Thom let out a huff. “No. Like you, I’ll go where my family goes. If, by some miracle, they choose the position of chancellor and commander, I’ll consider the post. But I won’t be counting on it.”
Sharing nods, they all sipped their wine, the corner falling silent for a few moments.
“And you, Brea?” Ilain asked gently. “You’ve got three suitors, it seems. Would you accept Wilkinsone, Humes, or Grames?”
Brea hesitated, taking a longer drink, and Thom angled farther to the side in his chair.
“I’m undecided,” Brea said at last. “I only just met Humes tonight. He’s...nice, I suppose, but he’s a Wind Mage, and I’m not particularly interested in living in West Allund.”
“You said you liked Grames,” Thom offered, hating himself for it. He took another sip to cover his grimace.
Brea smirked as though remembering something. “He has a fine wit,” she said. “I could probably be happy with him.”
Ethenn, Ilain, and Vayden eyed her curiously.
“You don’t have to take the position,” Ethenn said. “They found another female Warrior two weeks back, near the border. She’s an army widow with three children, and after talking with her, she’s agreed to remarry and Bond with Highlord Everlye, the Time Mage.”
“But I would be their fourth,” Brea said. “Balance is imperative to magic—to Allore. And, therefore, to the Alliance as well. Presently, they have two female Warriors settled for commandership. If Evylin and I both take the other roles, it would put us in balance with four male and four female commanders.”
“And if Evie doesn’t take it?” Thom asked.
“Then I’m sure they could scour the eastern half of the continent and find one more female Warrior to make up the difference.”
“Why not make it two?” Ethenn said. “If you don’t love these men—if you don’t want to be with them, why make yourself?”
A glimmer of tears appeared on Brea’s lower lashes. “It’s what we do in the Alliance,” she said softly, repeating Isla’s words from so long ago. “We sacrifice everything for the sake of a better future.”
Vayden reached over then, taking Brea’s hand.
Thom continued to sip his wine. The warmth of its aged grapes burned on his tongue. He wanted to curse the sacrificial nature of the Alliance, but they weren’t forcing this future on Brea. They’d offered it as a mere option. She could have anything she wanted, yetshewas the one willing to marry for utility and not love.
“I had love with Adie. I don’t care to replace it.”
If Thom had been alone, he might have smiled bitterly. Brea had already told him more than a month ago: No matter her attraction to him, she didn’t want him. She’d experienced love, and she wanted to preserve its memory.
“Well,” Ilain said, her tone hinting at sourness, “it sounds as though we’re all undecided.”
Vayden finished his wine and stood. “I’m not,” he said. “Where you go, Lainy, I’ll go. For now, I’m going to dance with my daughter.”
They said goodnight, and Vayden disappeared into the crowd.
Ethenn shifted in his chair next. “I think we need to have a long talk,” he told Ilain.
She nodded solemnly. “Probably without the influence of wine. Otherwise, I may forgo all conversation and get right to the lovemaking.”
While her husband wore a bashfully amused smirk, Thom snarled. “Ilain, some of us don’t care to hear about your exploits,” he noted.
“Then don’t listen,” Ilain returned, tugging a quite willing Ethenn behind her as she departed.
Shaking his head, Thom scoffed. “Those two scare me,” he remarked drolly.
Brea propped her feet onto Vayden’s vacated chair. “I think they’re rather cute,” she said. “In Schon, we’re very open with our intimacy.Nos efétes, nos amés.”
Thom furrowed his brow, attempting to translate. “No regard, no love?”
“Efétesis better translated as affection, but yes, the meaning is much the same.”
“A Schonese proverb?”
