Starbright: The Complete Series

by Hilary Thompson

  As I stroll through the mostly empty hallways, I can’t stop cycling through the events of this morning. I was able to help Brenn with his charade and free the prisoner. Then I managed to get Lexan and Astrea into the hidden room. I knew Keirna would be waiting for them, but I hadn’t realized her goal was to actually kill them.

  I figured she expected them to rescue the prisoner because of his obvious interest in Astrea. I assumed they were supposed to escape – abandoning their people and flouting the prophecy.

  This mistake worries me – I know from reading her journals that she wanted them out of her way. I also know from personal history that she’s willing to kill for that.

  Saloman suspected the power Astrea and Lexan might have together. Surely he told his own partner of these suspicions. Why wouldn’t Keirna want that power? She could have found a way to harness it. Control it. Control us all.

  I look up as someone passes and notice I’ve paced my way directly to the classrooms. Suddenly I want something – and I don’t care if it’s stupid.

  I knock on the door, opening it before the teacher can respond.

  “I need one of your students to come with me,” I say, keeping my tone cold and my eyes fixed in a glare. Teacher Renata nods quickly, and I speak Isa’s name, refusing to admit to myself why I really want to talk to her.

  She gathers her notebook and pencil quickly, her expression a mixture of confusion, fear, and anticipation. I wait until she is in the hallway and the door securely closed before even meeting her eyes.

  “I need to discuss something with you,” I say, my voice a little softer, but still all business. “Follow me.”

  I might normally take her to my office in the Leadership Complex, but Keirna could be there, and I don’t want to raise any suspicions.

  So I duck into a nearby vacant classroom.

  “What’s going on, Aitan?” Isa’s voice is barely above a whisper. She tucks a blonde wave behind her ear. Her eyes widen as they fall on my neck, where the stitches are still visible above my collar.

  “It’s about Astrea,” I start, wishing it could be about anything else. “She and Lexan…”

  “No…don’t tell me…” Her eyes fill with tears, and I realize that even if I haven’t been expecting Keirna to kill, others might have been.

  “It’s not that.” I rush to reassure her, resting a few fingers on her shoulder. She glances down at my hand, and I remove it, self-conscious. “Something happened and they had to…well, the prisoner escaped first.” How do I even tell her this? Is this news really any better than what she expected?

  “What does that murderer have to do with anything?” Isa bites the words out, and I gather she doesn’t really know anything about her best friend’s predicament.

  “Just listen for a minute, okay? Keirna has been looking for ways to get rid of Astrea and Lexan for a while now. But that prisoner made it worse. He’s not from Asphodel, Isa. He’s a topsider. And he was trying to get Astrea out. I’m not sure why, but Jasson and Brenn decided it would be a good idea if she and Lexan followed him outside.”

  She’s nodding, but the blood has drained from her cheeks, and she is swaying where she stands. I place my hands on her shoulders and guide her to the teacher’s chair.

  “So this morning Brenn and I helped the prisoner break free while the protectors were transferring him, and he and Astrea and Lexan escaped out a secret exit.”

  “Secret exit? Escaped where? Aitan, I…” Her voice fades away.

  “Isa, I’m sorry. I wish you didn’t have to learn all this at once. But trust me when I tell you it’s better for Astrea. Safer.”

  “Trust you? Aitan, I barely know you!”

  Her comment hurts more than it should – more than I would have guessed. And that’s when I understand I’m in trouble with this girl. I lean against the wall beside her chair and close my eyes, waiting for her to speak.

  “What else?” she says after several minutes.

  “That’s it, I guess. Astrea and Lexan are safe for now. Keirna still thinks I’m her faithful follower. Brenn was injured by another protector, but he’s okay.”

  “But why did she leave without…she could have told me…”

  “I’m sorry, Isa,” I repeat. “I assume she was trying to protect you. The fewer people who knew about the plan, the better. Keirna could find you and question you over the next couple of days.”

  “What?” Isa gasps, and my instinct is to gather her in my arms. But I don’t.

  “Keirna never planned to give her First Leader status to Astrea. Surely you know that. Everyone who supported Astrea was a default enemy of Keirna.”

  “The…the shopkeeper,” Isa stammers. I nod, wincing at the memory of questioning the woman. Even though I didn’t realize it would happen, my report led to her death.

  “Yes, she was a supporter of Astrea. And she broke a rule. So Keirna punished her – harshly, but it certainly isn’t the first death she’s caused.” My father’s face slips through the back of my mind, an ever-present reminder of why I hate Keirna as much as I do.

  Why she is stupid to trust me, regardless of how many times I’ve sold my soul to help her.

  “What will happen now?” Isa asks, bringing me back to the classroom. Her voice is stronger, and her blue eyes are clear again, fixed on me with something I’ve longed to see there – trust. Despite what she said when she lashed out earlier, Isa trusts me.

  I smile at her, and even though her eyes are sad, she smiles back. “I’m not sure what Keirna’s plan is yet. But whatever she says, go along with it. I’m guessing she’ll either put all the blame on the prisoner, or she’ll put it on Astrea for abandoning her people.”

