Valerie, April, and June stood on the balcony above the town. The ground and streets were charred and black. “Are you ready?” June asked. In her hands was the book from under Iris’s bed, open on the page describing the summoning ritual. Valerie swallowed. The coercion powder seemed to burn in her pocket. She had to use it any minute now. Or should she wait until after the ritual? What if she messed up when using it? Her chance would be gone. June and April would overwhelm her in a second. No, she should wait until after the ritual. Valerie nodded. “Let’s do it.” They took each other’s hands, and June started chanting. April followed the chant, and then Valerie. Valerie started to feel light, as if sweet-smelling flowers were blooming in her heart and head. Invisible vines grew up her limbs. They weren’t strangling her, but stroking and caressing her gently. The chant faded, but the feeling stayed. Valerie opened her eyes. Silver rain fell from the sky. Wherever it touched, flowers and greenery sprouted from the ashes. People who had been curled up on the street stood up, confused but glowing with glee. Even the woman who had been grabbing Valerie earlier was now hugging her children in joy. “We did it!” Before Valerie knew it, June had thrown her arms around her in tears. “I feel it, the plague is gone.” Valerie felt a push. She looked down, and there was April, hugging her violently, tears streaming down her face. Warmth flooded Valerie like tea on a winter’s day. For the first time, she felt like she belonged again. Gently, she pushed her sisters away. “Let’s go and see how everyone is doing, how Jules is doing.” April nodded and sprinted through the door. “Hey, it’s a long way. Don’t exhaust yourself at the beginning,” June shouted, smiling as she tried to keep up with her. Valerie followed them back into the coronation room. She stopped to look at the throne. An echo of pressure she had felt sitting there tightened her heart. She put her hand in her pocket and grabbed the coercion powder tightly. Then she threw it into the fireplace. Never would she rule this kingdom alone again. --- Hey, thank you for staying in this story until the end. You are my heroes. Unfortunately, I have to take a longer break from posting. You are all very talented writers and I will miss you all. Thank you for reading, huby 💚

Warm, steamy air overwhelmed Princess Valerie as she stepped inside the home. The hunter stayed just a few inches behind her, watching her every step. The smell of food masked the mustiness of the room. The air was warm, thick with soot and cooking moisture. In the corner, a fireplace was crackling, with a cauldron suspended above. In the middle of the room stood a crooked table. At the table sat a woman cradling an infant, a teenage boy, and a young woman, obscured by the darkness of the room. April handed the hunter Valerie’s chain. He kept it short. Valerie watched April fill pottery bowls with soup from the fireplace. She placed the first bowl in front of the woman with the baby. The woman did not look up; her face was still hidden in the darkness. April then filled bowls for the young woman and the boy. They showed equally no reaction, their shadowed faces still turned towards Valerie. April gestured for the hunter and Valerie to come. The hunter pushed Valerie toward a tree stump and coerced her down. He sat down right beside her. April put down soup dishes in front of them. Then she walked around the table and stepped behind the older woman, stroking her back gently. “Look, Ma, it’s Princess Valerie!” The woman looked up slowly. A blank stare from a gaunt, pale face, empty eyes fixed on Valerie but also far away. April, too, now looked at Valerie, but her eyes were filled with tears. “Princess Valerie will now apologize for what she did to our family.” Valerie’s thoughts raced. She did not know them. She did know a lot of people had suffered in the last weeks - months, even. As had she. Losing her sister, carrying the burden of responsibility, making terrible sacrifices. And she did everything she could. She didn’t even know what she could do better if she could repeat it all again. It was not her fault that Patron Eli did not answer her prayers. To better her chances of survival, she should probably crouch on the floor, begging for forgiveness. But she couldn’t. She held her position; she kept fighting. Even when all hope was lost. April’s lips pressed together, her eyebrows narrowed, and tears swelled in her