Avan's Gift (Queen Avan, #1)

by Alice Ivinya

  A hand made me jump and snap open my eyes. The woman was looking at me, open mouthed. We were surrounded by poppies. Dozens and dozens of them, each as tall as my waist. Some lay prone on the floor, whilst others had anchored their roots around the cobbles. I stared around in shock. “Was that all me?”

  The noblewoman gave a small nod, almost a twitch. “Impossible,” she breathed. “You shouldn’t be able to make plants Grow when you’re not touching them, yet you Grew all those seeds.”

  Excitement thrilled through me. I’d never felt such joy at creating something before. I let out a delighted laugh and ran to the carved banister of the staircase, laying my hands on the smooth, pale wood. The life note was dim and dormant, faded to memory. I clung to it and stroked it, teased it. I realised the pieces of wood all had the same faded note, all grown from the same tree. I pulled it and fanned it and rejoiced as it became clear and pure once more. Resurrected back to life. Then I could barely contain myself as I made it cry out louder and louder.

  The noblewoman’s hand grabbed mine and pulled me back. “You’ll ruin the staircase,” she gasped. I looked up and saw that she was right. Branches and leaves and silvery catkins had burst from the dead wood.

  I laughed, freeing myself from her grip and flung out my arms and spun and danced in the poppies. I was gifted! I had the Arts! This changed everything.

  I looked at the woman and took her hand, which was still frozen, outstretched from where I had released it. “Can you show me how to make soil fertile?”

  The woman hesitated, a dozen expressions running across her face, her hand gripping mine as if scared I would disappear. My perspective jerked and then I was watching myself again through dissipating mist.

  I bit my lip. What was I to do? What would Father do? Lord Rupert? I took a deep breath and calmed my thoughts, smoothing my face as I’d been trained. What this girl could do would affect everything; all our minutest of plans. She was possibly even more powerful than Cedric. A tremble of panic dug into my belly. I can’t let her catch the eye of Rupert. He would be drawn to her, but then so many of our plans and Chancellor Felix’s death would be for nothing. No, I couldn’t let her be competition. But then her Art might be useful. The warmth of reassurance was followed quickly by curiosity. Those who supported the king’s decision for Cedric might change their minds if Cedric’s gifts were no longer needed for Marchwood. Especially if she turned out to be more powerful. Cedric could be forgotten altogether. Left out of the way. Frustration made my fists twitch. This was too complicated to handle by myself. I had to take her to Father, he would know what to do. My head cleared with resolve.

  I started to pull her to the castle, then hesitated. Fear. What if this was all a trap? How was it possible for a girl who was this gifted to not know? Even if she was from a small village in the countryside? Then just to wander up to me whilst I was alone and reveal it all at once? It felt like such an unlikely coincidence. What if this was a ruse by people poking their noses into Cedric’s kidnapping and Felix’s death?

  I yanked my hand out of the noblewoman’s grasp. I ran the thoughts through my head in muddled confusion, but I was sure I didn’t like the way she thought about Cedric.

  “Forgive me,” the woman said, bowing her head. “I shouldn’t have pulled your hand like that. I’m Lady Lilith Trendal. My father Lord Stanly, the lord of Shire, though we live here in Herne. You’re very gifted, Avan. Your Art could help Marchwood recover from the drought. You should meet my father so we can work out how to use your gifts and exactly how powerful you are. I’m sure the king will reward you for your services. Come.” She gestured towards the castle. The building loomed in the dawn shadows and for once it felt dangerous and intimidating. People were playing games with Cedric’s life that I could not hope to understand. But what if playing those games was the only way I could help save him?

  “Can you show me how to make soil fertile?” I asked again, trying to hide my panic at her thoughts.

  Lady Lilith shrugged and pointed to a window box joined to a house behind us. It contained no flowers, just old, lumpy soil. I scooped out a handful of dirt and held it out in my cupped hands. “I need you to do it first.”

  The lady frowned. “Are you sure? Normally it just takes practice on your own.”

  “Mine doesn’t seem to work the same way as others,” I admitted. “I can’t do it unless you show me.”

  Lady Lilith’s soft wrists rested on my roughened fingertips as she placed her fingers in the soil. Every time it was easier to enter her thoughts.

