The Fragile Threads of Power

Alucard wakes in his bed with Rhy, troubled by memories and bad dreams. He looks for a sleeping draught but finds it empty, so he makes his way to the queen’s workshop. The two of them chat, and she tells him about a project she is working on—a golden chain that, when worn, allows two magicians to borrow each other’s power. Eventually, it will work both ways and need consent, but now it only works one way, and the wearer has no say in if their power is used. They argue over the chain, with Alucard insisting that it will be misused. Nadiya counters by pointing out that someone could be stabbed with a paring knife, but no one suggests that they should be banned. Alucard tells her that if she doesn’t destroy it, he will, and he leaves.

In White London, Kosika and Holland talk. He has been appearing to her for over a year and offers her advice about how to rule. He tells her that she is right to not worry about going to other worlds and that the flame of magic will grow in White London if they tend it.

A year earlier, Kosika discovers a secret doorway to Holland’s old bedroom. In it, she finds some scattered notes Holland wrote about the burden of leadership as well as three coins. She touches one and uses her magic to travel. To her horror, she finds herself in the burnt shell of Black London. She manages to come back and appears, bloody and covered in soot, in the crowded throne room of her palace. She does not explain herself to the Vir.

Berras Emery is living in an estate whose owner was killed during Osaron’s tide years before. No one has come to claim it, and he is able to hide in plain sight. At the estate, Bex and Calin are waiting for him and tell him they have lost Tes, who had the broken persalis in her possession. He is furious and becomes even angrier when Bex asks for their payment, saying that the two of them have done their part. He refuses, and she starts to attack him but is shocked when she realizes the room is warded, making their magic useless. He fights them both off and beats them badly. Then, he tells them if they want payment, they need to bring him something worth paying for.

In Grey London, Tes wanders the streets, losing blood. She sees a tiny thread of magic and begins following it, desperate to find some help. It leads her past the Isle (gray and gloomy in this world instead of the healthy red of her home London) and to a small tavern. She knocks before fainting on the doorstep.

Ned Tuttle, the tavern owner, and Beth, the barmaid, do their best to stitch her up. When she tries to sit up in a panic, Ned tells her she is safe and to rest.

Nine years earlier, six-year-old Tes lives with her wealthy family in the seaside city of Hanas. Her father is a wealthy collector who deals in antiquities and rare items, but he is cruel and treats his daughters as property. Her mother is kind but powerless. Her older sisters each have a different use: Serival is her father’s finder and searches for rare gifts, Rosana is the star of a performing troupe and wields ice and fire, and Mirin is beautiful and married to a wealthy man. Tes has not shown any talents yet but is wild and loves to run free.

At dinner, she sees a thread running through a candle and tries to grab it, burning her finger. Her mother covers for her odd behavior and takes her to another room to wrap her finger and question her. She tells Tes that other people do not see the threads and that she must never speak of it again.

Seven years earlier, Tes is eight and with her father in his shop. He asks her to look in a magic mirror that reveals what a person is capable of. Tes sees a vision of herself surrounded by flowing threads that become a box, a bird, and many other shapes. They swell gloriously and then turn black and snuff her out. She is frightened by the vision and relieved when she realizes that her father cannot see it. She tells him the only thing she sees in the mirror is the two of them and sees the disappointment on his face at the news.

Three years earlier, Tes is 12 and preparing for her father’s birthday. All his daughters will be home, and she hopes to give him a gift he will praise her for. She goes to the dock market and purchases a broken orb to fix. She also sees a little owl skeleton and bargains with the sailor for it. She takes her treasures home and repairs the orb so that it shows a scene of summer and makes the holder feel the warmth of the season.

Each sister presents her gift at dinner. Mirin is pregnant, and Rosana offers tickets to a troupe performance. Their father is pleased with Tes’s gift, but all the gifts are overshadowed by Serival, who offers him a vial of forbidden magic that contains five more years of life.

In her room, Tes works on animating the owl. It is the first spell she has constructed herself rather than mending, and it takes a long time. She is interrupted by Serival, who mockingly calls her “little rabbit” and accuses her of stealing the summer glass and the owl from someone. Tes blurts out that she made them herself, and her sister threatens to smash the owl. They are interrupted when their father calls for Serival.

Tes runs to her mother and tells her what happened. Instead of comforting her, her mother gives her money and tells her she must run away and never come back. Her father and Serival will exploit her talent, and this is the only way she will be free.

Tes goes back to the docks and finds the sailor who sold her the objects. She bargains for passage on his ship, showing him the owl and promising she can fix all his broken goods. He accepts, and they set sail.

Though she is alone with a strange man, Tes feels safe on the ship. The sailor is named Elrick, and he is kind to her, not questioning what she is fleeing from. The ship is called the Good Luck. They take her to London, and Elrick bids her farewell, giving her a small rock and telling her to hold it when she feels at sea and needs a reminder of land. Tes walks through the London streets on her own, determined to find her way.