eyes. She burst out, with forced constraint: “Even now.” She walked over to Valerie and whispered in her ear, spitting every word with anger: “You damn prideful, arrogant witch. I will give you one more chance to apologize to my mother.” The mother started cradling the infant again. No, wait. Valerie squinted. The bundle was too small, too rigid. It was a log of wood draped in a baby blanket. Valerie felt a shudder crawling over her back. “Alright… I will make you apologize then,” April said. Valerie looked at the other people at the table - the boy, the younger woman, the hunter. Their faces were like stone, showing no emotion. Nobody stood up to get a weapon; no sign of anybody getting ready to attack Valerie. Would they really kill Valerie in front of the mother? Valerie spoke the first words since she was kidnapped. They came out raspy and weak: “I understand your pain. But hurting me won’t bring any of your loved ones back. We should work together inst-” Valerie’s voice faded. She tried to form another word, but no sound came out. She tried again. Now she heard her voice, but they were not her words: “Mary, you are a great mother. I, Princess Valerie, am so very deeply sorry that my stupid selfishness, my damn pride, took your sons, daughters, and husband. We of royal blood pride ourselves on our powerful magic. But we won’t help our people when they are consumed by a terrible plague. We will just let it happen.” Valerie felt like she was suffocating from panic. She tried to grab her mouth, but her hands would not let her. She clenched her jaw, tried to bite her tongue. But nothing would stop the strange words from coming out. Her limbs felt paralyzed, yet her body was moving on its own, rolling from the stump onto the floor. Valerie wanted to scream in pain as her knees scraped on the bark. But she was not allowed to. Before she knew what was going on, she was kneeling in the dirt in front of the family. Her head jerked towards the hunter so fast she heard her spine crack: “March. You hunt for my kingdom. You bring my people food, and I took your father and siblings. I am so very sorry!” Valerie’s head slammed against the earthen floor in a violent bow. Then her gaze was forced toward the young lady: “June! Studying forest magic and teaching it to your sister. I look down on it, I hate it, because I only want royal magic in my kingdom. Because I want to keep the power of my bloodline! But I apologize for letting your siblings die. Patron Eli did not help his people because of my prideful, arrogant, abhorrent family. That’s my fault.” Valerie’s body performed another forced bow, like a puppet on strings. Then her head was turned to the boy: “Jules! I am so sorry! My actions led to you being infected by the plague-” Valerie’s voice stopped. Her hands raced to her mouth, nearly punching herself. Reflexively, she backed off but was stopped forcefully by the rattling chain. She looked up. April was sobbing uncontrollably. It was like time was frozen for a moment. The only sound was April's crying. Then the girl ripped a bag from her belt and slammed it on the table before running out the door. The room fell silent. Valerie felt dizzy, like she needed to vomit. The ground was spinning. She needed to hold onto the floor. She must not lose control again. After an eternity, June said in a blank tone: “I don’t think that made any of us feel better.” “Big surprise,” the hunter, March, answered, his voice exhausted. “She’s a child. At least she is trying to process her grief.” June looked at March, who adverted his eyes. Valerie was still curled up on the floor. Scattered, panicked thoughts flew through her mind without sense. It was impossible to comprehend what had just happened. She glanced up, meeting June’s eyes. “It’s forest magic. You would not know how powerful it is. You are probably quite sheltered,” June explained, as if reading Valerie’s thoughts. She gestured for March to pull her up. He sat Valerie back on the tree stump. June opened the bag April had left on the table. She took out bundles of herbs Valerie had never seen before, worn dolls, and scissors. Then June grabbed a smaller pouch and opened it, revealing shiny black beetles and seeds. “Oh, not that one,” she murmured quickly, opening another. Having found what she had searched for, she looked at Valerie: “You have to take this pill now. You can take it yourself, or March or April can make you.” Valerie grabbed the pill and swallowed it without a word.

