Facing the Sun

by Carol Beth Anderson

  “She left with Sella—another one of the Grays—the day after we reached the farmhouse,” Narre said, confirming what the maid had told Tavi. “They were taking her to—to convert her magic to gray magic.”

  When Narre didn’t continue, Tavi whispered, “How?”

  Narre looked at Tullen. “You didn’t tell her?”

  “Not yet,” he replied.

  He took Tavi’s hand, and Narre explained the process, the murder of a Blessed, and the breath Reba must steal to free her magic from Sava’s restrictions.

  Tavi’s face contorted in horror. “Reba is going to kill someone?”

  “Yes.” Narre took a deep breath. “It will be someone old, who doesn’t have long to live anyway, someone from one of the towns Ash and Aldin visited. The plan was for them to enter the town at night, and Reba would . . . complete the task then. They’d leave before anyone even knew they’d arrived. It’s—it’s likely done by now.”

  Tavi tried to let that sink in. She couldn’t fathom it. Her childhood friend, convinced to kill so she could use her magic any time she wished. Her weak magic. Surely Reba realized that even without the possibility of resistance, she would never be strongly gifted. But whatever her reasoning, she had made her choice. And Tavi’s heart broke with the finality of it.

  Tavi reached into her pack. From the bottom she pulled out her wooden flute. She had brought it, hoping Reba would appreciate the token from home. Despite not playing it in nearly two years, when Tavi placed her fingers and mouth on the instrument, it felt right. She breathed in deeply, the crisp autumn air filling her lungs, and she played. It was a slow, sad melody, a simple song of loss and love.

  When the last notes had faded from the air, Tavi lay down where she was, using her pack as a pillow. She slept.

  Tavi woke feeling refreshed. She had pressing questions on her mind. Sall and Narre were taking a walk, but when they returned, she said, “We need to talk about what’s next.”

  Sall looked at her in confusion. “What’s next is clear. We’re going home.”

  “Of course we are,” Tavi agreed. “But after that, I’m going to fight the Grays.”

  Each of Tavi’s friends met her gaze. She took a deep breath. “And let me make something clear. I’m not asking you for permission. But if any of you want to join me, that would be . . . welcome.” She didn’t want to beg or oversell. But she also didn’t want to do it alone, and her breaths became shallow as she waited for a response.

  Sall’s voice was the first to speak up. “Of course I’m going to help you fight them. They need to be stopped.” He gave a small smile. “And next time, I want to be part of the action.”

  Narre took a deep breath and released it. “It’s hard for me to think about ever seeing those people again,” she said. “I might have to wait to give you a firm answer, but I think I’d rather do something about it than just sit in Oren, hoping they don’t come back.”

  Misty grasped her sister's hand. “I’ll do anything for you, Tavi.”

  They all looked at Tullen, but he had eyes only for Tavi. “I think you could do it all on your own,” he said.

  “I think I could too.” And she meant it.

  “But there’s no way I’d miss out on it. I’m in, Tavi of the Town.”

  Tavi smiled, surprised at the intense relief that filled her. “You know,” she said, “The Grays have one advantage. They have a name. We’re just . . . us. We need a name too.”

  “The Golds,” Sall said, as if he’d been waiting for the question.

  The Golds. There was no need for discussion; every voice raised in enthusiastic agreement.

  They quieted. As Tavi began to gather her things together, she looked at the four others in the clearing, each of whom was watching her. Sister. Cousin. Friend. And the one beside her, who was something more.

  Tavi stood, swinging her pack over her shoulder. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go home.”

  Epilogue

  Ash stood next to Aldin in the middle of the barn. Their clothes were still sodden, and Aldin’s were covered in a layer of mud from crawling in the ravine.

  From a few feet away, Konner stared at them. Cold fury was written on every muscle of his body and every line of his face. Ash hadn’t been so afraid of the man since the first day they’d met.

  The banker spoke. “I am losing faith in both of you.” Ash forced himself to keep his eyes on Konner, even as Aldin’s head dropped. Konner continued, “You traveled for months. We’ve spent an astounding amount of money. I’ve trained you, using time I could not spare.