  This makes no sense, why does she need me to do this? Is it just that she lacks confidence in herself? No, stop overthinking and concentrate. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can go to Father.

  I let the dried clumps of soil crumble and shift through my fingers. There was little life remaining in this handful of soil, just a dim percussion sound, nothing more than a memory of what had been. The dirt was empty, sombre, cold. I frowned and pushed warmth and love and the desire to nurture out of my fingers, feeling it flow and swell, until the richness echoed back towards me. I relaxed, feeling soft, moist soil powdering my fingers.

  I broke the touch with the lady and put the soil back in the window box. Then I rested my hands on the remaining soil within the box. I mimicked what Lilith had done, pushing the sensations of warmth and love and joy out from my fingers. When I opened my eyes, I almost expected the soil to glow. Instead, it looked like ordinary dark compost, perfect for planting. I couldn’t help but grin. I was a Grower. A real Grower. I would never have to work as a washerwoman or weaver again. Maybe this was why I’d always felt so dissatisfied? I’d been made to do this, just like Cedric. Maybe in this way, at least, we could be equals.

  I looked back at the noblewoman. “Where do the gifted Growers work?” I asked. “I want to practise with them, I’d feel more comfortable there. My place isn’t really in the castle. And, anyway, I’ve not had breakfast or washed yet for the day.”

  I watched the woman hesitate and calculate, her eyes bright and predatory. She cocked her head and her pale hair cascaded over one thin shoulder. Her hair was unusually light for a Farthi, much more like an Eltarian, and my gaze lingered on the way silvery fire ran down strands caught by the dawn sun. It was beautiful and shone in a way I wasn’t used to. At last she said. “Let’s get horses and meet at the Elm Gate in two hours. Do you have a horse?”

  I nodded. “And I’ll bring my guardian,” I said thinking of Joff. I would feel safer with him there.

  The noblewoman inclined her head slightly. “If you wish. Where are you staying?”

  I hesitated . “Southside,” I replied vaguely. “Are you sure you want to come, my lady? You have been so kind to me already and I understand I’m far below your station.”

  She waved my words from the air. “No, this is important. I’ll be waiting for you in two hours.”

  Chapter Eight

  Avan’s Gift

  THINGS WEREN’T REALLY going to plan. All I’d wanted was to learn and practise with another Grower to help give me a voice to find out what was going on with Cedric, but it seemed I’d accidentally sunk myself neck deep in politics. A whole crowd of people waited at the Elm Gate with Lady Lilith Trendal and their eyes analysed me like those of predators. Joff eyed all the nobles and servants nervously. “Are you sure you’re gifted, Avan? It’s just that, well, you’ve never shown any sign before, and it looks like you’re creating a right event for yourself. These look like important people to me. Too important for the likes of us.” He rubbed his stubble.

  I nodded, my throat dry. Joff didn’t ask which comment I was agreeing with. He shifted in his saddle nervously, the huge draught horse looking ridiculous and clumsy next to the palfreys and elegant geldings. Conker didn’t compare much better, but at least I didn’t tower over everyone in such a dramatic way.

  Lady Lilith spurred a pale grey mare towards me, with blue and green ribbons in its mane. She was wearing a relieved smile. “Ava
n, I’m glad you’ve come. Please let me introduce my father and a few others who wished to meet you.” She completely ignored Joff.

  I glanced over her shoulder to the crowd, my hands tightening over the reins. “I wasn’t expecting an audience. I’m only just learning.”

  Lady Lilith shook her head. “Just pretend we are alone. They’re merely curious. Come.” She led me to a man dressed in a heavily embroidered tunic and cloak despite the building heat. He radiated more power and control than anyone else there, with his arrogant posture and no-nonsense gaze. He had close cropped brown hair and beard and a strong build, despite the lines gathering across his face. “This is my father, Lord Stanly Trendal of Shire.”

  I bowed awkwardly from my horse, unsure of what the correct response was. The lord gave a small nod in response, his cold eyes not leaving my face and making my skin prickle. It struck me how different he was from Cedric.

