by Chloe Cullen
Her eyes flew back to him and felt as her heart started a gallop. He was going to remove the tattoo from the inside of her arm for leaving the Legion. Cori felt conflicted, knowing that she didn’t want to return to them. Yet the mark that sat on her left wrist was the same mark that had sat on her family’s wrists for generations, and she would feel strangely naked and torn apart from them if it were to be removed from her.
Maveron continued to speak. “You know I have never believed in beating around the bush, so I’ll get straight to the point. It is time you returned to us and resumed your place here.”
They watched each other for a long moment, Maveron keeping still and silent to await her response, and Cori doing the same because she couldn’t find a response to give. The silence stretched on for an uncomfortable moment before Maveron shifted in his seat again, clearing his throat.
“I do understand why you wanted to leave,” Maveron started, his eyes never leaving Cori’s, “but - you know as well as I the laws of the Legion. You cannot wear that tattoo and not be a Legionnaire. It is simply not possible.”
Cori balked at the idea of them removing the skin from her forearm, to remove the black tattoo that sat there. The careful drawing of an ‘L’ to represent the Legion, sitting in the centre of the inside of her wrist. The tattoo that she had been so proud to bear once upon a time.
“Why?” Cori asked, defensive, “why does it even matter anymore?”
“Now, Cori—”
“No,” She interrupted him, speaking quickly, “I understand why it was necessary before when there was magic.” Cori gesticulated wildly, pointing to her tattoo while Maveron looked on gravely. “But now it’s just a symbol – there isn’t any magic in the tattoos anymore – so why can’t you just leave me be?”
Once, the tattoos had been imbued with the Gods’ magic, giving the Legionnaires unnatural strength and speed. Now it was just a patch of ink on her skin.
Maveron shook his head slowly. “It isn’t about the magic, Cori. It is about what the tattoo represents. I was standing amongst the Legionnaires that day after the magic and the Gods had abandoned us. And President Nellis spoke to the people for the first time in months. We had been scattered, both Legion and people alike, not knowing how to carry on, not knowing how Holmfirth would carry on.”
Cori sat, unable to speak.
“He told the people that we carried on by being exactly who we were before, but without the magic. That even without the Gods, we were human, and we were resourceful and clever and would rise up and carry on. That we would keep our traditions alive. So, the Legion Five remained, without the Gods to bless them, and the Legionnaires remained, without the blessed ink in their tattoos. But… what that tattoo represents… that also remained.”
Finally, Cori found her voice. “So, you do intend to de-brand me, then?”
Sadness crept into his eyes. “That is the last thing I want to do.”
Maveron stood, and her eyes tracked him as he paced towards the bookshelves. With his back to her, he reached out to take a tome from the shelves and turned again towards the room.
“I owe your father a debt, and regardless of how much you are already like family to me, I could not forsake this debt and leave you out in the streets. I swore I would always protect you and so—”
“I don’t need protecting,” Cori said with more fierceness in her voice than she knew was necessary.
Maveron barely blinked at her statement, instead a side of his mouth tilted upwards as he placed the tome down on the desk in front of him. “I don’t doubt it. You are one of the strongest and most capable women I have ever known, and you have carried more burdens than any one person should ever have to shoulder in their lifetime. But I cannot deny that your father wanted you here…”
Cori stood, too, though didn’t move a step. “If my father had known what would happen, he would have forced us to leave. Do not deny that.”
Now Maveron did look away from her before speaking again. Cori could see a deep, unending sadness in his eyes, and she felt a moment of regret for the tone behind her words.
“Yes. I do believe that had Brennan been able to see what would come to pass, that he would have done anything within his power to stop it. But it did happen, and I must believe that now he would want you to be here with us, among those you can still call family.”
Family.
It was such a powerful word, but could Cori still consider these people her family? Would they truly die to protect and defend her, like she would have done for them years ago?
Despite herself, she felt moisture welling in her eyes and Cori turned from him to blink the treacherous tears away.
When she had gathered herself, Cori glanced over to him and said, “I have always had a lot of respect for you, Maveron. You were a great friend to my father, and a mentor to me. But when it comes to him in this instance, I find it hard to believe that you would know anything about what he would want. You weren’t there. You and Thoren both were not there to watch people and your loved ones die—”
“I loved your father very much,” Maveron interjected, his voice was sharp with a jaded sorrow.
Again, they held each other’s eyes for a moment longer than would be considered comfortable in a normal conversation.
Finally, Cori released a slow and calming breath through her nose. “I’m sorry, Maveron, but I can’t do what you are asking me to do. I can’t return like that day never happened, so if you need to de-brand me then that’s just what you’re going to have to do.”
Cori walked towards the double doors and opened them to leave without being granted an exit from the President. Another dishonourable act, but at this point, what did it matter? She had come, and had heard what Maveron wanted to say, but she simply could not give him what he wanted. Cori caught his last words but didn’t pause as she rounded the corner and continued down the corridor.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
5
The moment Cori stepped outside the grounds of the Legion Compound, she sucked in a deep lungful of air, eyes closed against the chaos of emotion.
