Maria V. Snyder - Fire Study

FIRE STUDY

Maria V. Snyder

To my parents, James and Vincenza, for your constant support

and encouragement in all my endeavors. You sparked the fire.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

By this time you all should know how wonderful my husband, Rodney, can be. After all, I have thanked him and listed the many ways he supports me in the acknowledgments of my first two books. However, the writing wouldnt get done and the holes in plot logic wouldnt get filled without him. So once again, thanks go to him, because I dont ever want to take him for granted. And thanks also go to my two little sparks who fire my imagination-my children, Luke and Jenna.

One of the best decisions Ive made is to attend Seton Hill Universitys graduate writing program. Through this program Ive learned so much and met a talented group of writers. Thanks to them all, and special thanks go to my critique partners, Diana Botsford, Kimberley Howe and Jason Jack Miller, who helped me with this book. Kim, I hope this reads better than the ingredients on a frozen dinner! I would also like to thank my Seton Hill mentor, David Bischoff.

First drafts of novels can be pretty rough, but my editor, Mary-Theresa Hussey, has the knowledge and experience to wade in and guide me to calmer waters. Thanks, Matrice, for all your hard work and the smiley faces on my manuscript. They keep me going!

Thanks go to my excellent agent, Robert Mecoy, who has taught me so much about the publishing business and about how important it is to have a knowledgeable agent on your side. Many thanks to Erin Craig, who turned up the heat for this beautiful cover.

Researching for a book is always fun, and this time I enrolled in a glassblowing class. My appreciation for glass art rose considerably as I struggled to craft simple items from molten glass. Thanks go to my teacher and glass artist Helen Tegeler, whose patient instruction not only added to my knowledge of glass for this book, but made the experience a blast.

THATS PATHETIC, YELENA, Dax complained. An all-powerful Soulfinder who isnt all-powerful. Wheres the fun in that? He threw up his long thin arms in mock frustration.

Sorry to disappoint you, but Im not the one who attached the all-powerful to the title. I pulled a black strand of hair from my eyes. Dax and I had been working on expanding my magical abilities without success. As we practiced on the ground floor of Iryss Keep tower-well, mine too, since she has given me three floors to use-I tried not to let my own aggravation interfere with the lessons.

Dax was attempting to teach me how to move objects with magic. He had rearranged the furniture, lined up the plush armchairs in neat rows and turned the couch over on its side with his power. My efforts to restore Iryss cozy layout and to stop an end table from chasing me failed. Though not from lack of trying-my shirt clung to my sweaty skin.

A sudden chill shook me. Despite a small fire in the hearth, the rugs and the closed shutters, the living room was icy. The white marble walls, while wonderful during the hot season, sucked all the heat from the air throughout the cold season. I imagined the rooms warmth following the stones green veins and escaping outside.

Dax Greenblade, my friend, tugged his tunic down. Tall and lean, his physique matched a typical Greenblade Clan member. He reminded me of a blade of grass, including a sharp edge-his tongue.

Obviously you have no ability to move objects, so lets try fire. Even a baby can light a fire! Dax placed a candle on the table.

A baby? Now youre really exaggerating. Again. A persons ability to access the power source and perform magic manifested at puberty.

Details. Details. Dax waved a hand as if shooing a fly. Now concentrate on lighting this candle.

I cocked an eyebrow at him. So far, all my efforts on inanimate items were for naught. I could heal my friends body, hear his thoughts and even see his soul, but when I reached for a thread of magic and tried to use it to move a chair, nothing happened.

Dax held up three tan fingers. Three reasons why you should be able to do this. One, youre powerful. Two, youre tenacious. And three, youve beat Ferde, the Soulstealer.

Who had escaped, and was free to start another soul-stealing spree. Reminding me of Ferde is helping me how?

Its supposed to be a pep talk. Do you want me to list all the heroic deeds youve-

No. Lets get on with the lesson. The last thing I wanted was to hear Dax recite the latest gossip. The news about my being a Soulfinder had spread through the Magicians Keep like dandelion seeds carried by a strong wind. And I still couldnt think about the title without a cringe of doubt, worry and fear touching my heart.

I pushed all distracting thoughts aside and connected to the power source. The power blanketed the world, but only magicians could pull threads of magic from it to use. I gathered a strand to me and directed it to the candle, willing a flame to form.

Nothing.

Try harder, Dax said.

Increasing the power, I aimed again.

Behind the candle, Daxs face turned red and he sputtered as if suppressing a cough. A flash seared my eyes as the wick ignited.

Thats rude. His outraged expression was comical.

You wanted it lit.

Yeah, but I didnt want to do it for you! He glanced around the room as if seeking the patience to deal with an unruly child. Zaltanas and their weird powers, forcing me to light the candle. Pah! To think I wanted to live vicariously through your adventures.

Watch what you say about my clan. Or Ill I cast about for a good threat.

Youll what?

Ill tell Second Magician where you disappear to every time he pulls one of those old books off his shelf. Bain was Daxs mentor, and, while the Second Magician delighted in ancient history, Dax would rather learn the newest dance steps.

Okay, okay. You win and youve proved your point. No ability to light a fire. Ill stick to translating ancient languages. Dax made a dour face. And you stick to finding souls. He teased, but I sensed an undercurrent to his words.

His uneasiness over my abilities was for excellent reasons. The last Soulfinder was born in Sitia about a hundred and fifty years ago. During his short life, he had turned his enemies into mindless slaves and almost succeeded in his quest to rule the country. Most Sitians didnt react well to the news about another Soulfinder.

The awkward moment passed as a mischievous glint lit Daxs bottle-green eyes. Id better go. I have to study. We have a history test tomorrow. Remember?

I groaned, thinking of the large tome waiting for me.

Your knowledge of Sitian history is also pathetic.

Two reasons. I held up my fingers. One, Ferde Daviian. Two, the Sitian Council.

Dax gestured with his hand.

Before he could say anything, I said, I know. Details, details.

He smiled and wrapped his cloak around him, letting in a gust of arctic wind as he left. The flames in the hearth pulsed for a moment before settling. I drew closer, warming my hands over the fire. My thoughts returned to those two reasons.

Ferde was a member of the unsanctioned Daviian Clan, who were a renegade group of the Sandseed Clan. The Daviians wanted more from life than wandering the Avibian Plains and telling stories. On a power quest, Ferde had kidnapped and tortured twelve girls to steal their souls and increase his magical power. Valek and I had stopped him before he could complete his quest.

An ache for Valek pumped in my heart. I touched his butterfly pendant hanging from my neck. He had returned to Ixia a month ago, but I missed him more each day. Perhaps I should get myself into a life-threatening situation. He had a knack for showing up when I most needed him.

Unfortunately, those times were fraught with danger and there hadnt been many chances to just be with each other. I longed to be assigned a boring diplomatic mission to Ixia.