Shatterglass

Except there was no ghost of lightning inside Keth: he had the true thing. He drank the power in like a thirsty man drinks water and, like Tris, raised his arms to call even more to him.

Later, as they staggered down into the house, he found the voice to croak, promised youd protect me.

Did,she replied, her voice as rough as his. saw that your power was calling to the lightning, and I made sure that you werent hit by so much youd panic.

made me think youdhe began.

She interrupted him. Wrap you in a cocoon of magic? In a nice safe blanket? I would have done so, had there been the need. There wasnt. Its my job to know these things, remem ber? I wasn t about to lose my very first student because he didnt have the sense to come in out of the rain.

They had reached Keths door before hed summoned the energy to say, are a wicked girl.

Tris shrugged. Ive been told. Ive learned to live with the shame of it.She looked at Little Bear, who huddled in front of Keths door. on, Bear. Lightnings done.She turned her sharp gaze on Keth. me truly have I done you a disservice?

It was his turn to shrug. He hung his head for good measure. know you didnt.

knew. I wanted to make certain that you did, too.Before Keth could jerk away, Tris stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. A spark jumped between them. They both grinned. you have any leaks, put a big pot under them,she warned. ll rain all tonight and all tomorrow. Not my doing this storm built up a lot of power while it was stuck in the east, and coming this way has made it stronger. I hope youve got a hat to wear to the shop tomorrow.

Though he wasnt sure if he would like the answer, Keth heard himself ask, do you know so much about it?

Tris grinned, waved, and left him without a reply. Chime, riding on her shoulder, napped her glass wings in farewell.

The rain continued to fall as it had fallen all night, steadily, without let-up. Tris was glad for it. She felt like parched ground in the first showers of spring, greedily drinking up the moisture in the air.

Rain washed Tharios. Gutters ran clean on both sides of the Street of Glass, their burdens of rubbish swept away the night before. The white stucco of the houses and store-fronts blazed; the orange-coloured roof tiles shone. It was all scrubbed cl ean, right down to the soaked and sullen prathmun. They were almost the only people in sight as they went about their endless chores. Those Tharians of the other classes who walked abroad did so in oiled straw hats and capes, or with oiled silk umbrellas o ver their heads. Tris simply ushered the rain away from herself, Little Bear and Chime. Shed had her fill of rain the night before, and the heat of Keth s workshop would make a wet dress unbearable. Let the passers-by stare at her and her dog, shedding drops as if a glass bowl lay over them. It was time they learned that they did not control all the wonder in the universe.

Keth was hard at work by the time she reached the shop. you sleep at all?Tris asked, seeing the lightnings power blaze through his skin.

Little,he said, I had an idea, and I wanted to test it.He grinned. your eyes,he ordered. ve got something for you.

had better not be slimy,Tris warned as she obeyed.

Like a girl with a brother,Keth said, moving behind her. in Khapik Id have to look hard for anything slimy.Something light fell around Triss neck as Chime crooned.

Tris opened her eyes and looked down. On a black silk cord around her neck dangled a bright red flame-like piece of glass, its tail twisted to provide a loop for the cord. On either side of it hung two smaller, blue glass flames. Keth, this is beautiful,she whispered. did you make it?

Chime did most of the work,replied Keth, standing back so he could see the full effect of the necklace. I found these on my sketches when I woke up this morning. She leaves them everywhere she goes, practically. I guess because she eats the ingredients that make and colour glass.

Tris nodded.

continued Keth, got to thinking that we could sell them as novelties, to pay Antonou for supplies and to buy more food for Chime. The hardest part was actually heating the tails to bend them for the loop. Whatever s in those, it resists fire.He poured a handful of glass flames, all with looped tails, into her hands. kept some back for the girls at Ferouzes,he confessed. didnt think youd mind.

Tris frowned. arent thinking of taking Chime back, are you?

Keth shook his head. gave up my responsibility to her. Besides, I think she belongs with you.

Chime underscored Keths words by twining around Triss neck.

Love you too, Chime,mumbled Tris, her cheeks crimson. you, Keth. Its a wonderful idea.She patted her necklace, then looked at him. to meditate?

Meditation that day was easier than it had ever been, particularly the exercise in which Keth placed his magic into a crucible. It was as if the nights lightning had cleared his mind of fear and increased his strength. Tris watched as h e treated the lightning in him just as he did glass, with a friendly but firm hand. Today he gripped the power just hard enough to control it, but not so hard that it erupted through the weak places in his concentration. On his fourth try he managed to pa ck it all into the image he held in his mind of a crucible: Tris could see its shape as it folded in on itself, reduced to a blazing, fist-sized sun. He was so giddy with his success that he repeated the exercise two more times, just because he could.

Ll stop for midday,Tris said, gathering in the magic she had used for her circle of protection. lets try for another globe.

s what I hoped to do,Keth replied. might be more successful, now that I have some idea of how my power works

Keth.Dema stood in the doorway, wearing a rain hat and cape. He looked harried, and he would not meet their eyes. Ghost struck last night another girl from Keths lodgings. I need you to identify her, he explained, tight-lipped. ve got horses. Can the dog keep up?