In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens (most motivational books txt) 📕

shift for years. We’d be out in the town and he’d see a pretty girl, and suddenly there would be feathers everywhere, and instead of my brother walking next to me there would be a squawking bird.”

Their brother, Kest, had the rare ability to shift into an animal. His skill was based in magic but different from Tal’s. While Tal could access his power on an innate and broad level, Kest could perform only the one specific skill. Many royal courts viewed it as a parlor trick, others a curse, but Kest considered it a gift, once he had it mastered.

Tal’s lips curled up at the corners. “I do remember a lot of pheasant jokes at dinner.”

Garrett snorted and slapped Tal on the knee. “Oh, he’d get so angry. And Isa would make comments about ruffled feathers.”

Tal let out a loud laugh and clapped a hand over his mouth. They chuckled together, and Tal appreciated the moment. Due to their age difference, Tal had never gotten to spend much time with Garrett. When Tal was young, Garrett trained with the knights, and as Tal grew, Garrett spent much of his time at sea.

“Don’t worry about Isa,” Garrett said. “Our mother has been queen without a mage and without a king for many years.” Tal rubbed a hand over his brow. Their father had died when Tal was a toddler, and the only memories he had were flashes of a warm voice and kind eyes. “Isa will have her betrothed. She has me and Kest. And she’ll have you if your abilities are warranted, but only when you’re ready. Otherwise, things will continue as they always have.”

Tal flinched. “Is that my lot, then?” he asked, voice quiet. “Either to be hidden away or to be used?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“Isn’t it?” Tal frowned, twisting his signet ring around his finger. “We can’t risk the other kingdoms knowing what I am, so I must be careful, and the best way to be careful is to be unseen. But I must be available for when mother or Isa calls for me, ready to reveal myself to the world. Most likely as a threat, someone to be feared, a tool for destruction.”

“When there is peace—”

“My existence threatens peace!” Tal slammed his hand on the table. Garrett looked away. “Even if I become court mage, I don’t want to do the things he did. I won’t. Not even for Isa.”

“I’d like to say she won’t ask you to, but with political tensions the way they are right now, I don’t know what will happen.”

With that, the levity they shared died away, and Tal was left staring at his hands. Heart aching, he decided then he wouldn’t allow his magic to become a weapon, even for his own family. He’d rather be locked in a tower or exiled off the known map than become the monster his heritage predicted he’d be.

“Tally—”

Shay poked her head into the cabin. “Docking soon, Commander.”

Garrett stood. He ruffled Tal’s dark hair as he passed. “Don’t worry, Tal. Put these thoughts aside for now. This is your coming-of-age, and I promise it will be as rowdy as my own, if I have any say. Tales will be told. Epics will be written by bards.”

Tal offered a weak smile. At least in Garrett’s stories Tal would be the hero, and not the villain he was so scared of becoming.

Rows upon rows of tall ships bobbed in the harbor of the port city of Bayton, their masts scraping the blue of the sky.

But Tal wasn’t looking up as he walked along the dock. He sullenly kicked a shell with the toe of his boot. “The port will be such fun,” he said in a mock tone of Garrett’s voice. “Now go explore the market while I do important naval things.”

Shay walked a few feet behind him, guarding him as always, and he knew she could hear him. He didn’t care. Strolling through the market on a hot day after three days at sea was not his idea of those epic adventures Garrett had promised. As much as he hadn’t wanted to leave home for his coming-of-age, he was interested in the prospect of exploring things like architecture or ancient ruins or even magic artifacts, if he could manage to look for them on the sly. He wouldn’t mind a little adventure, but walking through a seaside market that stank of oysters and buzzed with the calls of vendors hawking their wares was something he could do at home. The castle was near the sea, after all, and he and Corrie had often hidden and run away from tutors to explore the town, Shay trailing after them all the while.

That was before his magic had manifested, and he was squirreled away and forbidden to leave the castle. Before the threat of retaliation from the other kingdoms hung over his head if they ever discovered he carried his great-grandfather’s legacy.

Tal shoved his hands into the pockets of his trousers. He’d left his vest and cravat back in his trunk on the ship, opting, as Garrett often did, to look less like a prince and more like a sailor. His black hair tangled around his ears and fell into his eyes, and with each kick of a shell or rock his boots scuffed.

Shoulders slumped, he could feel Shay’s disapproving gaze on him, an itch on the back of his neck.

Tal’s sulking was interrupted as a voice rang out over the bustling thrum of the market. “I don’t understand! This should be enough. Why isn’t this enough?”

He lifted his head and scanned the area. There was a commotion near a stall that sold medicinal supplies—herbs, potions, various remedies. He recognized that voice. He’d heard it in his head for the past three days every time he thought of his reckless decision to use his magic on an iron fetter. It couldn’t be, though. Athlen had drowned. If, somehow, he had managed to survive, there would be