When she opened her eyes again, Cori saw people bustling around her. This was the busiest road in all of Everton, which started with the Compound and spanned a long and barely noticeable incline, until you reached the Royal Palace at the highest end of the road. The road itself housed the richest in Everton, and too many stores where you can purchase rich fabrics and frilly dresses. Cori could barely glance up the street that she had used to walk every day.
With quick, sure steps, Cori moved towards a row of carriages that awaited customers, choosing to leave quickly and not linger.
Conflicting feelings warred within her after her visit with Maveron and seeing the inside of the Compound for the first time in two years. It was a strange mix of belonging and… not belonging.
Yet when Cori stood in her apartment a few hours later, she looked around at the small, empty space and couldn’t help but feel as though she didn’t belong there either. There was the small sofa, a bookshelf and a worn-out rug on the floor. She could barely spot a handful of her own items that she had added to the apartment over the years. Her belongings were mainly clothing and an array of scarves that she always wore around her left wrist to hide the tattoo.
When Cori stood in the centre of the living area and beheld the place that she had called home for the past two years, she felt a strange emptiness inside of her. She realised she didn’t really belong anywhere.
Cori considered walking down to the Weary Fairy, to find some comfort in a deep drink, and the banter that always came with Adeline, when there was a loud knock on her door.
A smile crept onto Cori’s face, knowing who it would be considering she’d only ever had one guest before, and so called out for them to come in.
Adeline sauntered inside with an easy greeting, making herself at home the way she had done countless times before. She immediately took two small glasses and poured
a healthy portion of amber liquid from a bottle she had brought with her.
“I was just thinking about coming down to see you,” Cori said and Adeline smiled at her.
“I must be a mind reader, then. Are you feeling any better? You did look quite pale when I saw you this morning,” Adeline asked as she handed Cori a glass and took a seat, lifting her own drink to her lips for a sip.
Cori held the glass in her hands and stared at Adeline guiltily for the lie she had told to get out of work earlier that day. Scuffing her feet against the wooden floors uncomfortably, she decided that now was the time to be completely honest. Cori had so many questions firing through her head, and she wanted nothing more than to have somebody to talk to about it. Cori took a large gulp of her drink, barely tasting the liquid as it passed over her tongue and burned its way down her throat. Looking at her feet, Cori finally answered.
“Ade, I have to tell you something.”
Adeline looked at her expectantly.
“This morning, I wasn’t sick at all. I… went to the Royal Quarter.”
“You did? What for?”
“I went to… uh…”
“You went to the Legion Compound,” Adeline said matter-of-factly, like it was the only reasonable explanation.
Cori looked up at the other girl, surprised that she had spoken the truth so easily.
“How…?” Cori trailed off questioningly, and then she understood. Adeline had already known before today. She took another sip of her drink, letting the liquid burn in her chest and give her the resolve to get through this exposing conversation. “You know, then. That I was in the Legion.”
“Well, I had guessed it. I mean, you always hid your left wrist, right where the tattoo would be.” Adeline gave Cori a thin-lipped smile with no humour behind it. “And that guy who came looking for you yesterday was from the Legion, so…”
Adeline shrugged her shoulders, like it would be obvious to anyone. While Cori could agree with that somewhat, she also knew that Adeline was the only person who paid enough attention to Cori to have figured that out.
“You’re not angry with me?” Cori asked. There was an irrational fear inside of her that believed Adeline would be upset at the lies she had told.
“Why would I be angry?” Adeline said, as though genuinely confused by the question, “I mean, of course I wish that you had felt like you could tell me. I wanted to guess it a hundred times during our silly game, but I didn’t want to force you to tell me. I want you to know that I never would have told anyone, but I do understand why you didn’t share. Almost anyone around here would turn in a rogue Legionnaire without even thinking twice about it. It’s like, what… 20 silver coins?”
Cori cringed, thinking about the old law that if a Legionnaire went AWOL without a de-branding, then they were considered rogue, and would be found and dragged back with the harshest of punishments. It was not like that anymore, but there was still a high reward for finding a rogue Legionnaire and bringing them back to have their tattoo officially removed in front of everyone. “Something like that.”
Adeline sighed through her nose. “I’m just saying I get it. But you can trust me… I would never have turned you in.”
Cori nodded, looking into her drink to blink away the stinging she felt behind her eyes. It was a strange feeling, having someone who she could confide in again. It had been a while since Cori had someone like that in her life.
Adeline took another slug of her drink before speaking again. “But I guess they found you anyway. Can I ask… why did you leave? I mean, you’re a Legionnaire! I kind of always dreamed of being one when I was a little girl.”
Cori gave Adeline a faint smile and was amused to find her looking a little sheepish. With another deep drink from her glass and finishing it, Cori sat the empty glass down next to her and took a deep breath. Full honesty was going to mean delving into her past.
“I was born into it.” Cori started, conjuring the image of her family, even though it brought tears to her eyes. “My father was in the Legion, my grandmother and grandfather were in it, and this goes back for many generations. I was a legacy, and so life forced me into it. I guess life also kind of forced me out of it.”
