~
‘The gates of Aurea!’ Vincenzo announced, his eyes on the gates.
Mina shielded her eyes until the light faded to normal. Tentatively, she spoke. ‘How did I do? Did I transform?’
Vincenzo looked at her, his expression unreadable. Then he gave a grimaced smile. ‘No. Perhaps if you’d had a mask, eh? But you told the tale so well I almost did! Don’t let it worry you. I’ll think of something else.’
‘But I …’ Mina began, then stopped herself. She had just reached Tarya without a mask. Only the Inamorato did that, and even they wore a mask of sorts, with their painted faces. She guessed it was probably best if she kept this newly discovered ability to herself until she had time to think about it.
Vincenzo interrupted her thoughts. ‘Look, we’ve arrived!’
While Mina was in Tarya they had re
