Cassie cursed as she took her latest batch of sweet rolls out of the oven. Upending the hot tray onto the stone worktop, she waved the flat metal back and forwards to dispel the thick, acrid smoke. It thinned as the tray encouraged its exit through the strategically open window and Cassie sucked in fresh air, wiping her running eyes dry with relief. She turned to look with disgust at the blackened lumps of impossibly undercooked dough on the counter. A baker she would never be. Correction, she thought, imagining Mr Chalk's voice in her head. She would never be a good baker.
"Not unless you keep practising," came a familiar voice. "Hi, Bella," she replied, sweeping the inedible rolls into the bin. "I really don't understand why you keep at it." "What else can I be?" Cassie asked, turning to give her best friend, and the only person in the world who knew what she was, a welcome hug. "Mama needs the help and your papa swore blind there's loads of evidence that gifts are flexible in the beginning." Bella could see the bitter disappointment that was slowly crushing the hope in her friend's heart and decided not to mention how long it had been since papa had told the class that fact. Six years, it had been. Six years of daily bakes that always turned out badly. Light, Cassie must have ruined tens of thousands of cakes, buns and rolls by now. The lanky Baker's daughter grabbed her bag and the pair set off for school, grabbing their usual breakfast from Cassie's mama's stall on the way out. They munched the fruity twirls as they weaved their way through the market, the explosion of berries, spices and sugar in their mouths taking their mind off Cassie's woes and the session of double History they were doomed to sit through when the school bell rang. Bella giggled as they passed a couple haggling furiously over a crimson silk scarf, their voices clearly audible above the hubbub of morning trade. Cassie didn't ask what was making her best friend chuckle; she didn't like the reminder that her mental guards were still work in progress. Suddenly, Bella stopped dead and cautiously shifted her gaze to a stationary giant of a man standing in the shadows, the overhang and his dark cloak making him almost invisible to the eye. Only the hint of a brilliant green aura made him stand out to Cassie, but apparently his thoughts were just as vibrant if Bella had heard them over everything else that flooded her mind. "What?" she hissed quietly, noting her friend's wide eyes and pale cheeks. There was no reply. "What?" she repeated, digging her elbow into Bella's side. "Ow!" "Sorry," Cassie muttered, realising her aim had been as awry as this morning's baking efforts. Bella swung around to face her, the pale cheeks having taken on a rosy glow. Uh oh! she thought, knowing that look. She was rewarded by a sharp slap on the arm. The problem of having a Mind Reader as a friend... she thought very clearly and deliberately. Bella grinned, but she wasn't to be distracted. "The guy by the ironmongers. You see him?" "Yeah." "Don't look at him!" Cassie averted her eyes only to find herself being hauled across the square, the small bundle of ginger energy who was forever leading her into trouble nearly yanking her arm out of its socket. What the light? she thought as the pressure on her wrist had her tumbling behind the back end of two horses. "Shush!" "I said it inside, Bella." "Oh, sorry," her friend apologised with a rueful smile. "It's hard to tell, sometimes." "Why the light are we hiding?" Cassie whispered. "He's a Diviner." The ability to Divine people's gifts meant a death sentence for an Aura Shaper, even one as young and untrained as Cassie. She felt her knees begin to quiver and her heart race. She sat back with a thump, tears and panic in her eyes then leaned forward to risk a look between the gelding's legs. Was he looking this way? Oh light, sweet light, don't let him catch me, she prayed. Whether or not the light answered her, she would never know, but the display of striking black and white, patterned cushions caught her eye in the same moment she saw the giant take his first steps in her direction. Bake! she thought desperately, aiming her gift straight at the soft, round rolls of fabric. Bake! Bake! Bake! Thick, black smoke poured upwards. Then flames. Huge flames. Ten feet in the air, engulfing the display, scattering dozens of screaming stallholders and customers. And the big man with the shining green aura and dark cloak. Bella was looking at her in disbelief, her mouth open in awe. "I guess you're not such a bad baker, after all!"
0 Comments
|