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“Do you think everyone interested in a position of authority is hungry for power?” I asked, thinking of Hayes.
She hesitated for a moment before sighing. “Perhaps not. I hope not. But it was what was modeled for me growing up, and I swore to myself early on that I would never be like my mother.”
“So did you grow up living at the Guild?” I asked, hoping to steer into a less fraught conversation.
Amara nodded. “As a master healer, Father had a suite at the Guild big enough for my mother and me as well as his endless stream of apprentices. I’m glad for it since it means he’s not alone now.”
“He doesn’t work in one of the capital hospitals?” I asked.
“No, although he’ll assist on occasion if there’s a special case. In general, he much prefers teaching, though. Now that my mother and I are gone, he has more apprentices than ever.”
She gave a more natural-looking smile, and I tentatively smiled back. Her story had taken us past the edge of the burned fields, and despite the heaviness of what she had shared, it felt easier to breathe now.
“I can’t imagine having apprentices of my own one day,” I said, twisting to pat Ember’s fur where she lay curled just behind us in the bed of the cart. “One fox seems to be more than I can look after.”
Amara laughed. “Don’t worry. I used to find it equally hard to imagine and look at me now.”
I smiled back, but it was impossible to see myself ever having the same poise and confidence as Amara.
“Will we be making camp by the road again tonight?” I asked, glancing at the lowering sun.
“I’m hoping for a proper bed, but no promises.” She signaled for Acorn to increase her pace, but the mare merely flicked her tail and continued plodding on at her usual pace.
I stifled a giggle as Amara frowned affectionately at the horse.
“There’s a village close by, then?” I asked.
She nodded. “It’s a small one, though, so they don’t have a proper inn. With so much of the kingdom’s traffic using the rivers, the roads through this section aren’t heavily enough traveled for regular, large inns.”
“It’s the same if you head east from Tarin.” I glanced at the sun again, and then reached forward with my power, trying to sense if there were people ahead of us. “Will we reach the village before nightfall at this pace?”
Amara smiled ruefully. “I’m afraid there’s not much we can do about it if not. Unless you think you can convince Acorn to speed up?”
“I wouldn’t dare!” I grinned at the unbothered horse. “She might like me because of my healing affinity, but I don’t think she likes me that much.”
Ember stirred enough to let out a soft bark.
“See. Ember agrees.”
Amara chuckled. “I’d almost believe that fox understands us at this point. She seems unnaturally canny.”
I smiled affectionately at the curled ball of orange, black, and white in the back of the cart. “I couldn’t ask for a better companion.”
We lapsed into silence as the miles fell away. On our previous travels, Amara had pushed me to use the travel time to work with my ability. I had much better control now, and I was no longer a danger to myself, but I still fell into the old habit.
I could feel the upcoming village, a distant cluster of beating hearts and pumping lungs, and I monitored the distance, matching it against the setting sun.
“We’re going to make it,” I eventually announced with satisfaction.
Amara smiled, pleased. “You can feel the villagers? Are we getting close?”
“I think we’ll be there in less than an hour.”
Satisfied with the location of the village, I turned my attention away from the villagers and monitored the surrounding wildlife instead. There was an unexpected exhilaration in the ease of using my ability compared to those first few days and weeks of my apprenticeship. I really was gaining skill and control.
I breathed deeply, enjoying the endless stretch of sky around us which was showcasing the beginnings of sunset. Even the air felt clearer out here without buildings hemming us in. I had enjoyed the novelty of the bustling city, but these wide-open spaces carried the familiarity of home.
The whole atmosphere seemed designed to lull me into a state of calm and peace. Even the late summer air was pleasantly warm without being stifling. But I couldn’t quite relax into the moment. Overlaid over everything was a sense of urgency that I couldn’t shake. Miranda was out there right now with Grey, and we actually knew where she was at last.
