayaka and nodded for her to continue.

    ¡®So when Jidwya met me and saw what I was capable of, as well as how his sister, the High Shaman, and the other instructors treated me, he took me under his wing, nurturing my abilities. We believed that together we could bring Kengia into a new age¡­We had a plan¡­¡¯ A mischievous smile tugged at the corner of Zayaka¡¯s mouth. ¡®We would use my powers to storm the Kengian capital. We would take the crown by force.¡¯

    Laha edged forward in her seat. ¡®What happened?¡¯

    Zayaka sighed, a sigh filled with the sound of a thousand breaking hearts. ¡®Love is what happened. We spent many months together, meeting in secret, working on my powers ¨C making sure we would be ready when the right opportunity arose. Soon, we couldn¡¯t bear to be apart. It became harder and harder to keep our meetings and relationship hidden, and inevitably¡­we were caught.¡¯

    ¡®How? By who?¡¯

    ¡®By Aya ¨C the Governess, as you call her. We were¡­¡¯ A long pause. ¡®Well acquainted, let¡¯s say. When we were younger, we were the best of friends. I looked up to her. Everyone did.¡¯

    The Governess and Zayaka had known each other. Not just known each other ¨C they¡¯d been best friends. Laha couldn¡¯t imagine the Governess having any friends, least of all someone like Zayaka.

    ¡®But as we grew up, the differences between us became vast. She couldn¡¯t understand why I wasn¡¯t more like her¡­and why I no longer wanted to be.¡¯ Another sigh.

    Not wanting to be like the Governess ¨C that too was something Laha could understand.

    ¡®One day Aya came to visit me at the Institute, and she discovered Jidwya and me in a¡­compromising position. I swore her to secrecy, and at first she seemed happy for me and was supportive of our relationship, but then she discovered our plans. She tried to dissuade me, claiming she had seen our future, and it was filled with death and destruction¡­¡¯

    Death and destruction. The phrase sounded familiar to Laha.

    ¡®She said drastic action was needed to alter future events. That I needed to leave Jidwya and never use my powers again. Of course, I refused¡­There was a great fight¡­Things happened¡­Awful things.¡¯ Zayaka¡¯s voice caught in her throat. ¡®We nearly killed each other. I attacked Aya with everything I had.¡¯ The smile was back. ¡®That limp she has is because of me.¡¯ A laugh, fading away into a cry. ¡®But I wasn¡¯t strong enough. I nearly died. Jidwya did die.¡¯

    The last part was said with an indifference Laha suspected was necessary for Zayaka to protect herself from the pain.

    ¡®I lost everything that day. I saw what my powers had brought to those I cared about. Aya convinced me that the only choice, the only way to save Kengia, to save myself, was to leave.¡¯

    Laha exhaled heavily. ¡®But you came back?¡¯

    Zayaka interlocked her fingers and stared at Laha. Flames flared in her eyes again ¨C an explosion of silver embers. ¡®Because I was wrong. Because I was deceived. And now I will have what has been denied to me. There will be a reckoning.¡¯

    Laha knew the determination in Zayaka¡¯s fiery stare wasn¡¯t aimed at her ¨C it was for the Governess ¨C but she felt no less terrified.

    She gulped. ¡®Are we done for today?¡¯

    Zayaka blinked rapidly, as if she had been in a different time and place. ¡®Yes¡­¡¯

    Laha backed her way out of the tent, only turning when she was clear of the doorway.

    And then she ran.

 Chapter 8: A Catcher of Water

    Laha went to the Governess after she left Zayaka¡¯s tent. The Governess¡¯s dark hair was plastered to her temples. Rivulets of sweat snaked down her face and neck. She shook her head from side to side, mumbling strings of incoherent words. The only thing Laha could catch was: ¡®Stop her.¡¯

    The maid patted the Governess¡¯s forehead with a flannel. ¡®It be the same thing, over and over. ¡°Stop ¡¯er¡±. Who do ya think ¡¯er might be?¡¯

    ¡®No idea,¡¯ Laha said. A sick feeling that could have been guilt churned in her stomach.

    She barely slept that night, tossing and turning, dreaming of the Governess, of phoenixes and ravens surrounded by flames, of a world on fire.

    Laha woke with a determination to get to the bottom of Zayaka¡¯s plans and how exactly she fit into them. Importantly, she needed to know just how scared of the woman she should be. Laha told Chaos he must stay safe at the castle. The monkey screeched in protest, but after being given a bowl of fruit to occupy himself, he complied.

    The day¡¯s lesson started with some simple Scholar spells, including a protection spell. Zayaka placed a blank page in front of Laha. She was fairly confident she could get the spell to work, considering she had previously done so with the Firemaster¡¯s book. She just hoped there wouldn¡¯t be any nasty surprises, like the flower-killing incident.

    She needn¡¯t have worried. The words I knew you could do it appeared on the page in front of her with ease.

    Zayaka clapped her hands. ¡®You¡¯re a natural, my girl.¡¯

    Laha saw her opening. She reached into her overcoat and produced the ¡®prophecy¡¯ Zayaka had given her and Bertie, the first day they¡¯d met. She pointed at the parchment.

