Fire Lines

by Cara Thurlbourn

  “This is how you’ve kept in touch with Amin, since you left Nhatu?” I ask.

  Tsam nods and points up at the birds. “See how they’re all different colours? No two look the same, so they’re not easily distinguishable as messengers.”

  I’m about to ask if we could send a message directly to Ma, or Nor, when Garrett’s booming voice drifts in from the steps. “Tsam-uel! You in there?”

  When Garrett enters, Tsam scowls and says, “You know I hate that.”

  Garrett winks at me and, out of the corner of his mouth, he whispers, “Well, it wouldn’t be any fun if he liked it!” Then he wraps his arm around Tsam’s shoulder and ruffles his hair.

  “Oh come on, then,” Tsam mutters, struggling to hide a smile.

  Garrett is wearing the same dark blue outfit as Tsam and, when we reach the bottom of the steps, Alyssa and Kole are waiting for us. Alyssa is dressed similarly to her brother – the only difference being that she is in leggings and has a belt strung around the waist of her tunic. Kole, however, is in the same clothing as yesterday, standing with his feet apart and his arms behind his back. He greets me with a nod but Alyssa doesn’t acknowledge me.

  “Are you ready?” She speaks directly to Tsam, her voice high and quick as she hurries us towards the Academy’s entrance.

  Garrett puts a hand on his sister’s arm and slows her down. “Lyss, stop worrying. We did our job. We got Émi back safely.”

  Alyssa ignores him. “Tsam, do you know what you’re going to tell them?”

  Softly, Tsam echoes Garrett. “Alyssa, it’ll be fine. Things didn’t go to plan, but we dealt with it.”

  “Tsam, you have to explain why you left Nhatu so suddenly.” As Alyssa speaks, she angles herself away from me and shields Tsam from my view. “You have to tell them about Émi’s powers.”

  “I’ll handle it, Alyssa,” Tsam says. “Just leave it to me.”

  She shakes her head. “Why am I the only one taking this seriously?”

  Inside, the Academy is cool and grey. But it isn’t the oppressive grey of our flat in Nhatu – it’s a shiny, bright type of stone and when you look closely you can see veins of silver and white trickling delicately through it.

  Our footsteps echo as we cross the entrance hall. Older Watchers nod hello as we pass through, then do a double take when they notice that I don’t have wings. Kole walks at the back of the group and he too stands out amongst the others. He is taller than the Watchers, broader, and his hair is pure ebony. I try to hold myself the way he does – straight and unashamed.

  The Elders’ chambers are high up in the western turret of the Academy, behind a pair of huge double doors that reach all the way to the ceiling. The doors are wooden but painted in a coppery varnish and decorated with intricate carvings in the shape of feathers. We pause in front of them. Alyssa brushes down her tunic and picks a stray hair from Garrett’s shoulder. Tsam inhales deeply and steps forward but, before his hand can come to rest on the door handle, Kole clears his throat.

  “The Elders informed me that they wish to see Émi alone,” he tells us.

  Alyssa whirls around. “Alone? Why?”

  “I didn’t ask why.”

  Alyssa looks at me, then Tsam. “But…”

  “They’ll see us when they’ve spoken to Émi,” Kole replies, unblinking.

  “Come on, Lyss,” says Garrett, swiping a hand through his messy hair. “You can use the time to quiz me, ready for tomorrow. You like quizzes.” He winks at her, but Alyssa scowls.

  A coldness sits inside my belly. Tsam takes hold of my forearm and dips to meet my eyes. “Émi, you’ll be fine. They just want to meet you. Get to know you.”

  “Should I tell them about…” I lower my voice, “… the sparks? The Spectre?”

  Tsam opens his mouth to answer me but stops because the huge double doors are creaking inwards.

  A voice calls. “Émi, please enter.”

  Without a backwards glance, I step inside.

  The doors close behind me and it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust. The chambers are round, like the treehouses, with windows that frame snippets of the lake, the sky, the cliffs. Sunlight streams in, bouncing off the walls.

