Swords clashing and wailing women echoed in her ears. In the supposed safety of her bed, Joi lay frozen, staring at the flickering shadows spiking her fear. A hand on her chest drew a scream from her, and she fought the blankets entangling her feet. Her father leaned over her to grip her shoulders. Dark-brown oil dribbled down his forehead, and his pristine hair now framed his worried face in a black sweat-matted halo. She squeaked when it dripped red onto her silk blanket. It had the thickness and color of blood. Gasping, she flicked her gaze to her father's wounded temple.

"Da?" She scrambled to her knees and wrapped her arms around him as best she could. The sting of smoke and the earthy scent of sweat mingled, assaulting her nose. He was here; she could breathe. In his arms, she had nothing to fear.

"I love you, little one. I need you to be strong for me. Can you do that?" His voice broke, and he sucked in a shuddering breath.

Strong? She would try, but her brother Jeiram was the fiercest. She nodded, agreeing to anything to wipe her father's sad expression from his gold eyes. He removed his carved token, a gold disc with flames crafted in the purest ruby, then tied it to her sleep garments. With a grimace, he slipped off his gold medallion—a ruby in the center—and looped it over her head. The weight of it pressed down on her chest as heavy as his hand had been. Warmth burst through her as the medallion pulsed a greeting. She had seen it do the same for Da, but never for Ma.

"It belonged to my mother," he said before kissing her temple. "Now go with Ayo, she'll take you somewhere safe."

"Da?" Joi reached for his fingers, not liking the cold shivering over her. "You won't come to find me, will you?"

He squeezed her hand, his skin damp and overheated.

"Oh, my bright girl, you're too observant for one so young. I'll be with you always, here and here." He touched the token and the medallion. One more hug, and he left her, his disappearing back forever burned into her memories.

"Ayo?" Joi glanced at her nursemaid who grabbed a rucksack she had hidden under the bed. She tried to smile at her, despite the unhindered tears flowing down her cheeks. With a shake of her head, Ayo took Joi's hand and jerked her off the bed, kneeling to pull on her slippers.

"Come, Princess, we must rush. The king has organized an escape route via the river, then by horse to Meideon. There, King Buro will take care of you."

"Meideon?" Joi asked as she ran after her favorite servant. "I don't want to go there. I want to stay and fight. Da needs me."

"Don't be silly, Joi. You can't wield your eating dagger, let alone a sword. Your magical energies haven't risen yet. Please, you can help your father by being safe. He won't have to worry about you."

Joi said no more, running as fast as her little legs could carry her. Ducking under Ayo's outstretched arm holding the door open, she paused, unable to blink. Ice drenched her cheeks, and her tears burned paths down to drip off her chin. The scene greeting her was brutal. The once beautiful and serene gardens of the royal court were in chaos. Blood splattered the white blossoms of the Snowthistle trees and battle scars marred the gray bark, looking like her artwork and messy handwriting. The bodies of wounded and dead soldiers carpeted the ground like the reenactments of the Battle of Heaven's Fire. Some wore the familiar Letouran armor, others wore black-and-silver cloaks. She tried not to look at their faces with their unseeing eyes open as if they watched her. And no matter how hard she focused, she couldn't see their chests rising and falling.

One man stood in the middle, his black cloak dipping into a pool of blood beneath his boots. Joi shuddered, nausea roiling in her belly. She gagged and held a fist to her mouth as if that would silence her sobs.

He extended his fingers to point at her. "Ah, young Jenaso. I will slay you now and end the curse of Letoura." His eyes glowed as black smoke swirled around him.

Joi clung to Ayo's hand. Shivers skittered along her skin as the man called on his energy. Fear possessed her, freezing her tongue.

Scooping Joi into her arms, Ayo ran, dodging bodies, weapons, flames, and panicked horses. She crept through the palace servant's hidden entrance before darting across the fragrant herb fields toward the river. Ayo gulped for breath, her speed dwindling as she hugged Joi tighter, but Joi's focus remained on the palace. And with reason—the man appeared through the archway as Ayo lowered them into an awaiting boat. The boatman nodded in greeting and dipped his ores into the silent river, paddling them away from the dock.

The hull glided through the water slower than Joi liked. She hadn't run, hadn't fought the attackers, but she couldn't breathe. Something terrible had happened, tearing apart her world. Would she see her parents and her beloved Jeiram again? A different yet familiar darkness settled inside her. It wasn't magic-born, but it hurt, squeezing her chest. Was it fear? Like when Jeiram had broken his arm? She had been so scared for him.

Joi didn't dare blink as she focused on the bank, ignoring the burning buildings, the screams of metal, of death, and the sour stench of fear in the air. Her world was collapsing—everything she knew ripped from her. That man with his cold gaze and his wicked laugh was a stranger. She had never seen him before and didn't understand why he hated her so. He wore the robes of a Drem, but no realms were at war. It didn't make sense.

They were in the center of the river when the man reached the riverbed. He held up a hand with black smoke streaking from his fingertips. As unskilled as she was, Joi knew when the black smoke touched them, painful death would be their fate. Brother Jeiram had taught her one skill—she had pestered him for weeks until he gave in—but neither had known how much she would need it.

Joi stretched out her hand, palm forward, and swirled her other hand over her forearm. The boat swayed, and she sucked in a sharp breath. She must stay focused unless she wanted to explode things—which she could if she wasn't careful. She was eleven years old and not as strong as Jeiram, who had many tutors. Joi had yet to officially start her studies.