    ¡®Is this real? A real prophecy?¡¯

    A shadow passed over Zayaka¡¯s face, like she didn¡¯t appreciate being questioned. ¡®Of course.¡¯

    ¡®So you have seen the future?¡¯

    Zayaka nodded.

    Laha chose her next words carefully. ¡®It wasn¡¯t just a glimpse you had of something that may happen? You divined the future?¡¯

    Zayaka¡¯s scarlet lips curled into a knowing smile. ¡®I did.¡¯

    Laha¡¯s immediate instinct was to call her a liar, but the woman appeared far too confident. No one could divine the future on command except for the Firemaster, and there was only one in each generation ¨C the firstborn in the Firemaster¡¯s line: the Governess.

    ¡®How?¡¯ she asked.

    Zayaka sat back in her chair. ¡®You ask the wrong question. You should be asking why. Why did I give it to your friend?¡¯

    Laha crossed her arms. ¡®Why, then?¡¯

    ¡®Because the younger Prince understands you. He understands power and potential. He¡¯s not a weakling like his brother.¡¯

    ¡®Ha! Anyone who knows Alfred would never describe him as weak.¡¯

    Zayaka shrugged. ¡®But he is. He is weak because he¡¯s soft. He believes there should only be good in everyone. That good will always triumph over evil. But if you¡¯re all goodness, you cannot understand your enemy.¡¯ Zayaka leant toward Laha, her elbows on the table. She dropped her voice to a whisper. ¡®And as I have shown you, there is light and darkness in everyone. Only a fool can¡¯t understand that there cannot be light without the darkness, and that power lies in harnessing the very thing people like Alfred are scared of.¡¯

    ¡®Is the prophecy about Alfred, then? Will he be the one who brings darkness and defeat upon Lamore?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t know.¡¯

    ¡®Who is this catcher of water ¨C a firstborn child of Kengia?¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t know.¡¯

    ¡®But the Kengian royal line has never produced anyone who wields those powers. Air and earth, yes, but not water. What makes you think they exist?¡¯

    ¡®Because it is foretold.¡¯

    Laha got up from her chair and paced the floor. ¡®But you don¡¯t know who exactly, or when? Basically, you know nothing!¡¯

    Zayaka stood up and planted her palms on the table. ¡®While the timing is unclear, I do know now that your younger Prince is key to it all ¨C that I have seen.¡¯

    Laha strode toward Zayaka, anger burning inside her. ¡®No! You don¡¯t get to bring my friend into whatever plans you have. He will not be your pawn¡­and neither will I!¡¯ She spun on her heel and made to leave the tent.

    A crackling sound split the air. Sizzling, searing heat. A silver fireball whizzed past Laha¡¯s head. The tent opening was obstructed by a wall of flames.

    Laha stopped in her tracks. Her heart was in her throat. Something between terror and hot anticipation unlocked inside her. She turned slowly back to Zayaka.

    ¡®I thought only a Firemaster could do that.¡¯

    ¡®Yes,¡¯ Zayaka said in a perplexingly calm voice.

    ¡®But¡ª¡¯

    ¡®¡ªand you can do it too.¡¯

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡®I don¡¯t understand. There is only one¡ª¡¯

    Zayaka held up her hand to silence Laha. ¡®Do you want me to waste my time explaining it all, or show you how to do it?¡¯

    Zayaka clearly possessed the powers of a Firemaster, which made her as powerful as the Governess, perhaps more so. The thought of possessing such abilities was altogether thrilling.

    Laha marched back to Zayaka with folded arms. ¡®Show me, then.¡¯

    Zayaka did show her. And after a few hours¡¯ practice, Laha had progressed enough to sprout a flame from her fingertip. It wasn¡¯t quite a fireball, but it was beyond anything anyone at the Institute could do. She had started the day wanting to find out what Zayaka¡¯s plans were and perhaps even protect the Governess, but now there was something far more interesting on offer.

    As the pinpricks of sunlight coming through the holes in the tent faded away, Zayaka touched her arm. ¡®Tomorrow I have one final thing to show you.¡¯

    ¡®What else could there possibly be?¡¯ Laha marvelled.

    Zayaka raised her gloved hands above her head, then moved them in front of her face. The black feathers on her shoulders and her gloves formed a cocoon around her. There was a giant puff of black smoke.

    Laha coughed and batted the smoke from her eyes. The smoke cleared.

    ¡®Kraa!¡¯

    Perched on the table was a raven, like the one she¡¯d seen with the Governess.

    ¡®Kraa!¡¯

    Zayaka had transformed into a raven. There was no question. No matter the impossibility. Zayaka was a Firemaster.

    A terrifyingly thrilling thought crossed Laha¡¯s mind.

    ¡®Are you saying that I can transform?¡¯

    The bird shrugged its wings. ¡®Come back tomorrow and find out,¡¯ came Zayaka¡¯s voice from its beak.

    But if Zayaka was a Firemaster, what was Laha?