  In front of me, four Watchers are seated in large stone chairs – two women and two men, each with silver-tipped feathers, like Rumah’s. The woman on the left stands.

  “Welcome,” she says, waving a hand to take in her companions. “We are very glad to meet you, Émi.”

  I don’t know what to say so I dip my head. She smiles at me. Her skin is smooth and dark, her eyes fiercely blue. Her hair is the same ashen shade I’ve noticed on almost every Watcher I’ve seen, twisted at the nape of her neck in a series of elaborate braids.

  “I’m Hitra,” she says, a melodic lilt in her voice. Then, looking at the Watchers either side of her, she continues, “We are the Elders of Abilene.”

  I can’t bow again so, this time, I press my hands together the way I’ve seen the others do it.

  Hitra smiles and returns the gesture. “Please, come closer.”

  I step forwards. I was expecting the Elders to be… old. But they all have the same flawless glow.

  “Émi,” says Hitra, “you must have had an exhausting journey?”

  “Yes.” I shuffle my feet. I feel awkward, on display. Which, of course, I am.

  The Elders appraise me with solemn eyes. I wonder how they see me? A girl? Or a thing? To be feared? Or revered?

  As if reading my mind, Hitra says, “The four of us have waited a long time to meet you, Émi. But I’m sure what you’ve learned about your past has been difficult to absorb?”

  I almost laugh. I know I should be editing my speech but I’ve done that for too long now and, despite the sensation of unbridled awe that is clenching my stomach, I intend to be myself here. I pull some air past my teeth and down into my lungs, then look at each of the Elders in turn.

  “You created me,” I say. A statement, not a question. “And then you sealed me up in Nhatu. Behind the wall. You left me in a city where using magick is a crime. Where Watchers and sorcerers were fairy tales we weren’t allowed to repeat.

  “My whole life, I thought Mahg had destroyed The Four Cities, that Nhatu was the only thing left, that their wall was protecting us!”

  Hitra blinks at me, opening her mouth as if she’s going to interrupt, but I rush on.

  “My father was tortured because he was certain this story was a lie. Everyone thought he was mad. My mother and I have been humiliated, starved… And, all that time, you knew. You knew who I was and where I was and you left me there.” I feel my cheeks flush and my speech get faster. “How could you let the Council do that? How could you leave us there? All of us? Why haven’t you helped us?”

  Hitra’s eyes narrow.

  My limbs are flooded with heat. It pulses through my veins, threatening to ignite the sparks that simmer beneath my skin.

  The Elders are still. I can’t read their expressions.

  Smoothly, Hitra starts to talk. “We are truly sorry for your troubles, Émi. We believed we had chosen parents who would protect you until you needed to know the truth. What happened with your father was unforeseeable.”

  The man sitting to Hitra’s right clears his throat. “In times like these, difficult decisions have to be made. The situation with the Council of Nhatu is far from ideal. We’re aware their methods have become extreme. But behind their wall, you were protected from Mahg.”

  I breathe out quickly, almost snorting my reply. “So if it wasn’t for me you’d have stepped in? Prevented them from outlawing magick?”

  The man makes a ticking sound with his tongue. “My dear, it’s not quite that simple…”

  Hitra waves her hand, stopping him mid-sentence. “What Brock is trying to say, Émi, is that if we could have intervened, we would have. Believe me. But it just wasn’t possible.”

  She wants to move on, start discussing the real reason I’m here. Perhaps I should remain qu
iet. Perhaps it’s not the right time, but I’ve been ignoring the ache in my chest ever since we left Nhatu and I can’t hold it back any longer. “Now that I’m out,” I say, “you can, though? You can intervene?”

  Hitra tilts her head at me. “It’s certainly something we can discuss, but it’s not the most pressing—”

  “It is. It is pressing,” I say, my hands starting to tremble. “They have my mother and my friends.” A spark leaps out of my palm and dissolves in the air.

  Hitra doesn’t flinch. In fact, she almost looks pleased. “I think it’s time for the Fledglings to join us. Don’t you?”

  When Tsam and the others enter, I grip my hands together in front of my body and try to stay calm. They file in. Tsam, Alyssa and Garrett on one side of me, Kole on the other.

