“How’s that?” Bo asked, leaning forward across Kirsten to address Inama.
“It is formal to kiss each other on the cheek when meeting someone new or after an extended time apart,” Inama said.
“Well, in that case, I should introduce myself,” Bo said. Kirsten elbowed him in the shoulder, and he winced saying, “the Westland way, I mean.” He reached over and grasped hands with Inama shaking in a less exaggerated fashion than with Kirsten. “I’m Bo.”
“And I’m Thomas, Anders’ other cousin,” Thomas piped in following Bo’s introduction.
“What can we do for you?” Kirsten asked, curious as to why Inama had been seeking them out.
“I heard a young man from our tribe talking this morning. He had met a Westland boy in camp who claimed to be Anders’ cousin. This young man had a magical sapphire with him. When I asked my compatriot more, he told me that others among you also have magic crystals taken from Merglan himself. I didn’t believe him and accused him of lying, but he assured me that the dragonrider’s family had the crystals and had been training with them. Since I don’t like speculating about rumors, I came to find you and clear up any confusion the young man might’ve had.”
Kirsten glanced at Thomas. He shook his head and shrugged.
“So, you didn’t know about the inhabitance crystals Natalia had?” Bo asked.
“I had heard she found a power source in the castle, but for security reasons, no more information was passed to the other ships about what they had onboard,” Inama said.
“In all the confusion of preparing for the fighting, they must not have told you,” Kirstin said.
“It’s true, then, that you have magical crystals from the evil dragonrider, just like the one the Elf Queen used?” Inama asked.
“Elf Queen?” Thomas asked.
“Yes,” Kirsten said. “Anders has been training some of us while we waited for the fighting to begin. We haven’t had much time to work on our technique, but I’m better than I was when we started.”
“Where can I get one of these crystals?” Inama asked.
Kirsten hesitated. She could tell Thomas and Bo were counting on her to answer the question. She hadn’t realized that the people of Southland hadn’t been included in the news of the spare crystals. After a moment’s deliberation, she thought, The Rolloans and the Westland Army had their chance at training people. Who am I to say a Lumbapi leader can’t try? She might not even be able to activate a crystal, like Britt or Bo.
Finally speaking up, she said, “We can give you one.”
“Really?” Inama asked.
“Really?” Thomas added.
“Yeah, I have five, why not see if she can use it. The Rollo warriors have one and the Revolution had their try with the crystals,” she said.
“That’s true,” Bo said, backing her decision.
“How do you expect to explain how to use them when you don’t fully understand yourself?” Thomas asked.
“I am no stranger to magic,” Inama said.
“Good,” Kirsten said. “That will make my description of how to use it easier.” Kirsten explained to Inama everything that Anders had told them about tapping into the crystal’s energy. “Does that make sense?” Kirsten asked when she’d finished.
Inama nodded, “It sounds like you are describing the spiritual connection with the natural world. In my culture we are aware that all things have energy flowing through them, we just lack the ability to access that energy in the same way dragons can.”
“Exactly,” Kirsten said. “At least I think that’s what Anders was saying about it.”
“You called them inhabitance crystals, why?” Inama asked.
“Because of the way they can store magical energy. Merglan harvested and charged the crystals for years. When Natalia took them, she somehow made them safe for us to use. Now some of us are able to use them.”
“Not everyone can use the magic?” she asked.
“For whatever reason, some of us can’t,” Kirsten said, looking at Thomas.
“Can you show me how you use the magic?” Inama asked.
Kirsten looked around for something to demonstrate with and muttered, “If only Thomas had his bow.”
“I saw one on the wagon up there,” Bo said, motioning ahead.
“You're not going to set it on fire, are you? We shouldn’t waste arrows on a demonstration,” Thomas said.
Kirsten shook her head, “No, nothing like that. I just want to stop it in midair.”
“You could use this,” Inama said, presenting her spear.
“If you can throw it far enough,” Kirsten said, then realized she might’ve just insulted the princess.
“I can,” Inama said assuredly not seeming to take offence. “Just let me know when you’re ready.”
“Why don’t we step outside the main flow of travel,” Bo suggested as Inama shifted her grip on the spear.
“Good idea,” Kirsten agreed. She was confident that she could halt the spear’s progress as she had done with the arrows during their training, but when playing around with weapons in large groups she thought it was a good idea to play it safe.
Stepping out away from the marching columns, Kirsten fished a sapphire out of her pocket and gripped it her hands. Looking to Inama who stood ready to throw the spear, she nodded and said, “Ready.”
