Deryn finally turned to look at her sister. Wild hair, sly eyes, but a mostly relaxed, confident posture. And a joyful smile. Her sister was happy.
“Really?” Deryn couldn’t think of a better question to ask to keep Rhiannon talking about herself and stop asking her questions.
“Really. Though, maybe not. I was just back on the island and hated everything and everyone.”
“So I’ve heard.” Another apple was sliced into perfect, thin pieces.
Rhiannon snagged one before speaking.
“Yes, it wasn’t pretty. I am kind of glad you weren’t here to see me make a fool of myself. Would’ve ruined my big-sister rep in your eyes.”
Deryn smiled before leaning in and kissing Rhiannon on the cheek.
“Nothing can ruin your big-sister rep in my eyes, Rhy.”
But instead of kissing back, Rhiannon just looked at her, a long, assessing gaze that made Deryn shiver.
“You know, I’ve not stepped inside this house since I arrived either.”
Deryn stopped the peeling and just stared.
“Really?”
“Okay, there have been too many ‘reallys’ in this conversation, but yes, really.” Rhiannon stole another slice of apple. “I went to see Mom about a month after I arrived, but that was it. Today is the day.”
“And…how do you feel?” Deryn knew there was hesitation in her voice.
“About the same as you.” Rhiannon said. “A little apprehensive. A little hurt. A little guilty. A lot stupid. And no, don’t ask me, ‘Really?’ Because yes, especially that last part. Don’t you just look back at something you’ve been postponing for a long time and then do it and feel absolutely stupid about it? Well, I really do. There’s another ‘really’ for today’s pile.”
Deryn set the knife down. Then she picked it up again. Words did not come. Rhiannon placed a hand on hers, preventing her from cutting into another apple.
“It’s just a house. And yet, it’s not just a house at all. I can hear her everywhere. Not so much in the kitchen, so I guess your choice to hide here is inspired.”
Deryn finally set the knife down a second time and sat at the large wooden kitchen table. The damn thing must’ve been in the family since Gwendolyn herself. All their family meals and all their family meetings had been held around it. She laid her hands on the wood, feeling it pull on her heartstrings. Rhiannon stood by the counter still, slowly working her way through Deryn’s apple slices.
“I feel out of place, Rhy.”
“I know. I felt that way too. Like the wind.”
Deryn lifted her face.
“Paloma called me ‘weather vane’ when we met.”
Rhiannon kept eating the apple slices.
“That’s an astute comment to make. Especially if one doesn’t know you. But she seems to know you quite well now.”
“She called me that the very night we met,” Deryn said sullenly.
“Well, you do project that image. I can’t fault her for looking at something and seeing it for how it wants to be seen.” Rhiannon wiped her fingers on the kitchen towel. “But I don’t think you are, baby sister. Unlike Wind, Fire is constant.”
“Really?” Deryn asked before smiling at the word again.
“With care, you can sustain a fire forever. It needs fuel and an eye to make sure it stays where you lit it. The wind blows here today, there tomorrow. Sometimes nowhere, sometimes everywhere. No matter how much love you give the wind, it will leave. And yet, fire will never fail you.”
Deryn listened, her hands still on the wooden table, palms down. “I want to think that it makes sense.”
Rhiannon leaned back on the counter. “You know what amazed me most about you? As a kid, but even now, despite not seeing you in years.” When Deryn said nothing, Rhiannon went on. “You could’ve burned this house down ten times over. Could’ve set ablaze the entire island should you have chosen to, or simply by being careless. One wrong move, one wrong intention, one wrong incantation… Poof, ashes at your feet. And even knowing what you could do, occasionally seeing what you could do—since you set so many things on fire as a kid, my rains were exhausted—and you still used magic every day. Without fail, you leaned on your gift despite the damage it could’ve done.”
