Chapter 2: The Wind

Year of the Lilies, Torrid Season The meadow, Kintil Isla:

I'M IMMERSED TO MY KNEES IN WATER. The soothing currents of the cold river massage my calves and send pulsating impulses up my legs and through my whole body.

It encourages me.

Lifting my dress so it won't get soaked with water, I wade my way through the river one step at a time till I feel the smooth pebbles against the soles of my feet as I get to my favorite spot.

I throw a few glances over my shoulders to make sure I'm alone, then closing my eyes, I concentrate. I clear my thoughts of everything except the musky green of the now shallow water (due to the Torrid season), the mild tickle of the breeze, and the scent of trees in the air.

In the void of my mind, I command the water. I imagine it forming waves and splashing skittishly against my shin.

Almost immediately, I feel the cold tickle of the water against my legs. Giddy, I open my eyes and don't make any effort to suppress my laughter. I lose concentration and the water rises too high, wetting the skirt of my dress.

Oops.

Sighing, I close my eyes and try again. I clear my mind of everything except my goal. This time, I picture my hair flying in the wind. I imagine a small gentle whirlwind surrounding me.

The breeze picks up and becomes stronger. I try not to lose concentration as the breeze quickly turns into a strong wind that rolls over my body and tousles my hair. Lifting my hands up, I let the wind take control.

Yes!

I can't help the feeling of excitement as the wind, stronger than any other I have ever created, carries me out of the river so slowly I fear I'm only imagining it and keeps me suspended in mid-air as it whispers and whirls violently around me.

I throw my hands high above my head and let myself be consumed wholly. I can feel my power vibrate in my veins with so much force it's almost painful.

And I grow stronger.

My possibilities multiply by the minute, and suddenly, I don't want to hide anymore. I don't want to conceal the strange abilities I was born or cursed with.

So, suspended in the whirling cocoon of wind I've created, I promise myself I won't hide anymore. I will let the power inside me run free. I will—

"Isla!" It's a shriek I would know anywhere.

I'm in huge trouble.

•

My father towers over me like a giant as I kneel on the ground, eyes looking up to him pleadingly.

"What if someone had seen you?" He growled with fury in his eyes. "Do you know what would have happened to you? You'd be taken away from us! Do you really want to give your mother and me heart attacks?"

I don't say a word. Of course I wouldn't ever want to give my dear parents heart attacks, but I'm tired of limiting myself. I'm tired of hiding.

"No one saw me," I summon my voice to reply.

My parents exchange looks, and my dad turns to me with an expression I can't name.

"How are you so sure?" His voice is stern and blunt. "Do you think anyone who saw you would announce their presence?"

"No," I blurt. "But no one saw me. I'd know."

"Al," my mother says softly, "I know you'd rather let yourself free, but…" She sighs. "You have to compromise. If anyone ever saw you, you'd be killed on allegations of witchcraft."

I shake my head. She fails to understand that a few moments of being myself is a thousand times better than an entire lifetime of locking up my powers.

"Ok, Mother," I say. "I'll try." The words get caught in my throat.

My mother helps me to my feet and pulls me to her in a hug. She is very small compared to me, so she ends up burying her face in my shoulder.

"We love you so much, Al," my father says. "We just don't want to lose you."

"I don't want to lose you either."

•

Mavli spreads the woven mat on the floor just outside our hut. It's almost sunset, and we are getting ready to eat dinner. I sit on a stool and watch my fifteen-year-old sister arrange the mat with stools around it for our parents in preparation for dinner.

"Why were you looking for me?" I ask her. She does a good job of schooling her features so they don't give away what's going through her mind.

She lets my question hang in the air for a few heartbeats before straightening up and staring right at me. "I won't let you do anything stupid. You may not care about yourself, but I care about our parents. If someone had seen you—"

"No one saw me, Mavli." My fists clench in fury. "Why don't you just mind your own business?" It's irksome how she spies on me. Doesn't she have better things to do with her time?

"You are my business, Isla. We're family. I'd kill myself if anything ever happened to you." Her words manage to irk me even more. She's playing parent now.

"Thanks for your concern, Mavli. But I don't need it. I'm older than you anyway; I can take care of myself." I fear I'm being too harsh, but if I am, she doesn't show it. She ignores me and walks back into the hut.

I sigh and watch her retreating back. Twilight has spilled over the sky, scattering its vibrant hues like spreading fingers.

I don't want to hurt my sister, but she has to understand that I'm totally capable of looking out for myself. The fact that I've survived almost seventeen years in a magic-hating kingdom like Kintil means I can survive anywhere and anytime.

My thoughts are rudely interrupted by the approach of my parents and sister, who bear bowls of our dinner. I'm hit with the aroma of expertly broiled mackerel, tomato and carrot sauce, and freshly baked bread. My father carries a huge jug, which I assume holds wine, and Mavli balances a bowl on her head, which I know holds boiled brown rice.

I help place the various bowls of food on the mat, and we all sit, forming a small circle. My mother leaves to fetch an oil lamp; we sit and wait in complete silence. When she returns, we hold hands and bow our heads as Mavli is given the honor of praying over our meal, blessing it.

We wash our hands in a wooden bowl and pick out small loaves of rye bread. I tear off a piece and dip it into the tomato sauce. Mavli and my mother pour out some sauce into the rice and begin eating it with their fingers while dad starts out with the broiled fish. I'm happy my sin isn't mentioned, and we eat in familiar silence and appreciation for our meal.

Usually, we don't have this much to eat, but today, my parents made some extra money at the market, so we are able to enjoy this scrumptious meal.

In no time, we are done eating. Mavli and I clear the bowls.

"Thank you, mother and father," Mavli and I chorus as we take the dishes to the back of our hut to wash them.

I feel Mavli's stare as we get to the back of the hut and place them on the rocky red ground just in front of the big cans of water. I turn to look at her, but she turns her eyes away. I try to ignore it, and we begin washing the bowls. The only sounds I hear are the ever-loyal crickets and the soft hooting of a distant bird.

I'm wet to my elbows by the time we're done washing. When I make to carry the dishes away, Mavli swoops in and carries them. I shrug my shoulders. If she wants to give me the silent treatment, then I'll leave her be.