“I thought you’d try that,” she said, trying to hide her exultation. “I even guessed where. But you’re faster than I expected.”
A dark flush began at Ross’s ears and slowly spread across his entire face. It was kind of cute. He would be cute, if he wasn’t so silent and scrawny. Not that she would mention that to Santiago.
“Is your hand okay?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He wiped his bleeding knuckles on his pants. “I wondered why you didn’t have any weapons. That’s a cool power. Can you make anything? Or just the sword and shield?”
Kerry didn’t see why she shouldn’t tell him. Everyone in Gold Point already knew. Besides, her power was what had gotten him talking. “Any weapon I can hold in my hands. But nothing with projectiles, like a crossbow. I have to keep touching it.” She created a whip and cracked it at a low branch. A shower of leaves and twigs rained down.
“Wow.” Ross looked impressed. “How far can you reach?”
“That’s about my limit—six feet or so.”
He was terrible at hiding his thoughts, so she could see how he considered jumping her again, then decided not to try. Her mood brightened even more. Father would be pleased at how she’d passed his test with the prisoner. The guest. She’d foiled Ross’s escape¸ but without making him hate her.
“Come on, I’ll show you your room. And I bet you’re hungry.”
He shrugged, but couldn’t help swallowing. Elation tingled through her. Father was right, as always. Noticing details was as revealing as an interrogation.
They passed the Japanese garden, where Ross gave a curious glance at the shrine and orange torii gate. Kerry liked him a bit more when he ignored Min Soo’s stupid roses. Instead, he was clearly counting the guards and memorizing their patrol routine.
She wouldn’t tell him that the routine changed every day. Nobody Father had recruited had ever escaped, though some hadn’t worked out. She restrained herself from eyeing the northwest sentry tower. She wouldn’t tell Ross why those heads were there. If necessary, Father would inform him.
She took Ross to the front entrance, so he could be impressed by its magnificence. The guards sprang to open the doors. She walked him through the throne room, with its beautifully laid wood floor and throne of prospected white marble.
Kerry noted what he looked at, knowing that Father would ask. Most people stared at the throne, but he seemed most interested in the crystal chandeliers. They were beautiful, too, of course.
Victory bloomed inside her again when he was the first to speak. “Is the whole palace lit with electricity?”
“Don’t you have that in Las Anclas?” She’d been certain that they did.
He looked at the floor, but not as if he was admiring the hardwood. He seemed to have shut down because she’d mentioned her future town. She’d have to remember not to do that until he’d gotten more accustomed to Gold Point.
She led him up the stairs. All the way up, he seemed fascinated by the electric lights. Probably his own home hadn’t had them.
“Almost all the houses in Gold Point have electric lights,” she said. That clearly caught his interest, so she went on, “The main streets do, too. Hardly anyone uses bright moths or oil lamps.”
He listened to her explain electric fans until they reached Deirdre’s room, where the workers were finishing welding. Then his gaze went straight to the new bars across the windows.
“You can still open the windows,” Kerry said. “Deirdre picked this room because she loved the wind.”
The workers packed their tools and left. They stood in silence while Ross watched the floor and Kerry watched him. But she could outwait him.
She sat on the bed. The mattress was softer than her own. Kerry hadn’t set foot in the room for over a year, since Deirdre had volunteered at Opportunity Day, and changed in more ways than one. Her books filled the shelves, with the few she’d last read still stacked on her bedside table.
Apparently Deirdre had never stopped loving those silly ancient novels about haunted houses and handsome, dangerous men. If the cover had a terrified woman fleeing a house, Deirdre would read it. Kerry wondered what Ross would make of The Specter of Blackraven Manor.
“Who’s Deirdre?” Ross asked at last. “Where is she?”
“She was my half-sister.” Kerry hesitated. “She won’t be coming back.”
Strange, how Kerry couldn’t bring herself to say, She’s dead. She had never liked Deirdre, and that had turned to hate after Deirdre got her power.
Now that Ross had managed to pry his gaze off the floorboards, he caught sight of his backpack. He dug through it, his face reflecting disappointment when he found that his weapons had been confiscated.
