by Julie Abe
I scanned the lower path, my breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t see them.
“Charlotte! Ember!” I cried, jetting forward. I tumbled off the broom and clung to the wall, slipping down the slick footpath.
Seconds later, water streamed off the ledge and they reappeared, drenched yet safe.
“Eva!” Charlotte rushed up the path and slid to a stop in front of me. Her hands reached out, trembling, as if she wanted to grab me, but she lowered them as if unsure of how to help. Ember curved around my legs, whimpering as my cold skin met his warm fur. His tail was ablaze with light.
“Ember!” I cried out in surprise, my heart swelling. “Your tail lit!”
My flamefox gave me a pointed look as if to say, Of course. You’re my witch. No storm’s allowed to take you away.
Then, from behind me, water crashed against the shield. My heartbeat skittered as I turned around.
One last shield remained unspelled, creating a gap that waves poured through. Charlotte and I stared at the shield and then at each other.
“C’mon,” she said. “Just that one. A single shield. Then you can rest, and I’ll feed you porridge and hot tea. You’re almost done.”
I wanted to shoot back a retort, but I was so tired.… Curses, Char, must you always push my buttons?
One more shield… “Stand up…” My legs trembled, threatening to give out from under me.
“Lean on me, witch-girl.” Charlotte took a step forward. “Don’t you dare give up.”
I pressed into her side, breathing heavily.
My arm shook as I pointed my wand at the shield. “Stand tall…”
She held my hand steady.
“This shield will stay strong and protect all.”
A blue-and-gold shimmering light shot from my wand and straight at the shield, and it blossomed like a flower, shooting up into the sky. But it wasn’t locked into the other shields; we ducked as another wave crashed through the cracks.
“One more spell,” I croaked.
Charlotte’s eyes gleamed. “You can do it.” Ember circled around us.
I took a deep, huge breath and then I whispered, “Stay here… stay near. Auteri is your home… and there’s no need to roam.”
With a glow of blue-gold light, the shields shifted slightly. Finally, the chain of shields locked in.
Charlotte and I stared up at the colossal shields that towered over us, higher than the cliffs and tougher than the rocks.
Outside the bay, waves crested and thundered as they crashed against the papers.
The shields stayed straight and tall.
Inside the chain, the water was still choppy, yet it was slowly quieting. The water level was still high, lapping at the edge of the path.
“We did it!” Charlotte shouted. Ember yipped and reared on his hind legs as he let out a howl of joy.
Charlotte’s eyes blazed bright as a cloudless sky, and she grabbed me in a hug. I stared over her shoulder at the shields in disbelief.
It had worked.
“C’mon, let’s get back to the town hall.” Charlotte slung her arm over my shoulder, her cheeks pink. “They’ll want to know. Can you imagine Mayor Taira’s face? She’ll be so proud, Eva.”
I tried to follow her to the path that led back toward town, my feet dragging, and I tripped. I held my hand out to lean against the shield. Seawater gushed over my feet, soaking into my boots.
“Ember? Char?” I mumbled. Spots of darkness pricked my vision, and the waves roared in my ears. I took one more step forward as my legs buckled under me. My breath slowed. The rain and storm were cold, but my limbs felt frozen. My magic had truly run out.
“Eva, no, no. Grab my hand!” Charlotte’s sharp scream and Ember’s cry pierced the air as I tumbled into the water.
Charlotte scrambled toward me, but she was so far away.…
As I fell, her hand grabbed at me, nails scratching my skin, and the magic in my blood sparked one last time. I heard Mother’s voice, or maybe it was Charlotte.
We’re here for you now. You’ve done good for Auteri, Eva.
I was too weak, too weary.
I sank down into the murky sea, until I was surrounded by darkness.
CHAPTER 31
PORRIDGE
My vision swam in front of me. I blinked. I was covered with piles of blankets on a cot in the crowded town hall, lit by flickering lanterns. Some of the townspeople napped and others gathered in small circles, murmuring to one another.
My freezing-cold body burned with scrapes and bruises. Still, I was in one piece. But my breath caught—I couldn’t feel a spark of magic in me. I was drained dry.
