by M. K. Easley
Tristan unclenched her fists, the scarred skin on her palms feeling tight and strange, and forced in a few deep breaths. How dare they, after everything they’d seen, admonish her and act like she’d done something wrong in killing Orion? How dare they--
“Because of those things, there are certain other procedures we now need to follow. Effective immediately, and decided upon on our honor as Elders, you are hereby banned from all community-related activities. This means gatherings, summer and winter solstice celebrations, festivals, seminars, you get the idea.”
Tristan’s mouth fell open, tears springing to her eyes, and she looked at Sol, whose face had gone white with outrage.
“Really Vitalis, is that necessary? Trinity--”
“Broke our laws. Several.” Pele cut Sol off contemptuously. “Sixteen people died. How do you think it will look to the community if there are no consequences for what happened? There was some discussion that we implement this ruling against your family as a unit, but since Trinity is deflecting anyway, we took that into consideration, which was more than fair.”
Tristan’s chest heaved, but she did not want to give the Elders the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Banned from solstice celebrations? Those were what she held most sacred, the days of the year she looked forward to spending with her family the most, and now she was banned because Orion had gone on a crazed, power-hungry rampage and tried to use Trinity as a pawn in his demented game?
“It’s a lot to take in, we know,” Vitalis’s tone was soothing, maybe even holding a tinge of regret, but Tristan knew their decision was firm. “And we know it seems and feels incredibly unfair, Trinity. On our honor, we did not come to this ruling lightly. Next spring, we will reconvene and decide if the ban will continue, and we’ll notify you accordingly.”
Tristan just stared at him. It didn’t just feel unfair, it was unfair. What was the alternative? Joining Orion the way he’d wanted her to and taking the community back to the dark ages? Tristan’s anger was rising in her again, and she tried to bite her tongue, but it was no use. The repeated “on our honor”s -- the Elder mantra, to convey the oath they'd taken as Elders while also subtly reminding their community of who was in charge -- was her tipping point.
“Oh, well thanks so much for that courtesy,” Tristan’s words left her mouth in a bitter, caustic rush of sarcasm. “I’m so sorry it was such a struggle for you to decide to punish me for Orion’s actions. I am sure it was incredibly difficult and not at all a decision rooted in bias.”
“Excuse--” Pele started, but Tristan cut her off.
“I sure am thankful that after nearly losing my life, nearly losing my loved ones, watching innocent people die, and having no other choice but to kill not so innocent people, but fellow humans all the same, in order to make sure the community didn’t fall into the grips of a lunatic, that your ruling is to punish me for his actions. That definitely is sound and fair decision-making.”
There was a considerable pause, and finally it was Bayle who responded.
“I'm sorry we've laid this on you when you're already hurting. I know it is the last thing you want to hear right now, when you've had no real time to process or begin to heal from everything that happened.”
Tristan clenched her jaw, fighting off an unexpected wave of sorrow brought upon by Bayle’s words.
“Trinity,” Azure stepped forward, and Tristan noticed that her eye color perfectly matched her name. “You must understand that while you feel like you're being punished for Orion’s actions, this ruling is the very lightest we could have decided upon for you, especially as you're deflecting next month. I'm not going to have us all stand here while you develop some perspective, that wouldn't be fair to any of us, but try to keep in mind that while you'll be missing two solstice celebrations with your family, there are families in the community who will never have any solstice celebrations with their loved ones again.”
“Don't do that,” Sol said, her voice icy. “Do not put undue guilt on Trinity for the killings. Orion was responsible for those deaths.”
Azure nodded.
“He was. And I'm not trying to gloss over that or to place undue guilt on Trinity. I am simply trying to get an eighteen year old, knowing how eighteen year olds are, to see the bigger picture, and to try to look at this from a community point of view. From our point of view.”
“Trinity is smart,” Axis said, studying her from across the room. “She'll come to that, I have faith. Just maybe not today, when things are still so raw.”
