A breeze rustled the leaves, and the sweat on my skin felt like ice. My mother pulled her cloak tight. I could sense her emotions as they twisted into knots around her. She was in a strange place, dealing with the realization that her daughter would willingly put herself in harm’s way for others, and she could lose her again. She struggled with her fear, wanting nothing more than the safety of her family and the familiarity of home.
I had an idea. “Nutty’s cloak reminds me of the jungle,” I said.
She glanced down at the garment. “Really?”
“It’s the same color as the underside of an Ylang-Ylang Leaf. Remember that time when we were caught in a sudden downpour on our way home from the market, and we huddled under a big Ylang-Ylang Leaf?”
“You remembered.” She beamed.
I nodded. “My childhood memories have been unlocked. But I wouldn’t have them now, if I hadn’t taken a risk and followed Irys to the Avibian Plains.”
“You’ve been to the plains.” The horror on her face transformed to awe. “You’re not afraid of anything, are you?”
“During that trip, I could list at least five things I was afraid of.” Especially getting my head chopped off by Moon Man’s scimitar, but I was smart enough not to tell that to my mother.
“Then why did you go?”
“Because we needed information. I couldn’t let my fear stop me from doing what I needed to do.”
She considered my words in silence.
“Your cloak can protect you from more than the weather,” I said. “If you fill the pockets with special items from home, you can surround yourself with the jungle whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed or afraid.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
“In fact, I have something you can put into your pocket now that will remind you of me. Come on.”
Without waiting to see if she followed, I climbed down. I hung from the lowest branch before dropping to the ground.
As I searched my backpack, I heard a rustling and I looked up in time to see my mother shimming down the tree’s trunk. I found my fire amulet in one of the pack’s pockets. Considering my recent run of troubles, the amulet would be safer with my mother.
“I won this during a time in my life when fear was my constant and only companion.” I handed it to her. It was the first place prize for an acrobatic competition at Ixia’s annual Fire Festival. What followed after was the worst time of my life, but I would have competed for the amulet again, even knowing the outcome.
I handed the amulet to my mother. “This is one of only four items I hold dear. I want you to have it.”
She examined the fire amulet. “What are the other three?”
“My butterfly and snake.” I pulled out my necklace, and I showed her my bracelet.
“Did someone make those for you?”
“Yes. A friend,” I said before she could ask more.
She raised a slender eyebrow, but only asked, “What’s the last thing?”
I rummaged in my pack while I decided if my mother would be shocked to know I held a weapon dear. Far from being the perfect daughter, I figured she wouldn’t be surprised at all. Handing her my switchblade, I explained what the silver symbols on the handle meant.
“Same friend?” she asked.
I laughed and told her about Ari and Janco. “They’re more like older brothers than friends.”
My mother’s smile felt like the sun coming out after a storm. “Good to know there are people in Ixia who care about you.” She tucked my fire amulet into a pocket of her cloak. “Fire represents strength. I will keep it with me always.”
Hugging me tight for a moment, Perl pulled away and declared, “You’re freezing. Put your cloak on. Let’s get inside.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Esau and Irys waited for us in the Keep’s guest quarters on the west side of the campus. I endured a bone-crushing hug from my father, but had to decline an invitation to dinner with my parents. My desire for a bath and sleep overrode my hunger. I had to promise to spend most of the next day with them before they allowed me to leave.
Irys accompanied me to the bathhouse. Dark smudges lined her eyes and she looked as tired as I felt. She seemed in a contemplative mood.
“Did you use magic on your mother?” she asked.
“I don’t think so. Why?”
“She seemed at peace. Perhaps you did it instinctively.”
“But that’s not good. I should have complete control. Right?”
“I’m beginning to think that not all the rules apply to you, Yelena. Perhaps it was your upbringing or the fact that you started controlling your magic at an older age that has made your powers develop in an unusual way. Not to worry, though,” she added when she saw my expression. “I believe it will be to your benefit.”
Irys and I parted at the baths. After a long hot soak, I dragged myself to my rooms. My last thought before drifting off to sleep was to marvel over the fact that Irys had trusted me enough not to assign more guards to me.
It seemed a mere moment that I had sunk into a dreamless slumber when Irys’s mental call woke me. I squinted in the bright sunlight, trying to orient myself.
What time? I asked her.
Midmorning, Irys said.
Morning? That meant I had been asleep since yesterday afternoon. Why did you wake me?
An emergency Council session has been called, and your presence is required.