    Back in her room, Laha demonstrated her new powers to Chaos, lighting a candle with her fingertip. The monkey clapped madly and motioned for her to do it again. She lit a whole candelabra.

    ¡®Laha?¡¯

    Bertie¡¯s voice came from behind her. She shoved her hands in her tunic pockets in a futile attempt to hide what she¡¯d just done.

    ¡®What was that?¡¯ Deep furrows lined Bertie¡¯s brow.

    Laha put her hands on her hips. ¡®What are you doing here?¡¯ she snapped. ¡®I thought you weren¡¯t back until¡ª?¡¯

    The furrows thinned. ¡®I came back early. I wanted to see you.¡¯

    ¡®Oh¡­¡¯ Trust Bertie to go and make her feel bad. ¡®Well, as you can see, I¡¯m fine.¡¯

    Bertie raised a brow. ¡®Fine is not the word I¡¯d use for what you just did. What was that?¡¯

    Laha bit her lip. Part of her wanted to tell him everything ¨C not just because she was beyond excited about it, but because he needed to know about the prophecy¡­that it was true. But could she trust him?

    Bertie stepped toward her, his dark eyes filled with concern. ¡®I just want to make sure you¡¯re alright.¡¯

    Of course she could trust Bertie.

    ¡®You¡¯d better take a seat,¡¯ she said.

    * * *

    Laha told Bertie everything¡­almost everything. How she¡¯d found the tent again, and how Zayaka had been using a cloaking spell. How Zayaka had said she wanted to help Laha harness her powers. How she had trained Laha to tap into parts of herself that she¡¯d suppressed ¨C Laha didn¡¯t use the word darkness, though.

    Bertie listened with his signature intensity ¨C knitted brows, clenched jaw, pressed lips. When she told him how her powers had returned and then some, he opened his mouth and took her hand in his. Carefully formed words eventually came.

    ¡®Laha¡­I¡¯m so happy that you have your powers back. Indeed, I have seen for myself what you can do now¡­It must be¡­exciting for you.¡¯

    Laha pouted. She didn¡¯t like the way he said ¡®exciting¡¯. It sounded condescending ¨C or was it cautious? ¡®There¡¯s a but,¡¯ she prompted.

    Bertie released her hand and rubbed his palms down his thighs. ¡®But¡­I think you should be cautious of this woman. We don¡¯t know what she¡¯s capable of, or what her motives are.¡¯

    Laha bit her lip and averted her eyes.

    ¡®La-ha?¡¯ He said her name slowly, deliberately.

    She met Bertie¡¯s gaze and gave what she hoped was an innocent smile. ¡®Yes?¡¯

    ¡®Do you know what she¡¯s capable of and what she wants?¡¯

    Laha looked at Chaos. The monkey put his paws up in surrender.

    ¡®Well¡­here¡¯s the thing.¡¯

    She told Bertie about Zayaka¡¯s history with the Institute and the Governess, and how they¡¯d been scared of her powers. She told him how Zayaka had been exiled, but was back now to get¡­Laha wasn¡¯t entirely sure what Zayaka wanted to get, but she gave Bertie enough information for him to glean that there would be a confrontation of sorts.

    He stood up and paced the room. ¡®This isn¡¯t good. It¡¯s just like last time. Not good,¡¯ he muttered. Finally, he stopped pacing. ¡®Do you know how powerful Zayaka is? Could she defeat the Governess?¡¯

    Laha wrung her hands, considering her honest answer. ¡®If anyone can defeat the Governess, Zayaka can.¡¯

    Bertie¡¯s chest heaved. ¡®How can you be sure?¡¯

    ¡®Because Zayaka is a Firemaster.¡¯

    Bertie shook his head. ¡®No, impossible. You told me there is only one Firemaster in each generation, the firstborn of the line, and that is the Governess.¡¯

    ¡®I don¡¯t know how it¡¯s possible, but I am sure of it.¡¯ Laha told him about the fireballs and how Zayaka had transformed into a raven. She didn¡¯t mention that Zayaka was planning on teaching her to do the same.

    Bertie slumped back onto the settee. His eyes darted rapidly, keeping pace with his thoughts. ¡®If she¡¯s a Firemaster¡­then she must also be able to¡­Does that mean, then¡­?¡¯ He sat bolt upright. ¡®It¡¯s real? The prophecy is real?¡¯

    Laha nodded.

    ¡®No, no, no. It says there will be death and destruction, because of the King. My father? My brother?¡¯

    ¡®Zayaka doesn¡¯t know when the prophecy will come to being, just that it will, and that you are key to it.¡¯

    ¡®Me?¡¯

    ¡®She says you must play a part. That you must be the one who takes charge of this kingdom. That Alfred doesn¡¯t have the stomach to rule¡ª¡¯

    ¡®Don¡¯t say that, Laha. It¡¯s not true.¡¯ It was a warning more than a plea.

    She put her hand on Bertie¡¯s arm. ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡­but it is. Zayaka said Alfred doesn¡¯t understand that the darkness must exist. That there can¡¯t be light without darkness. So he can never understand power or his enemies.¡¯

    He stood up and shook his head. ¡®Enough. What are we going to do about Zayaka? We have to stop her.¡¯

    What was Laha to say? She wanted to learn the transformation magic and whatever else Zayaka still had planned for her. But Bertie was right. Zayaka¡¯s planned reckoning could be devastating for everyone.

