“Nothing more than usual. You know how things are, usually drunken brawls. A few occasional insults spat in the market. Haven’t heard about any targeted issues though.” Tryssa clasped her robe at the base of her neck.
Nora sighed with relief, a small smile coming to the forefront. “Good, that’s good. If you hear of anything, can I request you let me know immediately? If this is just an isolated issue, we’re already handling it, but if anything surfaces down here, can you be my eyes and ears?”
“Oh, a personal errand from the new queen herself.” She shimmied her shoulders, raising her chin. “I will, Your Majesty.”
“We also have another request,” I said. Her kind eyes met mine. “You’ll soon hear that we had an issue along the border. I saw the altercation firsthand, and I can say with certainty that any magic wielders who have the ability to fight in the royal guard should consider doing so.” Nora and I exchanged a glance, carrying the unspoken burden of possible impending war with Windguard.
Nora said, “Will you spread that message along to your network? And make sure Sverik gets word?”
She blinked, as if she doubted she heard us correctly.
“Things are about to change in Highcrest, Tryssa, for the better. This is how it starts,” Nora promised.
Tryssa cleared her throat, but nodded. “Is there going to be a civil war?” Her eyes darkened with fear, understandably so. The entire reason she’d established the Magic Supporters Forum was to set us all on a path of friendly welcoming and acceptance.
“Not if we can help it,” Nora said. “Your assistance will help us ensure that.”
Tryssa glanced between us, then held Nora’s stare and nodded.
We departed, stepping out onto the street.
“I’ve been meaning to pay Odion a visit. Should we stop by quickly? He should be at his booth,” Nora asked, staring in the direction of the market.
“No, I should be getting back.” I continued to the carriage.
“Why don’t we stop in and see Kenzie? I’m sure she’ll be happy to know you’re alright.”
I halted. “You’re trying to keep me from returning to the castle. Why?” Not on Nora’s best day would she ever suggestshereturn to the house that sat a few blocks away.
She hesitated, consideration flashing over her features, like she was trying to come up with some excuse.
“You don’t want me returning to Rahana.” I crossed my arms.
Nora closed the space between us, grasping for my hands. I relented, letting them connect between us.
“Melody. It was anattack. It’ll be carnage while they work on cleaning the damage and restoring things.” Her sad eyes plead alongside her words.
“I know, I was there,” I said with no frailty.
Seeing that I didn’t budge, Nora became more heated. “You shouldn’t have even been there in the first place. You were too close. If anything had happened to you—”
Scars from the past made their way to the surface. “Ishouldhave been there, because it wasmychoice.”
Nora shook her head. “This isn’t about that. They could havekilledyou. This isn’t something trivial like walking home without an escort, Mel.”
“No, but it is the same premise. You think I can’t handle myself. Well I did! And you still don’t think I’m capable.” Even as the words tore from me, I knew they were ridiculous, yet I couldn’t help the nagging, festering rage that bubbled up.
“Melody, that’s absurd. Even the greatest soldiers fall to enemy attacks. I don’t want you going back there, not while things are so unclear.” Nora stopped being my sister and started being my queen the moment she expressed her wish. No, not a wish, a command, just without the presentation of one. She held that look of authoritative power she’d developed since taking on her mantle, a look that had me beaming with pride until it now fell upon me.
“You chose your life, Nora, and I get to choose mine.” Separating our hands, I turned on my heel and stormed back to the carriage. Our ride was heavy with silence on the return trip, the confined space brimming with all the things unspoken between us. Nora was right to worry. Only a fool who would think themselves infallible in the throes of battle, especially someone with precisely zero battle training.
But first with Tio this morning, wanting to protect me, then Nora trying to insist I stay, I’d lashed out—had a temper tantrum if I was honest with myself. That scorch of shame prevented me from doing anything other than holding my ground. Like I somehow knew that if I told Nora she was right, I might consider staying.
Returning to Rahana sounded horrible, and after seeing the muted horrors in Tio’s eyes, the ones he wanted to keep me from, I doubted my decision even more. Maybe that’s why I wasso upset, because I knew deep down I was a coward. Just like along the river’s shore, when I turned away from Tio to run when he’d simply said to, I knew the person I wanted to be. Someone strong, someone capable. Hiding behind castle walls may let me bury my head in the sand to the atrocities of the world, but it would be through those difficult experiences that I would be forged into someone new.
I couldn’t let Nora see the side of me that longed for tea in the sitting room, because I was trying so hard to leave that version of myself behind. How could I throw it all away now? The moment our carriage pulled up to the castle, I bolted inside. When I found Tio, I threw myself into his arms, and wept. He didn’t say a word, but his embrace said everything he didn’t.
“I’m scared,” I admitted, trying to muffle my sob in his chest.
