I slept about as well as expected, knowing I broke Oma’s sacred rule. I kept waiting for her to burst into my room, demand to know why I told Sven. Why I’d used a raw wish. But she didn’t. She shuffled in as usual and went to bed without a hello or good night.

She did, however, remember to grab my bottled wish from the previous morning off the small table.

Come morning, I woke like any other spring Markt Day, pulling on my trousers and a looser blouse that would allow comfort once the heat built. Oma had already left for markt. We never walked together because my limp irritated her. I didn’t mind the solitude.

I stepped outside. A glimmer at the base of the escarpment caught my eye as it flickered beneath the midmorning sun. I lifted a hand to shield my eyes. The blinding reflection nearly stilled my pulse as I identified the source. The canal.

The water was still frozen.

Winter’s breath. Why hadn’t it melted? Had Oma noticed? For the first time I was glad for a sunny day as I hurried to markt. Because as the sun rose, hopefully the ice was melting. Fairhoven’s flat countryside made it easier to walk fast. When I was younger, I used to climb the willow trees and felt like I could see every tower, windmill, and ship mast of our capital rising up like a tangible map spread at my feet.

Sharp pain spiked up my left leg and into my lower back with every other step, warning me to slow. To rest. Otherwise I’d be in agony for the next few days. But the farther I walked, the more I worried as I saw the canal frozen on and on and on. At one point I passed a water carriage frozen in place in the center of the canal, abandoned by its owner and patrons.

Winter’s breath.

I didn’t ease my gait until grass turned to dirt and widened into the markt square. It was busier than usual at this time of day. Louder. A sense of urgent chatter rose into the air thicker than the dust kicked up by booted feet.

I found our booth.

Anouk waved me over as if I wasn’t already heading that way. “Did you see Canal Vier?” she asked the moment I moved within earshot. “Frozen like midwinter! The whole thing!”

“I saw.” It was me! It was me! I glanced around our stacks of wares for Oma. I wanted to say more to Anouk but couldn’t risk Oma overhearing. I could tell Anouk anything. The only secret I’d kept from her was how my parents really died. She knew about my Talent. She knew about Oma’s oppression. The sale of our wares helped pay for Anouk’s living expenses—the one good thing that came from Oma’s use of my wishes.