Storm froze for several heartbeats, then her body sprang into action almost without her willing it. She rolled off the bed, keeping low to the ground, away from the choking smoke.

“Get out, Scoundrel! Run!” She saw the monkey race to the open window and leap towards the nearest tree. He was safe. She crawled to the table, grabbed her possessions and made her way towards the door. The air was still breathable near the floor. The Salamander hadn’t won yet!

She had nearly reached the door when something groaned overhead, and, with an explosion of sparks, part of the ceiling crashed down into the room behind her. Storm looked over her shoulder and saw that the bed had disappeared in a column of fire.

She shot out of the room, scrabbled to her feet, ran to Cloud’s door, and flung it open. “Fire! Fire! Cloud, wake up!” The fire seemed to be centred over her bedroom, but flames were even now leaping across the ceiling of the corridor, spreading with every moment. Could the fire be tracking her like a hound?

The lump in the bed groaned. Raised a reluctant head.

“The house is on fire! Get out!”

Cloud shouted in alarm and jumped out of bed. Seeing he was properly awake, Storm turned and ran from the room in case the fire really was chasing her. She must get out of the building at once.

She had no idea how many people were asleep in the house. Storm shrieked “Fire!” as she ran, banging on each door she passed. She whirled out of the main entrance just as a guard came running. “Fire!” she cried unnecessarily. In the distance, an alarm bell began to ring.

“Get away,” the guard ordered. “Away from the house. All of you!”

Guests and servants were straggling out now, looking bewildered and terrified. She saw Talon leading a tearful Betaan by the hand.

A dozen other guards and officials had come running and were busy forming a human chain, dipping buckets in the nearest pond.

“Everyone is out,” an official told Talon. “The fire is only in the guest wing. But it’s caught hold. I don’t think we can put it out.”

The moonlight dimmed. Storm looked up to see the shadow of a giant bird cross in front of the moon. She was a fool! She tried to collect her wits, to calm herself enough to find the music of Air and Water. Here she was – a Weather-witch – letting the house burn to the ground!

She edged away from the weeping, complaining people who had poured out of the house and put her belongings on a garden seat. It would be best if she could make this appear a natural thunderstorm.