  “Welcome, Fledglings, Taman. Thank you for bringing Émi back to us safely. We owe you a great debt.”

  Alyssa’s cheeks turn pink with pride. Garrett gives a dimpled smile and exchanges a look with Tsam that says, We did good. Kole stands with his hands behind his back and nods.

  “Tsam,” Hitra says, “Émi tells me her mother is in danger. Does this relate to your unexpectedly quick departure?” Her voice is sing-song, but I can see Tsam swallowing hard as he prepares his response. I want to tell him that I haven’t explained about the Punishment, or the sparks. I meet his eyes but I can’t impart what I want to say in just a glance.

  Tsam straightens. “Yes, Ma’am. Events took place that altered our planned course of action considerably.”

  Hitra smiles with the corner of her mouth. “A succinct answer, Fledgling, but not very detailed. Could you explain?”

  Tsam takes a deep breath and launches into a speech that is so smooth, he must have rehearsed it. “Ma’am, Émi’s magick began to show itself about the same time I arrived in Nhatu. She seems to have the ability to conjure sparks – tiny balls of light. They appeared for the first time when she witnessed an unjust arrest outside her home. The Cadets saw the sparks and became suspicious.

  “The day after I arrived, the woman they arrested was due to be punished in the Red Quarter. Émi stopped it – she used her powers to free the woman from the stocks. But this put her in great danger. The whole of the Red Quarter, and at least twenty Cadets, saw what she did. We had to escape, quickly. We couldn’t wait for my father so I revealed my wings and told Émi the truth about Mahg and the Fire Stone. Then we fled over the wall.

  “We were helped by a Scrappie and his wife from the Red Quarter. We believe the Scrappie was arrested when we were scaling the wall, although we’re unsure about his wife.” Tsam pauses. I know what he’s about to say and I brace myself for it. “The Cadets also arrested Émi's mother. They pursued us and tried to force Émi to hand herself in but she, bravely, refused.”

  I can’t stay quiet any longer. “Tsam said if I came here you would help get my mother back.”

  The way Hitra looks at Tsam tells me she wishes he had not made this promise.

  “We understand,” she says, after a pause. “Of course you want to help them. But a long time ago, to ensure peace between Nhatu and the other three cities, we promised the Council we would not interfere. We promised that no Watcher, or Taman, or sorcerer would set foot inside the city wall.”

  “That’s why they couldn’t know Tsam was there,” I breathe, almost to myself.

  Hitra dips her head solemnly. “If we break the treaty, the Council will take action against us.”

  I look around the room, exasperated. “But what could they possibly do to you? You’re Watchers.”

  Brock looks like he wants to rise out of his chair and shake his fist at me. “You have told us yourself how ruthless the Cadets are. We do not want a war.”

  Hitra nods in agreement. “And, Émi, Nhatu has its own piece of the Fire Stone. If the Council was to join forces with Mahg, we would lose any advantage we currently have.”

  My bottom lip is beginning to tremble. Tsam reaches for my hand but I snatch it away. I close my eyes and try to focus on breathing. All four Elders are speaking at once, over and under and through one another. Alyssa and Garrett are bickering. I can hear Garrett saying that surely there must be a way, and Alyssa telling him not to get involved. Tsam tries to quiet them, with little success.

  Only Kole is silent, his energy smooth and unmoving. I latch on to it and calm my thoughts to a reasonable pace. Then I open my eyes and step into the middle of the room. No one notices me. Without thinking, I clap my hands together. On releasing them, a flurry of sparks shoot into the air, slicing through the disarray. Now they are all looking at me.

  I turn to the Elders. “I understand your position. I don’t want to make you enemies of the Council, and I don’t want Nhatu to fight for Mahg.”

  Brock inclines his chin and Hitra smiles gently.

  “But I do need to help my mother.” I know what I’m about to say and I’m certain it’s a bad idea but I can’t help myself. “And if you won’t rescue her, I’ll return to Nhatu and fetch her myself. I’m sorry. You’ll have to find Ava without me.”

