Page 13 of Of Stars and Lightning (Sun and Shadows #1)

The idea she might have any sort of magic refused to register within her.

She, in absolutely no corner of her imagination, could see herself handling the gifts these people so elegantly carried.

Even though she had only found out her mother was a Wielder days ago, she could clearly picture Irene being great at it.

Her mother had always carried that gleam of mystery, as if she always had something to say but couldn't. Her head was always held high and her smile was casually fierce, even when Sol tried her very best to get her angry just to see what it would look like.

Sol leaned back on her palms, she let the memories drift into the wind. “I’m so lost.”

“I know you must have a lot of questions.” Alix gave her a small side smile. “After the official meeting with the Semmena Court, we will work to answer them.”

Sol sighed. “I don’t believe I’ve had the opportunity to ask what your duties are here within the group.”

“I’m your Royal Scribe.” He smiled, though a shadow passed through his features. “My father was High Scribe, then later demoted after Irene’s departure.” Sol couldn't help but notice the way he referred to his father in past tense, a spark of sympathy growing in her chest. “I’m sorry.”

He looked her way. “Politics are brutal. It’s something we all know when we choose our sides.”

“There’s sides?”

He nodded. “You’ll see soon enough. It’s something best experienced.”

A shiver snaked through her, steering the change of subject. “And what of the others?” She cast a glance around them and toward the trees where the other three had disappeared. “I know basic stuff, but…”

“We all have different duties. Both as Rimemere soldiers and part of your Court.” He stood and held out a hand to her.

“I, as a Water Dancer, oversee the ports at least twice a week, or used to at least…not sure if we will return to our old duties. Anyway, as your Scribe, I provide information and knowledge. Sawyer,” Alix continued as Sol stood, “is your Combat Leader. She will be the line holder and commander were we ever to go to war. As a Fire Wielder, and part of the Yarrow lineage, she is also Royal General of the Rimemere troops.”

“It’s still bizarre to think she’s my cousin,” said Sol, brushing the dirt off her breeches. “I didn’t even know I had an aunt, aside from maybe a vague mention of her.”

“I’m sure Irene had her reasons for keeping everything so guarded. I wouldn’t let it get to you.”

The ruffle of trees prompted her to look up, ready to bolt if those beady black eyes emerged from the foliage. But instead of black and soulless, they were silver and steel.

Sol released a breath and all her anxiety with it when Cas appeared in the clearing. “All seems well,” he said. “We didn’t see anything.”

“I really don’t think my birthmark has anything to do with those things.” Sol bounced on her feet. “It probably just flared with the weather.”

“Well, no harm in checking, Princess,” Nina said, stepping through the trees with Sawyer close behind. The Earth Caller cast an apologetic smile her way. “Sorry—Sol.”

And although she fought it, Sol returned the gesture before settling herself back into her tent with the zipper open, sure to keep in sight of the Wielders for the rest of the night.

The next two and a half days passed by in similar ways.

They traveled, rested, ate, and repeated.

During their breaks, Sol took advantage of the stillness and asked questions, most answered by Nina and Alix, while Sawyer and Cas dozed off.

Sol learned Rimemere had been deemed a myth only because ancient enchantments kept it hazy in human minds, while Wielders all had an unspoken, collective agreement to keep the birthplace of their magic hidden.

The more non-Weilders who learned of it, the more risk of developing tension within Erriadin that wasn’t needed—according to Alix, civil unrest amongst the Wielders was enough without adding humans with no connections to them into the mix.

It was during the final night that Sol’s birthmark flared again, and Nina was not having it. The occurrence was bizarre enough, even without Jinn being spotted this time either, she was condemned to ride with Cas the rest of the way in order to be Warded.

She had seen his Wards once briefly at the Hound, right before Sawyer tried to incinerate her face with a fireball. At least, that's what she thought it had been. But seeing the magic up close in a less chaotic headspace was—breathtaking. Almost more distracting than his arms around her waist.

Almost.