“I don't agree with your ruling, but I accept it,” Tristan said finally, loath to admit Azure had a point. “If you want to take my abilities and go, I'm ready.”
“Just one more thing,” Cimmaris said, and Tristan only just barely held in an eye roll. Instead, she leaned her head back against the couch, rubbing her eyes with two fingers.
“In spite of everything we just discussed, we would be remiss in our duties if we did not acknowledge the prodigious things you did on Saturday night.”
Tristan's head snapped forward.
“What?”
“You saved the community. You performed incredible, advanced magic, and though Orion pulled out all the stops, your quick thinking and quicker reflexes saved you, as well. You displayed empathy beyond what anyone would have expected, under the circumstances, when you paused to protect those in the clearing from further harm, and, most importantly, you put yourself on the line for a community you had no intention of joining.” Abrus was speaking this time, his voice so deep Tristan could feel it in her bones, which wasn't an altogether unpleasant sensation.
She fought the urge to wave off what felt like a bunch of heavy-handed compliments, skeptical of why the Elders had so quickly done a 180 degree turn from where they'd just been.
“As Vitalis mentioned, your situation and how we've had to respond to it is unprecedented, and there is unfortunately no guide on how to deal with the aftermath of a one-man rebellion and massacre -- not yet anyway. So while we've had to decide on consequences for you, we also had to decide if there was something we could do for you, to show our appreciation.”
Tristan opened and closed her mouth, once again thrown for a loop.
“After many discussions, we've come to this. Trinity, your deflection from the community will genuinely be a great loss for us. We've known you your entire life, so we know that you are intelligent, thoughtful, and wise beyond your years. We also know your battle with Orion unlocked within you an incredible reserve of power that would open you endless doors to endless possibilities. Alas, none of that means anything if you know in your heart the community path is not the one you're meant to take. So we'll stop your abilities today, but on our honor as a committee, we have decided to allow you to keep just one thing. Just one link to the uncommon world. Your choice.
We know your deflection is not driven by malicious intent. We believe that when we leave here today, the only ones grieving the removal of your abilities will be us and your family, and therefore we have no reason to believe that leaving you one link will bring the community harm.” Perpetos had taken over, and Tristan eyed him dubiously.
On an irritated sigh, he looked contritely at Tristan.
“I am sorry I implied anything negative about your intelligence earlier this afternoon. On my honor and on the honor of the committee, what I've just spoken is a truth held by myself and my fellow Elders.”
Tristan looked uncertainly at each of the Elders’ faces, trying to determine if there was a catch, or if they were lying. This incredible gift was unheard of, unprecedented, like Abrus had said, and she had a hard time believing what she was hearing. But if they meant it, and Tristan supposed they had no real reason to lie to her about it, what would she choose? Her first instinct was to choose ongoing telepathy with her family, but how useful would that be in the long run? Would it open doors for her, or enrich her life in any way? Ten years from now, would she be happy that was what she'd chosen?
After severa
l minutes, Tristan looked up at Pele.
“I want to retain my ability to read people.”
Everyone looked surprised by this, but none more than Sol.
“Trinity, are you sure?”
Tristan nodded, hating that she'd probably once again let her Mom down; she was sure Sol expected her to choose to leave open the connection with the family. Tristan hurried to explain.
“Oceana is my best friend, and I happen to be lucky enough that she's also my sister. I know that not being able to psychically connect with her will be a hard adjustment, but will not damage our relationship. Ember and I never communicate psychically anyway, and frankly, you and Dad don't really need to have that connection with me anymore, and maybe you never did.” Tristan smiled to belie the bluntness of her words. “But if I can read people, that will also open doors for me throughout my life, in many different capacities. So it seems like the best choice.”
“Smart girl,” Sol murmured, looking so proud that Tristan almost wept.
“Very clever. Reminds me of how someone else used to think,” Pele mused, but continued on before Tristan could react. “Bayle, if you will, then.”