  When I finish, I take a few steps towards the double doors, as if I’m going to leave. Alyssa’s mouth has fallen so far open I can almost see her tonsils. Tsam takes hold of my elbow. “Émi, you can’t—”

  Hitra allows me to reach the door before she says, “How will you find your way back to Nhatu?”

  I freeze to the spot, my cheeks starting to flush. I try to sound confident as I turn back around. “I’m quite skilled at navigation,” I say quietly.

  Hitra has pressed the tips of her long slender fingers together. “And after your long, treacherous walk, you will climb back over the wall? Defeat the Cadets? And rescue your mother? You’ll do all this alone?”

  I lower my eyes to the ground. I have been outplayed.

  Hitra’s voice is like poisoned honey as she continues to speak. “I don’t blame you for trying, Émi. Your passion is admirable. But you don’t need to leave. Of course we will help your mother.”

  I look up sharply. Brock and the other two Elders are wrinkling their foreheads as if to say, We will?

  “After you bring Ava back to us,” Hitra finishes.

  She has me trapped. There is no way I can help Ma, Nor and Hedge on my own. And it’s not just them I want to free. I want everyone in the Red Quarter to know the Watchers still exist. I want to give them hope, bring magick back. Perhaps if I have Ava on my side, if there are two of us, and the Watchers too… “I have your word that as soon as we return with Ava you will help free my family? Despite the deal you made with the Council?”

  Hitra nods. The others follow suit.

  I take a deep breath. “Alright. Then what do we do now?”

  Twelve

  After my failed attempt at bargaining, the meeting gathers pace. Alyssa starts to tell the Elders about the Spectre, but it seems Kole has already informed them because Hitra smiles and says, “Thank you for your concern, Alyssa. But we have the situation under control. We have doubled the number of Watchers on duty in Abilene, although I have to say I agree with Kole – the encounter could work to our advantage if Mahg is now scouring the Islands looking for a pair of orphan girls with powers, rather than watching Abilene.”

  Alyssa clears her throat. “Of course, Ma’am. And, what about us? Where do we go now? When do we leave?”

  This time, Hitra’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. Looking at Tsam, Alyssa and Garrett in turn, she says, “Thank you, Fledglings, for your bravery and service. But you will not be accompanying Émi any further on her journey.”

  Alyssa doesn’t move. “Then who…?”

  Hitra looks at the two Elders who have not yet spoken, “Sayah and Roan will be joining Kole and Émi.”

  Unexpectedly, Garrett interrupts. “I’m sorry Ma’am, but we thought… Have we not proved ourselves?”

  The female, who must be Sayah, answers him. “Of course you have, Garrett. But we can’t send three Fledglings on a quest of such magnitude. Roan
and I have fought in more battles than you have seen full moons. And Kole is the most experienced Taman in Tarynne. We are best placed to protect Émi.”

  Tsam looks deflated. Alyssa is biting her lip, and Garrett’s complexion has turned sallow. I can’t let this happen.

  “I need them with me,” I say, as forcefully as I can manage.

  Hitra shakes her head at me. For the first time, her feathers visibly prickle. “I know you think you’re helping your friends, Émi. But you’re not. Encouraging them to go on this journey with you will only put them in harm’s way.”

  “You don’t understand. I can’t do this without them.” My stomach is whirling. “Everything inside me is saying that they are the ones who are supposed to help me.”

  I’m telling the truth. When I think of doing this without Tsam – or even without Garrett and Alyssa – a cloud of darkness presses down on my shoulders.

  Sayah whispers something in Hitra’s ear. Hitra blinks slowly. Then turns to me. “Why are you certain the Fledglings must go with you?”

  I consider her question. “It’s like the feeling I get when I know a storm’s coming. Something under the surface of myself, warning me. When I think of being without them, I feel as if something terrible will happen.”

  Sayah rises from her chair and walks over to the window overlooking the lake. “Hitra, you know I would give my life to protect our people, to protect the Fire Stone…” She turns back. “But we cannot forget that Émi was created from the stone – the very thing that keeps The Four Cities alive. I believe we should listen to her intuition.”