This world belongs to Kendare Blake, but the characters are original.
FOUR
Greavesdrake Manor - Cadence
"So, do you have a special affinity?" Rain asked, bouncing around.
Ember had already answered most of Cadence's questions, and now, Cadence is sitting cross-legged in Rain's room while Ember went off to run an errand.
"I like all of them," Cadence replied, looking out Rain's open window.
"That's really rare!" Rain gasped. "Knowing all the elements. Wow! I only like water, though I can sometimes control air. But, who knows? My gift is still developing. But still, all four..."
Cadence laughed as Rain told her all about life at Greavesdrake, and that since Queen Jilalta's mother, Queen Terre, was also an elementalist, Greavesdrake had always been her home and that she hoped Cadence would win so she didn't have to move.
"Why wasn't my mother raised here?" Cadence asked, completely oblivious.
Rain was all to happy to talk, explaining that since Jilalta's sisters, Leroya and Araga, were oracles, they were drowned at birth, so to be fair to everyone, Jilalta was raised in Indrid Down. Then, she went off on some speech about the mad Queen Elsabet, and Cadence tuned out, not wanting to know what happened to an oracle queen. After all, she was part oracle.
Soon, Cadence was so interested in exploring Greavesdrake and getting to know Rain, she forgot about her sisters and started adjusting to her new life there.
...
Prynn - Calista
Isa was delighted by Calista. The small six-year-old consumed poison after poison without so much of a stomachache. Althea was dismissed long ago, so Isa and Calista were alone in the study, Calista practicing her war gift as well as poison gift by levitating random objects.
Snapping her fingers, Isa sent for Thalia, her younger sister.
"Thalia, would you make sure etiquette lessons are prepared for her? And how to dress properly and such."
"Sure, Isa," Thalia replied casually.
"I think, this time, poisoners will reign," Isa said, eyes shining with hope. Calista straightened and smiled at that, memories of playing with Cadence and Caitlyn already pushed to the back of her mind.
"What about poisoning lessons? Won't Kasia need to be informed of her skill?" Thalia continued, mentioning their sister-in-law.
"No," Isa responded.
"No?" Thalia repeated. Isa confirmed it with a nod.
"She's so powerful - I'll be teaching her myself."
...
Wolf Spring - Caitlyn
Caitlyn watched in delight as the black jaguar circled her on the big flat rock she was sitting on.
Lyr and Ora watched, amazed at the powerful creature. Rather, the creature that will, one day, be powerful. Gia just watched on happily.
"I think I'm going to name her Alene," Catilyn decided softly, playing with the two front paws of her familiar. Unknowingly, she bloomed all the flowers in the clearing. Ora looked on with jealously, by Lyr just looked excited. It would be fun to train her and develop their gifts together. At that level of skill, it's amazing she's only six.
However, her shyness could downplay her abilities and make them weaker, so they would have to try and get that out of her system and regular life.
"I hope we'll have a naturalist on the throne this time," Gia commented.
"Do you really think so?" Caitlyn asked, small face beaming up at her.
"Through some hard work and dedication, you could be as powerful as Queen Bernadine and her wolf. After all, black jaguars such as Alene are really rare and unheard of on this island. You must've had the skill to summon it through the Mist. The only thing is..." Gia's face darkened. "Your sisters seem powerful, too."