Later that evening, Iris was helping her mother with washing up after dinner. Cody was in the other room reading a book.

'Mum, I need to talk to you about something,' Iris said.

'I can tell,' the older woman replied, her brows furrowed and her pale green eyes looking at her daughter with concern. 'You were unusually quiet this evening.'

'Oh, come on! I don't talk that much,' Iris scoffed.

'Well, maybe not, but you're not a silent type either,' Mother laughed and wiped her hands with a cloth. 'Let's make some tea and talk then.'

When they finally sat at the table, Iris was silent for a few moments, trying to collect her thoughts. Her mother waited. She knew better than to rush her.

'I'm worried about Cody,' Iris said.

'Is there any particular reason? I worry about him all the time. He's such a troublemaker.'

'It's not that, mum. We had a bizarre conversation today...' she said and then told her mother in detail about her brother's little outburst.

The older woman slouched visibly, holding a warm mug in her hands. The wrinkles on her forehead deepened. 'It's worrisome indeed,' she finally agreed. 'I don't know what he's thinking.'

'Maybe he has a rough time with finding his identity. I thought maybe if we told him the truth about the father...'

Mother banged the table with her fist, startling Iris. 'That is out of the question.'

'But don't you think he should be aware of the risk? In my case, it manifested around his age. What if it happens soon and he doesn't know what to do?'

The other woman scoffed. 'Do you know how much effort it took for Master Dawson to erase the records about your father? If we tell Cody, he will blabber it out the moment he loses his temper, which is every other hour. We can't have that. If the word gets out, we will have Inquisition at our doorstep in no time. What will you do then, eh?'

'Fine, don't tell him about Father then. But please, talk to him about keeping his mouth shut. And what to do if he,' Iris fumbled for the right words, 'discovers he has a talent.'

Mother was silent for a while, staring into her tea. She sighed and looked back at her. 'I will talk to him. Although, I hope he will never manifest it. One cursed child is enough.'

Iris felt her stomach clenched at the words. She knew her mother didn't mean to hurt her, but it still wasn't pleasant to be treated this way. But she said nothing and only held the mug tighter.

'It is not likely he will get it, though. After all, it is a rare affliction. In the old days, people considered themselves lucky if even one of Mage's children inherited it. I guess I hope that because you have it, Cody won't.'

'It is not a sickness, mother,' Iris said before she could stop herself.

'Is it not?' the older woman raised her brow. 'It brought us nothing but misery. If your father were a simple man, he would still be alive, and you wouldn't have to live in fear. The world changed, Iris, and it's brutal and unforgiving. We can't do anything about it, and so, we must adapt. And you must be on your guard. Always.'

Iris looked at her mother. Her words were cruel, but her eyes were full of love and care. She lived every day in fear for her children, and Iris couldn't blame her for being rough. She reached out and squeezed her hand gently.

'I know, mum. And I'm sorry. You know I'm always careful.'

'I'm glad at least one of my children is reasonable,' the older woman said with a heavy sigh. 'I'll go and talk to Cody, so you don't have to worry about him.'

***

Iris had a beautiful dream. She knew it was a dream right away because the grass was too green, and the Lord Sun shined far too brightly. But she didn't mind. At least here, she could be free. She was running through the meadow with Milo, holding his hand and laughing, like they had no care in the world. They sat down on the grass and looked at this magnificent blue sky. Nothing else in the world mattered, but this moment, their shared joy and gentle touch of his hand in hers.

The blessed peace was interrupted by the distant tolling of bells. Iris frowned and looked around - they were in the middle of nowhere. There were no buildings here, no bell towers. Then, she smelled the heavy scent of smoke. She was confused. Her heart started racing. If it wasn't in her dream...

Iris forced herself to open her eyes and sat up. She still heard an urgent toll of the bells and people shouting. She quickly put a coat on her nightgown, grabbed her shoes and ran out of the room.

'The fire broke out!' shouted mother, darting into their tiny lodgings. 'It's almost reached the stables! Come quick! We have to free the horses!'

Iris didn't hesitate and followed her mother out. But when they reached the central courtyard, she stopped and gasped, taking in the horrible scene. The flames were raging. The blacksmith workshop and servants' mess hall were lost already. The fire was racing towards the stables. People already tried to put down the blaze, organising watering brigades, but the flames were too wild to be controlled.

'Stop gawking, girl and run!' barked her mother, already dashing towards the stables. Over thirty horses were housed there. If the fire catches... Iris ran faster than ever. She reached the building in the nick of time.

'They are all too scared!' she shouted to her mother, who was already opening the boxes. 'We won't be able to control them all!'

'Just let them all out, Iris! We don't have time! They will run for safety! We will worry about collecting them after this hell is over!'

Iris nodded and helped with unlatching the wooden doors to let the animals out. The heat was already building up, and the air was full of smoke and a stench of burning. The horses' eyes were wide, and there was foam on their mouth. They were all crazy with panic.

'Open both doors! I'll shoosh them out!' ordered her mother.

Iris put all her strength to wrestle the heavy door wing. They usually used only one of them, so it wasn't an easy task, but after a few attempts, she succeeded.

She already heard panicked stomps of many hooves while the frantic animals started to gallop for their freedom. Iris raced through the courtyard shouting, 'Out of the way!'

The first horse bolted past her, almost knocking her out. People in the square quickly jumped back, heeding her call. Iris let out a relieved sigh. But then her eyes widened as she spotted the small figure frozen at the courtyard's gates. Right where the galloping horses were heading. She sprang forward, but she already knew it was too late. There was no chance she would outrun them.

'Cody! Out of the way!' she shrieked, but the boy was only looking at charging animals with eyes wide and mouth open. The horses were almost at him. They sensed there was safety just behind the open gates, and their panicked minds did not care about anything but getting out of this blazing inferno. They would trample him without losing a stride.

Iris stopped thinking and let her body move on an instinct. She reached out. The flames around her started to lose their glow and got smaller as if there was no more fuel to feed them. Iris felt a comforting warmth flowing through her body. Her hands started glowing, getting brighter, while the flames around her diminished. She outstretched her arm toward Cody, who crouched down in panic.

Just moments before the first horse reached the gate, the barrier of pure light appeared, shielding the small boy. It forced the panicked horses to scuttle around harmlessly. Iris kept her hand raised, sweat pearling at her brows.

People gasped in surprise.

'The boy! Is he alright?!'

'What is that thing?!'

'It's magic! It has to be!'

When the last of the horses left the courtyard, Iris lowered her hand, exhausted. Her mind went blank.

'It was her! She's a Mage!' shouted a man and pointed at her.

She looked around, suddenly very aware that every person in the square was gawking at her.

'There's a Mage here! Call the Inquisition!' a woman shouted in panic.

'I bet she was the one who set up the fire!' gasped another man.

'No, no! Please...' Iris stuttered, looking around in panic. 'You all know me! You know who I am! I'd never....'

'They're here! Inquisition's coming! Make a passage for the knights!' Angry voices raised all around.

Iris felt her throat tightening, and she suddenly couldn't breathe. They can't catch her. If they do, she will be as good as dead. Not wasting time, she darted away, running toward narrow passages between buildings.

'She's getting away! Stop her!'

She heard shouts behind her. Someone tried to grab her, but she slipped away and rushed into the safe darkness of tiny alleyways, out from the fire and an angry mob. 

___

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