A booming sound shook the hall, like two buildings slamming into each other. I jolted and looked around. The townsfolk didn’t seem to notice—they kept talking to one another.
Ember rested on top of me, keeping me warm. The flame in his tail had burned out. When he peered into my open eyes, he waved his tail so fast that I swore it flashed with bits of fire.
I tugged at the sleeve of the person closest to me, a sailor. “Excuse me?” I mumbled. Darkness flickered at the corner of my vision. I could barely speak. But I needed to know if the shield had worked.
“She’s awake!” It was Soma. His eyes relaxed with relief as he smiled at me, seemingly not noticing how Ember growled at him from my lap. “I’m glad you’re back safe. I—we were all so worried.”
The townspeople gathered next to my cot, babbling loudly, and Soma gave me one last nod before slipping away. My flamefox pranced around my legs, yapping cheerily.
Charlotte and Davy pushed their way to my side, wearing dry clothes far too big for them, their wet hair dripping on my blankets.
“What’s that sound?” I whispered, as the boom echoed through the town hall again.
Charlotte grinned at me. “That noise? That’s the waves and wind hitting the shields.” She put her hand on my shoulder, and through the blanket, I felt her blazing warmth. “The shields worked, Eva.”
Davy’s eyes danced, and he flung his arms around the both of us. “You have more than a pinch of magic. Your idea—your magic—was just as strong as any witch or wizard in the whole realm.”
My heart swelled. The saltiness of their damp hair tickled my nose as I pulled them into a hug. At the same time, we all breathed out a huge sigh of relief and then looked at one another and laughed.
“Still, you owe me one. Ember tried jumping in the water after you.” Charlotte’s eyes flashed darkly. “I had to dive into the water and drag your flamefox and your half-drowning body out. I thought we’d lost you.”
I had thought I was a goner, too.
“It was the oddest thing, though—I swear, the waves calmed enough for me to dive down and grab you.” She shook her head, trying to make sense of it. “Anyway, Rin and I made you porridge. Eat up. You need to regain your strength.”
“But—my parents, I need to send them a message.” I tried to swing my legs over the edge of the cot, but I was so drained that I couldn’t move an inch.
Rin leaned over, brushing the hair out of my eyes. “As your guardian, I’ll write to them so they’ll know we’re taking good care of you.”
“You’ll be a pile of porridge if you don’t rest up. Go back to sleep.” Charlotte pushed me back into bed.
My arms felt tired; my whole body hurt. The bed felt like the best kind of hug from my parents, pulling me in warmly.
Charlotte smirked. “See? Porridge.”
“I’m not porridge,” I muttered crossly, as I sank back into my pillow. But she was right—I didn’t feel any tickles of magic fizzing at my fingertips. The shields had drained me dry.
I hoped my magic would return.
Charlotte picked up a steaming bowl and nudged me. “Want some of my amazing cooking?”
I nodded, and she fed me by the spoonful. Salty with just a pinch of pickled flameplums, the warmth of the rice porridge spread throughout my body, and my eyelids drooped lower and lower.
This
time, I let the darkness claim me.
CHAPTER 32
MISADVENTURE MAGIC
Creak. Creak.
The shutters shifted as balmy summer air swirled through the town hall. The storm had broken its hold on Auteri.
I pulled the chain from my neck and peered at the hourglass. Time had stopped trickling. I had finished a full moon in Auteri.
In theory, it was time to get my application signed.
Around me, the town hall was deserted, with just a few empty cots piled in corners. Ember was curled in a tight circle next to me, radiating gentle heat. In the doorway, a woman leaned against the frame, facing the sea as she sipped at a mug. Was that Rin?
I blinked at the dark hair, locks as inky as mine, cascading down slightly past her shoulders. A diamond-like shimmer laced into her black witch’s dress. Strength resonated from the set of her shoulders as she looked out on the town, as if she knew everyone she met would listen to every word she’d say.
My voice cracked. “Mother?”
Mother spun around, the tin mug clattering at her feet. She didn’t bother with a spell to clean it up. My mother strode across the hall, eyes blazing, her hair swirling in her wake.
