Renly clambers up beside me, touching my cheek. ‘I missed you.’
I feel it again, that warmth inside my chest, a ball of light, a seed that begins to spread and grow, radiating outwards.
What happens next is unexpected and instantaneous.
Up and down the table the contents of every glass leap into the air, sloshing over half-eaten plates of food, splashing dresses and doublets with water and wine. Some of the Heirs shriek in surprise, jumping up from their seats. Ember is screeching, and a couple of panic-stricken serfs dart over to try in vain to mop up the crimson stain on her gown. Elaith rounds on Kai and Marina, clearly unable to decide which of them is responsible. Zeph is blinking champagne out of his eyes, and Flint, who was midway through taking a swig of wine, is now loudly attempting to eject a large quantity of the stuff from his nose.
‘Again!’ cries Renly.
I take my napkin and wipe his face clean, wondering if anyone can hear how loudly my heart is pounding.
Flint is now holding on to the back of Elaith’s dress in an effort to stop her from marching over to Marina, who she’sclearly singled out to be the culprit. But it wasn’t her. Nor was it Kai. It was me. I know it was.
Ever since my mother died, I’d forgotten what it was to be truly happy. I wasn’t miserable all the time, of course. Some days were better than others. But here, at the Golden Palace, I was reminded what it felt like – when I was with my friends, when I was with Hal. And just now, being reunited with my little brother after spending so long apart, a wave of happiness rose up and enveloped me whole.
So that’s my anchor to waves.
Happiness.
I feel giddy, as if I might laugh out loud, but this seems like a bad idea given the circumstances, so I attempt to mirror the expressions on the faces of the other Heirs. Shock, annoyance, amusement, an amalgamation of all three. But it’s of little consequence as everybody seems too busy squabbling to pay any attention to me.
Well, not everybody.
The Earth Cleaver is staring right at me, smiling. I try to look as innocent as I can, but either it doesn’t work or those green eyes of his have somehow managed to pierce through my own and into my head, where he can read my every thought.
His dark hair gleams wet with wine, blood-red droplets forming at the ends of each strand. One falls and rolls down his cheek like a tear towards his lips. His gaze never leaving mine, I watch as he slowly opens his mouth and catches it on his tongue.
26
Iwake with a start, my dream receding, but the tension soon drains out of me as I catch sight of Renly sleeping peacefully at my side. Quietly, so as not to wake him, I slide out of bed and fill my wash bowl, then take it out on to the balcony. I hold a hand over the still water and reach inwards for that happiness that glows warm inside my chest. A small, perfectly formed wave rears up, curves over and then curls in on itself. Closing my eyes, I switch my focus, grasping hold of a different emotion. Soon enough, the silent morning is filled with the crackling hiss of water freezing. And just for good measure, just because I can, I call the rain, letting it come splashing down around me, soaking my hair and nightgown, melting the ice.
‘Blaze?’ Renly’s eyes are wide with surprise.
‘Hello, you,’ I say, cutting off the shower.
He sits down beside me, not seeming to care that the balcony is all wet. ‘Grandmother said that you’d found your gifts. That you know how to use them now.’
I nod.
Renly traces his finger through a puddle of water. ‘Do you … do you think that I’ll ever find mine?’
My heart sputters. Of course Renly knows that he has no gift, at least not yet, but I’ve always tried to shield him from the fact that this is in any way unusual.
‘Of course you will,’ I say firmly.
Ren smiles. ‘Then I hope my gift will be like yours.’ He lowers his voice to a whisper. ‘I don’t like fire much.’
That makes me laugh. ‘Me neither.’
As soon as I’m dressed in my training tunic, Spinner arrives to collect Renly.
‘Only me,’ she sing-songs as she comes skipping into the room. ‘Chaperone and babysitter, at your service.’
Renly is fascinated by the swirling golden tattoos on her face and squeals with delight when she shows him the eye on the back of her neck.
‘I think I’ll take him for a walk first,’ she says to me. ‘Get some fresh air. Then I’ll feed him. Then maybe a nap? Or perhaps I should give him a bath?’
‘He’s not a dog, Spinner,’ I call over my shoulder before heading out of the door.