She opened the clothing trunk. Sure enough, Father had provided clothing approximately in Ross’s size. “You can wear this training gear for now. We’ll have the tailor measure you for regular clothes.”
“These are fine.” Ross patted his worn jeans. “Does that mean you’ll let me train?”
“Do you want to?”
Ross shrugged his bony shoulders. She could tell he did, though. It would be another carrot she could offer. And how he fought would tell her a lot about him.
It was time to remind him how successful Gold Point was. How powerful. She opened the bathroom door. “You have hot and cold running water.” Since he was so fascinated by electricity, she added, “They finished the power plant by my sixth birthday. It took almost twenty years to build.”
His gaze shifted to the window. She wondered if he could have climbed out, if Father hadn’t put in the bars. It would take a lot of skill . . .
“Did you climb out of the canyon?” Kerry asked. “Or did you hide in it until the scouts left to look for you?”
She was sure Father would have been able to read the truth in the way Ross blinked, but all she could see was a boy keeping his face carefully expressionless.
Someone knocked. Since Ross stood like a lump of stone, Kerry opened the door to Santiago’s round face and clipped black hair.
“Santiago,” she exclaimed with relief. It was exhausting trying to make conversation with a lump.
Santiago gave her the private, special smile that he saved just for her, then looked past her. “Hi, Ross.”
Ross didn’t reply; all she could see of his face were his eyelashes against his cheeks. It was obvious that he was waiting for everyone to go away and leave him alone.
Santiago grinned at Kerry. “Let’s get some breakfast.”
Ross clearly didn’t care about grandeur, and just as clearly didn’t like company. The royal dining room would probably make him withdraw even more.
On their way out, Kerry snapped her fingers to a servant. “Have hot food brought to the staff dining room.”
The plain room was empty, as the staff breakfasted at sunup. Santiago helped himself to sausages and hash browns with cream gravy. Ross, showing some enthusiasm for the first time since she’d demonstrated her power, methodically piled his plate with some of everything, all the way down to the sickeningly sweet birds’ nest pudding.
She and Santiago got a limping conversation going with each other. They couldn’t talk about anything important, but she didn’t want to sit there in gloomy silence.
In desperation, Kerry asked, “How’s your collarbone?”
As soon as she said it, she couldn’t help glancing at Ross. So, she noticed, did Santiago. Ross stared at his plate. Several beats too late, Santiago said with exaggerated cheerfulness, “It’s fine.”
The doors banged open, and a kitchen servant brought in a tray of scrambled eggs, their savory steam still rising.
“Eggs!” Ross exclaimed.
Eggs? Kerry and Santiago exchanged glances.
Santiago put his fork down. “So, Ross, what’s your favorite way of fixing eggs? I like them fried over medium. My mom pours a little milk into the pan.”
That caught Ross’s interest. “Milk? What does that do?”
“I
t makes the whites creamy. You should try it.”
Kerry added, “I like them poached.”
“Fresh.” Ross watched the servant spoon the eggs onto his plate. He swallowed again. “I like them fresh.”
Kerry wondered what not-fresh eggs tasted like. From the way Ross watched that ladle, he knew.
The door opened again, revealing Father. Santiago’s chair scraped as he leaped to his feet to salute.
Ross froze, his fork midway to his mouth, then warily set it down, his shoulders bracing tight.
“Sit down, Santiago. Enjoy your breakfast,” Father said.
Ah. So Father had sent Santiago.
Father dismissed the servant, leaving the four of them alone. He helped himself to bacon and waffles before sitting at the head of the table, opposite Ross. Kerry didn’t remember the last time he’d eaten in the staff dining room, much less served himself. He seemed determined to set a friendly tone for Ross.
Still, no one else ate until he gestured. “Enjoy.”
Santiago stuffed a forkful of eggs in his mouth, and Kerry pulled apart a biscuit. She’d eaten earlier, with Father. But he obviously wanted them giving Ross a pleasant breakfast.
