Nett’s smile was so bright Claire wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d started to glow, too.

“Sena Steele,” Sophie called, and a bemused Sena clunked forward … as did her parents. Extended between the older Steeles hung a gleaming sword, its pommel in the shape of an arched unicorn head.

As Sena grasped it and drew the blade into the air, Sophie spoke: “The unicorns gift this blade to you, Sena, for your fierce loyalty and even fiercer heart.”

Sena gave it a few practice swishes. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice tight with emotion. “It’s beautiful.”

Sophie leaned forward, and lowering her voice, spoke so only the four of them could hear, “The same starfire that the crown was forged from makes the core of this sword. Listen to it, so you can always know who deserves your loyalty.”

Sena nodded. “Its name is Clearcut,” she said, and, cradling the sword like a small puppy, she stepped back to stand next to Claire.

“And finally,” Sophie said, “Claire Martinson.”

“Me?” Claire asked, surprised.

“Well,” Sophie amended, lowering her voice slightly. “This one’s from me, really.” She reached behind her ear and tugged a pencil from her dark hair.

Claire gasped. It was her pencil. Though last time she’d seen it, it had been nothing more than a few splinters. Though it was a little shorter and the blossom was gone, as she took it she could still feel the familiar spark of the letterstone. And on the side, so tiny it was hardly even a fleck, was a little leaf.

It was whole, and it would grow again.

Sophie smiled at her and raised her voice. “The unicorns thank you, Claire Martinson, for your courage. You are brave beyond all measure and by all definitions. Use this pencil as you continue to explore worlds and magic.”

Claire felt tears prickle at her eyes, but she wouldn’t let them fall. Not yet. So instead, she chose to be joyful, and she hugged her sister and then Mom and Dad, who’d stepped forward too, beaming.

The unicorns reared, their crystal horns throwing rainbows into the air. The Guilds of Arden cheered, long and loud, and Claire felt as though a star had risen in her heart. And when the sisters broke apart, Nadia raised her hands and grinned.

“And now,” she called, “we celebrate!”

The banquet was a feast to remember. Claire sat with her friends on one end of a long table piled with savory Forger pies, grilled river fish from the Spinners, and buttery Tiller pastries. (The Gemmers had been happy to leave their thin lentil stews in the mountaintops.) Nestled next to Sophie, she laughed and joked with her friends and family. At one point, Thorn slid away to get them all more hot apple cider, and Claire took advantage of the opportunity.