A Great and Terrible Beauty

Page 81

The huntress clasps a hand around Felicity's upper arm. "There is great strength in this arm. You might prove to be a very skilled huntress. Very powerful." The word powerful
brings a smile to Felicity's face, and I know she's going to get what she's after. "Would you like to learn?"
In answer, Felicity takes the bow and arrow. "There's a snake coiled about the limb of that tree," the huntress says.
Felicity closes one eye and pulls back on the bow with all her might. The arrow soars straight up, then bounces along the ground. Felicity's cheeks flush with disappointment.
The huntress applauds. "A solid effort. You might be a huntress yet. But first, you must observe."
Felicity, observe? Perish the thought. Huntress or not, she's got a tough road ahead of her, teaching Felicity patience. But to my surprise, Felicity doesn't scoff or argue. She follows the huntress and patiently allows her to demonstrate the proper technique over and over again.
"What did you wish for?" Mother asks me when it's just the two of us.
"I have what I want. You're here."
She strokes my cheek. "Yes. For a little while longer."
My good mood evaporates. "What do you mean?"
"Gemma, I cannot stay forever, else I could be trapped like one of those wretched lost spirits who never complete their soul's task."
"And what is yours?"
"I must set right what Mary and Sarah did so many years ago."
"What did they do?"
Before Mother can answer, Pippa runs to me, nearly knocking me over in her gushing enthusiasm. She hugs me tightly. "Did you see him? Wasn't he the most perfect gentleman? man? He pledged to be my champion! He actually pledged his life for mine! Have you ever heard of anything half so romantic? Can you bear it?"
"Barely" Felicity says wryly. She's just returned from her hunt, exhausted but happy. "That's not as easy as it looks, I can tell you. My arm will ache for a week."
She moves her shoulder in small circles, wincing a bit. But I know she's grateful for that aching arm, grateful to have proof of her own hidden strengths.
Ann wanders over, her fine, lank hair curling about her shoulders in new ringlets. Even her perpetual runny nose seems to have cleared. She points to the tall, thin crystals arranged in a circle behind Mother. "What are those?"
"Those are the Runes of the Oracle, the heart of this realm," Mother says. I stand beside one. "Don't touch them," Mother warns.
"Why not?" Felicity asks. "You must understand how the magic of the realms works first, how to control it, before you can let it live in you and use it on the other side."
"We can take this sort of power with us to our world?" Ann says.
"Yes, but not yet. Once the Order is reestablished they can teach you. It's not safe until then."
"Why not?" I ask.
"It's been such a long time since the magic here has been used. There's no telling what could happen. Something could get out. Or come in."
"They're humming," Felicity says.
"Their energy is very powerful," Mother says, making a cat's cradle from a skein of golden yarn.
When I tilt my head one way, they seem almost to disappear pear. But when I turn my head another, I can see them rising up from the ground, more dazzling than diamonds. "How exactly does it work?" I ask.
She snakes her fingers in and out of the yarn. "When you touch the runes, it's as if you become the magic itself. It flows through your veins. And then you are able to do in the other world what you can do here in the realms."
Felicity brings her hand ever closer to a rune. "Strange. It stopped humming as I got near."
I can't resist. I hold out my hand, not touching it , but near it. I'm seized by a rush of energy. My eyes flutter. The urge to touch the rune is overwhelming.
"Gemma!" Mother barks.
I pull my hand back quickly. My amulet glows." Wh-what was that?"
"You are the conduit," Mother explains. "The magic flows through you."
Felicity's face clouds over. But an instant later, she's wearing a ripe smile, thinking some naughty thought. She leans back on her elbows in the grass. "Can you imagine it? If we had this power at Spence?"
"We could do as we wish," Ann adds.
"I'd have a closet filled with the latest fashions. And bushels of money." Pippa giggles.
"I'd be invisible for a day," Felicity adds.