“Eva,” she breathed out, and crushed me in a hug. “Eva. It’s been a terrible three days since the Culling, seeing you so worn out.”
I swallowed, stunned. I’d been asleep for three days?
“I’m sorry I worried you,” I whispered.
Mother frowned, drawing away to peer into my face. “Sorry? Sorry for what?”
“For… for getting drained of magic every time I cast spells. And how you have to clean up things after me.”
“Oh, Eva. This town didn’t need my help at all. I simply wanted to check in on you, as your mother.” Mother smiled down at me. “You are far, far more powerful than you realize. You may have an affinity for repairs. Even so, I have a better name for your magic—misadventure magic.” She leaned over and tweaked me on the nose. “Even if you have just a pinch of magic, your magic flourishes when you’re saving people, when you’re doing good. You’re fulfilling the Council’s work, Eva. You’ve become an amazing witch.”
My heart leaped as a spark seemed to kindle within me. Magic rushed through my blood, echoing those words with a tingle that went from my toes to the tips of my hair. My powers were nothing more than a faint whisper, but I still had my pinch of magic. I couldn’t wait to feel the ticklish feeling of magic bubbling at my fingertips again.
Slowly, tentatively, a smile tugged at my lips until I was grinning back.
Rin peered through the front door. “Oh, you’re awake!” Charlotte and Davy were right at her heels.
“Grand Master Evergreen was right!” Davy stared between me and my mother. “She knew you’d wake today!”
Mother smiled. “Just a bit of motherly intuition. No magic for that.”
I grinned. “Mother, Rin is my guardian, and these are my friends, Charlotte and Davy.”
“We met earlier, when I flew in from Kelpern,” Mother said. “I hated waiting, but I came as soon as I could.”
I turned to her. “How did you know—”
“I wanted to be sure that Hayato wouldn’t have a thing to complain about.” She lifted up something dangling at her neck. An hourglass identical to mine swung from a chain, with the top star-shaped chamber completely empty. Then she narrowed her eyes toward something near the door. “Tea out to sea, mug back to me.” A warm gold light flashed from the tip of her wand, and dregs of tea gathered off the tiles in round droplets and flew out the door as the mug zipped back into her hand. She set it on a low table next to my cot, not seeming to notice Davy gaping in awe. “I’m sorry. I can’t leave a mess in your town, Eva.”
“Wow,” Davy breathed out. His eyes were wide as saucers as he glanced furtively at my mother. “I still can’t believe I’ve met the Nelalithimus Evergreen.”
Even Charlotte seemed a little shy around my mother. The tips of her ears burned slightly pink against her crown of braids, and she stuck close to the door.
“Where’s everyone?” I asked, swinging my legs over the edge of the cot and stretching.
“They’ve gone home,” Rin said.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Charlotte said, finally finding her voice. She gasped with alarm as I tottered onto my feet, blood draining from my head. I faintly remembered I hadn’t stood in days. But before I knew it, Charlotte and Davy were at my sides, making sure I wouldn’t fall.
“I need to go to my cottage to pick up my application. I’ve got to get it signed by Mayor Taira.” I gulped at the thought of approaching her again. Once a lifetime was more than enough, really.
“I’ll pick it up,” Charlotte said. “I’m running errands anyway.”
“And first, eat some pastries.” Mother picked up a lacquered box from the low table next to my bed and nudged me and my friends to take pastries. “Your father was terribly worried about you, and you know how he bakes when he’s anxious.”
I bit into a yuzu cookie, the delicate powdered-sugar topping soothingly sweet, as if Father had wrapped me in one of his warm, steady hugs. Davy gobbled down two in a flash and declared, “These are awesome!”
Ember pranced out from under the cot with my boot in his mouth, eyeing my cookie hungrily. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he opened his mouth in a foxlike grin as he dropped the boot in front of me, as if saying, What? I waited and waited for you to wake up! Only one of the laces looked slightly chewed.
The noontime bell rang, resonating across Auteri. To my surprise, it didn’t sound from inside the hall.
“Mayor Taira has the bell with her,” Rin explained, nodding out toward the docks.
