Page 68 of Kingdom of Locks

It wasn’t until late that night, after Mama Gail was asleep, that Aurelia dared to light a candle from the embers of the fire, and pull out the scroll from where she’d stashed it.

Loosening the blue ribbon, she unfurled the paper and smoothed it on her lap.

The Foundational Principles of Power

1. All forces have a counterforce.

2. Love is stronger than any destructive force.

Note: when misapplied for destruction, love is therefore capable of unparalleled devastation.

3. Power willingly given is more potent than power forcibly taken.

4. An aptitude for power is either present or absent—it cannot be developed.

5. Multiple sources of power united are stronger than the sum of their separate parts.

6. Power in itself is neither good nor evil.

“Power willingly given is more potent than power forcibly taken,” Aurelia read in a whisper. That was where the key came in. That was why Cyfrin was moving the magic to her core, with the intention of making it more potent when she willingly released it to him.

Which she had no intention of ever doing.

But what was the other principle that her mother had seen mentioned in Cyfrin’s notes? She’d said it also related to increasing the potency of the magic. Perhaps number five? Maybe Cyfrin thought that if she controlled some of his stored magic, and he controlled the magic still within him, together they would count as two sources of magic.

With a sigh, she rolled up the parchment and hid it under her mattress. No obvious answers, but at least she had the information. It was a start.

Aurelia’s life had always moved according to a predictable routine, and the weeks that followed were no exception. Except now her day was dominated by an event she anticipated with great excitement, instead of one she dreaded. Amell’s visits weren’t always at the same time, but he always came in the morning, and he always brought the sunshine with him into the tower room, regardless of the weather.

He enchanted her with tales of the world outside, made her laugh with stories of his own childhood antics, and fascinated her with descriptions of the places he’d been and the things he’d witnessed. He told her all about Furn, and Tora, and his friend Basil, who was already king in Entolia, despite being not much older than Amell himself.

At first he only stayed for a short time each day, casting the odd shifty look at Mama Gail that convinced Aurelia her mother had given him a lecture in the study that day. But as the days turned into weeks, he relaxed, and his visits were longer and longer, until it wasn’t unusual for him to spend most of the morning with them.

Even Mama Gail seemed to warm to his cheerfulness, and his endless energy.

“You look like you’re dancing on hot coals,” she told him one morning, about two weeks into his daily visits. “You don’t sit still much, do you?”

“Rarely,” Amell acknowledged, with a rueful grin. “I’ve always suffered from an excess of energy. It drives my mother spare.”

“I can imagine,” said Mama Gail, the words softened by a smile.

“I don’t mind it,” Aurelia assured him. “I know the feeling, in fact. I’ve often told Mama Gail that I have an endless amount of energy.”

“You have a good excuse though,” Amell pointed out, “since you’re denied the opportunity to use that energy. I spend my life bouncing from one thing to another—according to my parents—without ever seeming to satisfy my desire for action.”

“That’s not fair,” Aurelia said, offended on his behalf by this criticism. “You’ve stuck with us all this time, and with the crisis at the prison. And I’ve never heard you complain of being bored.”

Amell’s grin softened into something gentler, and Aurelia found herself locked in his gaze. “Not a fair comparison,” he told her lightly. “I’m never bored when I’m with you.”

Aurelia’s heart began to pick up speed, but the moment was broken by Mama Gail’s practical voice.

“Well, we can’t exactly be bored when you’re here, either. You’re much too energetic.”

Aurelia laughed. “That’s her way of telling you that your visit is the best part of our day.” She smiled warmly at him. “Which is true.”

A shadow passed over his face. “I’m glad I can cheer you up a little, but it’s not making any real difference.” He struck one hand against his own knee. “I wish I knew how to get around the restraining magic.”

Aurelia just laughed again. “The only reason you think your presence isn’t making a real difference is because you have no idea what it’s like to be locked in a tower for seventeen years.”

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