“No wonder people talk about there being dragons in these mountains,” she said.
Naru laughed. “And when is it you’re leaving these dragon-infested rocks?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I can no longer imagine leaving. I feel as though I’m meant to be here. Are you willing to train me?”
Naru blinked, his eyes wide. “That’s a sudden change of heart. Weren’t you in a hurry to travel south for some reason?”
“I was.” She remembered her urgency to find her father as if it had been part of a dream. “Now, I don’t see what use that journey would be. I feel like I belong here. More than I’ve ever felt I belonged anywhere.”
“You’re sure about this?”
“I am.”
Naru sat on a mossy ledge. “Tell me what you know of your Fire gift, how you’ve used it.”
“The first time I summoned fire, it was by accident, the flames were fierce, frightening, but they saved me. Other times, it came only as sparks. It seemed to be channelled through my fear and anger.”
“That is not unusual,” said Naru.
“But another time, I used the power of the sea.”
He raised his eyebrows.
She could still hear the crashing of those waves on the night she freed Tam. She remembered the thrill of their power, almost as if she was standing on that rock once again.
“You summoned flames from the energy of the sea? Not from your own strength?”
She nodded.
“I’ve not heard of someone using Fire magic in such a way without training.” A crow swooped down from a rock, its cawing cry cutting through the air. “You hear the echo of the crow’s call?” he said. He reached out one hand towards the crow. It called again, only this time, the sound didn’t ring as before, it was blunt, as if it was cawing to Nannie from within her little cottage rather than crying out to the mountains. Naru’s other hand was directed towards a cluster of flowers, violet petals closed in a patch of shade, sitting on their stalks like beads. Then a soft, pale light shone from Naru’s open palm and the flowers peeked open in response.
Kaetha touched the delicate flowers. “You used the energy of the crow’s echo to do that? It’s not all about fire and destruction then.” She smiled.
“What we call ‘fire’ is just one manifestation of the element. Ultimately, it’s a force that enables change. It can be a light in the darkness. It can bring healing. But, aye, it can also burn. That’s why it’s so important to gain control over your gift. We have a responsibility to the life of this world, Kaetha, to its balance, its song.”
“How long are Appointed ones silent in their training?” she asked.
“It varies. For some it is only a few months. Others take years. In silence we learn to truly hear and recognise the gift within us. We four at the head of the Order decide when a trainee is ready to come out of their silence.”
She imagined not being allowed to speak for months and decided to make the most of her freedom now. “You made a long journey here, from Shamlakah.”
“It had long been just me and my two sisters making our way in the world. They cried when I told them I was planning to leave. My sister Adanna hadn’t cried in years. Not since our parents died.”
“But they let you go?”
“They understood that it was something I had to do, but I think it must have broken Adanna’s heart when Kahina left too.”
“Kahina? The one who made the balm for my hand?”
“Aye, she’s my sister. I didn’t know she was gifted when I left.”
“But you’ll see Adanna again someday too?”
He paused, thoughtful, tracing the contours of a stone on the wall. “I hope so. I knew I would miss them but I had to learn about my gift and was fortunate enough to hear about this place.” He paused, a twitch of a smile making him look nervous. “I wanted to prove that human magic wasn’t something to be afraid of but something that could be used for good.”
“Prove it to whom?”
There was a flicker of vulnerability in his face. “To the Calliack,” he said. He smiled to himself. “I saw her once, you know.”
“The Calliack?” she breathed, awed at this revelation.
“I was walking in the foothills beyond the city of Amalba. The sun grew oppressive, so I found a stream to drink from. There I saw a woman fishing. Or, what I thought at first was a woman. Her skirt of leaves and river weeds was hitched up to her knees as she stood, barefoot in the cool water, her bodice of snake scales catching the light of the sun. I watched her as she fished, reaching into the water and drawing out fish for her basket as if the creatures wanted to be caught. Her hair was white, like an old woman’s but when she turned to see me, her face had the bright smoothness of youth. I’ll never forget that look. She saw me as a trespasser. It stopped my tongue before I could speak. Then the sun crested the high rock ahead, dazzling me. I blinked and she was gone. Few have seen her and I knew many wouldn’t believe me. But I knew it was her, the ruler of the Fiadhain.”
“I believe you.”
They slowly made their way back. “And I believe, Kaetha, that those who gain the most control of their magic, are those who have the strongest reasons to do so. You should think about what your reasons are.”
Naru had told her that it would be easier to feel the energies around her