The smoke skipping over the water's surface braced her with fear. It rolled over the water too quickly. She reached out her hand again, swirling, gliding her stiff fingers, willing the magic to form with her eyes closed in concentration. Oily nausea filled her belly as the black smoke touch her, brushing against the fire burning within her. At her failure, her shoulders slumped with dread fluttering her heart.

When she opened her eyes, her light blue magic swirled over them, forming a dome of protection. The black smoke coated it, mottling the pure blue in some areas where the dome wasn't at its strongest. That worried her as her energy drained from her, tremors shaking her limbs and chattering her teeth.

"I cannot hold it." She cast a desperate glance at Ayo.

The water splashed on either side as the boatman dipped his oar in with valiant efforts to gain distance. The night fell silent the farther they traveled. No wailing crossed the gurgling river, despite the burning city shining as a nightmarish backdrop.

Ayo fought for breath, having carried Joi longer than she was able to. "You won't die, I won't let you." She grabbed Joi's outstretched hand, closing her fingers over it.

The dome disintegrated under the black magic's forceful onslaught. Tossing Joi to the bottom of the boat, Ayo threw her body over her, crushing her. "No energy can control water, and it's for this reason, it remains neutral. The closer you are to it, the safer you'll be."

A loud splash preceded the violent rocking of the boat. The boatman abandoned them. Hot anger gripped Joi, overwhelming her fear that the man would do such a thing. Part of her understood. His life, his family, was in danger. Nonetheless, the coward! She forced herself to focus on Ayo's words, instead, willing the fury to fade.

"Does that mean a wet person can't be harmed?" Joi drew in short gasps of air, struggling to breathe under the weight of her servant and friend.

"To some extent..." A cry escaped Ayo—pain and sadness twisted her face.

Cold dread slithered along Joi's skin. Something warm saturated her garments, and the metallic scent of blood surrounded her. It mingled with the familiar fragrance of her beloved servant and the memory of Da's hug.

"Ayo?" Joi's voice was a whisper, scratching her throat.

Brushing the hair off Joi's forehead, Ayo's face paled ashen despite her smile. "Find King Buro, Joi. He's waiting for you. Nateo will ensure you reach Meideon. Be safe, Princess..." The light in her eyes faded, and her body went limp, crushing Joi further.

She cried out, her hands grasping Ayo's shoulders in desperation, fear, and something more than the weight squeezing her chest. It seized her lungs, hindering her ability to breathe.

"Ayo," she chanted, sobs tearing through her as she shoved against her servant's body. "Ayo..."

Joi's tears dwindled as time passed. She lay there with the gentle rocking of the boat against the city's dying cries. With Ayo not stirring and her eyes not opening, she must have moved onto the next life, to a glorious life with the Divine. Joi scrubbed her face, fighting to keep the next wave of tears at bay.

She was alone.

"He's given up, Princess." The boatman's voice startled her, and she jerked, tightening her fingers on Ayo's cooling arms.

Joy and relief flooded her with fresh, grateful tears. He hadn't abandoned her.

"The king's man is waiting for you at the bridge," he said. The boat dipped, a violent tilt threatening to topple her as he pulled himself back into his craft. "You best climb up and wash your face."

She obeyed, wriggling out from under Ayo's body, swaying the boat with her efforts. The boatman steered them toward a mounted rider's shadowed form. Joi splashed her face and used the sleeve of her soiled sleep garments to dry off. With an unnatural fear trembling her hands, Joi searched for her imperial token and medallion. Only upon finding them did she draw in a steadying breath. Stroking Ayo's curls one last time, Joi raised her arms for the boatman to lift her onto the muddy banks.

The mud squelched beneath her slippers, soaking through the silk and cooled her feet. She scanned the area—the sturdy bridge remained untouched, but the surrounding city echoed with the wails of the dying and the spicy stench of charred buildings overwhelmed her senses.

"I will not bow, Princess Jenaso—it might draw attention. I am Nateo, sent by King Buro to hurry you to safety." The tall man drew closer on soft heels, leading his horse behind him.

"My maid..." She cast a glance at the boatman. She couldn't bear to say Ayo was dead, but Joi couldn't abandon her body either.

"I will cast her into the seas, and may the Divine bless her for her sacrifice." The boatman gathered Ayo's cloak around her as if to shield her from the cold river breeze. Such a simple gesture made Joi believe the man would do as he vowed, that she could trust him to honor her friend.

"Thank you, sir." She faced Nateo and held up her arms.

He glided forward, and with ease, lifted her onto the front of the saddle. Launching himself behind her, he looped an arm around her to keep her close and gathered the reins with his other hand.

They darted through the panicking populace. Fear and disbelief stained with sorrow contorted the survivors' faces. Relief added to the guilt eating at her. The solid chest of Nateo was at her back, surrounding her in a feeling of safety. His sword rested on his hip, and she assumed he knew how to use it. Not that she wanted him to kill anyone for her, but it eased her heart that he could if he needed to.

An image of the black sorcerer came to mind, and she shivered. Joi hoped they didn't encounter him again, because even with his sword, Nateo would not be able to thwart that evil man's magic.

Once they left the burning city behind, the scenery flew by, blurring the foliage into a steady silver. She rested her head against Nateo's shoulder, no longer gripping his arm hard enough to bruise him.

"I cannot call you Princess on our journey. We will travel for the next week. My king asked if I may address you as something else; whatever you prefer."

"Ayo called me Joi."

"Very well, Joi. From this day forward, you are King Buro's long-lost niece. You will remain hidden for a year or two, then he will announce your existence at court as Princess Joi of Meideon."

"Yes," she said, assuming it was what her Da had organized for her, allowing him this one last time to influence her life.

After that, she would decide her own destiny.