“Wait.” Tristan knew she was pushing her luck, knew she was in yet another situation where she was given an inch and trying to take a mile, but if she never asked, she'd never know, and there were two things she still needed from the Elders.
“Yes?” Pele asked irritably.
“Two things, if I may. First, I was wondering if you can tell me why Entros brought Beckett into the clearing that night. I got the impression that he did it to save his life, but I can't make that make sense.”
The Elders looked among each other for a few beats, and Tristan prepared herself for them to decline to respond. To Tristan's surprise, however, it was Iniq Botterill who answered her question. Iniq had otherwise been silent and stone-faced the whole time.
“A long time ago, Entros Janek fell for a commoner. He joined the community anyway, obviously, but it was a relatively well-known fact that he never really got over that loss. We believe, when he became aware of the destiny connection between you and your commoner, and the fact that you were going to deflect, he developed a soft spot against his better judgment. His choices were to dispose of your commoner immediately, or to bring him before the Elders. He chose the option that would, at best, give your commoner a chance at survival, or, at worst, give you one last opportunity to see him.”
Tristan was stunned. The guards were notorious for their ruthlessness, chosen carefully because the Elders believed they'd put duty before personal ethics when they were called to do so. Entros was the head guard -- it seemed beyond improbable that he would have let Tristan's connection with Beckett interfere with his job. Tristan was no one to him, and Beckett was even less of a blip on his radar.
“We're not sure why your particular situation struck a chord with him, either, Trinity,” Bayle said regretfully. “And unfortunately we'll never know. Entros was a good person and an excellent head guard, so we trust that he had his reasons for doing what he did. It could have been as simple as not expecting that Orion would have reacted the way he did. Perhaps he thought he'd be facing the whole committee, not just Orion.”
The Elders faces mirrored each other's pain, and Tristan was sure hers did, too. She didn't know Entros, but his decision had saved Beckett's life, and had needlessly cost him his own in return.
“We really must wrap this up,” Pele sniffed, but her eyes were still as hard as rock as she looked at Tristan. “What's second on your list?”
Tristan took a deep breath.
“Well, first, I want to say thank you for allowing me to retain the ability to read people. I certainly did not expect that kindness, and I promise I will use it well. I know I’m pushing my luck here, asking this, but I wanted to ask if you could also please leave me the ability to restore memories, even if it’s in a single-use capacity.”
Tristan could see Pele getting ready to reject her request, so she quickly continued.
“Keeping secrets and telling half-truths was what led to what happened on Saturday night. Beckett knows nothing about this part of my life, and that has been on purpose. I knew if I had told him anything, that Orion would have made him a target long before he actually did. I chose wrong. Or maybe I didn’t, I don’t know, and I never will now. Anyway, I can’t keep keeping secrets. I don’t want to. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life pretending we were in a horrific car accident, and he deserves to know what really happened to him. I’m not going to tell him now, not for a while, but when I do, I’d like the ability to restore his memories of that night.”
“I’m not sure that’s necessary,” Perpetos frowned. “You telling him what happened should suffice.”
“I disagree,” Tristan replied calmly. “Imagine someone telling you that what you remember happening is not what happened at all, and they can’t offer you any proof, but they insist, and they’ve never lied to you and you have no reason to believe they’d start now. Wouldn’t that scare you? Wouldn’t you have so many more questions than you would if they told you what really happened and then they were able to restore your memories of it happening so you could see for yourself?”
“She has a point,” Bayle said, and, to Tristan’s shock, Pele reluctantly nodded in agreement.
The Elders conferred silently, and Tristan saw Perpetos, the last holdout, finally relent.
“Both inquiries are settled then,” Abrus said, and Tristan nodded to confirm. “And so all I have to ask before we wrap up now is, are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you want to give up your abilities and deflect from the community?”
