“We are all where we are. There is no changing the course now. Aslendrix has seen to that.”
The remaining trip to the apartments is quiet, the weight of the words lingering. Now that the Maker has taken her position, there will be an upheaval. We saw a glimpse of that within the Chamber, though they will be the most perturbed by the changes coming. They are the ones to lose out.
Tomorrow will mark the first of the burial ceremonies as well as the shift of change, if the rumours don’t swamp everyone after people are dismissed tonight.
Nobody in that room challenged me, even though I am powerless. I wish it were the same for Ever. I wanted to tear that man’s fucking arm off for daring to touch her. Calix’s punch was more than fair.
That’s the reality now. I might still have skill, but I am not the same Aten Ciro I was.
As I deliver my mother back, her lucid, focused state slips further from her grasp, and she takes up her familiar vigil of staring out into the darkness of the window as I settle her into her chair. I’d hoped that no longer having the burden of influencing my father’s emotions and his fear of what might happen or what they did might have lessened her decline.
Maybe my lack of magic will spare that future for me.
Her eyes catch on my bracelet as I stand to leave. The amethyst stone is shining in the centre. I thought it would be a part of me for the rest of my life. But it won’t be. I unknot the leather and pull it from my wrist, clenching my fist as I do.
“Here.” I place it in her hand.
“Aten, no.”
“It has no magic, no power. I told you this.” She clings to my hand, forcing me to stay in contact with the bracelet. Her eyes look scared—terrified—as if she can’t understand.
“Let go,” I tell her, and pull my hand. “It’s okay, Mum.” I’ve not called her that for years.
The bracelet rests in her grip as if she clings to more than just the redundant charm.
“I know you only did your best. You always have. Thank you for being my Advocate.”
“Why are you saying goodbye?” She scrutinises me.
“I’m not.” But as I say it, perhaps I am.
“The Maker will change everything now.”
“Maybe.” But I can still feel Ever’s reaction to the naming of this battle—this scar in Kirrasia’s history—and think that it won’tbe enough. “This isn’t goodbye, but I need to do something. I love you. Keep this for me, okay.” I close her hand around the bracelet, and I leave.
My pace quickens as I head back to the Great Hall. Mentally, I try to reach Ever, but I’m in the dark, our connection dormant.
We never talked about afterwards, and now, I’m terrified she might do something noble and stupid, and leave, citing it as best for me and Kirrasia.
Well, it fucking isn’t best for me. And I’ve answered my own doubts.
I don’t want to be without her, either in a world with or without magic.
She is all the magic I need. I fell for her before I knew the full extent of her power, and now I’ve seen how selfless she’s been—how much she cares—how could I not want her in my future?
I break into a run and race up the twisting steps to the hall, but am barred by two Warrior Officers I don’t recognise.
“Chamber members only.”
“Is Orion Ciro still the Head of the Warrior Order?” I don’t have fucking time for this.
“Yes.”
“Well, fucking let me in.”
They both look a little surprised, but one pushes the wooden doors open. Everyone still seems to be here, and I catalogue the faces and people from earlier, searching for her familiar auburn hair.
But it’s not here. She’s not here.