“No way,” March said under his breath. He had just spotted a white horse in the forest. A hooded figure was riding it, galloping through the early morning blue hours. Only one person owned horses like this. “That damn bitch,” he muttered. He raised his bow and shot the horse right in the head. It fell like a sack of wheat, burying the petite rider under its hefty body. Without hesitation, he ran up to the horse and its rider. He ripped the hood from her head, revealing a pale young woman’s face, struck with panic. Everyone in this kingdom knew this face. If not from the addresses, then from sketches or even the bards’ tales. The princess’s mark looked like faint ivy growing up her right cheek. Every child would recognize her. “Huh,” he said, looking at the scared, curled-up body buried under the big horse’s weight, branches and thorns sticking in her robes and long hair. “It really is you.” Then he spat in Princess Valerie’s face. --- Princess Valerie felt numb. The hunter had dragged her into a shed and chained her up like a dog. She lay on the floor, motionless. Earlier, she had taken off her robes, revealing her white gown splattered with purple blood. This and her mark were the only proof that she was part of the same regal bloodline as her sister and her ancestors. Her wounds from the fall hurt, but it was nothing that wouldn’t heal. In contrast to her spirit. She still prayed to Patron Eli. But she had given up all hope of a response. Never had she felt so alone. It was cold. The shed was flimsy, and the wind rustled through the gaps in the wood. But calling for help would just make her situation worse. Because she was now the most hated person in the kingdom. She heard steps coming up to the shed. Not making a sound, she quickly closed her eyes again, pretending to be unconscious. The door creaked. A wave of cold wind entered the hut. Valerie prayed that her shivering would not be too obvious, would not draw any attention to her. The smell of smoke and decay still lingered in the air. Steps came nearer and nearer. Then they stopped, about an arm’s length away from Valerie. Or a finger’s. Valerie felt the sweat on her forehead. She forced herself to keep her breathing shallow and regular, like her life depended on it. She heard the figure move. Her heart stopped. And then the steps left again, making a squishing sound on the cold, muddy floor of the shed. After the creaky door closed behind the visitor, Valerie did not dare to move. Not even open her eyelids. She counted to 600. Then she listened. The only sound was the wind whistling through the planks. She opened her eyes slowly. She was alone again in the shed. Of course. There were not even footsteps in the mud in front of her. Had it been just a dream? No… the visitor had left something just in front of the shed’s door, where Valerie could barely reach it. The rattling of her chain startled her as she moved toward the shed’s entrance, trying to make out the items. It was a pitcher of water and a bowl of steaming, murky soup. Was this a peace offering? ~ If you want to read the first part, look at my previous post "All That’s Left Is Fire"! Thanks for reading!

“What the hell did you do?” April towered over Valerie, who was lying on the floor. “After the rift opened, it just dragged me in!” Valerie scrambled to get up. The portal had just spat her out. She dusted off her clothes and took June’s outstretched hand, whispering a thanks under her breath. She didn’t look her in the eyes. After what had just happened, she couldn’t. Not knowing what she had to do to her. --- An hour earlier They had spent hours reading, going through her sisters’ notes and her family’s records. Voices of generations of bloodline magic were written down on the shelves of the castle. But centuries of wisdom didn’t follow any order. Even just looking through the notes in her older sister’s book nook had taken them half the day. “Look at this,” April said, nudging June and showing her a small leather-bound journal. Valerie recognized it instantly. “Hey, that’s private.” She tried to grab her sister’s diary, but April evaded her hands without effort. “Valerie, you know we have to look