The problem? All the Sunrise Irises were on the Sun Elf side of the border.
“Not on your life, Hels.” Aunt Palladia’s voice brought Hellebore out of her ruminations.
Hellebore shook her head and flashed her aunt a smile, returning to her table. When hadn’t Aunt Palladia been able to guess Hellebore’s thoughts as they formed?
“I would never. I’m just saying, maybe if things go well, the king of the Sun Elves will soften the terms of our truce and we could politely request an iris. We’ve been very well behaved for hundreds of years now. I think we’ve earned a little trust.”
Aunt Palladia snorted, crossing her arms as a dark scowl overtook her face, the same one she always wore when the Sun Elves were brought up. “I wouldn’t count on it. Those creatures would never give you one simply because you asked nicely. The only way you’d ever be able to get one is to steal one. Or trick an elf into giving you one. While it’s been centuries, to them that’s nothing. The current king’s great-grandfather was the onewho lived during the raids and war but for us it’s been eight generations.”
Hellebore opened her mouth, but Palladia was shaking her head, lifting her hand. “Hels, you have no idea how long their memories are. How long they hold grudges for. Trust me, you’ll be lucky if you never lay eyes on one all the days of your life.”
“Oh, there’s a creature out there who can hold a grudge longer than you?” Hellebore’s teasing tone, however, did not banish her aunt’s scowl.
“I mean it.” Palladia’s steely expression cracked for only a brief second. “It’s a very good thing you’re here at the academy and not in the capital, not that I would have let that happen in the first place. No Sun Elf will get within ten feet of my favorite niece. I’d rather they not get anywhere near your brother, either, but unfortunately your father insisted Callahan be present.”
Hellebore rolled her eyes. “That’s because if Cal is in meetings with our father and the elves, it means he’s not flitting about breaking poor chambermaids’ hearts when they see how flaky he is.”
Palladia shook her head. “Better a flirtation with a maid than to spend a second with the elves. My brother hasn’t told me yet if he’s gotten to the bottom of what they’re after. I don’t believe the elves’ excuse for a second that they want to revisit the treaty. They already did when your father took the throne twenty-five years ago.”
Hellebore pushed the magnifying glass back to its normal position and began to swap the vials. “The obvious answer is because of the Moon Elves. My former enemy might be a valuable ally against my new one, and all that. Or maybe it involves the upcoming solar eclipse.”
Aunt Palladia only pursed her lips, staring out the window and at the border. “Those are the most likely possibilities. It would be foolish of them to come looking for trouble with us,knowing the threat they face from the Moon Elves and the eclipse.”
Her aunt’s tone, however, betrayed her. Hellebore followed her aunt’s gaze. “Did Father tell you why he wanted you to stay here? Meeting with our neighbors and former enemies without the King’s Alchemist herself is a strange choice.”
Aunt Palladia raised an eyebrow. “Probably because he doesn’t want to remind King Taiyo of my existence. Or of alchemists in general. We’ve met once and that was plenty.”
Aunt Palladia’s voice scraped over the king’s name. Hellebore had never gotten the full story of what happened to make her aunt hate the Sun Elves, especially their king. The times it had come up, her aunt had always waved it away, promising to tell Hellebore when she was older.
And yet, here she was, older, and still no answers.
Hellebore was about to try asking again when her aunt took her by her arm and started leading her out of her lab. “While I, more than anyone, love your dedication, you have been in here for the whole day suffocating on decay, and you need to eat and rest. We’ll be leaving for the capital in a week for your graduation, once the elves are gone.”
“And?” Hellebore raised an eyebrow as she stepped out into the hallway.
Aunt Palladia wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into a tight side hug as they walked. “And I’ll officially name you as my successor. The next King’s Alchemist.”
Hellebore squeezed her aunt back, ignoring the hollow feeling in her chest and the voice that whispered she didn’t deserve it. Instead, she straightened up and lifted her chin with a proud smirk. “I imagine my father and brother are already fretting about what the two of us will accomplish when I take my position as your successor.”
“Your father has been worrying about that since the day you were born. He knew when he laid eyes on you his wife had really just given birth to another me.”
“We’re just keeping tradition. Every second sibling who proves themselves becomes the King’s Alchemist. Really, what’s so frightening to him about that?”
“It’s not your being an alchemist he’s afraid of. It’s how much we’re alike.”
“What’s so bad about that?” Hellebore’s fingers brushed over her belt. Would she ever be half as skilled as Palladia? “I’m proud to be considered like you in any way. I’ve always wanted to be. It’s my destiny.”
Palladia tilted her head. “Well, in every way but one.”
Hellebore furrowed her brow, searching her mind for any difference there was between her and her mentor so that she could quickly correct it.
Palladia cleared her throat as they walked through the pristine stone hallways. “Except for the fact that you will marry while that was not my fate.”
Oh, right. Hellebore huffed, glancing around to ensure no one was around. “Emerson hasn’t said anything about proposing, and neither has Cal. You know how terrible he is with secrets. If my brother’s closest friend was thinking of proposing to me after I graduate, wouldn’t he tell him? And if Cal knew about it, we would too. He can’t keep a secret to save his life.”
“The rumor is Emerson will propose after graduation, once he has your father’s permission. Why else do you think Emerson went to the capital with your brother? He’s asking for your hand, which he should get easily since your father loves anything that would make us less alike.”
Hellebore rolled her eyes. “It’s not becoming for Headmistresses to be listening to the gossip of idle students.”
