Page 55 of Aubade Rising

We practised all afternoon, only stopping when the light dipped below the horizon, preventing me from continuing.

Each experiment was a success, every crystal that we hauled back from the Haag was imbued and drained without any issues.

Each of us was able to help drain the magic but Eskar and I share a glance when Haelyn confirms that her magic remains the same.

Eskar is still completely Mordros. I’m the only hybrid; his magic still burrows deep in my chest but hasn’t been replenished by the serpentine either.

I can only access my Aubade magic. Serpentine requires all three magics to imbue it but, when it is drained, the magic only replenishes what is required by the user.

My happiness dims a little but I’m familiar enough with research to know that often as soon as one question is answered, more appear. It’s a problem for another day.

Now comes the tricky part. Dervla will be ecstatic but the King…

I gaze sleepily at Eskar as we sail back to Chi An Mor.

Technically, I’ve been in breach of the Difan for years and Haelyn and Eskar are implicated now too.

I don’t think he will punish us but the Concord certainly will try.

If it comes down to a vote, Dervla will need to use every scrap of political capital to spare us.

But once she does, I have hope. With this discovery, Aubades and Zephyrs will be able to access much greater quantities of magic.

We won’t need to calmly accept the rules that the Mordros force upon us.

The King will be able to steer Trevesiga towards equality; we can push for representation on the Concord, we can push for fewer restrictions on the jobs we can hold, the schools our children are permitted to attend.

My chest feels lighter, my lungs fuller and all doubts on my abilities evaporate.

Years of work have led to this moment and even with Kitto and the Kevren Gwir threatening us, I feel hope.

Behind Haelyn’s back, Eskar and I sneak glances at each other as Diogel steers the ferry home.

The tension brewing since the greenhouse in Cathair is setting my skin on fire and I would give anything to have a few moments alone with him before we tell the Concord.

My reckless hands reach for his, pulling them into mine as the city approaches and his caramel eyes track over my body.

I know he wants me and if this is our only chance before Trevesiga is changed forever with our discovery then I want him to give in.

A white flash blinds me. Seconds later, an ear-splitting boom punches into my stomach. The ferry rocks and water splashes us. I get a sickening feeling I’ve missed something. Something essential. Eskar is staring wide-eyed at the islet behind me, horror written across his face.

I turn and my heart stutters. Black smoke curls over the highest hill on the islet, silhouetted against the sunset.

The hill that conceals my lab from Pentargon.

It dawns on me. The serpentine. The bag Haelyn brought from the wreckage of Cedar’s house.

The one I assumed was a gruesome calling card, a personal note from Kitto to remind me of her reach.

I never looked inside to see if the crystals were glowing.

It was a trap. Wordlessly, Diogel turns us back round.

We leap off the boat as soon as it reaches the shallows. I wade ashore and sprint to the laboratory. Eskar eclipses me with his long strides.

The building is a shell: a blackened hole remains where the whole eastern side should be. Flames flicker at the edges of the broken roof. She charged the serpentine, knowing it would be brought to me. Knowing I would keep it, she hoped it would incinerate me.

There’s no feeling of relief at our close escape, only a chilling reminder of her obsession. My body shivers with the ghost of a near miss. If we’d been a few minutes later leaving the island…

I pick through the wreckage, cataloguing the damage, looking for salvageable equipment and pieces of crystal among the debris. Our supply of serpentine is gone.

She told me she would do anything to get what she wants and now, after Eskar’s torture, Cedar’s kidnapping and the destroyed serpentine, I believe her.