Her braid swings over her shoulder with the force she whips her head around, only to come face to face with him.
“General Aster?” she questions, but her stance shifts, her attack paused. “I don’t?—”
“You will be confined to quarters. Attacking another trainee is a serious offence.”
Ascella looks back at me, then to Calix’s father. “You’re taking her side? After everything she’s done?”
“This isn’t about sides. I’ll escort you. Personally.” He steps back a fraction, giving her the opportunity, and, to my surprise, she walks the few paces to her door.
thirty-nine
. . .
Aten
Imark Ascella’s steps as she goes to her room. Once inside, Cetus locks the door, and the tension dissipates.
“Are you okay?”I shout to Ever in my mind, and my heart stops, just for a beat, as she looks at me and smiles.
Everyone else falls away, and it’s just us in this hallway. All over again.
“I’m fine.”
“Did you meet any of the other trainees or custodians? We’re not going to be able to stay a secret here for long.” Kalan brings me back to reality.
Ever walks forward until she’s standing by General Aster, who’s taken up guard duties at Ascella’s door.
“I’m so very sorry, Mr Aster.”
“General. Or Cetus, Ever. Please.”
She nods, and as she rights herself, the air cools, and the familiar colour of sorrow collects around her like a personal storm cloud.
“If you’re amenable, we need to move the Warriors with purpose.”
“What did the Maker say?” Calix asks.
“War will come.” She turns back to Calix’s father. “You need to send scouts. We need an early warning of their arrival. They took me out on the coast, but we never found out where their numbers were based. It won’t just be from Nehandun, not all of them. Protect the borders. All of them.” She gives her instructions swiftly. Directly.
“You’re sure?” he checks.
“No. You’ll have to fight from those within, too. This isn’t going to be like the last time. My…” She pauses. “My parents started this, but the Usher plans to finish it. He’s using the fear of power to his advantage. He’s winning people over to his side with a false promise.”
“I remember the battle. The uprising,” he states, his memory now clear.
“This won’t be the same. For many reasons, it will be worse.”
“You’re a Fifth.” He scrutinises Ever, and I feel the doubt weighing on him, as if everything in him—his now clear memories—only gives him doubt.
With a seed of my power, I push the thought towards him that Ever isn’t the enemy. We need him to believe that. The Warriors need to defend Kirrasia.
“She’s a Fifth. But she shouldn’t be tarnished with the crimes of her parents. There’s enough blame to be placed with the Orders who tried to cover everything up rather than fix things,” I say very calmly as I let the intent take root. I can check my conscience later.
“What do you mean?” Calix asks.
“The Guards. They were tasked with smoothing the transition after the battle. My mother shared that little bit of intel with me. Seems that’s why there’s such a blank space for us.Kirrasia needed to heal. Over the years, the knowledge has faded and fallen from memory, I guess.”
Cetus looks at me, then back to Ever.