  “And what is our result? One ridiculous girl with a weak sight gift. And two powerful young women who would have benefited our team immeasurably both slipping through our fingers.”

  Aldin said, “We also got Camalyn elected.”

  Konner’s nostrils flared, and his volume rose. “I got Camalyn elected!”

  The men across from him did not respond, and Konner again spoke with a cold control. “I have one task for you. I don’t care if it is difficult. I don’t care if it takes time. I don’t care if you have excuses; I certainly don’t want to hear them.” He looked directly at Ash. “I don’t care if you find this task unpalatable.” Ash’s stomach tightened, but he kept his expression blank.

  “You will bring this all-blessed girl back to me.” Konner's eyes bored into Ash’s. “You will keep her with us, regardless of her feelings on the matter. She will become a Gray. You will ensure that all of this happens, whatever it takes.”

  Konner spun on his heel and took several steps toward the door. He halted but kept his back toward the two men. His voice filled the barn. “And if the two of you can’t do whatever it takes, find someone who can.”

  A Note from Beth

  Thanks for reading Facing the Sun! Will you take a minute to write a short review on Amazon or Goodreads? It’s the best way to let me know if you’d like me to keep writing books like these—and to help others find this story.

  Continue the adventure as Tavi and her friends face off against Konner, Ash, and the other Grays. Order Facing the Gray today.

  Want to delve deeper into the life of one of the characters? Download a free deleted scene from Facing the Sun at BookHip.com/JQQBRH.

  Okay, now that all that’s done, can we chat for a minute? I want to thank you from way down in the bottom of my ice cream-loving heart for reading this, my first novel. I’ve wanted to write a book for so long, and I can’t tell you what it means to me that you’re reading these words.

  I had a blast writing the Sun-Blessed Trilogy. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do, but you haven’t gotten around to it? For me, writing a book fell into that category.

  I’d like to be your cheerleader for a minute. That thing you’ve always wanted to do . . . I bet you can do it. Really. Just take the first step. For me, that meant titling a Word document “Brainstorm 4-22-17” and typing out book ideas.

  What’s your first step? Take it. You can do it, because you the step doesn’t have to be perfect. None of the steps have to be perfect! You are enough.

  Email me at beth@carolbethanderson.com or through my website at carolbethanderson.com. I’d love to hear from you!

  And again . . . thank you for reading. You’re even better than cookies and cream ice cream.

  -Beth

  P.S. That whole thing up there about reviewing this book, ordering the next one, and downloading a free deleted scene? Well, what are you waiting for? Do it!

  Preview of Facing the Gray

  Sun-Blessed Trilogy Book 2

  RELIN: I consider myself a man of culture. Yet when my sword slices through the air and imbeds itself into one of my enemies, I feel a thrill my civilized pursuits have never offered me.

  -From Relin: A Play in Three Acts by Hestina Arlo

  She couldn’t get enough air.

  The fight had proceeded nonstop for several minutes. Her adversary was larger than her in every way: nearly a foot taller, with longer li
mbs, broader shoulders and bigger muscles. Her quick footwork and dodges had kept her out of his reach for long enough to make them both breathless and tired. And that was just what she’d wanted to do. If it were a matter of strength, he would prevail every time. But when they had each reached the end of their energy, determination became the greater factor. And Tavi Malin was determined.

  She drew closer. Keeping her eyes on his, she snapped her foot out, kicking the inside of his knee. He wasn’t expecting it, and she used the distraction to step in further, aiming a punch into his gut.

  He took the punch, recovering so quickly that before she could step away, his arms were around her, gripping the back of her shirt and pulling her in to take her down. Quick as a blink, Tavi relaxed her knees, her hips dropping. An image blinked into her mind: herself as a slippery fish in his grasp. It wasn’t enough; he still had her. She thrust her forearm into his chin, pushing it toward the sky.