  Lilith wheeled her horse around and it skipped a few steps as it saw the way through the city gate. “Come, Avan. Ignore the others. We should see what you are capable of.”

  I kicked Conker forward, relieved to not be under her father’s scrutiny any longer, and the horse was more than happy to quicken his step after the pretty mare, feeding off her excitement. My nerves were tightening in a knot around my heart. Joff was right. What, by the earth, was I doing?

  All my life I had been so desperate to prove myself and show I was good at something, anything. Now, at the barest hint of talent, I was proving myself to the most powerful people in Herne? This was madness. I didn’t know what I was capable of myself, and I thought about playing dumb in front of these people and slipping back into obscurity. But that wouldn’t help Cedric and I was tired of being ignored and dismissed. Part of me wanted so desperately to impress them all.

  Lady Lilith led us off the north main road down a farm track with deep ruts from hundreds of carts. Joff rode beside me and the nobles followed a dozen paces behind, Lord Stanly at their head. On either side of us, dead hedges stood stark next to bright green or golden fields. Even here it seemed only the important things were watered or Grown. To one side, the River Herne had been flooded into a shallow lake and ditches were being dug towards us. Luscious grass and crops surrounded the lake, thriving in the generous light of the sun. Thousands of white and black birds enjoyed the water, wading and flying in dizzying swarms. This must be where so many of the animals had come, just like the humans, I supposed. We were all controlled by the need for water.

  At last Lilith dismounted and gestured to a brown field of hard, baked earth. The ditch running around it was still dry. Behind us the nobles stayed mounted, muttering to themselves at a respectable distance. Lord Stanly frowned at me with folded arms, and his gaze held a heavy weight of expectation. Joff towered at my side, hunched low in his saddle, and wouldn’t stop fidgeting as I dismounted and followed Lilith. His unease made me feel worse and weakened my shreds of confidence. He doubted me like everyone else, but his doubts weren’t unfounded. I shouldn’t be able to Grow.

  I stared at the huge field, squinting in the sun. Lilith smiled in encouragement. “This field has been sown, but needs to become fertile and the seeds Grown. Try to do what you did with the window box. Make as much soil fertile as you can.”

  I gave her an uncertain look, chewing my lip and clutching my skirt with sweaty fists, then laid my hands on the soil. It was hot to touch and baked solid, crumbling to dust with a little pressure. Panic bubbled and swarmed up from my stomach and down my limbs, making them tremble. The evaluating looks from the nobles bore into my backs. Lilith cast an unfriendly shadow as I remembered the coldness of her thoughts towards Cedric, her eagerness to use me for her own ends. The irony was not lost on me that the only two people who thought I might be useful were my two enemies, Lilith and Jasper. The silence stretched until the mutterings of the nobles grew louder.

  I closed my eyes and calmed myself, and felt the soil. The ground was so lifeless, empty, barren, lost. It had borne life so many times, but now had given too much; there was nothing left. I felt my body responding, wanting to fill it, longing to. I made myself stop and think. Should I pretend that I couldn’t Grow, and that what had happened with Lilith was a fluke? I didn’t want the attention of these nobles on me. Or maybe I should limit what I could do and hide my true potential after Lilith’s incredulous reaction? But part of me yeared to push myself and see how far I could go. And surely making as much land fertile as I could would help so many people. Underlying all those thoughts was the frustration of being ignored, of being dismissed by the nobles, and not being able to help Cedric. Maybe if I showed them I was worth something, it would give me the chance to fight on his behalf. Maybe I would be able to bargain or persuade. And, deep down, I just wanted to prove them all wrong.

  I relaxed as I gave in and let my body respond to the sorrowful need. I let life and warmth and richness flow from my fingers and out to the soil. The land was hungry, starving, desperate. It pulled and sucked eagerly until it was sated, lulled, sleepy yet expectant. Next, I searched for those little specks of life. So tiny yet so numerous it was like I was touching all the stars in the sky. As I swept past each one I let them explode, joy swelling in my heart. The life in the vast sweep in front of me swelled and swelled until I could take it no longer and yanked my hands from the ground, giddy and grinning. I blinked as I took in the change around me. Vibrant green swayed and danced across the whole field, with soft feathery tips brushing the sky. Barley. I’d Grown a whole field of barley. I, Avan Weaver, had just Grown a whole field.

