Lucan comes to walk at his side, head slightly bowed in his usual stoic statue stance. But, for the first time, I don’t resent the sight of it. For the first time ever, seeing him next to the vicar isa balm. Lucan glances my way.
Our eyes meet, and I inhale; I hold my breath and, with it, the sense of safety his arms gave me the other night. It’s a fool’s hope, I know it, but I have the errant notion that as long as Lucan is near, he’ll help. He’ll keep me safe.
Mum is gone. Father is gone. Saipha’s gone…
As fond as I am of Marie and Callon and they are of me, I wouldn’t expect them to stand up for me and risk their own skins. Not after what’s happened. I wouldn’t blame them in the slightest if they chose to focus on their own self-preservation now.
The high curate opens a hidden door that’s flush with the tall walls of the stadium. It unhinges with a push and a hiss of gears, swinging to the side. He takes us within. The inquisitors are rough with me the entire time, but I don’t bother fighting.
The little space is barely more than a storeroom, and it quickly becomes cramped with people. I’m forced down onto a crate as they release me, crossbows still locked in my direction. I give the inquisitors a dull look. I’m numb not only physically from all the frost and bitter winter winds, but emotionally from the shock of my friend’s death.
“Should I fetch the other high curates?” the man who was leading asks after he shuts the door.
“No. As Valor Reborn, the final decision rests with me.”
“She called off our attacks.” Of course the first thing the prelate does is try to condemn me.
“Your attacks were not hitting.” The vicar regards her warily from the corner of his eyes. There’s a sense of betrayal to him, as if he expected more from her. “A dragon freshly changed cannot be stopped by such rudimentary means. The barrier of Etherlight is too thick. Only one with powers such as Valor Reborn could effectively attack in that moment, but none of you heeded her.”
I hate that they’re talking about me like I’m not here. But I know that anything I could say wouldn’t help my case. For right now, it’s better to let the vicar spin his lies.
The prelate purses her lips. “Very well, but she cannot be set free into the city, given these circumstances. Why not take her to Mercy for at least a final night of observation?”
“You mean to tell me what to do?” the vicar says coldly.
“You step out of line,” the high curate from Mercy scolds the prelate.
She raises her hands in a gesture of submission. “I was giving a suggestion, nothing more. The citizenry will hear of this. Will they not feel more assured knowing she was within Mercy Spire at least for the night immediately following? Could you not say that it is to discuss dragon attack strategies with Valor?”
The vicar strokes his chin in thought. “Very well,” he relents. “But before you take her, I would like a moment alone with Valor Reborn, so that I might give her blessings to carry with her into the night ahead.”
The prelate looks like she wants to object but doesn’t.
“We will be outside,” the high curate says.
The prelate and the other inquisitors begrudgingly leave. Even Lucan steps out with them.
The air feels markedly colder as the vicar places all his attention on me and me alone.
“You are Valor Reborn.” The words are said as though he could force them to be true with his sheer will. “You will go into Mercy, and you will show them that it is where you are meant to be, not as a prisoner but as our hero.”
“I doubt they’re going to allow that while I’m in a cage,” I say dully.
“Leave that to me.” He presses his fingertips together. “All you need to know is that the last thing you want to do, from here on, is disappoint me.”
“Or what?” The Tribunal has changed me—maybe not for the better, as it seems my sense of self-preservation has been worn through. The vicar assesses me as though I’m a puzzle that’s changed its shape. Seeing the new picture of who I am becoming as I’m simultaneously realizing it myself. I’m not the demure and helpless woman I once was. So afraid. So determined to make everyone around me proud. So desperate to feel normal.I’m not normal. I’m special, and that threatens you. A smile slips onto my lips. “I’ve lost everything. My mum’s gone, Father’s dead”—his eyes widen; he didn’t think I’d know that yet—“my best friend was dragon cursed and was shown Mercy. What else is there for me?”
“You are Valor Reborn,” he repeats more firmly. “The savior of Vinguard.”
“And what if I’m not? What if you’re wrong?”
His eyes widen with shock, which is both gratifying and confusing. Surely, he’s known I have my doubts. Why does he look so fearful and desperate?
Did he truly believe his own lies that the girl on the rooftop would change the world?
Or maybe he believed the lie that he’d own that little girl forever.
Without warning, he grabs my chin, jerking my face, nearly pulling me off the box in the process. I don’t even flinch. His eyes narrow, and with a snarl, he says, “Valor or not, it doesn’t matter. You have what I need. Your power will bemine. I will be the savior of this world.”
