I set down my sterling silver cutlery. Dom and Alex follow suit. My father may not want to discuss it further, but he doesn’t have much of a choice. We deserve to know what happened, what the monarchs have agreed to. We deserve to know how the rest of our lives are going to play out. I understand that the violence has reached levels that cannot be ignored, that innocent people arelosing their lives because of the Uprising’s attacks, but I still cannot stomach the thought of surrendering to them.
My father’s fist tightens around his own cutlery before he lets the pieces fall to the table with a clatter. “I suppose I can only delay this conversation for so long.” He gives each of us a long, searching look. “We have come to an agreement with the Uprising. The newspapers will be announcing the formal surrender tomorrow. I know it is not what we wanted, but I do believe we made the right decision. The latest attack—” His mouth purses into a tight line. “Well, let’s just be grateful it was on Talian soil and not Scotan.”
I scoff, the sound echoing around the mostly empty room. “How can you even say that surrendering is the right decision? Isn’t now the time to fight back harder?”
He shoots me a withering look, making me feel like an insignificant child. “You do not even know the terms.”
“Is one of the terms that the Gifted will regain their full rights and privileges?”
“Yes.”
I sit back in my chair. “Then I don’t need to hear anything more.”
Dom looks between the two of us, hesitating before she tries to make peace. “I know it might sound unbelievable, but I do think the Uprising has good intentions and is going to do their best to create a unified country where every citizen can thrive.”
I think highly of my younger sister, and therefore refrain from calling out her naïveté. Though my silence does the job well enough.
“I, for one, would be interested in hearing about the terms,” Alex ventures after a minute of awkward silence.
Father refills his wineglass. “The monarchs agreed to relinquish our claims on our individual provinces. We will give up both our land holdings and our titles.”
I have to fight back the triumphant smile when Dom blanches at that news. How will she feel when some Gifted sympathizers, or even the Gifted themselves, move into her bedroom? Take over the boxing ring and tear down the artwork and destroy hundreds of years of family history.
“And the Gifted?” I ask through clenched lips, hating that I have to.
“The laws regarding the Gifted’s ability to bear children, gather in groups, own businesses, and work without a sponsor will be rescinded as soon as the new government secures their place.”
“How will the new government be selected?” Alex questions, his eyes darting to me.
“They have not determined that yet. But they did concede one point to us.”
I bite my tongue to keep in my sarcastic retort because so far these terms seem wholly weighted in the Uprising’s favor. I cannot help but feel like we should have fought harder before giving in.
“Though I and the other current monarchs will be ineligible for any position in the new government, our descendants will not be similarly barred.”
Dom and I exchange looks, the implication in this news clear. I have been primed to take over leadership of Scota from the moment I was born. Scota doesn’t forbid women from inheriting titles, unlike the other three provinces, but I was born first, and Dom has never shown any interest in leadership. If one of us is going to work within this new government, it’s going to be me.
Truthfully, I want nothing to do with this new government, would leave Avon altogether if I thought it would make my life easier. But Father said the laws regulating the Gifted won’t be officially rescinded until the new government is in place. Which means there might be hope still left.
“However it is the Uprising decides to select a new leader, we all know what needs to be done.” Father picks up his knife and fork once again.
Dom’s and Alex’s eyes land on me.
Father spears a bite of roasted meat on his fork, with more fervor than required. “I can admit, I do not know what comes next, but what I do know is that we will do whatever it takes to protect Scota and protect this family’s legacy.”
I swallow thickly, burying my gaze in my plate of food, even though I no longer have an appetite. Ruling not just Scota, but the entire country of Avon? Running a new government full of people whose ideologies don’t match with mine? “I do not know if I am up to the task.”
Father swirls the wine in his glass, his outwardly calm appearance hiding whatever true emotions he feels about losing his title and legacy. “There is no doubt in my mind that you are the leader Avon needs, Callum, and you must be prepared to do whatever it takes.”
“What if whatever it takes is something I’m not willing to do?” I know I sound like a petulant child, but I want him to give me more. I need him to show me that the loss of life as we know it is as devastating to him as it is to me. I need to know that he thinks this is truly the best course of action for Scota, that he’s not just rolling over to play dead.
He leans his elbows on the table, pushing his plate out of the way. His dark eyes meet mine, piercing. “Are you telling me you wouldn’t do anything to keep this family’s legacy? To protect the citizens of Scota? To build a society where all citizens of Avon can be cared for and prosper and live in safety?”
Heat flames my cheeks as shame flows through me. “You know I would.”
“Then let this argument be done. Whatever the decision might be, whenever it is to be handed down, you must be ready to act, son.”
I push back my chair, needing to escape the heavy stares from my sister and uncle. My father has already dismissed me, waving for a servant to come clear my plate.
