Declan gave a sour chuckle. “Too true. He had taken their gifts, and with that new power, he found the courage to show his true colors.”

“I can hardly believe it,” Twitch said, dropping to one knee. “I should have been more respectful. I should have—”

“No,” Mira interrupted. “Get up. None of that. You’ve all been exactly what I need. Real friends in a time of hardship.”

Cole squinted at her as he did a quick calculation. “You’re in your seventies?”

“No, I’m eleven,” Mira said, her cheeks flushing. “I’ve just been eleven for a really long time.”

“Your nickname should be ‘Granny,’ ” Jace said.

“Ha-ha,” Mira replied. “I’m not an adult who looks like a kid. I’m a kid who never became an adult. Years going by isn’t the same as aging. I don’t change. I’ve always been treated like I’m eleven. I’ve always looked eleven. I’ve never really felt any older than that.”

“But you’ve lived for so long,” Twitch said.

“I’m sure I know more than a normal eleven-year-old,” she said. “I just don’t feel older. How could I? I’ve never been older.”

“You must have watched other people get old,” Cole said.

Mira brushed some stray hairs from her eyes. “Not for long. We moved a lot. Looking back is weird. I was ten so long ago. It’s been forever since I’ve seen anyone in my family. I saw Durny age, though, since he stayed with me.”

“Durny was your bodyguard?” Jace asked.

“My second protector. The first, Roderick, eventually got old and died. Even though we moved around, my mother has a way to find me. Many shapers have specialties. My mother has two—visions and the stars. Those abilities complement each other. She can find her daughters wherever we roam. She sent Durny to me after she sensed that Roderick had died.”

“You know,” Declan said, “I met your older sisters once—Elegance and Honor. They were quite young at the time. It was during my last visit to Junction, when I was first beginning to suspect that your father was not to be trusted. I should have given more serious heed to my instincts.”

“How did you recognize Mira?” Jace asked.

“I understand a thing or two about shaping, boy,” Declan said. “I can sense the power of a shaper. Her power has been stripped from her, and it is connected to a gathering mass of shaping energy elsewhere in Sambria. But a lesser portion of her gift is slowly returning to her. Only one girl in all the Outskirts would fully match that description.” His expression softened. “You poor child. You have endured some trying years. Sadly, I fear it will only get worse from here.”

“What should I do?” Mira asked.

“That’s the question. You shouldn’t stay here, and you shouldn’t go either, yet we have to do something. How much do you know about what your father did to you?”

“I know he took my power,” she said. “I still don’t understand how.”

“You’re not alone there,” Declan assured her. “It defies all knowledge of shaping.”

“I know I stopped aging,” Mira went on. “I know my power has slowly started coming back. And now Father has sent hundreds of legionnaires after me.”

“You know so little?” Declan asked, his voice sad. “We definitely need to talk.”

Twitch sat down on the floor, legs crossed. Cole did likewise, followed by Jace.

“I apologize again for the seating arrangements,” Declan said.

“This isn’t bad,” Cole assured him.

Declan shook his head. “Chilly and hard.”

“What can you tell me about my father?” Mira asked, not sitting, eyes intense.

“Not everything,” Declan said. “But I can shed some light on a few matters. Please, have a seat. This may take some time.”

Chapter 21

ANSWERS

“How often do you corresponded with Harmony?” Declan asked after Mira sat.

“Mother only contacts me indirectly,” Mira said.

“No messages?” Declan verified.

“Not really. She recently tried. She has a signal for when danger is coming. It can also lead messengers or new protectors to me.”

“Where is your current protector?”

“He just died. We got into trouble at a sky castle. Mother had sent her warning signal, so he was trying to collect floatstones to make a skycraft for our escape from Skyport, but he got killed. Then today, a messenger arrived right before a large group of legionnaires. I never got the message. I can only assume it was a warning that my father had found me. I wouldn’t have escaped Skyport without help from my friends.”

“These boys stepped in,” Declan said, sizing them up. “I take it you have names?”

“Jace.”

“I’m Cole.”

“They call me Twitch.”

“Three young slaves escaped from the Sky Raiders,” Declan said. “Not the most likely escorts for a princess of the highest royal family in the five kingdoms. Were you all born in Sambria?”

“I was,” Jace said. “I’ve been a slave since I can remember.”

“I was born in Elloweer,” Twitch said.

“I’m from Earth,” Cole said.

“Liam mentioned you,” Declan told Cole. “How did you arrive here?”

“Slave traders took my friends. I came here to help them but got caught.”

“You arrived voluntarily?” Declan asked.

“Nobody forced me,” Cole said. “I didn’t really know what I was getting into.”

“Interesting. A newly minted slave, I take it?”

“Just a couple of weeks. Two of my closest friends were taken to be slaves of the High King. Mira promised to help me find them.”

“And I’ll keep that promise,” Mira assured him.

The old man gave half a smile. “We will converse later, young man.” He studied Mira. “What do you know about all that has transpired since you went into hiding?”

“I know the basics,” Mira said. “We tried to stay informed. Father drove the Grand Shapers into exile. All except Paulus, who joined him. He set up governors to replace the Grand Shapers in the other four kingdoms.”

“Correct,” Declan approved. “Your father tries to pretend the Grand Shapers surrendered our posts willingly. That we retired.”