‘The first step of harnessing your power is holding your breath, though eventually you will be able to breathe underwater. This should be simple. The water is a part of you and should feel comfortable.’

Sapphire stared at her.

‘Come on. You’ll be OK. I’ll be here.’

But Sapphire couldn’t. She couldn’t join Araxia in the water. For a reason that pained her to admit.

‘I – I can’t swim.’

Araxia softened.

‘We’ll stay where your feet can touch the bottom. But I think you’ll be surprised by how at home you feel in the water.’

Araxia raised her hands and pushed them outwards. Sapphire watched closely as the water followed the queen’s movements, parting before her, allowing a clear passage for Sapphire to enter. She took a timid step forward and Araxia gave her an encouraging nod. She continued forward until she was standing a few feet away from Araxia.

‘I am going to allow the water to return. But you are safe, Sapphire. Trust that you are in control.’

The water rushed back in, surrounding Sapphire up to waist level. She did her best not to acknowledge it, focused on calming the panic building up inside her.

Her body screamed out in protest. This was so foolish. She was not special. She did not have magic running through her veins. She was Sapphire: a hunter, an orphan. She was not a princess or a wielder of elements.

She took six paces backwards until she was standing on the shore.

‘I can’t.’

‘You can, Sapphire. You may not trust me but you can trust yourself. Listen to your body. It understands even when you don’t.’

Sapphire took a deep breath and stared down at the water before taking a tentative step forward, letting it cover her bare feet.

Two words fuelled her curiosity.

What if?

Martia had always said there was something about her that the others didn’t have. That was why she had been chosen as the hunter, why Martia had trusted her to provide. That was also why Martia had been so stern – to shape her, to better her, to force her to grow.

Fear gets you nowhere, foolish girl. If you cannot summon courage, you are wasting my time.

Martia had told her that the first night she had returned from hunting empty-handed. She had run from the forest, terrified of the creatures that lurked around her. She had run like a scared child – and back then, maybe she was one. But she no longer wanted to be that young girl with tangled hair and tears running down her cheeks.

She might be a fool but she’d be a brave one.

Three more steps forward and the water met her chest. Her throat tightened slightly at the sensation and she planted herself on the spot, unwilling to move further.