“Nathaniel,” Desmond called after him, but he was already gone.
The older witch sighed, shaking his head as he closed his eyes. He had been in difficult situations before, but this was by far one of the worst. This limbo was eating away at his soul, and he could get no answer, no matter how hard or long he lost himself in the magic.
He didn't see Sienna until she joined him in the cockpit in the last half hour of the flight, tucking her thin legs under her. She had changed into the robes that the witches wore when they were on a quest, earth green for Tiros, and dark brown for the Maestros. Her black leggings and boots only made her seem more fragile as her hair fell in her face. She said nothing, staring into the blackness and Desmond smiled.
“I'm not angry at you, little one. I don't know why you think that.”
“How did you know I was thinking that?” she asked, turning to him in shock. “We aren't bonded anymore.”
He chuckled. “I don't need magic to read you, Sienna. You used to do that when you were a child, slink in and sit quietly until things were no longer tense. It's a skill you have, defusing any situation with simple silence. But in this case, there is nothing to defuse.”
“You've seemed angry at me these past few days,” she answered and he shook his head.
“I'm not angry,” he repeated. “You need not worry. Here,” he took his hands off the wheel, “you can land.”
“From here?” she asked, indicating her co-pilot position. He nodded, shifting the control to her. Biting her lip, Sienna focused on the console for a moment, learning the buttons. Then, she moved over a few buttons, keying in a landing sequence.
It popped up on Desmond's screen, and he only had to glance at it to know it was right. Since she had learned piloting from Christa, she had taken to it amazingly well, picking up the procedures of nearly any craft. It was one of many options he thought she could make a career of without magic.
Without even being a witch.
The thought thundered through him so strongly that he felt chills going down his spine. He made sure to glance out the window, to hide his reaction. Normally, his thoughts were concealed. And although he had been circling around this one for quite some time, it seemed earth-shattering to think those exact words.
“Maestro,” Sienna caught his attention and he turned back, pretending to have gained a great deal of interest in the clouds. “Eliza is hailing us. Should I answer?”
“Of course,” he replied. “You always answer a hail from a planet that you are legally allowed to enter.”
Her fingers hovered over the button.
“And if we aren't?”
“Then you turn on your shield,” he said and she laughed as she answered.
“Hello,” Eliza's smooth voice came through. “You made good time.”
“Nathaniel was eager to leave right away,” Sienna said in Jeffroian, a cheeky grin on her face. Desmond wasn't versed in Jeffroian, their native tongue, but he knew her expression well enough to scold her.
“Sienna,” he warned and she sat up a bit straighter.
“Can we do the back hanger?” she asked Eliza, who paused.
“Come around the front,” she said at last. “We will be leaving right away.”
“Leaving right away?” Desmond said in shock. “I was under the understanding that you had a few days before you wanted to leave, your highness.”
“That was twelve hours ago, Desmond,” Eliza said. “Things have changed.”
“I can't keep up with you, Eliza,” Desmond answered. He had known her since she was Sienna's age, and although she and Nathaniel were both strong adults, they would always remain flirting teenagers to him. “Is there an emergency?”
“I just want to get to the negotiations,” she said. “Is it a problem?”
“No,” Desmond answered. “It's a good ship. We should be fine with a quick maintenance run.”
“There's no time,” she said. “Can you make it or not? Where's Nathaniel?”
“Probably asleep,” Desmond answered. “You can talk to him when we land.”
“I won't talk to him, I will be telling him,” Eliza answered.
“Yes, your highness.” Desmond rolled his eyes. “Get your team to clear us for landing, and as soon as the permissions are locked, we will bring it down.”
“See you soon,” Eliza disconnected the call, and Desmond glanced to Sienna.
“What do you think of that?”
“I think…” Sienna paused. “That something has happened that she hasn't told us. Eliza gets defensive in the face of adversity There's a reason that she needs to get to the negotiations faster, and it isn't just impatience.”
“Good girl,” Desmond answered. “I feel the same, but she may not be comfortable speaking about it over the transmission. Go and get Nathaniel, but tell him not to pack.”
“He was so looking forward to spending time on Jeffro, too.” Sienna unfolded herself from the chair.
“Unfortunately,” Desmond answered. “We are witches who have chosen a path that doesn't allow for much of that.”
Sienna glanced at him, his words potent. It was a choice, and someone could choose differently.
She could choose differently, possibly.
She shook the feeling of a stronger meaning from her head as she walked to the bunks. Desmond was simply laying out the truth, she told herself, nothing more. It was a choice, and she had seen her Maestros skirt around that rule more than once. The last time they had gotten caught, of course, Desmond had gotten them exiled. She knew the consequences
She also knew how happy being with Devon had made her last time, and how happy he was with the choice he made.
Being a witch was nothing more than a series of choices, but for her, there was no other path. She had only dreamed of being a witch before her Maestros, and despite her difficulties, she wasn't going to let them down now.
“Mae---” she started as she walked into the bunks, but Nathaniel was already awake, standing at the control panel in the bunk room. “What are you doing?”
“Do you feel warm?” he asked and she paused.
“Now that you mention it. Why?”