Tristan could see the benefits to joining the community now more clearly than she ever had. The Elders were offering her the chance to keep the ever-flowing, wonderful power that had been with her since Saturday night, to join the community and maybe someday even join them on the Elder committee. Tristan didn’t doubt she could utilize her abilities well. She didn’t doubt she could carve a niche for herself in the role she accepted, maybe even have some influence and make a real difference within the community. But she also knew she could do that in the common world, if she chose, and she knew the personal cost of joining the community was still far too high, despite every opportunity it had to offer. Joining could mean incredible things for her, but it would also come with the same basic expectations it always had -- marry, reproduce, raise the children, and then maybe pick up an interest or a hobby, but still ultimately defer to whomever she wed. They were antiquated expectations, and Tristan knew she wouldn’t be the one to change them. Therefore, Tristan also knew, as she’d always known, that her path diverged here. The common world waited for her, and while she was under no illusion that it would be easy or glamorous or always exciting, she could not ignore its siren song.
“I’m sure,” Tristan nodded, and the Elders nodded at her in turn.
Sol took Tristan’s hand, her eyes bright with emotion, and Tristan gave her an apologetic look.
“Don’t be sorry,” Sol said quietly. “I’m proud of you for choosing your own path.”
Tristan squeezed her hand gratefully.
“Bayle.” Pele directed Bayle over to Tristan once again and, just as before, Bayle knelt before her.
“You won’t feel a thing. I am sealing off your abilities permanently now, but on our honor as Elders, we are leaving you the ability to read people, and the one-time opportunity to transfer memories. We are sorry you’ve chosen to deflect from the community, and we thank you for everything you’ve contributed over the years. We are sure you’ll take the common world by storm.”
Tristan smiled as Bayle once again placed his fingers on her temples. It was a quick process, and true to his word, Tristan felt nothing. When he removed his hands, Tristan noticed she felt a little more tired than she had, her side and her leg hurt a little more than they had, but otherwise she felt the same.
“This concludes our business here today,
” Pele announced, as Bayle resumed his place beside her. “Sol, please notify Umbris and your twins that there will be no expectation for you to appear at next month’s gathering, as it will be optional for this one time only. Trinity...”
Pele trailed off, and Tristan raised her eyebrows, waiting. For a moment, Pele looked like she might say something friendly, something that would be in stark contrast to the flinty manner in which she’d regarded Tristan all afternoon, but her eyes hardened once again and the moment passed.
“Do not make us regret what we’ve done for you today.”
“I won’t.” Tristan lifted her chin.
“Use it well.”
Tristan’s gaze held firm to Pele’s as she nodded, feeling more determined than she ever had.
“On my honor, I will.”
Epilogue
Five Years Later
“Ready?” Tristan asked, looking across at Beckett, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
“I’m ready. I’ve only been waiting four years to come to one of these with you.”
Tristan smiled, and they got out of the car, approaching the house. Before they had set foot on the steps, the front door opened, and Olivia came outside, dressed in a black, sleeveless turtleneck sweater dress, a wide smile, and slight panic in her eyes.
“Trinity! Beckett! Hi!”
“Hi Oceana.” Tristan smiled at her, walking up the steps toward her. She tilted her head. “Is everything OK?”
“Umm, yeah. Yes,” Olivia said brightly, rocking back and forth in her red heels. Her voice was unnaturally high-pitched, and Tristan raised her eyebrows. “Ah, so listen, do you know how, do you remember how I mentioned, once, at some point a while ago, that I was sort of seeing someone?”
“Yes,” Tristan said slowly. “You weren’t sure where it was going, because he wasn’t your type. Wasn’t that like a year ago?”
“Types are funny, aren’t they?” Olivia laughed nervously, and Tristan just stared at her. “It turns out that he was my type after all. Surprise! Or maybe I don’t even have a type, I don’t know. Crazy right? Anyway, he’s here, with me today, inside, so I just wanted to let you know.”