everywhere. We’ll be respectful,” June reassured her. Valerie nodded reluctantly, then looked over June’s and April’s shoulders. They went through the pages of the journal. Iris had written down her feelings and thoughts, but there were also notes on her family’s magic and the spells she had been developing. Before every page turn, they hoped for the summoning spell. But then, the next page was blank. The journal had ended. April cursed. “No need to get angry,” June said, patting her back. Valerie flipped through the pages again. Until she stopped. “Why don’t we try this?” She showed June a mirror-portal spell her sister had developed. “Ah, and how?” June took the book and inspected the pages again. “I know Iris used a mirror portal to talk to our dead ancestors.” Valerie felt the blood pounding in her ears, a rush of new energy in her veins. “We should try to contact my sister!” June and April exchanged a glance. Then they nodded. Valerie took the book again and gestured for them to follow. They quickly ran to Iris’s tower bedroom. Valerie pushed down the door handle and stepped inside. Then she froze. She hadn’t been here since the day her sister had died. Dust blanketed the books and trinkets, minerals and alchemy ingredients. The first moths were feasting on Iris’s regal canopy bed. The bed where she had smacked her sister during pillow fights. The desk where Iris had taught her to read. The floor where they had played with dolls, balls, and soldiers as children. “So where is this mirror?” April asked impatiently, treading on the carpet. June stepped carefully into the room. “It must be this one.” Valerie snapped out of her sweet memories. The room felt cold and dead again. She looked at June, who had started wiping the dust off Iris’s mirror. Valerie nodded. “Yes.” June smiled at her encouragingly. “Alright, let’s all stand in front of the mirror and hold hands.” Valerie held out her hand, but it was shaking. “Don’t be nervous. We’re here.” Valerie grabbed June’s hand tighter, then took April’s. Together, they chanted the spell. Valerie felt warmth washing over her body. Then heat. It was as if her blood were boiling, trying to steam out through her skin and eyes. Her head screamed, Stop it! Her heart wanted to pump away the rancid heat coursing through her veins. But she couldn’t stop chanting. She had to do it. She needed to summon Eli. She needed to stop the plague. And she needed to see her sister again. An inhuman force hurled her upward. Her feet left the ground. She opened her eyes, but all she could see was silvery mist and shifting lights. She was falling. And then it stopped. “Valerie.” Her eyes went blurry. A voice she never thought she would hear again. She looked up. “Iris?” Her sister was standing in the silvery mist, wearing a flowing white gown. The bloodline mark was gray on her ghostly pale skin. Valerie scrambled to get up and tried to run to her sister. But no matter how far she ran, Iris remained just as far away. “Valerie. We don’t have much time. I’m proud of you. I’ve watched you from above. You managed to get these girls here. They carry enough magic power within them to summon Eli.” A giant weight lifted from Valerie’s shoulders. Tears streamed down her face. “I… I missed you so much.” “I miss you too, Valerie. But you must listen now.” Iris’s expression grew earnest. “The book with all our family’s knowledge about Eli is under my bed. But this knowledge must stay in our family’s hands. As must magic.” She shook her head, smiling faintly at Valerie’s confusion. “You can’t even imagine the chaos if people outside the purple bloodline wield magic in this kingdom. Especially this… shady forest magic.” Valerie’s voice trembled. “Are you su-” A deep thunder interrupted her. The silver mist swirled in forceful gusts of wind. The mirror plane quaked beneath her feet. Iris shouted over the storm: “On my nightstand is coercion powder! You need it to convince these girls to give you their power! You must become queen! That is the only way for peace, stabili-” The mirror floor cracked beneath Valerie. She fell. Through silver mist. Back into the mortal realm. Her sister’s voice was still echoing in her head.