His horse, Lilah, was gentle, much more so than Nina’s, but still required occasional guidance with the reins. So, she was confined to a very limited range of motion, unless she wanted to melt into the ground with embarrassment.

If she leaned back, she would be pressed into Cas's chest. To either side, his forearms dug into her hips. Forward and her lower back would—

To busy herself, Sol quickly learned that Lilah responded to pats and gentle caresses, so she spent a long while doing so in silence, her eyes fixed on the shimmering violet orb of lightning rods around them.

“So, you have Shadows and Wards?” she asked, lacing her fingers through Lilah’s mane. “Is it common to have two?”

Cas adjusted his grip on the reins. “Yes, I’m a Dual Wielder. And no, it’s not common.”

“Is it difficult to have both?”

“Sometimes.”

She blinked at the sparks of lightning “And what happens if I touch the—the Ward?” She itched to reach out and trace the sparks with her fingertips.

Behind her, Cas shrugged. “Depends on my mood.”

“Does that go for your Shadows?”

“Mhm.”

“Is all magic… responsive like that?”

The Ward flared slightly. “To an extent. The difference between Shadows and Wards is they can both harm or soothe, depending on what the Wielder wants. Fire will always burn, water will always douse. It’s difficult to explain.” He nudged the back of her shoulder slightly. “You can touch it.”

Sol peered back at him. “Touch what?”

“The Ward.” He smirked. “It won’t hurt you.”

Sol turned back to face Lilah and the wider portion of the Ward.

“Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure.”

It might have been stupid, but the static was entrancing. As she reached for it, she wondered if that was part of the magic’s play, to entrance the victim into its grasp.

Hesitantly, her fingers swept the violet haze and she flinched— but nothing happened. The static spread around her palm, tingling, and fizzy, but nothing as severe as she thought.

The sensation was almost…familiar.

She continued playing with the Ward. “So, what’s Rimemere like? Is it really like the stories?”

“What do your stories say?”

“You know, the usual. A castle. Pretty things. Magic.”

“A castle, yes. Mostly for Nobles and the current ruling parties. Students also frequent it to train with the royal guards. Pretty things? Subjective. Magic? Sometimes.”

Sol rolled her eyes. “Your answers are always quite underwhelming.”

“You’ll have to judge it for yourself, Princess. Though, I'm sure it's all a step up from what you're used to.”

Sol shifted in the saddle, purposely digging her elbow into his abdomen. “What makes you think just because there's a castle and pretty things, it's a step up?”

He switched the reins to one hand, using the other to reinforce his Ward with a wave. “A guess.” A guess.

Anger flared within Sol as she turned to face away, Lilah protesting beneath them. “Of course, someone like you would think castles and riches are all there is.” Tears burned in her throat. They didn’t understand. Why would they? “But being with people you love will always mean more than that.”

And now she was alone, in a foreign place, struggling to hold on to her sense of identity as best she could.

“Are you crying?” Cas scoffed. “Is getting whisked away from a tiny town to a giant castle with everything you can possibly want really so bad?” His words were laced with judgment.

She clenched her jaw. “Again, I don’t expect the likes of you to understand.”

“The likes of you?” His voice lowered.

“You know, spoiled, rich, probably had everything handed to you and your family on silver platters.”

She slammed back into his chest as he yanked the reins, pulling Lilah to a sudden stop. “Hey!”

His silver eyes simmered. “You’ll be surprised to know that because our families chose yours, we grew up with the exact opposite treatment.”

She peered up at him. “I truly doubt life in a luxurious castle could be any kind of inconvenience.”

Cas grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her off the saddle. Sol barely had time to land on her feet before he trotted ahead, calling back to the others, “Someone else take her.”

Sol coughed as dirt from Lilah’s hooves flew into her eyes.

“Well, that’s a record,” Sawyer laughed. “Haven't seen someone piss him off so quickly.”

“He started it,” Sol mumbled.

“Come on, Princess. I will take you the rest of the way.” Nina outstretched her hand. “We are past the part that needed Warding anyway.”

Sawyer might have been the Fire Wielder, but smoke seemed to follow Cas the rest of the way.