He frowned and set down his pen and notepad, half-filled with scribbles, lots of them crossed out. “Well, never mind about all that. I’m going to set you a challenge—and again, I need you to think as little as possible; simply follow my instructions. Do you understand?”

Lena nodded, sensing the slight irritation underlying his words.

“Now, sink back in your chair and breathe deep. Envisage a small white light floating in the air before your face. Slowly push your power toward the light.”

Lena frowned. “My power? What? Look, I can’t—”

“Just try.” He smiled encouragingly. “Every mage can accomplish this small spell.”

But was she really a mage? Was she capable of this? What if she wasn’t?

What if she was?

Oh, Ancestors … Well, I suppose this will settle it.

The huntsman went on. “The idea is that the globe of light you produce will exhibit the color of your magic. This in turn will indicate to which temple you are most suited. Sometimes it’s not terribly clear, but it can provide an indication. Ready?”

She nodded.

“Now, imagine a white light … Push your power toward it.”

Lena frowned in concentration at an imaginary glowing dot hovering in front of her nose. Soon she was focusing so intently, she really was starting to see a light pulsing in front of her eyes—the sort of light you get imprinted on your eyelids in sudden darkness, a shadow of the sun. An illusion?

“Good, Lena. Try to keep it steady. Focus. Feel the energy shift inside you as you push toward it with … with your mind.”

Lena tried, feeling ridiculous. She shut her eyes, imagined part of herself edging nearer to the imaginary light, felt a coldness pressing against her face. The air smelled damp and heavy. Her heart fluttered. A cool tingling started at the tip of her nose, which she wrinkled in surprise.

“Gods,” she heard Emris say, followed by a loud thump as he stood, book sliding to the floor.

“What?” she said, opening her eyes. Before her, a little wisp of vapor floated in the air, no larger than the palm of her hand but definitely … definitely there. “What the …?” She scrambled out of the chair.

I made that happen. But it’s certainly not a light.

The atmosphere in the room had cooled. The First Huntsman peered into the wisp, his eyes narrowed.