Girl of Myth and Legend by Giselle Simlett

either. Yup, no McDonald’s, no Burger King, no Gino’s Pizza… Dear God, have I made a mistake coming here? I may be of small stature, but make no mistake: I am a glutton. On the other hand—possible franchise opportunity?
    ‘Never mind. I’m good, thanks,’ I reply in a small voice.
    Once O’Sah goes below, I turn to Dad and say, ‘Y’know, I only just noticed, but why doesn’t anyone else have eyes like mine? I mean, am I different or something?’
    The boat heaves to the side and we stumble slightly. I jump out of the way when Dad makes for the railing, bowing his head over it.
    ‘F-false alarm,’ he mutters. I pat his back and give him a few minutes to regain himself. Then, he looks at me, and without answering my earlier question, says, ‘O’Sah is right about one thing: you need to sleep when we get to the island. You’ve got a busy day tomorrow.’
    ‘About one thing? So you think he’s full of crap most of the time, too, hmm?’
    ‘I wouldn’t put it like that.’ He shuffles. ‘…But yes, most of the time.’
    We share a smile.
    ‘I saw your look,’ I tell him.
    He frowns. ‘What look? I don’t have a look…’
    When Dad, O’Sah, Pegasus and I get off the boat and onto the harbour, I look around and see nothing outstanding, just a large shed and more boats. It’s too dark to see into the distance, but I’m hoping that I’ll see something of wonder.
    ‘Shall I take that for you?’ O’Sah asks, pointing to my suitcase.
    ‘I can carry it.’
    ‘You don’t need to bother yourself with—’
    ‘I said I can carry it. Thank you.’
    As we walk through the night, the moon lighting our way, I see the outline of three men, crimson cloaks billowing in the wind, standing around a campfire. They don’t move, waiting for us to approach. My pace slows. There’s something about their darkened stares that causes me to shiver. When we get to them, I notice each one of them wears a golden pin that is luminous against the flickering fire. One of the men limps forward. He’s an elderly man with long, white hair.
    ‘My Lady,’ he says, and takes my hand and kisses it. ‘I never thought I’d live to see this day.’ He sounds as if he’s about to cry.
    ‘Um?’ I say.
    With obvious struggle, he gets onto one knee and bows his head against my hand. I have to purse my lips together to stop a laugh from escaping me.
    Then, the men behind him do the same.
    ‘Wh-what’s going on?’ I say. I thought being called ‘my Lady’ was just a way of being polite, and I assumed all the head bowing had been just a weird habit these otherworldly people had, but seeing this, with everyone on one knee—even O’Sah and…
    ‘Dad?’ I say.
    He doesn’t meet my gaze.
    ‘We were going to wait until you went to Duwyn, but…’ O’Sah shoots a dirty look at the old man in front of me, although his head is bowed so he doesn’t see.
    ‘I don’t understand,’ I say.
    ‘Do you know of the legend of the Pulsar?’ the elderly man asks me.
    ‘…No.’
    ‘Their numbers were once bountiful,’ he says, his voice low and expression dark, ‘their magic godly. Once, they dedicated their lives to serving and protecting the Imperium. Devout, dedicated, transcendent. But two hundred years ago each one of them were hunted down and slaughtered by a mad man who now rots beneath the soil and dirt. He killed all the Pulsar, the old, the young, even their infants, who might not even have become Pulsar. Those who sought to help them also shared their fate. They all perished under his darkness. No Pulsar survived.’
    I glance from him to Dad and back again. This holds no significance to me, but my heart is beating unsteadily as if it knows what’s coming.
    ‘The Imperium made a solemn vow that if another Pulsar were to be born into our world,’ he continues, ‘that they would protect them at all costs in the hopes that a legend would arise again.’
    ‘My Lady,’ says O’Sah, and I turn my gaze back to him.