Just in case my magic comes back, and we’ll be back to restricting every single touch with one another. I grab his hand, not wanting to be without it, even if it’s only for a few more seconds.
Nettle chortles from behind me, as if disapproving of the display, but I frown at the horse and pick up his reins again.
The first time I crossed the border, it was as if a shiver of energy ran through me as I passed the protective shield to Kirrasia, and I can sense the same energy now, another familiarity I’ve come to understand. Even without my necklace to channel it, there’s a hum of vibration pulsing through my veins. I spin the ring on my finger, warm from wear, and so comforting where it now rests.
“On three. One, two, three.” We all step forward and through on Calix’s command.
And… nothing.
We look around, and while we can see the watch tower, there aren’t the usual guards and camp area around it.
“That’s a surprise. It’s abandoned, just like when we came through. Could this be your father again?” Ten asks Calix.
“No. He’d have no intel to confirm where we’d cross or when we’d cross. This is either luck or?—”
“Or they aren’t protecting the border right now,” Ten finishes Calix’s thought.
“Why wouldn’t they do that?” Kyra asks. “The border should always be protected. Sunatora and?—”
“—Aren’t who we need to be worried about right now. Come on.” Kalan tugs on the two horses he’s holding on to. “We still have a plan. Let’s not ask for more trouble.” He hands one horse off to Kyra.
We mount the horses and set out towards The Ember. As the horses fall back into pairs, I look to the sky, then to the people ahead of me, and finally, my fingers press to the space at my neck as I think of the time in class. I remember the connection between Capella and Micah as we held hands, and what the power felt like as it travelled through me. That signature that wants to find the missing drop of its power in me.
As I focus, as I picture it in my mind, a rush of energy cascades through me. Not from the well in my chest, this is different, like it’s channelling through me, and the source isn’t trapped inside me anymore. It’s bigger than that. It’s greater and more powerful than it was in training.
Nettle rears back and whinnies before he stomps his feet back on the dirt and shifts his stance. He feels it and isn’t happy about it.
But the power doesn’t stop, and with it, Nettle’s agitation grows until he throws me from my seat, and I land in the grass.
“Okay, that wasn’t nice,” I mumble to Nettle, as I brush off my hands and right myself, still on my arse.
“Ever!” Ten calls.
Here goes nothing. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”I push the words to him, but they hit a wall. A block. They hit Ten’s shield. I concentrate, gathering my power, wanting it to come to me,beseeching it to obey, and I force the words towards Ten. This time, they sail through the barrier. And I watch it happen.
I see the moment Ten realises, his eyes snapping to mine and growing wide. His smile breaks like the sun rising in the morning, but no sooner has it appeared than it sours, falling flat.
“If you have your power back, if we have this back—”His eyes narrow.
“We don’t know. Everything’s different here. My power feels different.”
“You got through my shields.”
“I wanted to see if this would work.”
“You’re stronger.”
I don’t want to answer that, so I pick myself up instead and step towards Nettle. “I won’t hurt you, boy. It’s just me.” I place my hand on his shoulder and gently stroke his neck. “Nice and easy.”
He doesn’t seem to argue this time, and I remount, pulling myself up with no problem.
I’ll wait until we’re closer to The Court before calling on my magic again. That’s what it was. I called it, and it responded. Ipulledmagic and power, not from within me.
“Ever, you good? We need to use the advantage of no guards,” Kalan circles back to me.
“I’m good. Nettle’s good, aren’t you, boy?” I keep my eyes on the horse.
“Come on then.” His impatience snaps in his words. “We need to stick to the plan.”
