Page 24 of Court of Bone and Amethyst

I stare after him a moment, frustration simmering in my gut before angrily tearing off a chunk of bread with my teeth. Owyn and Merla, who are sitting across the fire from me, eat their meager dinner also. After a couple of minutes of awkward silence, Owyn speaks. “It seems your magic is somewhat new toyou?” His tone is tentative, holding no trace of judgement, just curiosity.

I let out a sigh. “In the palace where I grew up, the priestesses taught us that we could only ever practice magic in the cathedral, under the direction of the High Priest. And what little magic we did practice… it was nothing like the shadows I summon now.”

“That sounds… awful,” Merla says softly. “Why would he try to control the women’s magic?”

“He just wants it for himself,” I say, a spike of anger moving through me. “I didn’t find out until after I left. Zyren explained how magic is supposed to work. Aureon lost its magic for two hundred years, and the High Priest is somehow keeping it from the vast majority of citizens, so they have to come to him for help. Needless to say, when I came here, everything was so very different. It’s been an adjustment.”

“And no doubt, being back in your homeland has intensified your power,” Owyn says. “With such close proximity to the nightmares.”

“Yes, it seems that way.” I pause, staring into the violet flames for several long moments. “I learned a good deal about my magic when I read my family’s journal.” I lower my voice. “But it’s all still very new, and I sometimes… I sometimes lose control of it. Zyren is worried I’ll…lose myself.” My eyes dart over to the silhouette of my guardian a few yards away, sitting on a boulder at the entrance to the cave.

“And do you share that worry?” Owyn asks, his gaze holding mine.

“I don’t know…it is scary at times, I suppose. Today, that shadow thing I summoned, without even meaning to…But at the same time, it just feels very… natural. Like it’s who I’m supposed to be.”

“Itiswho you’re supposed to be,” he says. “Those of the Otreyas family who possess shadow magic—it does not fall toeveryone, as I’m sure the journal told you—they all had a different shadow beast, like the one you summoned today. Your mother’s was a dragon. Your great, great grandmother could summon a hawk. Yours looked like a shadow phoenix. I don’t recall anyone in your family having that specific beast before. It’s very special.”

I look at Owyn, a strange warmth spreading through my chest, my eyes pricking with tears. It’s such a relief to know I’m not the only one who summoned shadow beasts like this. I was right—it is natural. In this moment, I feel more connected to my family than I ever have before. And even though it doesn’t come close to making up for being raised an orphan in a far-off land, it feels like the first step in a journey. A step toward healing the empty place in my heart left from years of not knowing who I was and where I came from.

“Thank you,” I whisper, not trusting my voice. “I can’t express what that means to me.”

Owyn reaches out and rests his hand on mine. “I made a promise to your mother, and I loved your brother like he was my kin. Anything I can do to help you, Sarielle, I promise you, I will do it.”

“Tell me more about their magic… did they have any other signature family spells?”

“The shadow beast is certainly one of the most formidable… but there are others that can be mastered with practice. Your brother and I used to practice our magic together… I could teach you, if you’d like.”

“Yes, that would be really helpful.” I hug my knees up to my chest and smile at him across the flames. “I definitely need to learn to control it.”

Owyn returns the smile. “I’m happy to help. Merla can show you some of her specialty spells as well.”

“Yes, that was impressive how you calmed my horse this morning. He was about to throw me for sure,” I say.

Merla ducks her head, blushing. “It’s not hard. I’m happy to show you.”

I’m struck again by how much she reminds me of Lilette. Not just in appearance, but some of her mannerisms, too. Quiet and a bit shy, but able to bring sunshine with her wherever she goes.

We fall into silence as we all finish eating our dinner. Merla lays down, tucking her cloak around her. I glance out into the night, where Zyren is sitting in the moonlight. I know I still need to talk to him about what I’d learned in the book, but the idea of it makes me feel even more exhausted than I already am. It will just have to wait until tomorrow. I’ll tell him then.

I tuck myself into the most comfortable position I can, my horse’s saddle at my back, his saddle pad as a pillow. “Owyn?”

“Yes, Sarielle?”

“Would you…could you tell me about my brother? What he was like?”

Owyn nods, a smile on his face that holds both joy and sorrow. “Of course.” His voice, rich and deep like music, threatens to lull me to sleep instantly, but I force my eyes to stay open. “Your brother was very brave. And kind. An adept swordsman. He had a rather mischievous streak that got us both into trouble on more than one occasion.” He chuckles.

“Trouble?”

“Oh, yes. Once, when we were visiting my kinsman near Tor Unaval—that’s in the great forest west of here—we came across a tavern that sold pixie liquor. Next thing I knew…”

And I spend the rest of the night before sleep claims me listening to tales of my family, and feeling warm and safe, despite the fact that there’s an army out there, somewhere in the darkness, who wants me dead.

Chapter Fifteen

Zyren

The next day,we ride hard again. So far, there’s been no indication of pursuit. I can only hope that Avonia’s army thinks we’re still locked inside the Court of Bone. By end of day tomorrow, we should reach the northern barrens, and it will be difficult for anyone, let alone an army, to track us through the ice lakes. But that also means we’ll need to obtain warmer gear or we’ll freeze to death before we get within a week of the Court of Memory. There is something else I must also do before we travel farther north.

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