    ¡®I will go to her tomorrow. I will find out what this thing is that she wants. And I¡¯ll report back to you, and we¡¯ll tell the Governess.¡¯

    ¡®Let¡¯s go tell the Governess now.¡¯

    Laha cringed. Bertie raised a questioning brow.

    ¡®The Governess is currently incapacitated, but she will be completely restored within a day or two.¡¯

    Bertie¡¯s mouth twitched. He stared at Laha and made to say something, but stopped.

    ¡®I know. I know,¡¯ Laha said. ¡®It was wrong. I¡¯m a terrible person. Blah, blah, blah.¡¯

    Bertie raised his brows and sighed. ¡®As soon as Mary and Alfred are back, I¡¯m telling them.¡¯

    ¡®But you know what they¡¯ll say. You know what they¡¯ll do.¡¯

    ¡®Yes¡­They will try to stop her.¡¯ Bertie sounded as if he were speaking to a child. ¡®They will try to keep us safe.¡¯

    ¡®Please don¡¯t,¡¯ she cried.

    ¡®I have to, Laha. I have to keep you safe.¡¯ His voice broke. ¡®I have to.¡¯

    Something inside Laha crumbled, an invisible wall that had been protecting her from falling in¡­No. She couldn¡¯t let the opportunity to reach her potential be taken from her ¨C the chance to become who she had always been meant to be.

    Laha put her hands on hips. ¡®I don¡¯t need their help. I am powerful enough to take care of Zayaka myself, and I will be the one to stop her.¡¯

    Chaos put his hands on his hips too and nodded his confirmation.

    ¡®Laha, promise me you won¡¯t go there tomorrow.¡¯ Bertie held out his hands placatingly, his dark eyes begging. ¡®Please. For me.¡¯

    Laha had to look away. ¡®I can¡¯t make that promise.¡¯

 Chapter 9: At Your Most Deadly

    Laha went to the tent at dawn, hoping she would have enough time to get what she wanted from Zayaka before the others returned or the Governess recovered. Part of her was pleased that Bertie wanted to ¡®protect¡¯ her, but the other part of her resented that he thought she needed protecting, and wanted to ruin her plans.

    It didn¡¯t mean Laha wasn¡¯t scared. She was. She had told Chaos to stay behind for his safety, but the monkey had refused. When they reached the tent doorway, he raised his paws and formed them into fists.

    Laha took a deep breath and entered the tent. Inside, she didn¡¯t waste any time asking Zayaka to teach her the transformation magic.

    ¡®How do I do it? What kind of creature can I transform into? Is there a spell? A method? What do I do?¡¯ She stopped only to draw breath.

    Zayaka smirked with pleasure at Laha¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡®For me, it¡¯s a feeling more than a spell or technique. It begins with choosing a creature ¨C the smaller the better initially, and once you have mastered that, you move on to other larger, more complex beings.¡¯

    Beings? Laha arched a brow, wondering exactly what Zayaka meant by that word.

    Zayaka held her gaze for a portentous moment before continuing. ¡®Transforming into a random animal is one thing ¨C you will have all of its abilities and limitations at your disposal, without the strain of having to command it when you inhabit it. If, for instance, you¡¯re a scorpion, you will have a stinger capable of causing great pain. And you will be small enough to hide, watch and listen to things and escape notice.¡¯

    Laha¡¯s heart quickened, envisioning how it would feel to sting the Governess, or Alfred, perhaps.

    ¡®But,¡¯ Zayaka continued, ¡®you will be as susceptible as any other scorpion to predators, and could easily be crushed under a human¡¯s boot.¡¯

    A chill ran up Laha¡¯s spine. ¡®What? I¡¯d be dead?¡¯

    Zayaka shrugged. ¡®Possibly¡­if you didn¡¯t transform back to your human form in time¡­and that, of course, means risking discovery. So, as a general rule, you will want to be circumspect about when and what you transform into.¡¯

    ¡®Right¡­¡¯ Laha tried to absorb the magnitude of what Zayaka was saying. It sounded much safer to merely inhabit an animal, even if it was more taxing to control it.

    A secretive smile played on Zayaka¡¯s face. There was something else.

    ¡®What?¡¯ Laha asked.

    Zayaka steepled her gloved fingers. ¡®There is, however, one creature that you were born to be. A creature that has virtually no limitations, and when you transform into it, you will be at your most powerful¡­your most deadly.¡¯

    Laha¡¯s mind raced. She had almost forgotten the threat the woman posed, and the fact that she had come here looking for answers about Zayaka¡¯s mission. Why was Zayaka really here? What did she really want?

    Be composed, Laha told herself. Draw the answers out slowly ¨C carefully.