  I stood and hit a wall of dizziness, my limbs crumpling as they failed to hold my weight. I took a few breaths, then stood slowly, one hand outstretched to steady myself.

  Lilith ignored me and didn’t help me stand. She was staring at a stem of barley in her hands. “I’ve never seen so many heads on one stalk or so much grain in one... never...” She turned and hurried to take the plant to her father.

  The nobles were all staring at the field with stunned expressions, and then they unfroze to talk excitedly to each other. Only Stanly remained calm, studying me whilst stroking his chin with a gloved hand. Lilith looked back at him, beaming in triumph.

  I noticed the less richly dressed men were peeling off to gallop back to the castle. Were they servants? Messengers? Joff backed his horse away from the bubbling mass and stared at me. I stumbled closer to hear what the nobles were saying and leaned against Conker for balance.

  “She needs to be taught, refined,” said a loud man.

  “I’ll teach her,” called a lad younger than me.

  “My daughter has already taught her,” boomed the Lord of Shire. “She can continue.”

  I thought about that. Would Lilith be the right person for me to stay with? Maybe if I heard her thoughts again, I could find out what she and Lord Stanly were planning to do about Cedric? But, I would probably be working against them, as Lilith had not cared at all about rescuing the prince. I wouldn’t be able to do this on my own. I needed to find allies; Other people who wanted to free Cedric.

  “Surely everyone can see that Prince Cedric should teach her. He’s the only one who is close to her in skill,” called a woman with braided brown hair and a fierce, honest expression. I tried to memorise her face as a potential ally of Cedric.

  “She is here and he is not,” said an old man. “She might not even need to be taught. With her, we can last the famine easily and increase trade.”

  “Or she can be exchanged to the Tharans for the crown prince,” said a weedy man, slouched forward in his saddle.

  I took a few steps closer to Joff. I wanted Cedric back, but not to be exchanged for him. The large man dismounted and stood behind me, his arm steadying my back. I could feel the tension rolling off him. “I don’t like the sound of all this, Avan,” he whispered.

  “As next in line for the throne, Prince Killian should decide what is to happen with her,” called the old man again. I guessed he was more for Killia
n than Cedric, then.

  “You act as if Prince Cedric is lost from us forever,” spat the braided woman. “He is still the heir, and we have no reason to believe he won’t be returned to us.”

  “Maybe Lord Rupert should take her under his wing as a mutual third party?” suggested the first younger man.

  “‘Neutral’,” muttered the old man with a sneer. Yes, he definitely favoured Killian.

  Lilith quickly spoke up. “Lord Rupert is far too busy to deal with a simple issue such as this. I can see her settled and help her practise. Then, every day she can make another field fertile until we can trade with Tahara again. Surely they will release the prince then?”

  The woman with braids narrowed her eyes as she peered down from her horse. “Will they, Lilith?” Lilith cringed a little from her gaze. “We need to get Cedric back sooner. By the earth, he’s our crown prince!” She waved an arm at me. “We should invite the Tharan lords to witness this girl’s power as a sign that we can start trade with them immediately, and in return they can release the prince at once.” She glared at Lord Stanly then the old man in turn. The way Cedric had spoken of his brothers, I had never expected them to divide the court so much.

  “Lady May, do you think they will let Cedric go if they see a field of barley?” scoffed Lord Stanly.

  The weedy man butted in in his whining voice, punctuating each word with his hand. “Our first job should be to end the famine before any more villages are emptied and lives lost.”

  I watched the nobles argue, dread squeezing my stomach. How could I help Cedric when I didn’t understand what was going on? The woman with brown braid and sneering glare, Lady May, seemed the only one keen to get Cedric back as quickly as possible. I would have to take a chance with her.

  I took a few steps forwards and raised my head. “I agree.” My voice sounded very small. “Maybe my Art will convince Lord Jasper that he doesn’t need any of the Growers and he’ll let them go.” The woman looked surprised that I had spoken. Most of the nobles were still arguing over my head and hadn’t noticed me. I walked right up to her horse. “I’m willing to give it a try.”