Under the cover of night, Lianna had gathered all of the Star Children deep underground in the map room. Candles illuminated the space, casting dancing, somewhat eerie shadows across the ragged, rocky ceiling. A few more towns had been crossed out along the western coast since Claire had last laid eyes on the carved map. Multiple guards stood at attention along the corridors leading to the room and right outside of it, but not so many as to draw unnecessary attention. Hopefully.

Farron had left the palace earlier in the night to seek out Bahkar’s body. A mission he’d insisted on doing himself to make sure that they got what they needed. They couldn’t afford any mistakes.

All of them sat in a circle around the map, the two children, Lin and Leah—looking much better than the last time Claire had seen them—and the dark-skinned woman, Maya, her clothing just as bright and colorful as ever. Razi sat to Claire’s left, Lianna to her right. The only one missing was the madman.

“Do you think this will work without…?” Claire muttered to Lianna.

Lianna shrugged her shoulders in the elegant way she did. Concern shone in the children’s eyes. Claire hated having to involve them. They shouldn’t have to worry about such things at their age. But it couldn’t be helped. Maya watched with curious, cautious eyes. She’d expressed interest in restoring magic after Claire and Lianna told the others of their plan. According to her, all she’d ever wanted was to be rid of the mark and lead a normal life.

“We can only try,” Lianna said as she held her hands out to her sides for Claire and Leah to take them.

Claire took her hand and then Razi’s. The circle was completed, all of the remaining Star Children connected for the first time since the magic had disappeared. A rush of power surged through her and she could hear the others gasp. They felt it, too. She’d taken off the silver bracelets before their little experiment so there wouldn’t be any added hindrances, but now she wasn’t sure it had been a good idea. Her magic swirled to life inside of her, rearing its wild head, reacting to the others’ magic. Her mark started to glow and she took a deep breath to try and calm down. The others’ marks started to illuminate as well, soft at first, then growing in intensity. A rainbow of colors chased away the darkness, overpowering the candles and torches. The king, the only other presence in the room, stepped closer to the circle, his eyebrow arching inquisitively.

“Open yourself up,” Lianna said softly. “Think of that cave, the start of it all. Let your magic guide you.”

Claire closed her eyes and thought of that fateful night so many moons ago. The visions flashed through her mind. The sharp pain of the others entering her consciousness stabbed through her head.

“I see,” Lianna whispered when the memory faded. “Show us the way…”

Claire let her guard down almost completely. Her power surged within, the others’ mingling and brushing against it. She concentrated on the cave, opening herself up to the world around her, searching for the telltale pull of magic. With the combined power of the other Star Children, her senses were heightened, the world transforming around her. She could hear the slightest sound, sense the littlest movements, feel the life flowing through the earth itself. It was overwhelming.

“Where…” Claire whispered. She gasped as her magic surged, almost taking over, like a swelling wave. Then it subsided, and in its wake she felt it. It was faint, but it was enough. “There!” she shouted. “To the north, do you feel it?”

“Yes,” Lianna said, “barely, but I do.”

“Toward Isailo,” Razi said.

A short burst of laughter sounded from the king. Claire peeked at him, her concentration faltering. What was funny about that?

The pull grew stronger. Claire tried her best to memorize the feeling for the future. Sweat started to drip down her skin. The effort to maintain the connection was far more difficult than she’d thought it would be. Lin broke the connection as he leaned back on his hands, breathing heavily. Leah and Maya fared better, but both looked more tired than before. Only Razi and Lianna didn’t seem to be affected, perhaps because they used their powers more.

“Isailo,” King Líadan said as he stepped into the circle, looking down at the map. He stood over a mountainous region in the north of Derenan. He turned to Claire, a fierce look on his face. “How soon can you leave?”

“I can leave tonight if you wish.” The sting started along her scar and new wound. Her mark was growing.

The king smiled, a slight tug at the corner of his lips. “Good. Li, Razi, be prepared. Things are about to get quite interesting.”