Back in the present, Valerie was still sitting at the dimly lit family table, the soup in front of her now cold and congealed. “Valerie.” June looked at her earnestly. Her face was tired and dusty, but there was gentleness in her expression. Sympathy, maybe, or pity. “I get that you just want to run away. I get that you are afraid. But the people are still suffering, and we need to get rid of the plague.” Valerie straightened in her chair: “I was not fleeing. I was trying to reach another kingdom to get help!” March cut in. “Help? You mean serving us on a silver platter! They’ll kill us the moment they know we are defenseless.” He buried his face in his hands, groaning. “And thanks to you yelling that Eli is gone, they are probably readying their troops while we sit here talking.” Valerie felt the blood rush into her cheeks. Heat flooded up her neck. She heard the voice of her older sister Iris again, scolding her for being stupid. She murmured timidly, like a little girl, “There is no other way left…” June leaned over the table. “No. There is still hope.” Valerie looked up, surprised. June continued: “With mine and April's forest magic, and your bloodline magic together, we might call Eli. It has to be enough. We have to try!” Valerie raised an eyebrow. She didn’t know much about magic; that had always been her older sister's domain. But she heard the voice of her tutor in her head: the purple bloodline ruled the kingdom because bloodline magic is god-given, the only magic pure enough to contact a patron. All other so-called magic is dirty child's play. Agreeing to June's plan could buy her some time though. It wasn't the worst idea, and it meant the family still needed her. March would probably kill her the moment she became useless. “We can try. But I need to get spell books and magic equipment from my sis- my library and workshop.” June's face lit up. “Great! Where is that? The castle?” “Yes…” Even more doubts formed in Valerie's mind. “But getting in will be difficult. The people are very angry at me. If they see me, they’ll probably burn me at the stake.” Valerie tapped her bloodline mark. “It's very easy to recognize me.” June smiled. “Don't worry. I have the perfect solution.” She stood up and came back with a leather bird mask in her hands. Its hollow eyes made Valerie recoil. She only knew these masks from drawings in her school books, describing plagues from centuries past. “You can just put on my doctor's mask. Nobody would bat an eye.” Valerie took the mask and tried it on. She could barely see, and the strong smell of herbs and flowers was overwhelming. “It’ll work,” she said, muffled through the mask's beak. “Good,” June said. “You, April, and I can travel to the castle tomorrow. March, will you look after Jules and Mother?” “I’m not letting you go alone with her!” March thundered. “We’ve been weakening her with anti-magic pills for two days. April and I are stronger than her. You can't leave Jules alone here with Ma; he's sick!” June's voice was fast and pleading. “I will be fine…” Jules said in a weak voice. His eyes were sunken, and his hands were covered in black abscesses. To Valerie, he seemed on death's door. March growled, glaring at Valerie “Alright. I will stay. But get April; you're going to the castle tonight. We cannot wait any longer.” --- They walked all night. Valerie's feet and legs hurt terribly; her dainty riding shoes were not made for bumpy paths. Breathing through the mask was difficult. The leather became damp with her sweat. But still she was strangely elated. After her sister's death, she had been so lonely. Talking to June and experiencing the first kindness since then made her feel hope again, a feeling she had nearly forgotten. April, on the other hand, was still angry and did not try to hide it. Her swollen, red eyes shot daggers at Valerie at every chance. Even through the tiny eye slits in the mask, Valerie could see April would gladly tear her to shreds at the slightest misstep. In the morning hours, they reached the town. The darkness had been a welcome shield. Now, the light of dawn poured over the city, wrapping the destruction in a golden veil. The streets were empty; only a few kids scavenged the ruins. Where bustling workshops and stores once stood was now ruin and ashes. Valerie kept her gaze fixed on the stone road, careful not to look at the homes she ordered to be burned. Then she felt someone grab her arm. Panicked, she turned around. A frail woman clung to her, screaming, “A doctor! Please, my children!” She would not let go, her nails digging deep and tearing Valerie's robe. The seams screeched. Valerie tried to pull free, but the woman was strong and very desperate. June tried to loosen her grip, but the woman wouldn’t budge. “April, help me!” June yelled. April shoved the woman, and finally, she had to let go. She fell into the dirty ashes of the street, sobbing. The screams and sobs echoed in Valerie's head for hours afterward, when they finally saw the castle come into view. “Who's that?” April asked. Valerie squinted, trying to make out what she meant. Before the front doors, a lone figure stood. A shudder ran down Valerie's back. What if robbers were already looting the castle? Destroying the library? Her bedroom? Her sister's book nook? She couldn’t help but run up to the castle's entrance, nearly stumbling over the doctor's robes. “Stop! In the name of the royal guard, I cannot let you enter the castle. I won't let anyone unauthorized in until Princess Valerie returns!” Valerie could not believe her ears. After all that had happened, the lies, the fire, the destruction, someone was still loyal to her and her family. The guard was disheveled and exhausted, but he held his position. Tears swelled in Valerie's eyes. She took off her mask. The guard rubbed his eyes. “Princess Valerie… You came back!” Valerie wanted to hug the guard, a human from her past life, a life that seemed so far away now. Instead, she said, “Thank you for guarding the castle. Once order is restored, I will pay you back one hundred times.” She gestured for June and April to come. It was time to save the kingdom.

