“I can’t do it. I haven’t been able to hit even one,” I say, reaching my hands behind my head and looking up to the cloudy sky.Kali huffs and stomps over to the target.
Down near the river, Myles helps Lura with defence training, much to her dismay. She grumbles about having to train daily, but he is adamant she should know how to defend herself. Lura would much rather be at the healing end.
“Like this,” Kali says as she uses her telekinesis to levitate a huge log and tosses it at one of the targets, knocking the entire thing over. With another swipe of her hand, the target stands back up right again.
“That easy, eh?” I roll my eyes, looking over my shoulder, wishing I were hand-fighting with Myles instead.
Myles catches my eye and gives me one of his lop-sided smiles. Lura stops in her tracks as I’m smacked in the head. Falling to my feet, is a branch. Spinning on my heels, I throw out my arm, and a blast of fire follows. Kali dives out of the way, plummeting to the ground awkwardly as the blast collides with the target. It pirouettes through the air, landing gracefully on its three legs.
In a daze, I stare at the unintentional target I hit, although I was aiming for Kali. I throw my hand over my mouth, the flames would have incinerated her if she had remained standing. Maybe instead of learning to control my magic, I should practice controlling my temper.
Kali smiles at the giant scorch mark covering the entire painted target. “Anger. That’s what gets your magic going. Good to know. When you’ve used your magic in the past, were you angry?”
“Not all the time. Sometimes I was terrified.”
“Heightened emotions, okay. Try again. This time, bring that anger to the surface. Remember how you felt in those circumstances and aim again.”
I do as she says, bringing Toothless’ face to my mind, the captain’s hand around my throat, and Myles dying in front of me. Flames engulf me, up to my elbow. I push with all my might and let the flame shoot from my hand, flipping the target once more.
Footsteps hasten as Myles and Lura rush up to deduce the commotion, but I’m still too stunned to look at them. Kali points to the next target, smiling at me. With my hand coated in white flames, I grit my teeth, throwing my arm out again towards the target, hitting it directly in the middle, knocking it off its feet.
Excited as a child in a toy emporium, I jump up and down, clapping my hands together. Myles grabs me around my waist, spinning me in the air, congratulating me. As quickly as he picks me up, he drops me again, I turn facing him.
Since I woke up, he seems lighter, happier. I haven’t seen this in him since Vendyl on the bridge, describing our lives under the willow tree. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him in for a kiss.
He jumps away from me. “Your fingers are like icicles.” He takes my hands in his, rubbing them together. The cold isn’t bothering me now, adrenaline has taken over.
“I know how we can warm up.” I wink at him, grabbing his hand and dragging him into the house. He winces, rubbing his chest, with a quick look over his shoulder, he shuts the door.
“Don’t mind us, we’ll stay out in the cold,” Kali shouts as the door slams.
Hours must have passed by. Darkness has swallowed the house while I was napping. Shivering, I throw on an ocean blue,woollen jumper, and some thick black leggings. Not my usual attire, but it’s all Lura had to spare.
I have to admit, the style is growing on me. I think Elana would approve. She was always more up to date with the latest fashion trends than me. Which fabric should be worn and when, what colours would go best with my skin tone and which ones to stay away from. Not that I cared, as long as I was comfortable, that was all that mattered to me.
The aroma in the kitchen is irresistible. Cured ham, potatoes, vegetables, and warm bread. It's euphoric, my stomach rumbles as I follow the scent. Kali and Lura are busy pottering about, it’s fun to watch these sisters move in synchronicity.
Lura’s watery eyes flick to mine, holding my gaze for a brief moment, before grabbing a tray of chopped onions and other vegetables and tossing them into a pan. Kali’s eyes squint at me, pursing her lips.
“Do you guys need any—”
“No,” Lura spits out.
Kali side eyes her sister, adding, “No, thank you.”
I snuggle down beside the fire in the armchair,watching the sisters weave between each other with grace. Lura plants a smidge of flour on Kali’s nose, and they burst into a fit of giggles. My eyes tear up thinking of Elana, we didn’t always get on, butMisneach,do I miss her.
I miss staying up late with her, gossiping about the townsfolk and who was up to what.
Oh, the scandalous things the folk of Vendyl would get up to.
I push up from the chair, turning away from the kitchen before either of them can see my tears. The pictures dotted around the fireplace warm my heart. Seeing Kali and Lura with their family before… whatever happened. I never did find out, but I won’t push for information before either of them is ready.
One picture in particular catches my attention, carefully I pick up the lavender frame with carved flowers that curl around the edges. Inside is a family spiralling around two little blonde girls, holding hands and dancing in the centre, twirling around, grins on both their faces. The family look on, beaming from ear to ear, swaying in time with the music.
My mind fades to a distant dream of a young girl dancing in a ballroom, her pink tulle dress swishing with each dip and twirl. Placing the picture back in its place, I look up to see a mirror. Staring at myself, I see the girl's long black hair and the young man’s dark brown eyes, well, one of them. I don’t think before I stick out my tongue and cross my eyes.
“What was that?” Myles nervously chuckles as he appears behind me in the mirror.