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I stood straight, falsely brave. Behind my back, my hands shook, and my knees were threatening to buckle. So many eyes on me. My old mantra reared its controlling head. Eyes down. Blend in. Hah! For once, I wished to go back to my old ways and hide.

Another man stood, using the chair to push himself up.

He had dark brown hair, frizzed and greying, tied behind his head.

His skin was the colour of pale sand, and he wore a white dress of sorts with a tight, short jacket buttoned up to his neck.

Three gills rested above his collar. “Please. Our Saviour, I am Pellon, Elder of Medicine. I ask that you show us.”

Maev didn’t move, staring ahead to where Ollo’s Elder was eyeing her with a stern glare.

“W-what are you asking?” I said.

Pellon’s curious gaze roamed over me. “Most of us have never seen magic. It is all but gone from our lands. The gods never make their presence known in Rydavas. I would like to see magic. As I am sure my fellow Elders would.”

I shifted. “I’m sorry. I won’t.”

“Won’t?” The Aerial Elder said. “Or can’t?”

“Can’t?” I repeated.

Did he know I was struggling with the magic? Was it obvious?

The Aerial Elder’s knuckles went white as he gripped his chair. “Is this some game, Pretruq? Are you and your brother scheming by bringing us a false saviour? Perhaps trying to advance your place in the mechanists department?”

Maev stifled her curse.

My nails bit into my palms. “Why am I here? Is it just to show you magic, or is there something you want from me?”

The Elders went silent, their focus on me. Not exactly what I had wanted, but I was glad the attention was off Maev.

“Want from you?” Cloudine looked around the half-circle. “Have you not returned to give the power to the people? To share your magic until you defeat the Aspis?”

I stayed silent, having forgotten this is what Maev’s people believed—the Ikhor stole the magic to give power to the people, to equal them to the gods. They didn’t see me as a threat. I was a tool, a saviour and their hope for the future. I relaxed a fraction, realizing the position I held.

“My magic is powerful. Too powerful to display for a game of show.” I stood taller, moving my body the way Ollo had when he was making a point. “I would not aim to put anyone at risk.”

If I told them my magic called the Aspis, would it work against me? Something in my gut told me to keep that kind of information to myself.

“I see.” Cloudine sat back down, looking at the Aerial Elder, whose brow was in the air.

“I wish to rest and come back at a time when my head is clearer to discuss what I may offer the people here.”

The Elders stayed silent, several visibly upset.

“It’s not up to them what you do, Liv,” Maev whispered.

She was right. I bowed my head like I had seen the gold woman do and made to leave.

The Aerial Elder stood. “You must show us something. Prove you are who you say you are.”

I turned slowly, my nerves being tested.

“As I explained?—”

“I don’t believe you.” His lips pulled back into a sneer. “You are from enemy lands. I’ve lost one of my Senior Pilots because we had to locate you amongst the Guardians. There is nothing displayed here that makes me trust you.” He appraised me as if I was weak.

Had he expected a tough, hardened warrior to be the host of the magic like what was displayed in their painting over our heads?

“Audel, please, sit down. Remember who you speak to,” said a woman beside him, who appeared to be the oldest of the Elders. She had bright white hair and pale green skin, with eyes like spring grass. A mount-leg, I guessed.

“I know with whom I speak. Our saviour. The mighty Ikhor appears as a weakened woman. We have waited nearly one thousand years for its return, and it wishes to rest . This is no display of power that we expected.”

“First off,” I said, my heart pounding. “I will not be referred to as it. ”

That was how Nuo saw me. A thing. A creature. Something I was looking more like every day.

My anger only rose as the man stared back at me with disbelief.

“Second, I assume you can see what I look like from where you stand. Do I resemble any legacy you have seen before? Do you really believe I am lying about what I am?”

“She looks like the gods,” Cloudine said, raising her hand to the ceiling where a glowing figure was painted, as Audel studied my glowing skin.

“Third.” I didn’t wait to hear any more from the Aerial Elder. “I am not anyone’s puppet. I am not anyone’s toy. I won’t do as you say, ask your permission or wait for instructions. If you think I am a weak woman, then test me, and I will show you how weak my magic is.”

“Liv,” Maev warned. “The temperature is getting warm in here.”

I found smoke rising from my hands, and several of the Elders gasped. Good. They should know not to test me.

I looked up through my lashes at them, showing them the woman I was becoming—the one who was brave, strong and full of power. “I am not someone you wish to upset. I will not be controlled.”

The box in my chest rattled, demanding my anger be let loose.

Months of bottling my emotions had me ready to explode.

My box was testing the strength of the lid, and it would not let these people control me.

Never again. I would carve their names into it like I did the others who had caused me pain.

The Aerial Elder sat back in his chair, folding his hands on his lap. “I suppose it’s not the right time to mention we had planned on announcing your arrival to the citizens at today’s festivities.”

Daring man.

Maev rested a hand on my shoulder, calming the storm in my chest. “I will take Olivia to her quarters and return in time with her answer.”

“Don’t waste any more time than you already have. The people need hope. They need a symbol that times are going to change.”

Did he mean he needed a new weapon? Wanted the magic at his disposal?

Maev bowed, nodding at me to take my leave, and I followed her from the room, fuming.

Having the Elders look at me the way they did reminded me way too much of the Keepers back home. A disobedient Ikhor would go against the Elder’s promises to the people. To them, I was a risk to their neatly structured plans.

The Eagle told me not to be pathetic. I held the power here. And now, no one could push me around.