Page 5

Lotta’s eyes narrowed. For a brief moment, Thicket worried the intelligent blue of her irises read the fears she did her best to keep hidden. But as Lotta finished setting up the vanity, she said, “I was saying that there is one last kingdom I would like to make sure we cover before tomorrow’s meeting.”

“O-oh. Of course.” Thicket couldn’t help the relieved breath. “Which kingdom?”

“The Desert Kingdom.”

Thicket had only seen it on maps. It was by far the largest territory, spanning almost the entirety of the Eastern shore and running deep into the Continent. Even though they shared a border with Vindrya and Malont, the Desert Kingdom seemed to be the most estranged. Maybe it was because they predated Dymree and Vindrya by centuries, or perhaps it was the mountains that wrapped around their border like a barricade. Or, some other reason entirely.

“The Desert Kingdom’s territory is broken up into four provinces,” Lotta explained as she ran a comb through Thicket’s curls. “The Brown Sand province, the Orange Sand province, the Pink Sand province, and the Red Sand province, where the kingdom’s palace is situated—and where phoenixes are known to nest.”

“Phoenixes are real?” Thicket asked, twisting around in her seat. In her memories, they were considered mythical creatures that only existed in stories. However, given that all animals in this world had magic and abilities of their own, it definitely wasn’t the strangest change she had to grow accustomed to.

Since waking up, Thicket had been acquainted with talking cats, bloodthirsty hogs that could fly, foxes whose pelts changed with the seasons—and ravens who were more akin to the carrion they ate than the living. It had been a lot to wrap her mind around. It still was, but compared to everything else that was going on, it was infinitely more tolerable.

Lotta turned Thicket’s head back to face the vanity. “Yes,” she said, resuming her calculating strokes, “and they have many abilities aside from their eternal rebirth that make them coveted. Their tears have powerful healing capabilities, known to bring someone back from the brink of death. Their blood can prolong one’s life if drunk regularly—and their feathers are even said to house magic that allows the user to commune with the dead.”

“With abilities like that, you would think anyone who controls them would be all powerful,” Thicket said.

“Yes, which is why phoenixes are the most hunted creatures. A few hundred years ago, they nearly went extinct.”

“I thought phoenixes couldn’t die? That they just turned to ash and were reborn?”

“That is only if they were able to complete an entire life cycle. If they were killed by mankind too early, the magic that allows them to be reborn wouldn’t have time to accumulate and they would die like any other animal.” Lotta placed the brush down and dipped her fingers into a jar of cream, running the product through Thicket’s curls. “The kingdom who led most hunting acquisitions was Dymree. They wanted the phoenix tears and feathers to sell in the Night Market. As for the blood… The early nobles wanted a constant supply, believing it would guarantee them everlasting youth. The Desert Kingdom was furious and retaliated by attacking Dymree. Malont sided with them, still harboring resentment against Vindrya and Dymree for leaving, which pulled Vindrya in the crossfire.

“The war lasted for decades, until Vindrya devised a peace treaty, specifying that war would stop and all nations would abolish conflict provided that the phoenixes were no longer hunted and left within the Desert Kingdom’s protection. Satisfied with the Treaty, the war ended and a tenuous peace was born.”

“And that Treaty has held?”

“As far as we know. Vindrya has been shut out from the world for a century.” Lotta wiped her hands with a damp cloth and reached for another jar. “Finally being free is an adjustment that everyone will have to adapt to. Trade, culture, relationships… A lot can change in a hundred years.”

Thicket glanced down at her hands, reading the unspoken message Lotta was trying to portray. She was new to this world. It would take time and effort before she truly started to understand it, if she ever fully caught up. But she wasn’t the only one who was in the dark.

“Lotta?”

The girl’s sharp blue eyes met hers in the mirror.

“Do you really think I can do this?”

“Of course. Your job is just to light the Pyre. Caspian and the Council will do the rest.”

Lotta had told her the act of lighting the Pyre was partially ceremonial, however it also served a greater purpose. When humans died, their magical energy escaped into the world which could cause disaster if left unchecked. Since fire required the caster to draw upon both their own magical energy and the energy from their surroundings, it acted as a funnel, repurposing the untamed energy before it could run rampant.

“Not that.” Though her stomach flipped when she thought about all the ways she could publicly humiliate herself tonight. “I meant rule. Be Vindrya’s queen.”

Thicket had once told Elian that being a great leader was about heart. That was back when she had the support of her people to fall on. But now their sense of loyalty had become a last resort and their admiration had morphed into sympathy.

Lotta pursed her lips. “I have seen the amount of effort you put in every day to better yourself for us, even though you have no memory of this world. Not many people born into this role would dedicate themselves the way you have. Give it time. You are the kindest, strongest, bravest person I know. Just be yourself and everything else will fall into place.”

Thicket knew Lotta was right. She couldn’t force people to change their minds. It was a lesson she had learned a long time ago.

But she still couldn’t shake the fear that being herself just wasn’t enough.

Chapter Three

After what felt like hours of having her face and hair slathered with creams, sprays, and other products, Lotta finally stepped back, pulling a cloth from the pocket of her apron and wiping her hands clean. “There, you are all done.” She ushered Thicket towards a larger, full body mirror. “Take a look.”

Lotta hadn’t tied her curls back like she usually did, but tamed them into perfect, glossy ringlets that fell around her face and shoulders. Her freckles were enhanced by a glittering powder and spot of blush, and the dark circles underneath her eyes were practically invisible in the face of the eye shadow smudged across her eye lids.

She could almost imagine herself as a princess, but where Alouette, the princess of Dymree, had been regal and poised, Thicket looked intimidating and almost dangerous. She wondered if this was just the effect makeup had on her, or if Lotta had done it on purpose. As if trying to show not only her people but Thicket herself that she was capable of taking on the whole world.