Page 133 of A Legacy of the Light

Finneus considers. “Potentially. But you have only just turned twenty-five, my dear. Until the power manifests, or doesn’t, we won’t know.”

“How long after maturity does it manifest?”

“Usually within the year.”

I nod, and Finneus turns his attention back to the book in front of him.

“Finneus?”

“Yes?” He replies without breaking his concentration.

“Is it possible that being born in the human world suppressed my Seelie powers? Like strength, speed, and senses?”

Finneus puts his book down and folds his hands in front of him.

“Entirely possible. Our magic, everything a Seelie is, is connected to the land. If you never found your way here, you would have grown and aged like a mortal. You would have found illnesses didn’t have the same impact on you but everything else would have been entirely human.”

“So coming to Elfayne has, what? Triggered it?”

“Indeed. Your senses will sharpen and your strength will grow rather quickly. Especially with the Craobh Beatha in your possession.”

“I’ve already felt that,” I confirm. “What if I’m back home and the light manifests?”

“I’m not sure that it would manifest in the human world, my dear. Light wielding is so innately linked to magic of this realm that I don’t think it would be possible to do so.”

“If only we could ask Granny.”

Finneus smiles warmly at me and we fall back into easy quiet. The rest of the morning passes without us saying another word to each other.

“Will you teach me?” I ask as we return books to the Darrow chambers.

“Teach you what, dear?”

“To wield.”

Finneus pauses. “I’m no teacher, Elsie, but I will try. Allow me a few days to again familiarize myself with how it’s done with the children. My own have been grown for quite some time.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

◆◆◆

I stop at the balcony on my way to change for training. The snow continued to fall over night and has coated the city in a thick layer that glints in the winter sun. Children in the streets throw snowballs at each other and make snowmen. Seelie are walking slower to not slip on any ice and just enjoy the city in the snow. The sight is so beautiful that I stay there until my fingers go numb in the bitter wind.

Despite the cold and snow, the training yard is full of guards, and that afternoon follows the same routine as the day before. Reyne starts with stretches and a warmup circuit. We then move onto weights to keep building my strength. There’s some cardio, which grows easier with each passing day. For the last week, the final part of our session has comprised of hand-to-hand fighting.

Tavish is training at the opposite end of the arena. I’m thankful for the distance between us so I don’t get distracted by his body covered in sweat and watching the way his muscles flex under his shirt.

I’m working through the defensive moves Reyne showed me yesterday when she asks, “Would you like to spar again today?”

“Yes. It makes more sense when I can put it all together.”

“It always does, lass,” Reyne confirms with a smile. We move the punching bag and take up our positions in the middle of the ring.

“We’re just going to spar today, no offense or defense.”

I nod and we begin. Reyne immediately attacks and I move with her, blocking as many of her punches and kicks as I can. Those that I can’t block I manage to dodge.

She’s moving much quicker than yesterday, and I have to focus a lot more so I don’t get pummeled into the snow.