Penelope’s azure eyes turned stormy. I had seen that look before.
I took a step back, glad her anger was not directed at me for once.
She marched up to Cade and poked a finger at his chest. “Let’s get one thing straight, Cade Windchaser. This is not fun! In fact, it is the farthest from fun I have ever seen. Do you think I enjoy running around the countryside?” She jerked her chin in his general direction. “The whole of Avalonia is on the brink of destruction, and we cannot afford any mistakes.” Her words were terse, clipped, and brooked no argument from anyone. “Is that understood?” She looked around, her gaze boring into us.
Everyone nodded quickly, including me.
Although I didn’t like to admit it, I was relieved Tristan and Penelope were coming with me. I had made so many mistakes along the way; I had a lot to learn, and I was still unsure of myself at times. I needed to make things right. I knew now not everything that happened was my fault. But I had been gifted with all these powers, and I had to use them to help people, otherwise what was the point of having them in the first place? I was the only one who could do this, and whether I succeeded or not, I had to try my best.
Caeleron Castle
We gathered our belongings and congregated in Santino’s vast reception room. It was almost dawn, and the golden glow of the morning sun was starting to announce itself.
“Now,” said Penelope, “since you have never been to the town of Caeleron, you must portal to the nearest place you have been before—in the woods outside the town of Roth.”
“Near Brandon Delacourt’s castle?”
Penelope nodded. “From there we will journey on foot to Caeleron. We cannot portal directly into the castle as it is heavily warded. As you know, portal magic cannot be shielded by the Amulet of Auraken, but it will shield your glamour.”
Tristan stood beside me, his swords strapped on, looking very skeptical about this whole mission. “And then what?”
“I know someone who will be able to get us into the castle.” She turned to me. “You have to rest after you do this. Do not try to use your magic until you are ready.”
“How long will it take to recover?”
“That depends on you,” Penelope answered. “You have never created a portal outside of Elfi before. Everyone has a different reaction to using great amounts of spirit magic. It must only be used when we really need it. Try to remember that.”
I pressed my lips together. “I will.”
“Be careful,” said Aunt Serena. “And look after Erien.”
I hugged Serena, Santino, and Cade and nodded farewell.
I gathered my magic and projected it outward, imagining the small glade in Eldoren where Rafe, Kalen, and I had camped when we ran away from the palace. It seemed like a lifetime ago. It took less of an effort for the spark of a portal to form this time, but it was much harder to grow it into one we could pass through because of the distance. I kept drawing on my magic until the portal was open.
“Good,” said Penelope, “your concentration has improved considerably. Now regulate your magic to hold it. You need more magic to hold the portal than you needed to create it.”
“I will go first and make sure it is safe.” Tristan stepped forward and disappeared into the portal.
Penelope glanced sidelong at Santino. “Be careful. And send word once you have spoken to the council. I don’t need to remind you how important it is that Brandor stands with us and not with Morgana.”
“I will take care of it.” He gave her a slash of a smile.
Penelope nodded and stepped into the portal.
It took a lot of power to hold the portal open. I could feel a bead of sweat form on my brow and trickle down my cheek. My magic was weakening, and I wouldn’t be able to hold it open for much longer. I had to go.
I stepped forward into the void and felt the familiar rush of timelessness as I crossed through space in the blink of an eye. Landing on my feet, I closed the portal behind me. Lightheadedness hit, and I fell to my knees as my magic started to fade.
Penelope came over and crouched down beside me. “Are you okay?”
I took a deep breath and nodded as she gave me her hand to pull me up. I slowly got to my feet, a little unsteadily at first, but it was only momentary. Once I got my bearings, I felt better and looked around. The clearing was just as I remembered it, although this time the leaves were sparkling emerald-green, lush with the colors of spring. A carpet of bluebells bloomed beneath our feet as we made our way through the woods to the main road that led to the market town situated at the base of the hill on which Caeleron Castle was built.
I tried reaching for my magic, but it made me feel unsteady, and I had to sit down again. I started to panic, even though I had been warned this was likely to happen. I had never considered how vulnerable I would feel without my magic. It wasn’t gone completely, I could still feel it, but it still felt strange not to be able to call on it at will.
Penelope came over and put her hand on my shoulder. “Don’t try to access your magic so soon after opening the portal, Aurora. It needs to replenish. It will return, but give it time.”
“Okay, give me a moment.” I gathered myself and adjusted the straps that held my sword in place. I now understood what Penelope and Tristan were so worried about. This was the first portal I’d had to create over such a distance, and I hoped I didn’t have to do it again.
“For now
