five
Itookmytimeleaving the darkness of The Forest. I stayed close enough to the edge of it to keep an eye on the sunlight. When I reached the castle, I emerged and crossed to the East side of The Isle.
But instead of following the path home, I made my way to the sandy edge of the riverbank and walked as long as I could downstream before the rocky edge took over. As I walked barefoot, carrying my sandals, I thought long and hard about Liza’s point—that sometimes it wasn’t about being smart, it was about being perceptive.
I studied the water curling along the river, remembering the way the waters had amplified my powers last night when we’d faced the lycanthrope. When I’d defeated the Furies, I had also been directly over the river on the Upper Bridge, and I wondered now if the close proximity to the water had boosted my magic. And wasn’t it from these very waters that the castle had risen to its final resting place? What was it about these waters connected to my magic?
“You’re glowing,” Lily called down from the walking path. She held a burlap sack full of green-leafed herbs. “Everything okay?”
I turned to face her, my toes still dipped in the edges of the stream. “It’s been a rough morning.”
“Walk with me,” Lily said. “You can tell me about it.”
As I walked beside Lily on the path leading to the Lower Bridge, I explained about the mixed bag that had been court hours, and the downright disastrous Seer training that never happened. She winced as I finished.
“Like I said, Gus pretty much hated me when I arrived,” Lily said. “You need to give these old guys time to get used to us new gals.”
I gave her a half-hearted smile, hoping she was right.
“Ranger X told me about the court hours. He actually thought they were quite promising, all things considered,” Lily offered. “He said it could’ve been a lot worse.”
“He didn’t tell you about the guy who called me the Cursed Queen, then, did he?”
“Look, we all know there are people who don’t agree with you being queen. Fen made a council about it.”
“I’m worried that he’s right.”
“Who, Fenlon?”
“Power without trust leads to ruin,” I parroted. “I don’t totally disagree with that sentiment. Yet here I am, with a bunch of power that I don’t understand, and very little trust from the locals.”
“I trust you. Lots of people trust you. The ones who don’t just haven’t gotten to know you.”
I reached out, squeezed Lily’s wrist in silent thanks. We’d reached the Lower Bridge.
“I should get back,” I said with a sigh. “I need to tell Silas about my big failure with Seer Goddard and see if he has anyideas about how I can prove myself worthy. How did you prove yourself worthy to Gus?”
Lily considered for a long moment. “I’m just stubborn. I worked hard and stuck around, much to his dismay. Eventually, I wore him down.”
“I’m just not sure I have that much time.”
“You’ll get there. I have full faith in you.”
“I have one more question before you go. I’ve noticed that my magic seems stronger when I’m physically connected to the water in the river. Do you know why it might amplify my powers?” Fittingly, we paused on the Lower Bridge as we watched the koi fish in the river slink in and out of view. “Are they enchanted?”
“Most everything on this island is enchanted. As to why the water specifically enhances your powers, I don’t know about that. Is it all water? Are you glowing when you shower?”
I let out a real laugh this time, shook my head. “From what I can tell, it’s just the river.”
“Huh,” she said. “Let me talk to Gus. He’s got lots of books and random knowledge. He might have an idea.”
“Would you mind asking him if he has any texts on the ancient Fae dynasties? From what Silas said, the information is quite rare and hard to find.”
Lily agreed to ask him for me, then she gave me a hug before parting ways. I made my way back across the Lower Bridge, but instead of turning north to return to Wisteria Cottage, I turned south. I walked further south until I was almost at the location where the island’s river spilled out into Lake Superior.
Here, the water formed into a swimming hole, the deepest location of the river. A little pool at the mouth where the regular water from the Great Lake met the enchanted stream. It was deep enough to dive into; I knew this as I’d seen severalteenagers jumping off the rocks, doing neat little cannonballs into the darkest areas of the azure lagoon.
I perched on the edge of a sun-warmed rock and let my toes dangle in the water. I tossed my sandals down next to me, threw my head back, and let the rays of sunlight wash over my face.
