can’t.”
“I’ll help.” Anne looked concerned, as if already thinking of places something could be hidden, something that could affect any of us or spy on us. On me.
Solis was remaining silent, and I hated that he still wanted me gone. Then River nodded at Asher, as if in reply to a question, and Asher picked up a small wooden box from the end table next to the couch.
Solis looked up. “You know I disagree with this.”
River nodded gently. “I know. But I believe it’s for the best. Nastasya, come here, please.”
Asher held the box out to me, and I took it cautiously.
“This is yours,” he said. “We were waiting for the right time.”
I pressed the release of the lid. Inside, nestled on a bed of coarse salt, was… my mother’s amulet, repaired and whole and on a chain, exactly as it had been the night she died.
In wonder, I lost myself in it, the room around me fading as my fingers traced every detail. The half I’d always had was as familiar to me as a blade of grass; the half Reyn had given me was both new and dearly remembered. And in the middle, glowing and milky and translucent, was my moonstone, the moonstone I’d chosen blindly from a velvet bag last fall. The moonstone that had helped save my life that night in the warehouse.
The amulet was not as heavy as I remembered, but the last time I’d held it whole, I’d been ten years old. The ancient gold gleamed with fresh polishing, the runes and sigils still distinct. It was a living thing in my hand, warm and full of energy, like a bird.
With difficulty I looked away from it to search River’sface. She was both watchful and loving, but I picked up on tension among the others. “It’s mine?” My voice was thin, almost childish.
“Of course,” River said. “It always has been.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Ottavio said, looking horrified.
I gave him a big grin, but inside I felt awash in emotion. This was the only thing I had from my original life, my family. I’d gotten used to having just the broken half. It had never occurred to me that someday it could be made whole again. Now I examined it, holding the chain, seeing the pendant twist slowly. In my head I heard my mother’s voice singing her song of power and magick-conjuring.
Would it work as well for me?
“What if—” I began, looking at River. “I mean—my parents were Terävä. The magick they made was Terävä. And this—”
“Will help you channel
your
magick,” River answered, “light or dark. We’ve worked powerful spells of cleansing and purifying on it, and tomorrow we’ll show you how to bind it more completely to yourself. It, in itself, will not make Terävä magick. Unless you want it to.”
More solemn faces. You could practically hear everyone thinking,
Let’s hope this isn’t a huge mistake, to give it back to her
.
I nodded. It was so much to take in—my mother’s amulet, whole again! I knew Asher had been repairing it, but atthis moment I realized that I hadn’t actually believed it could be repaired, that I truly would have my family’s tarak-sin, perfect and complete.
My eyes began to sting, and I knew that I was about to cry. Which I absolutely could not do in front of Ottavio.
“Thanks,” I managed to whisper, and then I ran out of the parlor and up the steps to my room, clutching my amulet to my chest.
CHAPTER 8
Y ou’d better move,” I snarled quietly, engaged in a fierce stare-down with a chicken. This one chicken, the devil-chicken, was hell-bent on hatching her clutch of eggs. Usually I didn’t even bother with her, not wanting to get my eyes pecked out. But today I was Lilja af Úlfur, possessor of the Iceland tarak-sin, and I was going to get these freaking eggs.
Or… um, maybe not. The cold, glittering stare in her beady eyes made me think that perhaps I needed to be Lilja, possessor of asbestos fireplace gloves that went up to my elbows, before I could really tackle this situation. Givingher one last dirty
“I’ll help.” Anne looked concerned, as if already thinking of places something could be hidden, something that could affect any of us or spy on us. On me.
Solis was remaining silent, and I hated that he still wanted me gone. Then River nodded at Asher, as if in reply to a question, and Asher picked up a small wooden box from the end table next to the couch.
Solis looked up. “You know I disagree with this.”
River nodded gently. “I know. But I believe it’s for the best. Nastasya, come here, please.”
Asher held the box out to me, and I took it cautiously.
“This is yours,” he said. “We were waiting for the right time.”
I pressed the release of the lid. Inside, nestled on a bed of coarse salt, was… my mother’s amulet, repaired and whole and on a chain, exactly as it had been the night she died.
In wonder, I lost myself in it, the room around me fading as my fingers traced every detail. The half I’d always had was as familiar to me as a blade of grass; the half Reyn had given me was both new and dearly remembered. And in the middle, glowing and milky and translucent, was my moonstone, the moonstone I’d chosen blindly from a velvet bag last fall. The moonstone that had helped save my life that night in the warehouse.
The amulet was not as heavy as I remembered, but the last time I’d held it whole, I’d been ten years old. The ancient gold gleamed with fresh polishing, the runes and sigils still distinct. It was a living thing in my hand, warm and full of energy, like a bird.
With difficulty I looked away from it to search River’sface. She was both watchful and loving, but I picked up on tension among the others. “It’s mine?” My voice was thin, almost childish.
“Of course,” River said. “It always has been.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Ottavio said, looking horrified.
I gave him a big grin, but inside I felt awash in emotion. This was the only thing I had from my original life, my family. I’d gotten used to having just the broken half. It had never occurred to me that someday it could be made whole again. Now I examined it, holding the chain, seeing the pendant twist slowly. In my head I heard my mother’s voice singing her song of power and magick-conjuring.
Would it work as well for me?
“What if—” I began, looking at River. “I mean—my parents were Terävä. The magick they made was Terävä. And this—”
“Will help you channel
your
magick,” River answered, “light or dark. We’ve worked powerful spells of cleansing and purifying on it, and tomorrow we’ll show you how to bind it more completely to yourself. It, in itself, will not make Terävä magick. Unless you want it to.”
More solemn faces. You could practically hear everyone thinking,
Let’s hope this isn’t a huge mistake, to give it back to her
.
I nodded. It was so much to take in—my mother’s amulet, whole again! I knew Asher had been repairing it, but atthis moment I realized that I hadn’t actually believed it could be repaired, that I truly would have my family’s tarak-sin, perfect and complete.
My eyes began to sting, and I knew that I was about to cry. Which I absolutely could not do in front of Ottavio.
“Thanks,” I managed to whisper, and then I ran out of the parlor and up the steps to my room, clutching my amulet to my chest.
CHAPTER 8
Y ou’d better move,” I snarled quietly, engaged in a fierce stare-down with a chicken. This one chicken, the devil-chicken, was hell-bent on hatching her clutch of eggs. Usually I didn’t even bother with her, not wanting to get my eyes pecked out. But today I was Lilja af Úlfur, possessor of the Iceland tarak-sin, and I was going to get these freaking eggs.
Or… um, maybe not. The cold, glittering stare in her beady eyes made me think that perhaps I needed to be Lilja, possessor of asbestos fireplace gloves that went up to my elbows, before I could really tackle this situation. Givingher one last dirty
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