Silver Powerforce's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

Silver left the palace by the servants' door and took the back path to the old lamp-shed at the edge of the lower court. It was little more than a stone room built around a broken streetlight, kept for the lamp-keepers before her mother closed the post. No one used it now. She had sent word to Goldie at first light. If they were going to split her mother's seat between them, they would not do it under the eyes of the court. Goldie was already there when Silver arrived. She stood beside the cold lantern with her arms folded, gold coat dusted from the walk. Silver closed the door behind her and got to it. "My mother told me to keep the realm and give you the hours. I want to know you'll hold your half if I hold mine." Goldie did not blink. "I'll hold it." Silver said, "Cyndi is watching. She left a burn in the west field. If she moves on me, she moves on you next." Goldie said, "Then we don't stand apart." Silver had expected an argument. She had prepared for one. Instead Goldie pulled a small brass key from her coat and set it on the stone sill. "The clock tower at the edge of the orchard. I anchored the hours to it last night. If you need me and I'm not in the palace, I'm there." Silver picked up the key. It was warm, the way her lantern went warm near people she still believed in. She said, "Then we're agreed." Goldie nodded once and did not add anything. The door slammed open before Silver could pocket the key. Her mother stood in the frame, breathing hard, hair loose from its pin. Bella never ran. "Cyndi is in the east court," she said. "She brought the ground up with her. Guards are down. Move." Silver did not ask questions. She followed her mother out at a run, Goldie a step behind. The east court was cracked open. A seam of dark earth split the flagstones from wall to wall, pulsing the same sick color as the mark in the west field. Cyndi stood in the middle of it in her dark robe, rings bright on both hands. Two guards lay curled at her feet. She saw Silver and smiled without warmth. "Niece." She lifted a hand and the seam widened. Silver drew her magic up through her palms and threw a wall of light across the court to hold the ground. It buckled but held. Goldie snapped her fingers and the pulse in the seam slowed, each throb stretching long. Bella stepped past them both and raised her hands to her sister. Silver braced against the wall of light and felt Goldie's shoulder against hers. They were on the same side now, and Cyndi had come early to test it.