Claire swallowed hard, her stomach falling to the floor. Quite interesting indeed.

 

It only took a couple of hours for her to get ready. As ready as she’d ever be on a mission to change the world and restore magic to the land. With Marla and Lianna’s help, she’d packed as lightly as she could while they waited for Farron to return. Lianna charged the pendant with some of her magic and helped Claire don the silver chains once again, calming the mark down. But exhaustion already weighed heavy on her body, like a wet blanket.

“Is that it?” Claire asked when he’d entered her room and produced a small glass vial filled with dark red liquid. A shiver went through her. She really didn’t want to hear any details of his mission.

Lianna and Razi had gathered the rest of the Star Children’s blood in similar containers. It was impractical to bring all of them along, especially the children, without raising suspicion. As per Farron’s suggestion, it would be best to travel light. Claire and him had done so successfully for the past few months without much trouble. The king had insisted on assigning them some men, ignoring their protests. It was too important a mission to risk it, the king had said.

When all was ready, Razi, Lianna, and the king met Claire and Farron in her room for their goodbyes.

“Be careful, my dear little Claire,” Lianna said, tears gathering in her eyes. “Do not hesitate to call upon me if you need it.”

“And me,” Razi chimed in. “If anything goes wrong, send for us.” He looked between her and Farron.

“Will you be all right?” Lianna touched Claire’s arm.

Claire nodded. Anxiety churned her stomach, making her nauseated. “I don’t think I have much of a choice either way.”

Lianna squeezed her arm and gave her a hug. “I hope to see you again shortly, mien anaire.”

“Thank you, Lianna, for everything.” Claire didn’t know where she would be without Lianna’s help.

Lianna tightened her arms around Claire for several moments before reluctantly letting go. “Safe travels, Claire.”

When Lianna released her it was Razi’s turn to pull her into a too-tight embrace.

“Me chaqana,” Razi whispered. “Thank you for showing me the way.” He stepped back and touched her chin, tilting her head up to look at him. “Without you, I would still be in the dark.”

“Thank you for everything,” Claire said, her eyes feeling wet. “If you can, get your family as far away from here as you can.”

Razi nodded, though he probably didn’t need to be told that. “May your mission be successful.” He bowed and touched the back of her hand to his forehead. When he released her, he actually shook Farron’s hand, something she thought she would never see. “I wish you well.”

“Show those Council bastards you are a force to be reckoned with, magic or not.” Farron squeezed Razi’s hand tight before letting go.

Both Razi and Lianna stepped aside for the king. “Brother,” he said, opening his arms wide.

Farron glared at him but accepted the hug.

“I know our time together has not always been… agreeable.” King Líadan pulled back to look at his brother. “But I would not be where I am without you. And for that, I will always be thankful, though I may not always show it. You have strengthened my tenuous rule in ways you will probably never know. Council or not, you will always have a home here and throughout Derenan.” He released Farron and looked at Claire. “The same for you, my child. What you are doing for the land—for everyone—successful or not, we will never be able to repay you. When we meet again, the world will never be the same, for better or worse. I wish you both success on your mission. All of us are counting on you.”

Well, no pressure there. Claire took a deep breath and released it, not knowing how to respond to that.

“Just try to keep the Council off our trail as long as you can,” Farron said. “They will do whatever it takes to stop us.”

The king nodded solemnly, then grinned. “You’re not the only son of Earnehard they need to fear.”

Farron matched his brother’s grin, silent words passing between them.

After their goodbyes, Farron led her through a labyrinth of halls under the palace, going deep under the earth. The passages were crudely carved, damp and musty. They finally emerged through a door into an empty alleyway somewhere in the city below. A group of men atop horses awaited them, dark cloaks hiding their armor and weapons. Farron’s horse and Azra stood to the side, already saddled and ready for their late night ride.

“Ready?” Farron asked her as he closed the small wooden door behind him.

“Not at all,” she said as she walked to her horse. “Let’s go.”