Valerie sat in her throne, her fingers tapping on the walnut inlets. It was way too big for her. She looked at the book nook, still expecting to see her sister there, reading as usual. Stupid. She stood up and stepped out onto her balcony overlooking the town. The sight made her stomach turn. The smoke stung her eyes, the stench was unbearable. Valerie could not help but vomit on the stone floor of the castle. She wiped her mouth and looked at her beloved town, burning. The bakery, known all throughout the kingdom, crumbled into embers. The forge created colorful flames that kissed the dark sky. Her childhood home was reduced to just two walls and a stove. It was the first fire she had ordered her troops to set. She screamed at the stormy sky: “Eli!” Her voice was cracking. “You don’t care about me! You don’t care about my sister! But do you care about your people?” Through sobs, she pleaded: “Your beloved kingdom is dying, burning! When you left you said that we would never be alone! You promised you would be there for us! Where are you?” “Princess Valerie.” A guard had appeared in the doorway. Valerie used her sleeve to wipe the tears and vomit off her face. Exuding elegance and leadership, she turned gracefully. “Yes?” “The troops do not want to continue setting the town on fire. And they don’t want to desert their loved ones inside the walls.” Valerie’s world started spinning. She just wanted to let herself fall, hit the stone floor and give up. Burn with her town. She gritted her teeth, clenched her fists and took big breaths. Somehow, she managed to slip back into her regal demeanor. “I don’t want it either. But it’s the only way.” She paused for a moment. “Gather the troops and any citizens still present on the town square. I will do a final short address.” She herself rang the bell of her balcony, signaling the announcement. After a few moments, the square was shockingly full. Valerie was surprised so many citizens had not left the city yet. Angry, distraught faces. “My beloved people, my strong troops, and Patron Eli. I set fire to this town. It is the only way to get rid of the plague. I am sorry that we had to leave the bodies of your families and friends in our burning houses.” She paused, taking a deep breath: “I grieve with you, as the body of my beloved sister, taken by the plague, is burning in my house too. But this is the only way to ensure the survival of this town and its people!” The crowd muttered. Valerie had already held the speech earlier today, but the people must have been occupied with work and caring for the sick. Attendance had been very low. She continued with a loud, strong voice: “Eli did not hear my pleas. He did not hear the pleas of the townspeople, even when we were calling him all at once. But he will come for us when the smell of smoke and burning flesh fills the air. Because he loves us! Because he loves this town! And he will cure us of the plague and help us rebuild!” The crowd cheered. With her deepest, most determined voice, she thundered: “This is our only chance! Civilians, leave this town. Plead to Eli! Guards, continue creating fires! The flames and smoke must reach the sky!” She watched the people drain from the town square, wondering if she believed herself anymore. But it did not matter. Because there was no other way left.