Davy grinned. “And the reason you shouldn’t go back to the cottage… is because the festival’s today!”
“Today?” I echoed.
“Mayor Taira promised to hold the festival as soon as you woke up,” Rin said. “We’ve been rebuilding the stands and spreading word across the realm that we’re ready and open for business.”
As I munched on another cookie, the sugar crust crackling in my mouth, Davy explained that the town had minimal damage—all because of the shields, my enchantments on the buildings, and Mother’s help as soon as the last drop of sand had fallen out of her hourglass. Ember leaped around, chomping at the air as I tossed him pieces of roasted squab from Rin.
“Rin and your mother woke you up to feed you, but I’m guessing you don’t remember that,” Charlotte said. Mother placed a hand on Rin’s shoulder, mouthing thank you, and Rin smiled back. My heart felt as golden warm as the sunlight pouring through the windows.
“Char and I helped, too,” Davy said, and Charlotte only blushed more.
“You were drained of magic,” Mother said, running her hand across my brow to smooth back my hair. “It was best for you to rest. How are you feeling now?”
I glanced out the door, fighting the urge to race outside. “I want to see how Auteri’s doing.”
Mother smiled and placed a spare black skirt and gray blouse on top of my blanket. “I prepared another set of that outfit you seem to like.”
I wobbled my way to a side room and quickly changed. Before I returned to the main room, I paused in front of a gold-rimmed wall-length mirror. The fit of the blouse was perfect, and the skirt had two pockets on each side, one the exact length and width of my wand. I looked part-witch, part-girl. Fitting attire for a semi-magical witch.
It was time. Even if my hourglass had drained of its last bits of sand, I had to keep moving. I hurried back into the main room. My legs finally felt like they were working again. “Mother, when’s the Novice ceremony?”
“I asked them to wait,” she said, and my heart leaped. “It’s tomorrow. We can fly out tonight, after the festival, stop a few hours, and then get there early tomorrow morning.”
Tomorrow. The thought of being a Novice Witch tomorrow made my heartbeat pound in my ears. First, though, I’d have to face Mayor T
aira one more time and ask her to sign my application. That had to be easier than battling a storm… right?
“But for now,” Rin said, as if she could hear my thoughts, “enjoy the festival.”
When Mother, Rin, Charlotte, Davy, and I stepped out onto the steps, I basked in the summer sunshine that warmed my skin and blood. The town spread out at my feet, the blue and gold roof tiles gleaming in the sun like jewels clustered in a treasure chest.
Davy nudged me. “Want to go down to Seafoam? Yuri and Edmund are setting up and could use our help.”
I frowned, pulling my wand out of my pocket. “I don’t have much magic.…”
“Only non-magical help. Just setting up a few displays and—my favorite part—tasting their creations for the festival. And they promised you a sugar dusklight flower in return.”
“Well, I can’t say no to that.” I laughed.
Mother nodded encouragingly. “Go on, Eva. This is your town, and they need your help. Just don’t tire yourself out. I’m going to drop by that fun-looking shop I saw earlier and pick up a souvenir for your father. I think it’s called Corn and Cloudberries?”
“I’ll take you there,” Rin said, offering an arm, and Mother took it gladly.
Davy beamed at Mother. “Try their Eva Special.”
She looked at me quizzically, and I bit down a laugh. “He means the cloudberry popcorn.”
“I’m guessing there’s a story behind that.” Mother smiled. “But tell me later. Go on with your friends now.”
Charlotte and Davy tugged me forward, Ember yapping at my feet. My friends led me down the cobblestone street, shiny after the rain, with Ember dancing around us.
When it was almost sunset, Davy and I had finished helping set up the stand for Seafoam Sweets. Charlotte had disappeared earlier to run some errands.
I’d let Edmund, Yuri, and Mister Rydern use my shop space, since I didn’t have anything to sell, and my magic wasn’t ready to perform any fixes. We were close to the stage that had been built on one of the docks, but I couldn’t figure out what it was going to be used for. That hadn’t been on my festival scroll. All sorts of stands were setting up, preparing everything from roasted squab to town-hall-shaped contomelon rolls, and the rich smells floated on the gentle winds.