Ross folded his arms.
“Did you try the waffles, Ross?” Father asked. “They’re my favorite.”
Ross gave a wary nod.
“I like them with blueberry jam,” Santiago said. “When the trader from the North Road comes around, my family buys five jars.”
Kerry tried to continue the conversation. “Have you ever tasted blueberries, Ross?”
“No.” His arms stayed tight across his chest.
She hoped Father appreciated how hard she and Santiago were working to befriend the guest. It wasn’t easy.
Father dipped a piece of bacon in mesquite syrup. “You might get a chance at the potluck for Opportunity Day.”
“Everyone brings their favorite dishes for Opportunity Day,” Kerry added, seeing where Father was going.
She waited for Ross to ask what Opportunity Day was, but one look at him made it clear she’d wait forever. Kerry kicked Santiago in the ankle.
“I remember my Opportunity Day,” Santiago said immediately. “Best day of my life.”
Father smiled at him. “Ross, the first day of every month is Opportunity Day. Kerry’s mother, Min Soo, has a remarkable power. She can make the Change happen to people who have that potential. Because we value Changed people in Gold Point, we let one person per month have that opportunity.”
Santiago spoke so quickly that Kerry knew he’d been rehearsed, “I volunteered as soon as I turned eighteen, and I knew it would never happen naturally. My aunt Maria-Luisa is the only person in my family who’s ever Changed, but I always dreamed of having an amazing power like Kerry’s.”
Kerry chimed in, “You wanted to have a fire power, didn’t you?”
Santiago grinned. “Fire, explosions, anything cool I could use in battle.”
Ross didn’t speak, but he did look interested. Kerry wondered why Father hadn’t mentioned Santiago’s role in his plan, then gave an internal shrug. Santiago was an excellent choice to get Ross relaxed. He was so friendly. Most boys were so intimidated that they didn’t dare address her, let alone flirt with her. Or they made fools of themselves trying to impress her. Only Santiago was his natural, wonderful self. She reached for his hand under the table as Father addressed Ross.
“Each of the five provinces of Gold Point offers a candidate. On the day itself, there’s a lottery to select which one gets the opportunity to Change. Min Soo takes their hands, and even if nothing visible happens, they always know if they’ve Changed. What they don’t know is what their Change is. Go ahead, Santiago, tell Ross about your day.”
Santiago tensed under her hand. Maybe his collarbone hurt, but he wouldn’t want to show weakness in front of Father. “There’s a table set up on the stage, with a bunch of different things on it: a chunk of wood, a bowl of water, a dish of soil, a rock, a plant in a pot, and a live mouse in a cage. The moment her highness touched me, I could feel that I was different. I marched up to that table, ready to burn that wood or blast that rock into smithereens. When I saw the rock, I knew I could do something to it.”
Kerry had to laugh. Because Father was smiling, she took over. “It was the funniest thing! He walked up to that table looking so determined. We were all sure something spectacular was about to happen. He stretched out his hand and held it over that rock . . . and stood there . . . and stood there . . . and we all stood there . . . for fifteen hours. No, it was fifteen minutes, but it felt like fifteen hours. I thought Mom had turned him into a rock.”
Santiago shook his head. “I had no idea that much time was passing. When the rock started to glow and the table started to smoke, I was so excited. And then I looked up, and saw the entire crowd asleep on their feet.”
“That’s your power?” To Kerry’s amazement, Ross was talking. “You can make rocks heat up in fifteen minutes?”
Santiago gave a wry shrug. “That’s it. The most useless power ever, but hey, my parents appreciated the reward the king gives to volunteers’ families.”
Ross didn’t seem interested in rewards. “It sounds useful to me. Why didn’t you use it when we were in the desert?”
Santiago lifted one shoulder, and his face tightened. Kerry could tell he was trying not to wince. “Flint is faster.”
Father had finished his breakfast. He rose to his feet. “The next Opportunity Day is tomorrow. You’ll be our special guest, Ross. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”
Santiago had shot to his feet again. Father waved at him to sit down, and went out.