    ¡®So¡­how would you transform into such a creature?¡¯

    Zayaka frowned. ¡®That is something that can¡¯t be taught or practised. It will just happen when you most need it to. Without even thinking ¨C at least the first time. For me, it happened when my emotions were at their most extreme, when the most primal urges of fear, anger and love collided.¡¯ Her hands curled like claws at the ready. ¡®It happened when my very core was threatened.¡¯

    Laha suspected she was talking about her confrontation with the Governess, when Jidwya had died, and Zayaka had been exiled from the Institute. Right now, Zayaka appeared her most vulnerable, but possibly also her most dangerous. Laha must proceed with caution.

    ¡®And the creature you turned into¡­was it a phoenix, like¡ª¡¯

    Zayaka blinked rapidly. ¡®The Governess? No. My form is different. The phoenix is always the very first born.¡¯

    The very first born? What was Zayaka saying? That there was more than one Firemaster in the Governess¡¯s generation? That the Governess and Zayaka were¡­?

    Laha must have the truth.

    ¡®What is it you want from the Governess?¡¯ she demanded. ¡®What exactly did she take from you?¡¯ Chaos leant forward from where he sat on Laha¡¯s shoulders, and nodded ¨C he too wanted answers.

    Something in Zayaka¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡®Yes¡­¡¯ she said slowly. ¡®It is time you knew¡­¡¯

    Zayaka¡¯s next words were sucked from her mouth in a rush of blinding light and sound. The canvas tent burst into silver flames, disintegrating into flying embers before vanishing altogether. The tent was gone, and in its place, Mary, Bertie and Alfred stood behind the Governess. Bolts of light fizzled from her cane. She looked pale and rings were etched under her eyes, but she was still terrifying.

    Mary¡¯s eyes flickered between disappointment and concern. Bertie¡¯s gaze was apologetic. Alfred¡¯s accusatory. The Governess¡¯s eyes were solely on Zayaka.

    Chaos screeched, and Laha directed a defiant stare at the intruders.

    Zayaka was the first to speak. ¡®It¡¯s been a long time¡­sister,¡¯ she hissed.

    Mary and the others exchanged surprised looks. Laha, by now, had guessed the two women were related ¨C they had to be. But to have confirmation that they were sisters¡­It was hard to reconcile, especially given everything that had passed between them. It meant the Governess had banished her own flesh and blood ¨C her sister. It was beyond even the cruellest thing Laha could imagine her capable of.

    The Governess¡¯s hand tightened on her walking stick. ¡®You can¡¯t be here,¡¯ she said, her voice ringing with authority.

    Zayaka merely cackled in response. ¡®But I am¡­and I shall take what¡¯s mine.¡¯

    She raised her hands and launched fireballs at her sister. The Governess blocked them with a silver flame shield, but the blast¡¯s energy reverberated, propelling Mary and the Princes into the air.

    ¡®No!¡¯ Laha cried, running to her friends. The trio lay dazed on the ground. Laha helped Mary to her feet. Her gown was singed. The Princes stood up on shaking legs. Bertie¡¯s hand went to a bloody gash on his forehead.

    Alfred reached for his sword. ¡®What have you done this time?¡¯ he growled.

    ¡®Later,¡¯ Mary said. ¡®Now, we fight.¡¯

    She held up her hands. Cycling orbs of air hovered above her palms. She strode back to where the Governess was still shielding herself from Zayaka¡¯s fireballs. Alfred followed her, his sword raised. Chaos shrieked.

    ¡®I¡¯m sorry,¡¯ Bertie mumbled, ¡®but I had to tell them.¡¯

    Laha¡¯s fingers went to the wound on his head. ¡®It¡¯s alright¡­but I didn¡¯t want you to get hurt, either.¡¯

    His fingers met hers over his forehead. ¡®It¡¯s nothing, really¡­but Mary¡¯s right. We have to fight.¡¯ Bertie pulled his own sword from its sheath and he and Laha joined the others.

    ¡®You¡¯re outnumbered!¡¯ Alfred shouted at Zayaka.

    ¡®And no match for us!¡¯ Bertie said.

    Zayaka cackled again.

    ¡®They¡¯re right!¡¯ Mary yelled. ¡®You can¡¯t defeat the Governess. She is a true Firemaster. Whatever you are, you¡¯re just¡­¡¯

    The Governess and Laha shot Mary warning looks, but she wouldn¡¯t be stopped.

    ¡®¡­you¡¯re just a flawed imitation of a Firemaster.¡¯

    Zayaka¡¯s face contorted and she spun toward Mary, sending fireballs directly at her. The Governess expanded her shield to protect the Princess.

    ¡®I am as much a Firemaster as your Governess,¡¯ Zayaka sneered. ¡®Even more so.¡¯

    ¡®Impossible,¡¯ Mary retorted. ¡®Only the firstborn in the Firemaster line inherits.¡¯

    Zayaka lowered her hands, the fire receding into her palms. ¡®That is so. Which is how I can also do this.¡¯

    She held up her wrists in front of her face, forming the same feathered cocoon she had used before transforming into a raven. Laha was puzzled. In her raven form, Zayaka could be easily defeated.

    A plume of rasping black smoke swirled around her, but it was different than before. Darker, larger, louder. It funnelled upwards, shrieking and expanding until it was towering over them.

