“I…” Storm hesitated, waiting for her mother’s spirit to guide her. The message came at once. She could almost hear Dain’s voice telling her that such gifts – given from the heart, gifts of self-sacrifice – must always be accepted, even if the cost was high.

“Yes, please. I would like Cloud to stay.”

26

When Talon was informed that Cloud would be Storm’s companion, he waved both hands in dismissal. “Nothing to do with the Pact.”

In the end, Storm was able to persuade him to let Cloud work as a guest-house servant in return for food and lodging. He would sleep in the attics with the other servants. An official marched him off to his new lodgings.

Storm watched them go with relief then retreated to her room. Days after the Fire-witch’s attack, her body still felt as if someone had beaten her with a rope. She was sore from an excess of magic and heartache. She lay down on another too-big, too-soft bed and knew no more until a knock on her door announced the arrival of her lunch.

Storm pushed away the light quilt; she was hot and dizzy with sleep. “Come in!”

The door swung wide, too wide. It bashed into the wall and rebounded on the figure entering the room. “Blast it!” Cloud grabbed the covered plate which was sliding off the tray he carried. He closed the door behind him with more care and turned to face Storm, looking as awkward as she felt. “Um. Your lunch, St—Mistress.”

“Don’t call me that! And put that down before you drop it.”

“Sorry.” Cloud scurried to set the tray on the low table below the window. It clattered down, the bowl slopping a brownish liquid. Storm sighed.

“You will never make a servant.”

“I’m rubbish, aren’t I?”

“Yes. And if you call me ‘Mistress’ again I’ll…”

Cloud grinned.

“Have you had lunch?” Storm asked.

“Not yet. We servants eat after you guest folk.”

“Well, have that. I’m not hungry.”

“I don’t believe it. You must have used up masses of energy fighting off that Fire-witch. Eat!”

Once she had taken the first spoonful of soup, Storm found she was, after all, very hungry, and soon scraped the bowl clean. She put the spoon down reluctantly and frowned at Cloud. “Are you sure about all this? The fleet sails tomorrow for home. You can still change your mind.”

Cloud shook his head. “You may be the witch – although I still don’t know why the Elementals chose you over me…” He smiled broadly, as if it was a joke. “But you can’t keep all the fun to yourself!”

Storm shrugged, keeping things casual. She and Cloud would never agree about what it meant to be brave, and his jealousy of her magic seemed worse than ever. Had she made a mistake, agreeing to let him stay? “Have you seen Scoundrel?”

“The monkey hasn’t come back?”