“Good evening and welcome, dear friends and comrades-in-arms. Tonight, we are going to right a wrong that has been weighing on our shoulders for more than 500 years. I want to thank you all for being a part of this journey and contributing your ideas, your armies and your hearts to our cause. Thanks to you, we have successfully not only ensured the help of the wordsmith, but have also captured Auretheos, the God of Wisdom.” He gestured towards me, the guests openly staring.
He continued, “When the moon is up, I invite you all to witness history being written, when we undo the prophecy and once more become the rulers of this earth.”
Cheers erupted and I leaned forward, watching them.
I wanted them to know I was taking a mental picture of everyone that was here in this room.
I wanted them to know I was writing a list in my head of who I was going to kill and in which order.
Someone had brought food into my little cage earlier tonight, but I hadn’t touched it.
I didn’t want anything from her.
As I looked back up at her, our eyes met.
She tore her gaze away and inconspicuously pointed to the food on her plate, trying to get me to eat at least a little bit.
I leaned back again and closed my eyes, just to make a point of not eating the food she had gotten for me.
Petty and stupid?
Maybe.
But it was the only weapon I had right now.
Somnaris addressed Maelis: “Wordsmith, why don’t you give a toast? Something to lift the spirits and commemorate this joyous occasion?”
She gulped.
The Maelis I knew was uncomfortable speaking in front of strangers.
The Maelis I knew didn’t like being the center of attention and kept in the background at all times.
But had I ever met her true self?
She got up with purpose and lifted her glass.
“Thank you, Somnaris, for inviting me tonight and to all of you for coming. I am a little unprepared, so bear with me.”
She was quiet for a second and put her thoughts into order.
Her voice was shaky at first, at least to my ears, but she kept going.
“Here’s to being unapologetically ourselves, in a world that so often asks us to be anything but. To be cherished by those who see us for who we truly are, and to finding the courage to cherish ourselves. To the moments we feel lost, and the ones where we’re found—sometimes by others, sometimes by our own hearts. And to discovering our purpose, not inperfection, but in the journey we take, one step at a time. May we live fully, love deeply, and always find our way home to where we belong.”
Cheers erupted from the tables around us and Ignara nodded approvingly.
But it was me who felt every word.
Not just heard them, felt them.
Like she’d stitched them into my skin.
Something in her voice struck a chord.
As if she’d spoken directly into my bloodstream.
Then I realized she’d quoted me.