    ¡®Step back,¡¯ the Governess told Laha and the others, but they remained fixed to the spot.

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    The shrieking morphed into a maniacal laugh as the smoke started to dissipate, revealing ¨C not Zayaka¡­perhaps Zayaka¡­

    A chorus of gasps.

    A fearsome creature stood before them, with the body of a woman and the height of a giant. It had the face of a raven and talons for hands and feet. Gargantuan wings folded out from its back. The creature opened its beak and cawed silver fire.

    This was Zayaka¡¯s being.

    ¡®What?¡¯ Alfred and Bertie cried in unison.

    ¡®But how?¡¯ Mary sounded confused.

    The Governess¡¯s voice was thin. ¡®We¡¯re twins.¡¯

    ¡®Both the firstborn,¡¯ Laha whispered.

    ¡®Step back now!¡¯ the Governess ordered.

    She stamped her cane on the earth. Streaks of lightning sparked from the stick, and there was a whoosh of silver flames followed by a red-and-gold inferno. The Governess disappeared in the flames and the cane fell to the ground.

    An ear-splitting screech cleaved the air, and from the fire stepped a phoenix.

    The two fire-breathing creatures circled each other, staring one another down.

    ¡®Leave, sister,¡¯ the phoenix said in the Governess¡¯s voice. ¡®There is nothing for you here.¡¯

    ¡®Nothing!¡¯ the raven creature shrieked. ¡®You mean everything.¡¯

    ¡®You know I have to stop you.¡¯

    ¡®Like you had to last time.¡¯ Talons pawed the ground.

    The phoenix¡¯s voice lowered. ¡®I did what had to be done. You were a danger to Kengia, to yourself¡­to her.¡¯ The last word a whisper.

    Her? Who was the Governess talking about?

    ¡®You had no right to do what you did. You took everything from me. And now you must pay!¡¯

    Zayaka¡¯s monstrous wings extended and beat the air. The Governess¡¯s wings of flame rose, and both creatures launched into the sky.

    The sisters fought, crashing into each other in the air. Talons sliced, fireballs erupted, screeching fire pierced the air. Chaos ran for cover, hiding behind a rock.

    ¡®We have to do something,¡¯ Mary cried. ¡®We have to help the Governess.¡¯ Alfred and Bertie nodded beside her.

    Laha¡¯s mind swirled in confusion. A primal instinct gnawed at her, telling her that whatever Zayaka had come back for was something Laha had to know. That it was somehow important. She wasn¡¯t sure she wanted the Governess to defeat Zayaka if it meant she would never discover the answers she needed.

    Laha watched the battle in the sky. Zayaka stabbed a talon at the Governess; it entered the phoenix¡¯s torso. She screeched as a river of blood rained down. Then the Governess used her own claw to snap the talon off. Zayaka screamed. The Governess ripped the talon from her wound and threw it away. The plate-sized raven claw fell to earth, rattling at Laha¡¯s feet. Laha realised that such a talon was probably what had injured the Governess¡¯s leg in the battle with her sister all those years ago.

    ¡®Laha?¡¯ Mary cried, but Laha was unmoving. ¡®I¡¯m helping the Governess!¡¯

    Mary ran so she was almost directly under Zayaka. She held up her hands, pulsing her fingers until they glowed. A whirling spout of wind rose from her palms, growing until it was three times her height. Then, with a whoosh of her hands, she hurled the wind spout at Zayaka.

    Zayaka¡¯s wings contorted and bent in the gale-force wind. She struggled to find her balance. Mary flicked her wrist and focused the wind blast on one wing. There was a cracking of bone, and a guttural cry, then Zayaka was tumbling to the earth.

    Laha held her breath, looking away when the creature met the ground with a sickening thud. When she turned back, she saw Zayaka in her human form, pushing herself into a sitting position. Bloody cuts criss-crossed her face and limbs, and she cradled her arm. The Governess stood over Zayaka now, also in her human form. Mary, Alfred and Bertie flanked her, the Princes clutching their swords.

    Zayaka lifted her chin. ¡®Do it, sister. Kill me. Because if you don¡¯t,¡¯ she spat, ¡®I will come back for you¡­again and again¡­for as long as it takes.¡¯

    The Governess winced and looked away. ¡®I can¡¯t¡­¡¯

    All it took was that one tiny moment, and Zayaka was on her feet, reaching for Mary, gripping the lost talon, then holding it to the Princess¡¯s throat. With her free hand she shot a fireball at the Governess, blasting her into the air. The Governess crashed back to the ground, winded.

    Alfred advanced on Zayaka, his sword raised. Zayaka directed a fireball at his weapon. The Prince watched in horror as the blade caught fire, then disintegrated in his hands. Bertie followed suit, only for his sword to suffer the same fate.

    Fear surged through Laha¡¯s body, followed by a ferocious determination. She strode toward Zayaka, her arms aloft.

    ¡®Let her go!¡¯ Her hands burned. Fire leapt under her skin.

    ¡®No, Laha,¡¯ Zayaka said.

