I let it bounce from fingertip to fingertip and back again.
“I’ll do better. Alright?”
Flame whirled around my ring finger, then resumed its leaping pattern.
“I can’t promise I’ll be perfect. It’s… a dangerous time. I’m not sure if that makes sense to you, but there may be moments when I have to tuck you away–”
A slow shuffle of footsteps in the tavern had my words choking off. I twisted in my seat to peer out the door and saw a shadow fall across the threshold.
“Like right now,” I hissed, then shoved my hand behind my back, just as the figure rounded the doorway.
Behind me, my hand clutched to a fist. Flame was still pulsing just beneath the skin, every knuckle hot as a burning coal. My heart hammered, but I forced a rigid smile.
“Madame Bracken,” I said, a little breathless. “Dinner won’t be ready for a little while longer, I’m afraid.”
She paused beneath the doorframe, stooped and sour-faced as ever, eyeing me through a gleaming, narrowed gaze before she moved into the room. Her every shuffling step was so painfully slow it almost felt as though she was putting it on; deliberately keeping me on edge until she drew out a seat at the opposite end of the table and lowered herself into it with wobbling arms. I didn’t say anything as she adjusted her wide black shawl around her thin shoulders and finally fixed her eyes on me. They were brighter than I remembered; sharp enough to pierce right through me. I felt an odd sensation in my chest, like her gaze had breached my skin to poke around my insides, hunting and assessing. When it felt like my heart might implode from its unsustainable gallop, she finally pursed her lips.
“You don’t have to hide that from me, girl.” She gave an indignant sniff and added, “I’m hardly afraid of a human lantern.”
The hinge of my jaw gave way.
“What do you mean–”
“Oh, let’s not.”
I considered her as quiet shock surged through me, but she just stared boldly back, her jaw jutting and her stare both forceful and demanding. My Flame, traitorous little thing that it was, licked curiously at my fingers. It pulsed impatiently, a silent request. And at this point, what good did it do me to refuse? Slowly, I brought my still-glowing hand out from behind my back and offered a meek little wave. Madam Bracken nodded, satisfied and perhaps a little smug at her own suspicion verified. But how in the worldhadshe suspected anything? I had been struggling with my Flame of course, but I hadn’t imagined anyone but the Captain would have noticed, given it was his presence alone that wreaked such havoc.
Unless she could sense it.
“Are you…?”
I hesitated. It wasn’t considered terribly polite to inquire after another’s magical signature, at least among the covens. It was highly personal, something a witch would share only ontheir own terms. Having said that, shehadforced a confession from me. The old woman watched me war over my phrasing for too long, apparently quite content to let me flounder before I finally settled on; “How did you know?”
“Let’s just say I’ve my own relationship with magic and leave it at that.”
“Fair enough,” I said, even though it really wasn’t all that fair. I was not in the mood to argue with this woman, who had been so prickly and difficult since the moment she checked in. But my heart was still a little frantic, uncomfortable against my ribs, and I was compelled to add; “I’d appreciate it if you kept this to yourself, though.”
Her eyes flashed. “I’m aware of the code, girl.”
A magic user then, even if she didn’t want to put a name to her affinity. It was something, I supposed, and I nodded my thanks for the little crumb she’d offered. And yet it bothered me still; it wasn’t unheard of, that some couldscentmagic on a person. But she’d given no indication of recognising me for what I was. Not as I checked her in to her room, or delivered her three meals a day when she tired of the Kingsmen’s rowdy antics. Why reveal it to me now? The thought niggled at me even as my Flame swirled excitedly around my knuckles, delighted at the chance to shine for an audience. Madame Bracken glanced at my flickering hand, sour expression melting just a touch as a smile tugged at her thin lips.
“You never said anything.”
Her lip flattened, eyes cutting to me sharply.
“Neither did you.”
Fine,I thought wearily – I really could not be arsed with this right now. I forced a tight smile and drew in my reluctant Flame with another forceful clench of my fist.
“I’ll just go see to dinner, Madame.”
I readied to stand and glide away with some scrap of dignity, but the moment I pushed to my feet the room tilted violently around me and I half stumbled, catching myself on the edge of the table just a moment before my knees buckled.
Fuck.
My hand flew to my head in a vain attempt to steady the spinning there as I gripped the table. Madame Bracken tutted, but I couldn’t even open my eyes to glare at her.
“Running around like a headless chicken all day will do that to you.”
