Eira’s stomach twisted at the mention, reminding her she hadn’t gotten up early enough to eat breakfast. Tomorrow night, she’d face Ferro again. She’d be the bait to make sure he’d be lured out…whatever it took.
“I want to inform all competitors and their dignitaries, as well as esteemed members of her court that might be present today, that her royal majesty will open her gates at sundown tomorrow. Dancing, drinking, and merriment will follow. At the end of the night, our queen herself will inform everyone of the tournament’s official start and details. So train well, competitors! Your days of practice are nearing an end. Soon enough, you will be thrust into the tournament and all it holds.”
“All it holds,” Noelle repeated as the crowd applauded politely. “Wonder what that is, exactly.”
“It can’t be worse than what happened on Solaris,” Alyss said hopefully.
Noelle shot her a glare and rolled her eyes. “Please, don’t jinx us.”
“They’re still out there,” Cullen whispered, stepping closer to the group. “Until he is dead, none of us are safe.” Eira bit her lip. Cullen’s attention shifted to her and, for a second, his gaze softened. “How are you hanging in there?”
“I’m fine. But there’s something I want to start experimenting with. Or, I have been, with Alyss. But I think I need more help.”
“What have we been doing?” Alyss blinked, startled.
“I didn’t exactly tell you.” Eira gave her friend a guilty glance.
Alyss huffed. “No. More. Secrets.” She poked Eira with every word.
“I know, I know.” She took a deep breath to gather her thoughts and courage. “It’s just that…I know this will sound insane.”
“Does it have anything to do with what she said last night? About you giving magic?” Noelle was sharp as ever.
Eira nodded. “She wasn’t the first person to say something like that to me…Heaccused me of being able to steal people’s magic.” Her brow furrowed and Eira shook her head. She couldn’t believe she actually said it aloud. “I know that’s not something that I should be able to do, and it’s silly to try, but…”
“It wouldn’t beentirelyunprecedented.” Cullen tapped his chin in thought. “If you think about how a Waterrunner can make vessels, it’s a form of funneling magic. Or, how they can create blocks in people’s channels to eradicate magic.”
“But I was never taught anything of the like. There’s no way my uncles would’ve ever let me learn. I’ve only just now begun reading about it.”
“You were never taught how to listen to the echoes of unintentional vessels, and you’ve done a great job of figuring that out along the way.” Alyss nudged her.
“I only figured it out with your encouragement.” Eira looked at each of her friends. “It might be nothing. But could we try? Will you help me?”
They each nodded in turn.
“You know we’re here for you, always,” Cullen said with a touch of pride and affection that softened Eira’s nerves.
“Less tender moments, more magic.” Noelle grinned. “You’ve been a surprising one, Eira. I’m excited to see what else you can do.”
Eira nodded, determination cementing in her. “All right, let’s begin.”
34
They practiced all day, but they didn’t manage to make any progress on Eira’s alleged mysterious power. She honestly didn’t know where to start in exploring it and left the training grounds feeling like she’d wasted some of their last precious hours to practice their magic for whatever the tournament might throw at them. Her friends insisted otherwise. But her ineptitude had Eira doubting all evening.
She stayed up after everyone had gone to bed. Eira scrounged up the journals she’d taken from Adela’s secret room. Spreading them out across the bed, Eira flipped through them, looking for anything that might indicate Adela having some kind of power like this. If anyone did, Eira was certain it’d be the pirate queen.
The candle had burned low when a soft knock on the door startled her from her reading.
“Who is it?” she whispered, not wanting to be too loud. The door opened and Cullen poked his head around.
“Am I interrupting?”
“No, come in.” Eira closed the journals, stacking them, as Cullen shut the door and lightly padded over.
“What’re you reading?”
“Some journals I found in the Tower.” Eira paused, her hand hovering on the stack. “I never showed you that room, did I?”
