They kept to the river road, the wide, steel-grey water keeping pace on their right, separating Navyrian lands to the west, Lyran to the east. They were still hours from reaching the Shard’s location, and too far behind. But the road had begun to fade into shadow and Kara’s hands ached from gripping the reins. When Whisper’s breathing grew laboured, Henry rode up beside her.
“They need to rest,” he said, gesturing to their mares. When she looked mutinous, he added, “He will have to as well.”
She nodded reluctantly. “Two hours, no more.”
They pulled off the road under the drooping canopy of a large willow tree and set up a small fire. It was hardly enough to warm their hands, but it was better than nothing. Kara sat with her back to the trunk, staring at the dark road ahead – marking time. Henry didn’t sleep either, just stared into the flames.
Finally, he broke the silence. “The magic they want you to use on him–” He rubbed the back of his neck.
A chill ran down her spine. “Yeah?”
“You’ve never done it on someone who wasn’t injured?”
Kara shifted uneasily. “No. I haven’t,” she said shortly. “But it doesn’t matter. I know the steps.”
“It matters,” Henry said. “He’s not just going to sit there and let you do it. You need to know how it feels when someone fights back.”
She tensed. “And you’re volunteering?”
“I’m insisting. I know how you feel about using this magic. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
She hesitated, then gestured for him to come closer. “Fine. Sit. I need you close and unsuspecting – that’s the point.”
Henry smiled. “Unsuspecting isn’t exactly my strong suit.”
“Then pretend,” Kara said, holding out her hands. “We’ll start calm. The moment you feel it – fight me.”
He placed his hands in hers. “Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.”
She breathed deeply and allowed emerald magic to spill from her palms, winding around his arms. It was soft at first, like a caress. She snapped it shut.
“Now,” Henry muttered, and the calm shattered. He yanked hard against the tendrils, trying to tear free. He was strong, but Kara tightened them, forcing the magic up into his shoulders, his throat, then higher. For a heartbeat, he nearly broke her hold – and she realised that if she hesitated, she’d lose. She pushed harder, her magic binding him fast, until his breathing slowed, and his muscles slackened.
Henry swayed. “Alright – enough–”
She released him immediately, letting the tendrils dissolve.
He blinked hard, rubbing his arms. “You got me under faster than I expected.”
“Then it’ll work. I just have to get close.” Kara’s voice shook.
His brows knitted together. “You think you can get him that close?”
Kara didn’t look away. “I think so.”
“Good,” Henry said, but doubt shadowed his face.
She stood, shaking out her hands. Her pulse still raced, and a ghost of the magic crawled unpleasantly over her skin. “It’s wrong to use my magic like this. I hate it.”
Henry met her eyes with understanding. “I know. But you’ll hate it more if you freeze when it’s him.”
She made a non-committal noise, sitting down again at the base of the tree as Henry lay on his bedroll.
“Have you thought about it?” Henry asked. “What you’re going to say to him? To get close?”
Kara tensed. It was all she’d thought about.
“Yes,” she said, firmly.
