He would reopen the Aetherian Gate. If possible. And he would do so with my blessing.
“Balthor would?—”
I stood from the throne, hearing my father’s name evoked. Shouting over the crowd, I took advantage of the chamber’s acoustics to say what had been on my mind.
“My father taught you fear. Fear of what lies beyond our borders. Fear of Aetherians. Fear of humans. That fear built walls so high, we forgot what it was to look past them. But fear does not protect people… it cages them.
“I will not lead you from behind walls. We are strong, yes, but strength is not in isolation. Strength is in standing in truth, even when it is hard to hear.
“So let me speak the truth… the humans are not what my father claimed. They are flawed, as we are flawed, but they are capable of loyalty, of love, of sacrifice. To deny them is to deny ourselves the chance for a future greater than what Balthor’s rule left us. The Gate may open again. Not as a threat, but as a bridge. And when it does, we will not meet it with fear. We will meet it with the knowledge that Gyoria does not cower from change.
“Transparency is not a weakness. It is the bond between ruler and ruled. And if I expect your loyalty, you must have my truth. So know this… I stand with King Galfrid’s vision. And if you stand with me, then Gyoria will not merely survive its past; we will rise from it.”
Silence.
Better they understood where I stood and revolted than I continued my father’s recent tradition of leading under a mountain of lies.
The D’s clapped. My Council clapped. One by one, enough joined in to drown out the voices of dissent. It was not a rousing victory… too many still thought as my father had, as I had, and it would take time to mend those divisions. But we had no choice but to try.
Eventually, the hall emptied. My Council congratulated me on a successful day. And only Dren and Dell remained.
“Finally,” Dren said as I stood. “Dell has been receiving an urgent whisper for some time.”
Dell’s expression confirmed it.
“Why did you not tell me?”
“This was not a day to be rushed. Seeing me this way, and as an advisor, is… overwhelming for some to handle.”
“What is it?”
He shrugged. “I do not know. Lyra asked only to let her know when you are available.”
“I am available,” I said impatiently. “Quickly, reach her. I wish to know if she is well.”
Dell smiled. “Well enough. I am whispering with her already,” he said, putting his finger to his lips. It was torture, to communicate with Lyra this way. Never to be able to ask the questions I most wanted to, though I should have been grateful for this connection to her.
I knew from Dell they’d attempted once again to open the Gate with Mev presiding instead of her father, to no avail. I learned that Queen Nerys and Rowan had returned to Thalassaria, and that the courtyard had finally been fully restored. I knew she and Mev spent their days searching for answers, to no avail.
What I didn’t know was if she missed me. If Lyra still loved me. If she thought of us, wondered if there was a future for us together, and had as many sleepless nights as I did.
The Aetherian’s eyes widened. Even Dren seemed to notice that whatever Lyra said, it was significant.
“Tell me,” I said as Dell waved a hand for me to remain silent. With a sound of frustration, not knowing if she was well, I considered what in the throne room needed to be demolished first so that I could potentially speed up its demise.
“Terran.” Dren brought my attention back to Dell.
“She said they know how to open it. That she understands your position here is tenuous but if there is a way that you’re able to travel there… to come as quickly as you are able. They are going to try again and are hopeful it might work. And…” He stopped.
I urged him to continue.
“That Kael would like to speak to you before he goes through.”
Head in my hand, I rubbed my temples, attempting unsuccessfully to remain calm. He’d warned me last time of his intentions, but the Gate was so unstable, allowing Mev through but none other… If they could open it, there was a chance, and Kael knew it, he may never return.
Dren looked at me.
“What do you think?”
