“Okay, okay, but hang on.” Quye shook out her sleeves and cleared her throat. “I’ve got to use my prophecy voice.”
She tilted her head to the ceiling, and her eyes turned milky white. The air in the room grew thick with power, and shivers raced up and down my limbs as she spoke in a deep, resonant voice that was absolutely nothing like the light, airy tone she usually spoke with.
There comesa girl of fire and ice
Born of two worlds, with the power of light
To save Ediria, she must awaken the beast
And defeat the shadows that live in the east
Her enemy lives inside one she holds most dear
He thrives on darkness, and feeds off fear
She must conquer his chaos and trust in her heart
Or all she loves will be lost to the dark
Quye’s voicefaded as she finished the prophecy, and her eyes returned to their normal color. “Phewweeee,” she said, rolling her neck on her shoulders until it popped. “It’s been a while since I went into trance mode. What did you all think? Did I live up to your expectations?”
“I don’t understand,” I said, digging a hand into my hair as I tried to process her words. Several pins clattered to the ground, and I winced as I remembered I was wearing a fancy updo. “The power of light? Saving Ediria? You’re making me sound like some kind of savior!”
Quye shrugged. “I don’t make up the prophecies. I just deliver them.”
“Well, you’ve definitely awakened the beast,” Mavlyn said, gesturing to Einar. He scowled, but didn’t contradict her. “But so far I haven’t seen any evidence that you can wield light magic, Adara.”
“That’s because no fae can wield light magic,” Leap said with a huff. “Only the Radiants have that power.”
“That’s actually not true,” Mavlyn piped up. “Don’t you remember the stories we were told?”
“Ooohhhh…” Quye said, sitting up straighter. “Someone who remembers the history of the champions! I think I might be in love,” she declared, clapping a hand over her heart.
“I didn’t know the Oracle was such an outrageous flirt,” Mavlyn said, grinning. Was that a trick of the light, or was she blushing?
“What can I say?” Quye winked. “I’m a sucker for brains and beauty.”
“Excuse me,” Einar interrupted, “but what are you two talking about? What champions?”
“Every thousand years or so, the Radiants appear to a worthy fae and ask him to be their champion,” Mavlyn said. “If he accepts, they bestow on him—or her—the power of light magic, in addition to whatever fae abilities they already have. Light magic is very powerful, and amongst other things, can alter perception and reality itself. Champions always end up in powerful positions, usually as kings, but sometimes generals or other people of influence, so the Radiants try to pick someone they think will do the most good.”
“That’s all well and good,” I said, remembering the stories Mother had told me about the champions when I was a little girl, “but the champions were always Greater Fae who were approached during their coming of age ceremonies. That’s not me.”
“Notyetyou,” Quye corrected, and I went still. “You haven’t had your coming of age ceremony yet.”
“I…” I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died on my lips. Of course I’d never had a coming of age ceremony—I’d always thought I was a lesser fae. Coming of age ceremonies were a ritual of the Greater Fae, done when a fae turned sixteen to unlock the beast form that lived within each of them. Lesser fae didn’t have beast forms, so when we reached adulthood we just had regular celebrations. Mine had been held by Lake Fenwood, with Mavlyn and my mother in attendance. We’d eaten cake and swam in the lake. That was it.
“So you’re saying that if Adara does the coming of age ritual, the Radiants will bestow her with light magic?” Einar demanded. “And she’ll be able to defeat the shadows?”
“Hang on now,” Quye said, holding up a hand. “I didn’t say any of that.”
“Oh come on, Quye,” Leap complained. “Do you have to be so cryptic all the time? Just tell Adara what she needs to do to get her mother back!”
Quye sighed, turning in her chair to face Leap. “You know I can’t do that, cousin,” she said. “I can’t give specific details about the future beyond what the prophecies say, not without betraying the winds. They’ll stop whispering to me if I do that, and then where will we be? But Icansay that regardless of anything, Adara is way past due for her coming of age ritual, and inmyopinion, it should be herfirstpriority.”
She winked at me, but I was barely listening, my attention still snagged on her first sentence. “Cousin?” I repeated, glaring at Leap. “The two of you arecousins?”
Leap swore, and Quye batted her eyelashes. “Oh, you didn’t know?” she asked in a voice that was pure innocence. “I thought Leap would have told you.”
