‘But if there isn’t a door, then how do we get in?’ asks Cole in a voice one might use when speaking to someone incredibly dim.
Alator glances round at the group of Heirs. ‘Someone’s been skipping his Imperial History lessons. Would anyone care to tell Cole why the Keep has no door?’
Once again, the Aquatori boy, Kai, fills the silence. ‘The door to the Keep only reveals itself to those it deems worthy of its protection.’
Alator beams at him. ‘Precisely. This sacred tower sheltered many Etheri during their time of need, regardless of rank or title. You must present yourselves to it and prove your worth.’ He laces his fingers together in front of him. ‘Do I have a volunteer to go first?’
At once, the Heirs begin to raise their hands eagerly. Some even step forward. Elaith, who’s at least a head shorter than everybody else, stands on her tiptoes. I remainwhere I am, arms planted firmly at my sides, eyes fixed on my feet.
‘Blaze,’ says Alator genially. ‘What about you?’
My heart sinks. Slowly, I glance up. Everybody is looking at me. ‘I … don’t really …’ My voice trails off limply.
‘Come,’ Alator presses, his gold teeth gleaming in the sunlight. ‘There is nothing to fear, and I must say, there is a beautiful sort of symmetry to it.’
I frown, confusion swamping my embarrassment. ‘What do you mean?’
Alator smiles. ‘Only that the first Heir to enter the Keep at the last Choosing was your mother.’
I blink, glancing at Flint, who looks just as surprised as I am.
‘Blaze?’ Alator prompts.
I take a few small steps towards the Keep. ‘What am I supposed to do?’ I ask, privately thinking that if Alator is expecting me to introduce myself to a solid-gold wall in front of all the others then he has another thing coming, symmetry be damned.
‘Extend your hand,’ he tells me. ‘Let it feel you’re there. Let it know you.’
From his place among the crowd of Heirs, Flint gives me an encouraging smile. I turn back to the Keep. Feeling foolish, I press my palm to the golden wall, which is smooth and remarkably cool despite the glaring sun.
I’m here, I think.I’m letting you know me.
Nothing happens.
I’m letting you know me like you knew my mother.
Again, nothing happens. Behind me I can hear Ember’s hateful, tinkling laugh.
I don’t pretend to be worthy. I have killed people. Drowned people. Ruined lives. I don’t know why it happened. I don’t know what any of it means. The storm. The ice. My dreams. Perhaps I really am soulless like they say.
A lump forms in my throat and I swallow it down.
My mother believed I would do great things. She told me so herself, and she always told the truth. And I’m here, aren’t I? I’m an Heir. That’s got to be worth something. That’s got to be worthy of something.
Please.
All at once, the wall beneath my hand begins to shift and change, tingling and pulsating with ancient enchantments. I open my eyes.
Before me, where there was previously solid wall, is a gleaming golden door.
12
Tentatively, as though it might vanish, I take hold of the handle. The door to the Keep is as light as breath and yields immediately to my touch. As it opens, I feel this strange phantom weight pressing down upon me, like I’m being watched by a thousand pairs of eyes.
‘Thank you,’ I whisper as I step inside.
There are no windows, yet the tower is lit from within, the sunlight permeating the walls as if they were made from glass rather than gold. A winding spiral staircase wraps itself round the perimeter, extending upward as far as I can see.
Unsurprisingly, Ember is next to appear. ‘Come now, cousin,’ she croons, skipping over to me. ‘No need to look so nervous.’
