But I had to remain here and I had to learn; that was all that was important. At least that was what I kept telling myself every time I saw Cade, Tristan, Skye, and Brianna on their way out of the castle for some entertainment. I would watch them from my window until they were out of sight, swallowed up by the fae lights that hovered and swirled over the city, illuminating Iris in its ethereal gleam.
On top of all my physical training with Tristan, I practiced creating portals and learning to use my spirit magic. I could open and close them at will, but the dowager never let me open one leading outside the city. It was forbidden, as it was a direct threat to the safety of the citizens of Elfi. The magic surrounding Iris prevented anyone from opening a portal into the city. For an enemy to enter, one had to be created from the inside.
I took care to visualize the places I went to properly before I released my magic. I didn’t want to make any mistakes with this. After what happened with Lilith, portals scared me, and my heartbeat sped up every time I used one. But I learned to control my fears, because I had no choice. I had to do this if I was going to improve. There was no easy way to get through it.
“Once you take off your amulet,” said the dowager, during a rigorous portal session where I had to create as many consecutive portals as I could within one minute, “you will be able to access your powers more freely.”
I disappeared, entering a portal and appearing behind her. “And when will I be able to do that?”
She turned to face me. “Soon. Once I am satisfied that you have learned control over your powers, Izadora said she will allow you to remove it.”
“What about Morgana?” I wanted to be able to take off my amulet and find out the true extent of my powers. But at the same time the amulet was all that prevented her from finding me. I was also scared of what would happen if I couldn’t control my powers again.
“Morgana already knows where you are,” said the dowager. “The Drakaar must have informed her that the fae came to your aid. She’s not stupid, she knows the safest place would be to take you to Elfi, to your grandmother. Izadora’s powers protect this kingdom, and as long as she can hold the wards secure, Morgana’s army won’t be able to enter Elfi. But that doesn’t mean Morgana won’t try. And you must be ready to face her when she does.”
I knew she was right. My time here in Elfi was limited. I needed to learn more about the Dawnstar. The mastermage had said that I must find it, that it was the only way to break the curse on the Dagger. The dowager was an Elder Fae—if anyone had information about the Dawnstar it would be her.
So I told her about my mother and what the mastermage had explained about the Dawnstar. The dowager listened silently, but I could see the interest that sparked in her eyes when I mentioned the ancient weapon.
“I didn’t think that anybody in the mage world still remembered this old legend,” said the dowager softly. “But it is not possible the ancients have left behind some sort of weapon, one that contained the last remnants of ancient magic, or we would have found it by now. No such weapon actually exists. The Dawnstar is a myth, a story told to give us hope.”
I shook my head. “No, no, it can’t be. There has to be some truth to these legends, something more to this.” I couldn’t give up. “Without the power of the Dawnstar to break the curse on the Dark Dagger, my mother will be trapped inside it for eternity.” I tried to keep my voice even.
The dowager’s eyes narrowed. “So you are telling me Morgana is in possession of the Dark Dagger and has Elayna trapped within it?”
I nodded. “Yes, and Duke Silverthorne thinks she plans to use it to release Dragath from his prison.”
The dowager stilled. “Does Izadora know?”
I nodded.
“Then we have less time than I thought. I shall have to increase your training, and I will speak to Izadora about removing your amulet.”
“Thank you,” I nodded, “but the mastermage specifically told me that I need the Dawnstar if I am to break the curse on the Dark Dagger. I have to find it. Is there any way I can see the Fae Codex?”
The dowager shook her head and looked around, making sure we were not being overheard. “I’m afraid that is impossible. The Fae Codex can only be seen by the queen and the Elder Fae. No outsider has ever touched the codex, and none ever will.”
There had to be a way for me to get a glimpse of that codex. “But you have seen it?” I remembered what Cade had told me about the dowager. “You were Queen of Elfi before my grandmother, weren’t you?”
The dowager nodded. “Yes, I have seen it, and I can tell you that you should stop asking questions about it. Do not under any circumstance mention this to the other elders.” She got up and gestured for me to walk with her, lowering her voice. “None of the Elder Council will be pleased to know you want to see the codex.”
“Why?”
“There are secrets in the codex dating back to the Age of the Ancients that could prove extremely dangerous to the security of Elfi, should it ever fall into the wrong hands.”
“Then surely there must be something in the codex that mentions this ancient weapon.”
The dowager stopped walking and looked at me sharply. “Ancient magic is gone and it will never return. Don’t