    The next thing that happened occurred without thought or planning. It was as if Laha¡¯s body instinctively knew what to do.

    A fireball formed in her hand. Laha propelled it at Zayaka¡¯s feet.

    There were gasps from everyone except the Governess and Zayaka. Zayaka shoved Mary away to protect herself from the flames. Mary fell heavily, her head striking the ground. Alfred and Bertie raced to her side.

    Zayaka held out her hands placatingly. ¡®Laha. I cannot fight you.¡¯

    ¡®Why?¡¯ she scoffed. ¡®Are you scared I will win?¡¯

    ¡®Because you¡¯re my¡ª¡¯

    ¡®No!¡¯ the Governess shouted.

    Zayaka clenched her jaw. ¡®Because you¡¯re my daughter.¡¯

    Daughter? Laha¡¯s head spun. No. She couldn¡¯t be. How?

    ¡®You were taken from me when you were born.¡¯ Zayaka¡¯s voice was quiet ¨C soothing. ¡®They¡­¡¯ She glared at the Governess. ¡®She told me you died at birth. Right after she killed your father, Jidwya. Right before she exiled me.¡¯

    Laha shook her head. She had no mother. Why would Zayaka play such a cruel trick on her? ¡®No. It can¡¯t be true. I was the daughter of poor Kengian farmers ¨C they died of fever.¡¯

    Zayaka stepped toward Laha so she was less than a foot away. ¡®You were lied to. Like I was. Look into your heart, and you will see it¡­I am your mother.¡¯

    Having a mother was one thing, but for it to be someone who was trying to kill her friends was another. She didn¡¯t know what it was like to have a mother, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to be like this. Laha turned to the Governess. ¡®Say it¡¯s not true.¡¯

    The Governess lowered her eyes. ¡®I did what had to be done. To protect you. I couldn¡¯t let the darkness consume you like it did your mother.¡¯

    ¡®My mother?¡¯ She sensed the truth in the whispered words. The connection she¡¯d felt with Zayaka had been unmistakable.

    So she¡¯d had family all this time, when she¡¯d thought she was alone.

    Barbed fury burst from her throat, and she turned on the Governess. ¡®You were my family. Yet you treated me like an abomination ¨C your own niece!¡¯

    ¡®I¡¯m sorry, but¡ª¡¯

    ¡®No!¡¯

    Laha aimed a volley of fireballs at her. The Governess created a fire shield, but Laha continued, relentless in her attack. The Governess struggled to maintain her shield, holding one hand to the bloody wound on her stomach.

    ¡®Stop!¡¯

    Mary, Alfred, Bertie ¨C all of them were yelling, but Laha couldn¡¯t stop. She didn¡¯t want to stop. The darkness wanted the Governess to pay.

    Zayaka joined Laha, and together they launched fireball after fireball. The Governess¡¯s shield began to weaken. With each blow, Laha¡¯s thirst for revenge increased. The stronger her power grew, the more of it she wanted. Suddenly she understood why the Governess had been so scared of Zayaka ¨C but more so, she didn¡¯t care. The dark rush of power was intoxicating.

    She was unstoppable.

    A flash of brown fur appeared at the corner of Laha¡¯s eye. A monkey¡¯s screech. Chaos!

    The monkey held out his hand. A plea for Laha to come back from wherever she was, to let go of the hate, to fight the darkness.

    ¡®Get out of here!¡¯ she warned. ¡®You¡¯ll get hurt¡ª¡¯

    Chaos shook his head and stepped closer. Laha lowered her hands and reached for him¡­but it was too late.

    A fireball deflected by the Governess flew through the air, striking Chaos. The monkey crumpled to the ground. His body lifeless.

    Laha screamed. A guttural scream that came from her soul.

    Everything that had been done to her over the years ¨C the lies, the denial of her family and her powers¡­it paled in comparison to this. For all of Chaos¡¯s mischief, he was an innocent. He had done nothing but protect her and be her friend when she¡¯d most needed one. Now he had been taken from her.

    It was the final straw.

    Her skin was on fire. Her body burst into flames. Her limbs twisted and turned, her torso elongating. Laha looked down at her arms; they were fiery wings of silver and black. She opened her mouth. A beak. A screech of flames.

    She was a phoenix.

    ¡®Yes!¡¯ Zayaka said. ¡®You, my daughter ¨C you¡¯re the firstborn.¡¯

    Laha launched herself toward the Governess, who was kneeling on the ground in a growing pool of her own blood, but Zayaka shook her head.

    ¡®No, Laha. Let me have this.¡¯

    Zayaka pointed her fireball hands at the Governess, a hungry sneer on her face. The Governess met her sister¡¯s eyes and nodded in resignation.

    Zayaka¡¯s sneer grew, then it froze. Her eyes widened. She looked down.

    Laha followed her gaze to see the end of the Governess¡¯s walking stick protruding from Zayaka¡¯s chest.

    Alfred stood over her shoulder, holding the other end of the cane. He grimaced, then pulled it from Zayaka¡¯s body. Zayaka collapsed to the ground.

