“We were fine,” I assured him, fighting against images of the many times on that journey when I thought we mightnotbe fine.
“What you attempted was illegal?—”
“For no good reason.” His brows rose at my interruption. I crossed my arms. “The Undertaking never should have been forbidden.”
We explained everything we’d learned of Lucidius—one of his oldest and most trusted friends—and watched him crumble. Another casualty of the former Revered’s deceit. First my father was silent, eyes bulging. Finally, he stood, knocking his chair out behind him and sending his plate flying against the wall. The china shattered, shards raining to the floor, food dripping down the wall.
Jezebel flinched.
“We need to know, Father.” I tried to balance my tone somewhere between gentle and firm. “Did you have any indication of his plans? His betrayals?”
Hurt bloomed in his eyes. “Is this why I’ve been kept in here? You suspect me?”
“No, we don’t,” Jezebel said.
“But we have to follow protocols foreveryonewho may have known. Things have not been easy in claiming my place as Revered.” Striding to the fire, I averted my gaze, hiding the self-doubt I hated feeling. “Everyone must be formally investigated in order to convince the chancellors of the minor clans I’m fit to rule. The rest of the Mystique Council is being questioned tonight, too.”
This dynamic—this demanding of my father—was unnatural, but I supposed I had to adjust to it.
“He lied to us all.” The pain in his tone was that of betrayal. “Tricked even me.”
“Spirits, how did we end up here?” I thought aloud.
Was Lucidius truly so adept at secrets and lies? I guessed no one really knew him. Not his son, not his wife, not his oldest friend and most trusted advisor.
“That’s the question I’m asking myself,sorrida.”
At the nickname, I turned back to him. “I believe you, Father—I want you to know that. But I’m worried others won’t be as easily convinced.”
“You can dismiss the current council,” he suggested reluctantly.
Part of me knew he was right. Ousting every member following their interrogations would be the quickest way to convince the chancellors that no corruption remained. But that felt like a lazy way to an end.
I was asserting myself as a leader, but I needed toshowothers I understood what that meant. It was not flipping a coin on someone’s fate or turning my back on problems.
“We won’t be banishing anyone,” I stated. “The former Mystique Council will stay here.”
“And why is that?” He was leading me, a lesson like all the years he trained me to one day take his role as Second.
“It would be rash to dismiss experienced advisors when I’m new to rule.” A bit of that doubt in myself crept into my voice, but I turned it away. “You can resume your stay in the Second’s suite. The others can have their rooms, as well. We’ve all taken empty apartments.” Ones we could make our own. “There will be changes to our governing system, but those who are willing will help with reconstruction.”
He contemplated for a moment, finally stepping to me, a hand at my shoulder. “Be sure you take rule as your own,sorrida. It will not be handed to you.”
“I’m taking it now.” I gripped Starfire’s hilt, swearing, “I’m leading by example, working with the former generation to rebuild a Mystique legacy that was crushed under the last regime and uplifting the next age of warriors. I’ll restore my people—our people—back to a greatness we rightfully deserve, but that is not to say I can do it on my own. Leaders must work with those they hope to rule, must listen in order to do right by them.”
Things Lucidius never did.
A mixture of pride and wariness swept across my father’s face, but his shoulders slackened.
“Are you against this?” My voice cracked.
“I’m not against your rule, Ophelia.” He ran a hand down his face. “My daughters—one of whom is still underage—disappeared in the night. You have to understand the fear that overtook your mother and I when we realized where you’d gone. Now, those same girls—the ones I had to teach repeatedly to hang up their weapons as children rather than leave them strewn across the yard—are claiming rule. One is stepping into the position of the most powerful warrior on Ambrisk… I am not denying you deserve it.” He looked between us. “I am not denying either of you are meant for greatness, but I wouldn’t be a good father if I didn’t say I’m terrified for you. It seems we are on the brink of war, and I don’t want you at the heart of it.”
Did he not understand I already was? I had a personal vendetta against Kakias for the rubble she had turned my life into.
“Some battles are inevitable. We can only prepare ourselves to face them.” I crossed the room, pouring a glass of water from the silver pitcher in the corner. The cool liquid washed over my tongue and down my throat, calming my racing thoughts. Spirits, I wished it was rum—or anything a little stronger to cloud my worries—but I’d promised myself I wouldn’t drink for those reasons anymore.
“Besides, you fail to acknowledge that while we may have been irresponsible as children, your daughters have been cleaning up their own messes for years now.” I drained the rest of my water and faced my father again, a smile on both our faces.
