Claire Legrand - Thornlight

O nce, in a land of seven kingdoms called the Star Lands

Oh, wait.

Thats a different story.

That story is about a witch named Quicksilver, who embarked upon a perilous adventure to save all of witchkind from a villainous figure called the Wolf Kingwho was indeed villainous, but not in the way you might think.

This story is about another brave girl, though she would be the first to tell you that shes not very brave at all.

And she would be wrong.

O nce, in a troubled realm known as the Vale, in the province of Westlin, in the capital city of Aeria, on the broad road called First Street, in the rooftop garden owned by the florist Nash Orendown, perched on the gardens stone wall amid a soft green carpet of morning glories, a girl named Thorn searched the sky for signs of lightning.

And found none.

Great storms, Thorn cursed quietly, gripping her broom. Brier will be in a terrible mood when she gets home. The skies are far too quiet.

Give them a minute, said Mazby, wiggling his rump in the air before pouncing into a clump of morning glories. A dew-sprinkled dragonfly zipped away. Mazbys beaked head poked out of the morning glories, his dark crown feathers gone askew. Why dont the dragonflies just let me eat them?

Would you just let yourself be eaten, if a thing twenty times your size were hunting you?

Only twenty times bigger? He puffed out his chest and thrust his yellow beak into the air. Id say at least thirty.

Thorn held out her palm. Never one to miss an opportunity for petting, Mazby jumped onto it. Thorn scratched his soft white chin, and Mazbys eyes fell closed in blissful surrender. Purring, he gently kneaded his clawseagle talons on the front feet, cats claws on the backagainst her palm.

On second thought, Thorn conceded, with a small smile, perhaps youre twenty-five times bigger than a dragonfly.

Quite right, said the grifflet, and turned around three times in Thorns palmjust as an angry voice exploded from the street below.

Thorn! I dont pay you to dawdle and dream, do I? Get your sorry behind down here at once!

Thorn jumped off the wall. Coming, Master Tuwain! she shouted back, grabbing her cap. With Mazby clinging to her shoulder, she ran for the iron stairs that stretched from the roof to the road.

That man always seems to know when Im about to settle down for a nap, the grifflet grumbled as Thorn hurried down, her brooms handle clanking on each step. When she tumbled out through the creaking, vine-covered gate and onto First Street, she crashed to a stop at the feet of a tall brown-skinned man wearing a fine black coat and a bright red cravat.

Master Tuwain glared down at her, his bushy black eyebrows quivering with outrage.

Thorn peeked out from underneath the brim of her cap and offered an apologetic smile. I was only taking a short break

Tell me, Thorn Skystone, Master Tuwain began, his voice smooth and gentle, are sweeps meant to wander around rooftops and gaze at the sky? Or are they meant to stay in the gutters and clean our streets?

Mazby, who hated when Master Tuwain used that unctuous tone of voice, poked his head out from under Thorns long, tangled brown hair. Thorn clamped his beak shut with her fingers. Mazby let out a muffled trill of indignation.

Theyre meant to stay in the gutters, sir, Thorn answered. Its just that Mr. Orendown, hes my fathers friend, you see, and he lets me take my breaks in his garden

Master Tuwain waved his hand. At what age do I typically prefer to hire my sweeps?

Thorn swallowed hard. Fifteen years old, sir.

And how old are you?

In that moment, with Master Tuwain looming over her, and people all up and down rain-soaked First Street looking over to see what the trouble was, Thorn felt like an errant dog being punished for doing its business on the rug instead of outside.

Twelve years old, sir, Thorn said meekly, her cheeks burning.

And why did I agree to hire you?

Thorn answered, but it came out so soft that only Mazby could hear it. She held her broom close to her chesta shield between her and the world.

What was that? Master Tuwain cupped a hand around his ear. Are you a mouse or a girl? Tell me. Why did I hire you?

A small crowd had gathered around Number Thirty-Four First Street. Thorn wished she could sink into the muddy cracks between the wet cobblestones and live forever in the cool, dark underground. In such a place, no one could find her and yell at her.

No one could mistake her for her sister, and then feel disappointed when they realized she wasnt.

You hired me, sir, Thorn said, her voice a mere thread of sound, because my sister is a harvester.

And not only a harvester, Master Tuwain carried on, but the best one weve got. Then, realizing how many people were watching and whispering, he said, rather louder than he needed to, Rest assured, Thorn, that were it not for your sister, you would

But then the most famous girl in Aeria turned the corner onto First Street, and everyone flocked to her instead.

Brier! they called, waving their hats, offering up giftsfrosted cookies wrapped in sparkling paper, bundles of silver coins, chunky knitted scarves. How are the storms looking?

Brier, tell us! How much lightning did you gather today?

Is it true, what people are saying?

Are the storms fading?

Brier Skystone of the Vale, riding down First Street on the back of her unicorn, Norojedzia, waved at her many admirers. Everyone she laid eyes upon seemed to stand taller and straighter.

Storms go through cycles, said Brier, addressing the crowd with a smile. Sometimes they are loud and energetic. Sometimes they retreat to rest.

Thorn stepped back into the pink rhododendron bushes flanking Number Thirty-Fours front door and, with a pang in her chest, wished that she was already out of sight, back at home.

The people of Aeria followed Brier down the road with shining eyes. A bold few even rushed forward to drape garlands of paper flowers around Norojedzias neck.

Brier looked exactly like Thorn in every respectsame pale skin, same large brown eyes, same long, wavy brown hair. But if you stood the two girls side by side, you would immediately see past the physical similarities and notice the differences.