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I can’t help but lament the world we live in, where a magical order as important as Wardens isn’t fully understood by other people. “That and maintain the balance between man and nature. When so many people have elemental magic, there are a lot of residual issues that no one else fixes. Do you ever think about how many gophers you hurt while fighting? That’s where we come in. Which is why some people call it women’s magic, because it’s about cleaning up after others.”

I didn’t mean to say that out loud either. Agnar grunts again. “People are stupid. Only an idiot would dismiss such a wide-ranging magic like that. Or dismiss women’s jobs. As if women aren’t the bedrock that stabilizes the kingdoms.”

He couldn’t have shocked me more if he’d suddenly sprouted wings from his ass. “That’s not what Father says. He claims it’s the easiest of the magical orders and that I should have mastered it by now. I’m no longer a teenager, but I’m still a trainee. The only reason I’m out here alone is because this job was supposedly too easy to screw up. Not even by someone like me.”

Agnar’s pace falters as he glances at me from over his shoulder, his brow lowered. “Is your father a Warden?”

Gods. I keep forgetting the man has no clue whose daughter he abducted. “No, he’s not, but⁠—”

Agnar waves off my attempt to explain. “Is he a woman?”

A chuckle builds in the back of my throat. “No, of course not. He’s⁠—”

“A fool who talks about things he knows nothing about.” Agnar nods with the solemnity of a judge passing a verdict.

“That’s the cheetah calling the lemur spotted.” My response tumbles out, along with another tiny laugh.

“Don’t you sass me.” Agnar digs into a pack on his belt and extends the rope he tied me up with the day we met. He throws it at my feet with dramatic flair. “Or I’ll restrain you again.”

My laughter transforms into tears as the chaos of emotions in my chest starts unraveling. “But the alicorn died anyway. I failed. Again. Maybe they’re right about Wardens.” Or about me.

“Maybe. But even a bent sundial tells the right time more than once a day.” He shrugs as if it doesn’t matter at all. “Or maybe they’re all assholes. Or perhaps you just haven’t discovered what you’re truly capable of yet.”

Tears sting my eyes. No one has ever said anything like that to me. Or suggested that I could be good at something. They’ve only focused on what I couldn’t do or what I failed at, only discussing my potential to note how I’ve fallen short.

Even Veradin refuses to teach me the deeper magics, insisting I haven’t yet proven myself capable.

My father puts all his faith in my twin sister. He gives her everything she needs to succeed because he knows I’ll fail and will only tarnish the family name with my attempts.

I lean down and pick up the leather tie, looping it around my belt rather than giving it back to Agnar.

Agnar tosses and catches his dagger. “Find us another pika, would you?”

The life force from earlier pings my Warden senses again. As I carefully probe the tenuous connection, tracing the knotted trail of roots to the animal, a distant pain sears my left ankle, and I wince in sympathy.

Agnar taps my shoulder. “What is it?”

I close my eyes as I work to lock in on the mind brushing against mine. It’s not far, maybe fifty yards off in the woods. “Something’s hurt and needs help.”

“No. Have you already forgotten how a wounded animal you tried to help almost killed us?” Agnar glares to drive his point home, but I shake my head.

“This is different.” I spin in the injured animal’s direction, unbothered by his ire. All I can think of is the poor beast’s anguish.

Agnar blocks my way like a hulking shadow, but this time, the threat of his looming bulk doesn’t frighten me like it has in the past. He’s used the trick a few too many times. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“It’s not far.” I gesture toward the woods. “I’m going to offer it aid.”

“No, you’re not.”

His authoritative tone triggers an urge to submit, one forged by years under my father’s thumb. I shove the impulse away. “I am. You’ll have to tie me up again if you want to stop me.”

Agnar and I glower at each other, two wills clashing to see who will break first. I may be a bundle full of failure, but I will not back down.

Eventually, Agnar waves a dismissive hand, rolling his eyes as if unbothered. “Fine. But if you get eaten, I told you so.”

“Thank you.”

Gathering my cloak around me, I lead us between the trees, tracking the animal’s position through its connection to the earth. My heart cracks when the poor creature’s pained yip reaches my ears.