Adeline sat forward a little in her seat. “Because you decided you didn’t want it? Because you felt as though you didn’t get a choice?”
“I suppose I decided that after—” Cori swallowed thickly. “You must remember two years ago…”
When Cori couldn’t say the words, Adeline took a thoughtful moment before her eyes widened with realisation. “Oh… yes of course I remember. I can’t imagine anyone would forget the Massacre. You were part of it, then?”
Forcing a resolute calm into herself, Cori nodded. “I was there.”
“Did you lose people?” Adeline asked softly, her eyes full of concern.
Breathe. Just breathe.
“My family was killed during the attack.”
There was a beat of silence where the truth radiated around the room. Cori lowered her head to stare at her hands, her mind resonating with the echo of grief.
“I’m so sorry. You told me you didn’t talk about your family, but I had no idea that they had been…”
“It’s okay,” Cori said, “it was a terrible day for a lot of people. Many died, and… the Legion lost their President… who was my father.”
Adeline sat bolt upright at Cori’s words, causing Cori to jump a little at the sudden, unexpected movement.
“Get out!” Adeline said in a high-pitched voice, “You’re an Oakheart?”
Uncomfortable again, Cori both nodded and shrugged at the same time. “Uh, yeah…”
“Oh…” Adeline’s eyes were practically crackling with her energy and excitement. “I grew up reading stories about your family, the history of the Oakheart’s is so fascinating. You’re so right that the whole world grieved the day of the Massacre, losing all those people as well as… oh, gosh Cori, I’m so sorry. I had no idea you were her. They called you the Lone Oakheart after that day, but they never mentioned that you had left the Legion.”
The Lone Oakheart.
Cori had heard that name floating around the East Markets, spoken by the drunken men and women telling stories and spreading their rumours. That name that was so casually spoken from many lips had caused her a lot of pain over the last two years. The truth of it cut right through her. She was the last Oakheart, and she was utterly alone.
“Of course they never mentioned I had left. Probably didn’t want it getting out. They would usually make a de-branding public.” Cori removed the scarf from around her wrist, letting the fabric fall to the floor and turned her hand to face palm upwards. The ‘L’ tattooed into the inside of her arm was a stark, shining black symbol of her previous allegiance.
“So, they never actually took your mark?” Adeline asked, her eyes trained on the letter that had always been there, just hidden.
“Nope,” Cori said, her fingers brushing over the slightly raised skin. She could still remember the pain of having the brand inked into her skin, but she had taken it with pride and devotion to what it symbolised.
“I thought that was impossible. I didn’t think they would let you leave the Legion still wearing the mark.”
Cori nodded. “It’s supposed to be, but I never gave them much of a choice. I didn’t ask or tell anyone that I was leaving. I packed my things the day after the attack, and I walked out without looking back.”
Adeline looked at Cori sadly, but then it morphed into a playful smile. “And you came here… only an hour away? You know, you could have gone further if you wanted to be discrete.”
“Gods, I know,” Cori said exasperatedly with a shake of her head, “I had always thought I never wanted to go back, but I think part of me wanted to keep it all close, in case I…”
“Changed your mind?” Adeline guessed.
Cori put her head in her hands, feeling confused. “No. Yes… I don’t know. I mean, I didn’t even change my
name. If I never wanted to go back, if I didn’t want to be found, wouldn’t I have changed my name, my identity and travelled as far away as I could?”
“I don’t know, Cori. I suppose only you can answer that,” Adeline said softly, and reached out to take Cori’s hand with a gentle and comforting squeeze, “but it sounds like you still feel linked to them, and that maybe you didn’t truly want to leave them forever.”
Cori looked back up to the other girl. “I’m just not sure what I want.”
Ade looked thoughtful for a moment, and then she smiled excitedly at Cori, eyes lighting up once again. “You know, I read that the Oakheart’s were famous for their magical abilities. That they were descended from Andromeda Earth-Mover herself.”
Cori nodded in acknowledgment. “My mother was a Terraformer. My father used to tell us stories… but for some reason she never joined the Legion. She would have been a skilled fighter, being able to use the earth to her advantage.”
Adeline shook her head. “I can’t imagine having that kind of power. I wonder if you would have developed the same magic as your mother… but I suppose we all have to live without magic now.”
“I actually count myself lucky,” Cori said and then laughed quietly at the confused look on Adeline’s face, “I mean, I was too young to have known what it was like… to have magic. So, I’m not missing anything. But… I can still see it in the faces of those who had been a Diviner… like they’re missing a vital part of themselves.”
With a grave nod, Adeline said thickly, “I will never forget the feeling. Like someone had reached into the essence that made up who I was and squashed a piece of it. The pain was… unlike anything. But I was so young, I don’t want to think about how hard it was for those who’d been a Diviner for years and had it taken away from them.”
“It still must have been difficult, I’m sorry you lost that part of you.”
Adeline smiled and shook her head. “It’s okay. I guess you’re right, you are one of the lucky ones. But I don’t doubt you would have been as powerful as your mother.”