  It worked. His head snapped back, he let go of her shirt, and his arms loosened their hold. Tavi slipped out of his grip, but she wasn’t fast enough to avoid his long reach. His right hand grabbed her left shoulder, squeezing tight.

  Before he could pull her close again, Tavi’s left hand shot up, grasping the underside of the arm that held her. In one movement, she twisted in, bringing her back against his chest. Taking advantage of her momentum, she bent at the waist and pulled his arm. His feet left the ground, and he flew over her, landing on his back in front of her with a smack and a groan.

  Tavi stared at him, her only movement the rapid rise and fall of her chest. She had thrown him as if he weighed nothing. She had done it.

  Cheers and laughter snapped Tavi back to reality. She approached her adversary and extended a hand.

  “That’ll leave a bruise,” Tullen said as he grasped her hand and pulled himself up. Despite his words, he was smiling.

  “I sure hope so,” Tavi replied. “If you’re bruised, you can’t pretend it didn’t happen.” She didn’t even try to suppress her grin. Other trainees surrounded them, congratulating Tavi and giving Tullen some good-natured ribbing.

  The tenor voice of Safety Officer Les Andisis rose above the ruckus. “Sall and Stara, you’re up next.” Taking the cue, Tavi, Tullen, and the others stepped off the fighting mat while Sall and Stara walked to the middle of it.

  With Tullen to her left and her cousin Narre to her right, Tavi watched her friend Sall, who was uncomfortable fighting, despite months of practice. He shook the hand of the trainee in front of him. Stara was the youngest magical trainee in Oren, a speech-blessed girl just eleven years old. She was of average build, but stronger than she looked. This should be a good match, Tavi thought.

  As the fighters circled each other, Tavi felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned. Officer Andisis beckoned her.

  Once they were a dozen steps away, the safety officer spoke in a low, firm voice. “You know my rule, stay away from the fancy moves. You could’ve hurt yourself, throwing him like that. There’re plenty of other ways you could’ve taken him down.”

  Tavi’s head dropped, and she tried to drum up some remorse, but it was hard. It had been the most fun she’d had in weeks. “Yes, sir,” she said.

  “Where’d you learn that, anyway?”

  Tavi looked up and bit her lip.

  “Where?”

  “When Officer Lavvin was here one day, he showed us.”

  “Hmm. I’ll have a talk with him.” Officer Andisis gave her a stern look. “Don’t do it again, Tavi. Beat your adversary the easiest way you can. This isn’t a show. When you’re in a real fight, all you’ll care about is walking away safe.” Tavi nodded, not breaking her eye contact with him. She caught the twitch in his eye and at the edge of his lip before he said, “Bet it felt good, though, didn’t it?”

  Tavi tried to keep a straight face. “Yes, sir.”

  He gestured toward the mat, where Sall and Stara still circled each other. “Let’s watch this fight.”

  After the day’s scheduled matches, the trainees entered the midwife house. Greeted with the cries of a woman in labor, they tiptoed up the stairs. Nydine, their meditation teacher, was waiting.

  “Lay out your mats, please, and stand in position,” As her students situated themselves, Nydine’s face wrinkled in disgust. “An entire class of trainees who have been sweating outside for the last three quarters of an hour. I may need to talk with Ellea about the order in which she schedules our summer classes.”

  Despite the stuffy, malodorous room, meditation class was just what Tavi needed. By the end, her aggression had fled, and her limbs felt relaxed and loose. Afterward, all the female trainees stayed in the room to change back into their dresses.

  When the Golds—Tavi, Tullen, Narre, Sall, and Misty—had returned home from Savala nine months earlier, tales from their trip had quickly spread. Tavi and Narre had both escaped after being captured by the Grays, practitioners of gray magic whose gifts were free from the moral restrictions of ordinary magic. No one knew how the Grays would use their power, but everyone agreed it was dangerous, and an undercurrent of panic had entered the town of Oren.

  Ellea Kariana, Oren’s head midwife and leader of the town’s magical training program, had been particularly concerned. It hadn’t taken long for Tavi and her friends to convince their teacher to incorporate physical fighting into the training schedule. And Ellea had declared that if the young women under her tutelage were to fight, they would wear pants, without a skirt on top.