    Something ripped inside Laha. She changed back to her human form and ran to her mother¡¯s side. She held Zayaka¡¯s head in her hands. Blood trickled from her mother¡¯s scarlet lips.

    ¡®You must go,¡¯ Zayaka gurgled from her blood-filled throat. ¡®This place is doomed¡­I have seen it¡­You will never be safe here¡­¡¯

    Tears streamed down Laha¡¯s face. ¡®Don¡¯t talk. We¡¯ll get you help.¡¯

    ¡®It¡¯s too late for me¡­¡¯ The blood now gushed from Zayaka¡¯s mouth. ¡®But you must keep yourself alive¡­keep our legacy alive.¡¯

    ¡®Our legacy?¡¯

    Zayaka tried to smile. ¡®The Firemasters¡­We will rise again, one day¡­It is up to you, my daughter, to see that it happens.¡¯

    ¡®You can see it happen,¡¯ Laha sobbed. ¡®You will be here.¡¯ But her words were wasted.

    The light in Zayaka¡¯s eyes slowly extinguished.

    How could this be? How could Laha learn she had a mother, only for her to be snatched away minutes later? How could life be so brutal?

    The answer stood before her, in the form of two hateful people who¡¯d done nothing but chastise her for being herself. Two people who¡¯d made her feel like she was never good enough.

    Laha was back on her feet. Striding. Bearing down on the Governess and Alfred.

    ¡®No, Laha.¡¯ Mary stepped in front of her.

    ¡®Get out of my way,¡¯ Laha roared, fireballs springing from her hands. ¡®You know you¡¯re no match for me.¡¯

    ¡®This isn¡¯t you, Laha.¡¯ It was Bertie speaking now.

    ¡®How do you know? None of you know who I really am!¡¯

    ¡®Of course we do,¡¯ Mary protested.

    But Mary was wrong. They didn¡¯t know this Laha, and if they did, they would be just as scared of her as everyone had been of her mother. She thought of her mother¡¯s words, her eyes going to Zayaka¡¯s limp body, then Chaos¡¯s. She saw nothing but pain.

    Laha looked to the sky, the silver sun beckoning her.

    ¡®No.¡¯ Bertie¡¯s hand on her arm. ¡®You can¡¯t go.¡¯

    She looked back at him, at the kindness and concern in his gaze. ¡®I must go. There¡¯s nothing left for me here.¡¯

    ¡®What about me?¡¯ His eyes swam with tears. ¡®I¡¯m here.¡¯

    ¡®And so are they.¡¯ Laha tipped her head at Alfred and the Governess. ¡®They took my mother from me. And they¡¯re both afraid of who I am. They will never understand me.¡¯

    ¡®I understand you.¡¯ Bertie¡¯s hand went to her face. ¡®I love you.¡¯

    Laha closed her eyes and leant into Bertie¡¯s warm touch. Her heart told her to say she loved him too, but it was pointless. They could never be together.

    She reached into her tunic and grasped the parchment piece, pressing the prophecy into Bertie¡¯s free hand.

    ¡®It is up to you, Bertie. You must do what it takes to protect your kingdom from what is coming. It must be you.¡¯

    Confusion flickered across his face. ¡®I don¡¯t understand.¡¯

    ¡®You do understand. You understand what¡¯s necessary. And you understand the darkness.¡¯

    He repeated her own words back to her. ¡®There can¡¯t be light without darkness.¡¯

    Laha nodded and kissed the palm of his hand, then slowly released it. She stepped away from Bertie and looked again to the sky.

    ¡®Laha?¡¯ It was Mary¡¯s desperately thin voice behind her.

    ¡®Goodbye,¡¯ Laha said without looking at her.

    The fire erupted around her, and she was the phoenix once again. She soared high above them. Not looking back until her past was no more than specks in the distance. She pointed her beak to her future across the Kyprian Sea. A future wholly unknown. The only thing she was sure of was that she was a Firemaster, and that her kind would rise again. The Firemasters of the future would take their place in a world that wasn¡¯t afraid of their power, or the darkness¡­

    That was her purpose, and that would be her legacy, no matter how long it took.

 Epilogue: A New Future

    Emberto would never forget Laha¡¯s last words to him. It was up to him to protect his kingdom. He kept the prophecy with him at all times, although he knew every word by heart. It was a tangible reminder of the threats that lay ahead.

    The prophecy foretold the arrival of a catcher of water ¨C someone of Kengia¡¯s firstborn line. Of Mary¡¯s line, and presumably Alfred¡¯s. And their arrival would coincide with Kypria¡¯s demise. As much as it pained Emberto to admit it, Alfred¡¯s rule, and his child, could very well cause Lamore to fall.

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    So Emberto must do everything he can to make sure the prophecy never eventuates. And with Laha¡¯s existence wiped from the memories and history books of Kypria, with the Governess remembered as the last Firemaster, even though it was a lie ¨C he would see that things were set right.

    It would take everything he had, even if it meant embracing the darkness. Even if it meant choosing between his brother and the good of the kingdom. It would be a choice between fire and water, but a necessary choice.

    A new future must be forged.

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