“Figures.” She drew in a breath and straightened her shoulders. “All right. Let’s do it now before I change my mind.” She gave Shyla a tentative smile.

“Meet me in my room,” Shyla said. “I need to talk to the others.” She found Yoria, Lamar, and the three ex-deacons and their three friends. Explaining the process of opening their magic, Shyla gave them all the choice. “No one is forcing you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. If you decide to become wielders, then wait outside my room for your turn.”

As she headed there, Aphra approached her. “What’s my job?”

“That tunnel is very important. Take who’s left and keep working on it.”

“All right.”

Rae waited for her inside her small chamber. She sat next to the bucket of sand, staring at it. “I never thought of sand as a weapon before Jayden attacked us. It was always just a nuisance to me.” She met Shyla’s gaze. “The Ways of the Yarin are all about defense, and I can think of many instances where sand would make an effective shield.”

“I see you’re getting used to the idea of wielding magic.”

“I’m an Invisible Sword. We don’t back down from a challenge.”

“Ah, that’s my girl. Are you ready?” At Rae’s nod, Shyla asked her to concentrate on the sand, willing it to move.

When her magic glowed, Shyla pulled on the edges, opening it up. Rae’s fear of abandonment poured out. Not a surprise, but the fact Rae had been three circuits old at the time shocked Shyla to her core. Most parents left their sun-kissed children when they were mere sun jumps old. Rae’s hid her from the deacons. Until they changed their minds.

Stay here, her mother says. We’re going to play a game.

Rae claps her hands in excitement, but why does Mommy look so sad? The glare of the hot sun makes it hard to see, but tears shine in Mommy’s eyes.

Close your eyes and turn around, her mother says.

She doesn’t understand this new game or why there are people dressed in green with her and Mommy. Where’s Daddy? But she does as she’s told. ’Cause it’s Mommy. When nothing happens for a long time, she opens her eyes. The heat sears her lungs as she looks behind her. She’s alone. Terror strikes her like a blow. Crying out for her mommy, she runs, following the tracks, but they’re confusing and she’s soon lost. She keeps running even though the sun presses fire down onto her. Her skin turns bright red. The soles of her feet burn.