A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire #1)(9)

My breath came in shallow gasps as I realized that I might not die tonight. I put my head in my hands.

“Now, listen, Miss Howel. I’ve never seen another girl who could do what you’ve done, and I’ve searched for four years. I’ve never met another sorcerer who could burn and walk away unscathed. As I say, sorcerers control flame.” He took the lit candle from the table and collected the fire into his palm, as he had done before. “But we cannot create it.”

Searched for four years. That was why he’d come to Brimthorn, why he’d tested the girls. “What does this mean?”

“That I will take you to London, if you’re willing, to be commended by the queen. You will become a royal sorcerer, and when you’re ready, you will fight alongside us. You’ll join my household, live and train there. Not to worry, there’ll be six others your age, all young men, of course.”

“Young men?” What on earth would that be like? The only boy I’d ever known was Rook. And there would be so many of them….



“They are all gentlemen. One of them is your benefactor, Lord Blackwood. I know he’ll be proud to meet an accomplished young lady from Brimthorn.”

I would meet the Earl of Sorrow-Fell? Study with him as an equal? I nearly lay back onto the bed so that I could wake up from this dream.

Agrippa continued, “I can teach you to use a stave to control the fire and to master the other elements.”

“Control?” I whispered. Was such a thing possible? For years I’d lived at the mercy of my power, praying it wouldn’t come upon me at an inopportune moment. To think that I could be its master and not the other way around…

It all seemed too good to be believed.

“I would go to war with you?” I wished I hadn’t smashed that vial of medicine. My head felt several sizes too small.

“Yes.”

Though I’d never seen a Familiar until today, I knew what happened to the villages they plundered and the victims they left behind. I’d heard men tell horrific tales of families torn to pieces inside their homes, of entire towns burned to the ground. Hadn’t I yearned to do something about it? My childhood games had been full of battling the Ancients, of destroying them. Could those dreams come true?

And as a sorcerer, I would belong in ways I’d never allowed myself to dream of before. I knew what life at Brimthorn would bring: years of hunger and cold, of teaching young girls how to do figures while my own life passed by in a blur, and one day I would be an old woman and still chained to the spot where my aunt had left me when I was a child. Now I had a chance to become something.



“Will you join us?” Agrippa asked.

“What about Rook?” Great destiny or not, I wouldn’t leave him behind.

Speak of the devil. There were voices in the hallway. I got to my feet, still unsteady. Agrippa held my arm to support me.

Rook told the men who pursued him, “I’ll see her if she’s awake. Nettie? Where are you?”

“Rook, I’m in here!” I cried.

Agrippa banged on the door and called for it to be opened. A moment later, the constable entered, holding my friend by the shoulder. When released, Rook hurried toward me.

“Are you hurt?” he said, taking my face in his hands. His blue eyes blazed with concern. He looked human again, like his old self. Mud smeared his face and had dried in his hair.

“No. I’m a sorcerer.” I didn’t mean to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. Rook’s eyes widened.

“You can’t be,” he said, gripping my arm. “Are you sure?”

“You seem less surprised than I was.” I laughed so hard I began to hiccup. He let me lean against him until I stopped.

“Well, after today I doubt anything could surprise me again. A sorcerer, of all things.” He tilted my chin up and smiled.



“I know it’s mad to say, but it’s true. And I think I’m going to London.”

Rook’s smile faded somewhat. “Then I suppose this’ll be goodbye.” He took my hand and squeezed it. “I’m glad for you.”

“No, I have even better news. You’re coming with me.” I knew it was daring, but I turned to Agrippa. “He is, isn’t he?”

Agrippa looked as if he didn’t know what to say. Rook turned me to face him again. “Nettie, you can’t have me along. I don’t belong in a sorcerer’s world.”

“Miss Howel,” Agrippa finally said, “the situation’s not as simple as you’d like.”

“He has to come with us.” I couldn’t believe I was speaking this way to a sorcerer. But if he wanted me to leave Rook behind, he might as well ask me to cut off my own arm.

“Nettie, please don’t,” Rook said. He sounded on the verge of anger.

“Do you want us to be separated?” I grabbed his hand again. “If you don’t care to stay with me any longer, say so.” I waited, half fearing the answer.

Rook closed his eyes. “You know I’d hate to ever leave your side.”

I breathed out in relief. “Then don’t.”

Agrippa cleared his throat. “London isn’t a good place for the Unclean, especially one with Rook’s scars.” He gestured at Rook’s shirt, ripped down the front from the battle. His wounds seemed even redder and angrier after the encounter.