“You being powerless doesn’t solve any problems at all either.”
“I’m notpowerless,” I snap.
The instant I say it, sparks and stars flicker in my blood, almost taking my breath away. The torches around the arena suddenly gutter in a breeze, and Tycho looks around in surprise. His soldier friend has joined him by the railing, and he looks around, too.
“Scravers?” the soldier says, his voice low.
Tycho shakes his head.
But it wasn’t scravers. Not that time. It wasme.
I swallow. Verin is staring at me.
I snapped at the queen’s sister. My magic nearly revealed itself.
Maybe it was sparring with Tycho, or maybe I’ve just had enough. But for once, I can’t make myself care. I meant every word. If they send me back to the bakery in Briarlock, I think I reallywouldbe happier.
But I don’t think the queen would send me back. I think she’d agree with everything I said to her sister.
“I’ll train with someone else from now on,” I say.
Verin steps right up to me, and for a moment, I think she’s going to leave me in a pile of broken bones for someone to find in the morning. I hold my breath, bracing myself.
But then she smacks a hand on the front of my armor.
“Then go,” she says. “I have no time for your insolence tonight.”
I think of the way I just watched the soldier defeat her. I remember the way Tycho said,It’s just a matter of time before you can do that.
I glance at him. “Thank you for the match,” I say.
“Anytime, Callyn.”
Verin’s scowl deepens. But I give her a nod, then turn and go.
CHAPTER 41
CALLYN
The next morning, I’m supposed to join Alek to visit the First House, headed by a man who provides precious metals to most of the wealthy people in Syhl Shallow. I should be excited to meet another potential ally to the queen, but instead, I’m full of doubts over whether I made the right choices in what I said to Tycho—and what I said to Nolla Verin. The queen said nothing about it, so I know Verin didn’t make good on her threat to talk to her.
But still.
Alek, of course, notices my mood the instant he gets into the carriage.
“You look contemplative, Lady Callyn.”
The driver cracks a whip, and the carriage starts rattling. Alek is in a dashing red jacket today, and I almost have to do a double take at how striking he looks. It should clash with the flame coloring of his hair, but it doesn’t. I keep my eyes on the window, but I don’t beat around the bush. “I told Verin I don’t want to train with her anymore.”
“What prompted this?”
You.
But I don’t say that. It wasn’t entirely him. It was the queen. It was my mother. It was my conversation with Tycho. It was my life in Briarlock.
It was me.
I smooth my skirts over my legs, but I stare out at the new scenery as we pass over the cobblestones of the Crystal City. “She was sparring with a soldier from Emberfall, so I ended up talking to Lord Tycho, and he offered to spar with me instead.”