“We're just a little bit overheated,” he said. “The engine will need a cool down. I suspect whoever had this ship last did not clean it properly”
“Eliza called,” Sienna replied. “She basically wants to jump aboard and go.”
Nathaniel growled.
“Of course, she does,” he answered, rolling his eyes.
“Can we do that?”
“Not unless she is insisting,” he said, and Sienna raised an eyebrow.
“She is.”
“Right,” Nathaniel sighed. “Then right away it shall be.”
Chapter 4
Nathaniel was always overjoyed to see Eliza, no matter the situation. He flipped between wishing they could be together all the time, and loving the life that they had. They had been lucky enough to experience both situations, and each had their pros and cons. Currently, he couldn't keep the smile off his face as she approached with her team, her long blond hair in twists and her dress flowing in the slight breeze. She was wearing jewels and a crown, which really wasn't practical for low-maintenance travel. But knowing her, she probably had five outfit changes somewhere.
“Your highness,” Nathaniel said, with the dip he used for their public personas. Her people knew him, and they knew him well. He had been around for years, always loyal to the Queen, always working on her behalf.
“Maestros,” she said, and he realized she looked tense. “I am eager to get started on our journey.”
“Erm—” Nathaniel looked to Desmond, who certainly wasn't going to help him in this situation. “Our engine is a bit hot. It's best if we could wait, unless leaving is absolutely crucial.”
“It's crucial,” Eliza said, and Nathaniel knew she wouldn't lie to him. There was more going on than met the eye, and he simply had to make it work.
“Of course,” h
e said. “You can brief us on board.”
“Thank you,” Eliza said and motioned for her team to start loading the things that were needed.
“Any ideas?” Nathaniel asked Sienna, regarding the engine. She glanced to him, not quite used to this. The older she got, the more they asked questions like this, trying to teach even in the smallest moments.
She tried to remember the lesson on this that Christa had taught, but her mind was coming up blank.
“Ice?” she said at last, and Nathaniel chuckled.
“While it would work on paper, it would take an amount of ice that we don't have access to. Think about cooling the ship from inside.”
“Oh,” she said. “We could use thermodynamics and divert into the engine room valves.”
“Exactly,” he replied. It was Desmond's turn to raise an eyebrow.
“Will that work?” he asked. Nathaniel shrugged.
“It's better than nothing,” he answered. “Unless you are willing to argue with Eliza.”
“That, my former Tiro, is your job,” Desmond said. “I am eager to hear what her rush is.”
“I, as well,” Nathaniel answered, as he watched the last of her bags be loaded. As always, Eliza travelled with a small team, ready to spring into action and give their own lives if she so much as lifted a finger. She had servants to dress her, servants to cook her food, body guards to defend her. The witches could defend her, of course, but Eliza took no chances. “Is she moving in?”
“Maybe she has plans for her and you,” Sienna meant is as a joke, but Desmond did not take it as such.
“Maybe I should remind you two how long we were in exile for my behavior with Mariah,” he said. “Do not repeat my mistake.”
“Unless someone on the ship has a wagging tongue, I think we will be all right,” Nathaniel replied and Desmond sighed. Nathaniel was no longer his Tiro, but sometimes, he wondered if he wouldn't do with a bit more schooling.
“That's it,” Sienna said as she watched what she was sure was the last of Eliza's things be loaded on. “We're ready.”
“Always nice to visit Jeffro,” Nathaniel said, as they turned to re board their ship. “Albeit briefly.”
“So briefly I'm not sure I actually breathed any Jeffro air,” Sienna said, and he chuckled.
Desmond watched them trade jokes as they walked onto the ship, leaving him to follow on his own. They got on so well, as they almost always had. The first few years had been rough, with Nathaniel coming to terms with the fact that he was not going to have a warrior Tiro to continue his legacy. But as soon as he accepted that, it was as if they were made for each other. They were often lost in their own, even with the bond gone. They were always together, even when they didn't have to be. Desmond felt that the last few years, he had lost his connection with her, which was maybe to be expected.
He had to find out, though, if it was gone forever, before he made his choice.
Once the departure sequence was engaged, and they were well on their way into deep space, Nathaniel set the ship on autopilot and got up, finding Eliza with Desmond and Sienna in the mess hall. They tried to keep a meal schedule that matched the time zone they were in, which was often complicated and meant eating when no one wanted to. Sienna was evidence of this, poking at a bag of vacuum sealed rations without actually taking a single piece.
“Eat half of that and I'll make you ice cream,” Nathaniel said, sitting down beside her. It wasn't really ice cream, the way he flash froze a fake milk ration and then half melted it, but it was as close as she could get. Anything natural reacted to her body, and her full diet of chemicals was saving her life.
“Mm,” Sienna said, not quite interested. “I think we have other things to discuss.”
“We do, but ice cream trumps all,” Nathaniel answered. “Unless her highness wants to explain the rush in negotiations.”
“I've received intelligence that they have the inner workings of our palace, and a launch code engaged for a thermonuclear attack,” Eliza replied. “We've been at odds for so long, I need to smooth this over now.”
“What?” Nathaniel's jaw fell open. “Why? What have you done to them?”
