Page 32 of Under Restless Skies

Anxious murmurs buzz through the auditorium, mostly incomprehensible, but I catch a few words: war, heir, Auranius, sick, dead, princess.

Almost everyone’s expecting bad news.

The queen passed away two years ago, and perhaps that was the last time the king came in person for an audience. He has two daughters, and it could be something with one of them, but would he come in person to deliver such dreadful news?

The eggs come to mind. Alayel said they could make all the difference. Could it be that the king is going to celebrate this victory? I walk to the front, to the edge of the balcony, and look down, trying to find Alayel, but can’t see him in that multitude. Celine catches up with me.

“Looking for someone?”

“A friend,” I say, hoping she won’t ask any more questions.

She points to a group of people sitting near the back of the room. “Those are the second years.”

I’m not good at counting such large groups of people, but I think there must be about a hundred of them. “I thought there would be more.”

“Some fail, a few are expelled.” She lowers her voice. “Some die. And some are sent to watchtowers and hills away from the city.”

“They don’t wait until you graduate?”

“Not always. And you can finish the program in a regional outpost.”

I wonder what would happen if I was sent away from Dracolius City, far from my brother, but then my memory lapse shatters and I remember I’m not a recruit. I won’t be sent anywhere.

Anger coils in my chest as I consider that I got fooled by Alayel, that I was an idiot for not seeing the wordplay in that shady contract. Now I’m here, watching the sentinels and recruits from behind a metal grate.

No sign of Alayel down there.

The sound of a gong reverberates in the auditorium, and the people who were seated stand up. I lean on the balcony, my forehead against the grate, my eyes locked on the door behind the dais.

An old man wearing a heavy velvet tunic and a crown comes from the door—the king. If it wasn’t for his clothing, he’d look like any other man. So… ordinary. Oddly, I expected something different, and I’m not sure what. A young woman and a teen girl follow him, both wearing intricate tiaras, and they sit.

“The princesses,” Celine whispers. I had surmised as much. “Ledeia is such a…” She huffs, her eyes lighting up with anger.

Princess Ledeia has her head high in an arrogant posture, her long brown hair falling in waves on her shoulder.

“You know her?”

“She’s in my year. Acts as if she poops flowers.”

I laugh, even if I’m surprised that the king would send his daughter to the Sky Academy. “What about her sister?”

“First time I’m seeing her.”

The teen girl, now fidgeting in her chair, clearly nervous, must be Princess Cassiana. She’s a sharp contrast to her sister, who looks like she owns the auditorium, the kingdom, and maybe the world.

A guard passes a speaking trumpet to the king, who steps forward.

“Dear Sky Guard, Sky Academy, Dracolius Council, I’m addressing you because you’re the pride of our kingdom. Our defenders, alongside Auranius. I’ve had the pleasure of being king for a long time, and I intend to continue for many, many years to come, but alas, I’m not immortal—unfortunately.”

Some isolated chuckles are heard in the audience, and I suppose not everyone is sure if it’s a joke or not. I’m not sure.

The king continues, “One day, one of my heirs will take my place. Now, tradition dictates that the eldest son should inherit the throne, and yet, as you can see, I have two daughters.”

Princess Ledeia raises her head even higher, looking down at the recruits and sentinels as if they were some kind of vermin.

Her father says, “As much as I respect the old ways, I also want the best for Dracolius, and that’s why, from now on, I declare that the crown will not be given to my eldest child by default. Instead, it will go to the one who’s most deserving, to the one who’ll be the best leader.”

The older princess’s expression doesn’t change, I guess because she’s still certain it will be her. Cassiana, for her part, widens her eyes and looks at her father as if confused.