But when he looked up, Violet wasn’t angry; she was looking at him with a dawning expression of awe and excitement.
‘Will, don’t you understand what this means?’
He found himself caught without words, staring back at her, unable to understand the excitement in her voice.
‘You can use your powers,’ said Violet. ‘You can use your powers when we fight Simon.’
‘No,’ he said, because she had misunderstood everything. ‘I can’t. It’s not like that. It’s—’
‘You can,’ said Violet. ‘Don’t you get it? The Stewards – they think everything is about control. The meditations, the candle – but it was never about that—’
It was about a door. A door inside that wouldn’t open.
Violet had taken another step towards him.
‘On the ship, you thought everybody was going to die. And with Katherine you—’
‘Violet—’ said Will warningly.
‘—kissed her. That’s what happened, isn’t it?’
He couldn’t bear to tell it as it was; he just stared back at her and felt the truth slice at him. He had kissed her. Let her kiss him. A single perfect moment, and then a spill of radiant light.
What are you? What are you? What are you?
‘You what?’ said Cyprian.
Violet frowned. ‘Matters of the flesh. You wouldn’t understand.’
‘I know what a kiss is,’ said Cyprian, but he’d flushed slightly.
‘It’s emotion, isn’t it? Strong emotion,’ said Violet. ‘That’s what brings your power out.’
Passion and death; the garden and the ship. She was looking at him like she wanted to hear him say it. Will stared back at her, needing to deny all of it. He felt his own flush of hot shame. The words didn’t come.
‘Carnal feelings drive his power?’ said Cyprian, that slight flush still on his cheeks.
‘Not just carnal feelings,’ said Violet. ‘Any feelings. That’s it, isn’t it.’
Was that true? Was that what had unlocked it, light streaming around them, as petals drifted like sparks? Had strong feelings caused the burst of light?
Violet swung up into her saddle and looked down at him with urgency.
‘We have to tell the Elder Steward,’ said Violet. ‘This gives us a chance. You were born for this battle, and now we know how to use your power.’
‘The Lady, a Lion and the Stewards,’ said Cyprian, nodding. ‘Now it’s a real fight.’
They made good time, a hard canter over the marshes. Valdithar shook his neck, eager to run; beside him flowed the two graceful Steward horses. Cyprian knew the paths that avoided the treacherous, boggy water, and they raced through the cold night air together.
Soon the broken arch came into view.
Will found himself leaning forward in the saddle, wanting the fight that was coming. Not only to help Marcus, but to deal Simon a blow from which he would never recover.
Cyprian also seemed reenergised, his long hair streaming out behind him as they rode. He was clearly eager to see his brother. With Will able to manifest his power, Simon was a less formidable figure, he said.
‘Simon’s not at Ruthern,’ said Will, remembering what Katherine had told him. ‘He’s in London.’ On business, she had said. ‘That gives us a window to attack. We’ll still be facing his minions, but Simon won’t be there to use the Corrupted Blade.’
That was an advantage, and Cyprian seized on it. ‘Without a leader, his men will be easier to fight.’
They slowed their horses to a walk as they approached the gate. Will saw a figure in a red tunic; it was Leda, standing with her back leaned against the arch.
‘Leda! We’re back with news!’ called Cyprian.
There was a silence as the sky beetled overhead and a birdcall echoed over the marsh.
‘I’ll stable the horses,’ Cyprian said. ‘You go straight to the Elder Steward and tell her what you’ve learned.’ And then he called to Leda, ‘We’re coming through the gate.’
The silence went on, continuing a second too long, past the time that Leda would have hailed them. She was standing still at her post, the wind fluttering aimlessly in her hair.
‘Cyprian,’ said Will.
He could see her: the hand that did not wave, the vast silence of the surrounding marshes in which there was no movement at all but the insects and the birds. Valdithar tossed his head and the chink of his bridle was too loud. Will was staring at Leda’s tunic.