Kerry pushed the mesquite syrup toward Ross. “Finish your breakfast.”
“I know the king can be intimidating, but he’s very fair,” Santiago said. “All the soldiers love him.”
Ross slumped deeper into his chair. Kerry kicked Santiago again. He gave her a What did I say? look, but he dropped the army talk. Ross began eating again.
Kerry was starting to relax when a servant came in. It was the same one who had dragged her away from Santiago yesterday. Not twice in two days!
“Her highness summons you and the guest,” the servant said.
Ross’s fork clattered to his nearly empty plate.
“I’ll be at my house.” Santiago flashed a private grin at Kerry. “Taking a bath.”
“Ready, Ross?” She wished she could warn him, but she wasn’t sure what to say other than, “Don’t eat the rose petals.”
Mother met them in her formal sitting room. Not a good sign, but then nothing with her was a good sign.
“I’m delighted to make your acquaintance, Ross. I’m Kerry’s mother, Min Soo Cho.” She indicated a chair with a lavender silk cushion. “Please sit down. Has my daughter been making you feel welcome?”
Ross muttered something completely unintelligible.
Min Soo offered him the dreaded porcelain candy dish. “Candied rose petals, Ross?”
To Kerry’s surprise, Ross popped a few in his mouth. His eyes widened in what appeared to be sincere pleasure. “They’re good. Thank you.”
Min Soo looked annoyingly pleased. “Have you ever tasted such a delicacy, Ross? I would be surprised if they have such things in Las Anclas.”
When he didn’t answer, she pushed the dish forward again. “Do have more. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to see my precious roses enjoyed. These are specially bred for flavor.”
Ross helped himself to a handful. Kerry wondered if it was so he wouldn’t have to talk.
“So, tell me about yourself,” Min Soo said in the Encouragement Tone that she claimed made people want to talk. Kerry doubted it would work on Ross. “You are a prospector?”
Ross nodded.
“How fascinating! I adore prospectors, such interesting people. We have one living nearby. You must meet Prudence.”
Like that’s going to happen, Kerry thought. Except when she was reporting on her hawks,
Pru was the only person Kerry had ever met who talked less than Ross. Which was just as well.
“I understand that you planned to breach the ruined city north of Las Anclas,” Min Soo said. “We have one here, too. Not as large as yours, but also surrounded by singing trees. The legends say that it was abandoned completely intact and that to this day, it’s full of artifacts just waiting to be picked up.”
“How far is it?” asked Ross.
Kerry couldn’t believe that he was talking of his own accord. Maybe there was something to the Encouragement Tone.
“One day’s ride.” Min Soo pointed southward, her gold bracelets rattling. “Any prospector who finds a way in will be set up for life. We have fine rewards for prospectors. Prudence found a very valuable artifact for the king. Now she has her own beautiful home, with velvet carpets, a staff to take care of it, and complete freedom to come and go. She no longer needs to work, but she still prospects for her own enjoyment.”
The way Ross’s gaze had flickered when Min Soo mentioned the valuable artifact had to mean that rumors about Father’s “spy device” had reached all the way to Las Anclas. It was one of Father’s cleverest ideas, to divert attention away from Pru herself and onto the nonexistent artifact. Though Min Soo had always claimed it was her idea.
“Tell me about Las Anclas.” Min Soo again offered the dish to Ross. He’d already eaten half the candied petals. “How long had you lived there?”
“Couple months.”
“It sounds like a fine town. Though I understand that it can be a difficult place if you are Changed. I hope no one gave you any trouble about yours.”
Ross almost choked on a petal. Min Soo had clearly struck a nerve.
“I can guess whose influence is behind that. I know people your age have trouble imagining that their parents were ever young.” Min Soo looked straight at Kerry as she spoke. It was true. Kerry could not imagine her mother as a teenager.
Min Soo continued, again to Ross, “When we were your age, Tom Preston and the king—he was Prince Ian then—and I all knew each other. Even then, Tom tried to ignore the king’s Change, minor as it is. As for me, he pretended I didn’t even exist.”
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