Page 32 of The Iron Flower

“You know I’m not religious, Ren,” Trystan says, eyeing the wand. “But... I’ve been having dreams. A lot of dreams, about this wand and white birds and a tree. And they always end the same way.” He gives me a significant look. “With this wand inyourhand.”

My grip tightens around the wand as a shiver of power spirals through my affinity lines and out toward the wand in a heady rush.

“Trystan,” I say tentatively. “When did your affinity lines quicken?”

“Around fourteen. Why?”

“I... I can sense my earth lines now. And my fire lines. They’re getting stronger—every day, almost. They flare sometimes.”

Trystan nods with understanding. “It can happen very suddenly. I remember one time, we were all having supper, and my water lines just...surged. For a moment, I had the bizarre sensation that the entire room was underwater.”

I arch my brow. “Well, that must have been disconcerting.”

Trystan’s lip lifts in a small, sardonic smile. “It was a bit overwhelming, yes.”

“And your fire lines?” I ask. I know that Trystan has strong water and fire lines, which makes it difficult for him to control his powerful but stormy magic.

“I didn’t have a sense of my fire line until about a year ago,” he tells me.

“So...there’s a chance I might develop a sense of more lines of power.”

“You might. Although two is the most common.”

“But I won’t be able to access it.”

He shakes his head. “You won’t ever be able to access your power, since you’re a Level One. I’ve never known of a Level One Mage who gained access to their power.”

Confusion wells up in me. “Then why would this wand be drawn to me?”

He considers this. “Are you entertaining the idea thatthiswand is the White Wand of myth?”

“Yes.”

“Well, the legends say that the White Wand sometimes lies dormant for many years. If we’re pretending that the stories are all true, then perhaps your children will have great power, and you’ll pass it on to them. Or perhaps you’re meant to pass it to someone else.”

“Like you just passed it back to me.”

Trystan is silent for a moment, and I can see he’s troubled by his strange dreams and the idea of straying too closely into mythological territory. “Perhaps.”

“The forest is afraid of me,” I tell him, laying it all out in the open. “And just before that, it was openly hostile. I’m truly not imagining this, Trystan. You heard what Tierney said the other night. Have you sensed any of this from the woods?”

“No.” He tilts his head, thoughtful. “But I’ve heard of this type of thing. Only directed at very high-level Earth Mages, though.”

“So, I might have very high levels of earth magic inside me?”

“That you have no access to.”

I let out a long, frustrated sigh. “It’s increasingly strange to be me.”

Trystan lets out a small laugh. “Join the club, Ren.”

I smile at this and look to him with affection. “I’m glad you are who you are.”

Trystan gives me a slight smile. “I feel the same way about you,” he says quietly.

We wordlessly stand there for a moment, bolstered by each other, but my thoughts soon take a somber turn.

“What do you think will happen with Rafe and the Lupines?” I tentatively ask him.

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