  Tavi groaned as she pulled her dress over her head, already missing the pants she had just taken off. She buttoned up Narre’s dress, then allowed Narre to return the favor. “One of these days,” Tavi said, “I’m going to walk out of the midwife house in my pants and wear them all the way home.”

  “I don’t think Ellea would stop you from leaving,” Narre said. “But—”

  “But my father might stop me from entering the house,” Tavi interjected.

  “And my mother would do the same,” Narre agreed. They put their pants and shirts in a dirty laundry basket before leaving the room.

  Ellea was standing in the hallway. “Tavi, may I please have a word with you in my office?”

  “Sure.” Tavi told Narre goodbye and followed the midwife downstairs.

  Once they were seated in the comfortable office, Ellea said, “I’d like to update you on what’s happening in Savala.”

  Tavi leaned forward. “Have any of the Grays been arrested?”

  Ellea frowned. “Unfortunately, no. The safety officers in Savala say they can find no evidence corroborating our story of Narre’s abduction. I have a hard time believing the Grays covered their tracks so thoroughly, but there seems to be nothing else to be done on that front for now.

  “However, Pala has settled into her new position as a midwife in Savala. I suspect she asked to transfer there specifically so she could learn more about the Grays. She’s very concerned about them, and she’s become a bit of an armchair detective.”

  “What has she told you?”

  Ellea unfolded a letter and glanced down at it. “You mentioned visiting the house of Konner Burrell?” When Tavi nodded, Ellea continued. “Pala met a young man who works as a gardener at Mr. Burrell’s house, and she employed him to work as the midwife house’s errand boy a few hours each week. His name is Evitt, and he’s agreed to gather information for Pala.”

  Tavi’s face broke into a smile. “That’s wonderful! What has he told her?”

  “Very little so far,” Ellea said. “He’s only identified two of the Grays at the house: Konner and Ash. Now that he knows what to look for, we hope he’ll find a way to get inside the house and gather more information.”

  “I hope so too,” Tavi said. “Thank you for telling me this, Ellea.”

  The midwife gave Tavi a sad smile, covering her student’s hand with her own. “I’d prefer not to share it with you, because I want you to stay safe. But your trip to Savala made it clear that I can’t protect you. Your magi
c, Tavi—it continues to grow stronger. As much as I would like to keep you safe in Oren, I know you’ll be needed in the fight against the Grays. And you’ll need all the information you can get if you are to succeed.”

  An unexpected lump filled Tavi’s throat, and she swallowed past it. “Thank you.”

  Ellea nodded, pulling her hand away from Tavi’s. “You may tell your friends and your sister as well. I’m guessing when the time comes to confront the Grays, you’ll all be together.”

  Tavi grinned. “I’m guessing you’re right.”

  Ellea dismissed her, and Tavi picked up her satchel before walking to the front door. When she opened it Tullen, Sall, and Narre were waiting at the bottom of the steps.

  Tavi’s reaction upon seeing them was a twinge of annoyance. Well, it was more than a twinge. And it was more than annoyance. “You could have gone home without me,” she snapped as she strode past her friends.

  Three sets of footsteps caught up to her. “We don’t like this any more than you do,” Narre said. “But it’s how things are for now.”

  A huff was Tavi’s only response. The four of them walked along the dirt road for two silent minutes.

  After confronting the Grays in Savala, Tavi had been relieved to return home. But her parents had been frightened that the Grays would come to Oren for her. Narre’s parents had been even more panicked than Tavi’s. The Grays had held Narre for weeks, and Tavi had almost expected her Uncle Shem and Aunt Jilla to lock Narre in her room forever, just to keep her safe. Instead, Narre’s parents had declared their daughter could not be in public alone, and Tavi’s parents had adopted the same policy. Sall lived with Tavi’s family, and the rules applied to him too. However, the lack of independence didn’t seem to bother Narre or Sall half as much as it did Tavi.