The light shining through the cracks was orange when steps approached the shed again. Princess Valerie returned to playing dead the moment she heard the movement. Someone opened the door and picked up the empty pitcher and bowl. “If you can eat my soup, you can stop pretending you’re unconscious.” Valerie’s stomach sank. The steps ran near her, and she backed up toward the wall reflexively. Small hands shook her. “Wake up!” Valerie opened her eyes and looked at a young girl. Her hair was tucked under a headscarf, her dress was worn and had been repaired and extended multiple times. The burned and blistered hands told stories of countless hours at the stove, probably. “The shed is cold. You’ll get sick. Come!” The girl unlocked Valerie’s chains and yanked them like she was a disobedient dog. Valerie stood up for the first time in two days. The sudden motion made her dizzy. The girl pulled the chain again, and Valerie barely managed to stop herself from falling to the ground. Without looking back, the girl walked briskly out of the shed, the dishes in one hand, the chain in the other. Valerie was dragged out into the blinding evening sun. As her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, she could make out the forest and the meadow. There was a bigger stone house a couple of steps from her prison. And in front of the house, sitting on a tree trunk, was the hunter who had kidnapped her. Valerie froze. The girl pulled the chain again. “I said, come!” Without taking her eyes off the hunter, Valerie followed her. The girl walked up to the hunter, who was staring at Valerie with unfiltered hostility. She handed him the chain. “Can you hold her for a moment?” The man took the chain without a word and locked his eyes back on Valerie. “I’ll be back in a moment.” The girl vanished through the oak door into the house. The hunter kept staring at Valerie, hatred brewing in his eyes. Valerie held his gaze. He then muttered, “You’re lucky April is so nice.” “Look at you, calling me spineless behind my back,” the girl, April, said while weaseling back outside. She took the chain from the hunter’s hand and pulled on it. “Come inside. Dinner’s ready!”

In the clouds I see happy trouts jumping from the sea. A powerful ship, a mighty crown, a rose hip above our town. With my eyes I spy a playful dove and a butterfly, showing Eli’s love. A cloudy heart I discover. He is our shepherd, but he makes us tougher. Princess Valerie beamed with pride after reciting her poem. She looked at her older sister Iris expectantly, who was sitting in her book nook, surrounded by ancient tomes and spell books. Since the plague first fell over the kingdom a few months ago, Queen Iris had been very busy. But she still made time to listen to her sisters poetry. “That is a beautiful poem, Valerie! It surely will give our people hope and some distraction from this damn sickness.” Valerie bowed in front of her queen sister. She sighed, looking at the mountain of work Iris had to shoulder. “I wish I could help you more than just writing poems-” Iris interrupted her: “Don’t ever feel bad or unimportant, Valerie. You don’t need magic to help me; your poems are doing a great job of keeping the people hopeful. And that is invaluable.” Valerie looked at Iris. Her face and neck were covered with vines, the mark of magic in their bloodline. Valerie’s mark barely covered her cheek and was very faint. Iris’s mark was paler today, too - a sign of weakness. Valerie looked around the room, making sure they were alone. Then she stepped nearer and said in a low voice: “Making plague medicine for all the sick must be a big strain on your body. No human can do it forever without a patron’s help. The other kingdoms can rely on their patron gods. Should we-” Iris’s eyes widened in shock. “Stop talking!” She jumped up, paper and scrolls flying everywhere. She looked around frantically. After seeing they were alone, she calmed down a bit. She walked up to Valerie and whispered in an agitated voice: “Never. Ever. Speak. These. Words. Again. Nobody can ever find out about the state of the purple bloodline. And that Eli is absent at the moment. When the other kingdoms find out, they will eat us up like cake. A kingdom without a patron god is like a turtle without its shell. Doomed.” She grabbed Valerie and shook her. “You don’t even know what I have to do every day, making cures so the sickness does not overtake our people. Fighting the fight until Eli is back. Studying our family library, honing my magic skills. I am so close to summoning him.” Valerie stayed silent. She had heard these words too many times. Iris continued whispering: “I know you don’t like that we have to pretend these cures I made are from Eli. But it will change soon. I am really sure I will be able to reconnect to him any day!” Valerie looked down at the floor. Iris put her hand under Valerie’s chin and raised her head, making her look at her. “Valerie. Can I trust you not to do or say stupid things? Or do I have to use silence magic again?” “Yes, you can trust me,” Valerie answered quickly, not wanting to make her sister exert herself even more. Being put under a silence spell was awful too, but Valerie had gotten used to it over the years. Perks of being the annoying younger sister without magic defenses. “Good.” Iris looked calmer now. “How about you go outside and look at some more clouds? Your poem could use some more stanzas.” Valerie bowed before her sister and did as she was told.