“We may have killed some of their hostages,” Eliza said and Nathaniel put his face in his hands.
“Eliza…”
“I'll negotiate my country’s safety on my own terms, thank you,” she said. “But you suddenly see the urgency to go now.”
“I see the urgency to go last week at this rate,” Nathaniel answered. “And this is the first stop of what I suspect is many negotiations of talking down thermonuclear threats?”
“Jeffro is a powerhouse,” Eliza said. “The whole galaxy knows it.”
“Because the whole galaxy knows Jeffro could blow it into oblivion,” Nathaniel pointed out.
Desmond cleared his throat.
“With all due respect, your highness, you should have given us this information before we departed.”
“Why?” she asked. “So that your entire organization could know Jeffro's business? I do not need to provide that information when I book a team.”
“You do not,” Desmond said. “We are bound by confidentiality, of course. But the type of team might have made a difference. We are not a combat team.”
Sienna looked at the table then, the words hitting her a bit hard. No, they were not a combat team, although she wished they were. Her Maestros used to be the best combat team in the Order, but that was before her.
“I don't need a combat team,” Eliza said. “I need negotiations, translation and diplomacy, which are the skills you have between you.”
“A situation like that could turn hostile quickly,” Desmond pointed out.
“It won't,” Eliza said, her eyes hard. “And if it does, have you wiped your combat experience from your mind?”
Sienna cleared her throat.
“It's because of me, Eliza. They couldn't fight and keep me safe.”
Eliza's gaze fell on Sienna and her heart softened. The girl seemed so saddened by this, her voice timid. Eliza knew that they were oath sworn to protect their Tiro first, ensuring the future of their order. But the words Sienna said made her realize that the girl felt guilty about it, hopeless.
“We will keep you safe,” Eliza said. “Don't you worry, little one.”
It was the same thing that Nathaniel called her, and Sienna met her eyes at that, the words resonating. This was the only family that she had ever known, the only mother figure she had, aside from Mariah.
“Are you thinking of back up?” Nathaniel looked to Desmond. “I am confident in our skills, but the numbers…”
“No back up,” Eliza said. “The more people involved in this, the messier it is going to get. I don't want anyone else involved.”
“Whoever we call in can be trusted to be confidential,” Nathaniel said. “Sybil and Kierry, you remember them? They are experts in undercover, in…”
“No back up.” Eliza rose. “There will be no need. Everything will go smoothly.”
Nathaniel sighed, glancing at Desmond. Although the younger was a Maestro in his own right, Desmond had seniority
“Check Sybil and Kierry's availability,” Desmond said. “But don't reach out to them. It's just good to know who is available.”
“It won't be necessary,” Eliza said, done with the conversation as she turned on her heel. “You'll see.”
“Eliza...” Nathaniel rose, as well. “I'll talk to her.”
“By all means,” Desmond said, and Sienna half-stood, as well. “No.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “You haven't even started eating.”
“But…” she said, so used to following Nathaniel whenever there was something to be done.
“Eat,” they both said at the same time, and she sighed, sitting.
She fell into silence with Desmond at her side, munching at a piece or two before speaking again. “Kierry will take the tests next month,” she said at last, and Desmond cocked his head.
; “Really? Already?”
“Not already,” Sienna answered. “It's normal. If Devon was still here, he would have already taken them.”
“Do you still think about Devon?” Desmond asked, and she blushed.
“Sometimes,” she replied, putting another ration piece in her mouth to avoid answering any more on the topic. She chewed before speaking again. “If Kierry can take the tests now, I might have a shot.”
He sighed at that.
“Sienna....”
“We are almost the same age,” Sienna said. “And I've been training for longer than Kierry. I know my magic is blocked but there are other areas.”
“There are other areas,” Desmond answered her. “But you are not ready.”
The harsh reality hit her and she stopped eating.
“Will you tell me when I am ready?”
“It is a Maestro's responsibility to determine if a Tiro is ready for the tests,” Desmond answered. Her language skills were just weak enough to miss what he was actually saying. Desmond hated that he knew what words to use to confuse her, but he needed to in this moment.
“So you will decide together?” she asked.
“Nathaniel and I will talk,” Desmond assured her. “Please finish eating. You didn't eat anything this morning.”
“The pills make me feel…” She paused before the word. “Full.”
“That's because they are full of chemicals,” he said. “But they have no nutritional value. Remember that you have to be strong, Sienna, at all times. Nathaniel and I may not be here to protect you forever.”
“Why, where are you going?” she asked, and for that, he had no good answer.
“Finish eating,” he said, sternly, and she obeyed.
She fell into silence as she did, and he found the opportunity to lose himself into his thoughts. He used to sit with her like this years ago, when she was a child, and she would eat next to nothing. Her magic had been out of control then, and they had encouraged her to not to use it at all, until they figured out the solution.
The first time he sat with her like this, he felt Mariah's thoughts invade his head, questioning his choice. He wasn't supposed to take another Tiro, he was supposed to retire and be with her. But he had promised her just one more, if she would just a wait a bit longer. Although he had been drawn to Sienna, no one expected her to survive as long as she did.
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