  “Neither of those is good,” she says, pulling to her feet and beginning to pace the room. “If she blames the prisoner, everyone will think Trea is dead. They’ll lose hope. But if they think Trea abandoned them, they’ll be angry.”

  I nod, pleased with her level analysis of the situation. “I don’t know which one is worse, but I think we should watch for supporters. If and when Astrea manages to return, we need to know who we can trust.”

  She stops pacing and pins me with a stare. “You think she’ll return?”

  I pause, unsure how to answer such a question. So I go with something I’ve been trying to keep – faith. “Yes, I do.”

  TWO

  I am, for the first time in many years, indecisive. What I experienced in the hidden cave room has no basis in the reality I accepted many years ago, and which has been reinforced throughout Astrea’s unremarkable childhood.

  But there is no denying the fact that she or Lexan produced fire and wind in that room. They created elements from nothing.

  If they are indeed the star children, and they have indeed abandoned us instead of saving us, then I can only assume I am free to create my own destiny as well.

  I will pray for guidance from the God Sun and Goddess Moon as I conceive a new plan for our city.

  First Leader Keirna’s Private Log

  I watch Isa hurry down the hallway in the opposite direction of where I need to go. I’m more than a little concerned to realize I feel calmer after talking to her. More centered. I’ve made it this far in my life without developing real interest in a girl – this is not the time for me to acquire a weakness.

  Keirna spots everyone’s weaknesses.

  I try to reassure myself that confiding in Isa isn’t necessarily a stupid idea, but even I don’t believe it.

  I turn and finally head for the Leadership Complex, where I know Keirna will be gathering the Leaders. Surely she has developed a plan by now, and she hates when we aren’t easy to find.

  When I enter my office, Keirna’s personal assistant is only steps behind me.

  “A meeting in the First Leader’s office, please. Immediately.” The young woman looks me over, and I’m unpleasantly reminded of the way Anyel sizes people up. I nod and gather a folder of random papers, wanting to give the impression that I’m a
lways busy. After checking to make sure my desk is still locked, I close the door behind me and walk the few doors down to Keirna’s meeting room.

  Four of the other Leaders are gathered at the ancient round table when I take my seat. Keirna is seated on a raised dais, with the back wall behind her. Only she could figure out a way to make a head of table out of a shape designed for equality. Perce and Seren flank Keirna on either side, with the rest of us filling in around the table. We don’t exactly have assigned seats, but these two always arrive early to claim what they believe to be seats of power.

  Maril, last as usual, enters the room, and we all grow silent as she hurries to her seat. She lowers her eyes and slides into the chair directly across from Keirna – the one nobody wants.

  Keirna takes several seconds to look into the eyes of each person present. This is why, regardless of my own desire for power, I’d rather not be seated only inches from her. Nobody backs down, although I’m sure all of us want to. Fear is expected here, but display of that fear is not tolerated. It’s a very strange contradiction, and over the last decade, the few Leaders who were unable to manage the precarious balance have been swiftly removed to other vocations.

  Our First Leader finally folds her hands in front of her on the sleek wooden table. “Welcome,” she begins, her voice soft yet commanding. I notice the others sneaking glances at her injuries. “You are here because above all, I still trust you to have the community of Asphodel first in your actions. However, if I hear so much as a whisper of speculation or gossip about the events of this morning, rest assured – each of your families’ fortunes will suffer.” Her black eyes sweep the table once more. “Here is the official version of the events of this morning.”

  I see a few of the Leaders glance at each other. Of course gossip travels quickly around here, and they will have all heard multiple versions of the truth. The double meaning of family fortune doesn’t escape any of us.

  Keirna taps her papers into an exacting stack and begins to read. “During a routine transfer of the prisoner, he managed to acquire a weapon from one of the protectors. He then threatened Leader Aitan, who made a valiant effort to stall the inevitable. The prisoner pulled Aitan into the Ministration Room, where he was met by Astrea and Lexan.”

  A few murmurs circle the table at the implication that Astrea and Lexan were helping the prisoner, and Keirna clears her throat. The noise vanishes instantly.

  “It appears our young stars have not been honest with the community. The prisoner was in an illicit relationship with the girl we once hoped would be our savior. It appears she wished to abandon Asphodel and her people, in order to continue this unapproved affair. I do not know for certain why Lexan agreed to accompany them, but I believe he was promised a similar selfish freedom from his responsibility to Asphodel.”

  I’m using nearly all my focus in keeping my face neutral as she slanders my own brother – there is nothing Lexan wants more than to accept his responsibility to Asphodel. Whatever cost to his own happiness and even his life, I know that was, and will always be, his choice.

  So I almost miss Keirna’s panic-inducing statement.

  “Since it appears these two young people are not, in fact, the stars our people have so patiently waited for, this means the prophecy itself was false.”

  Nobody even tries to hide their dissension. We are, above all, a people of believers – we don’t have much else in this dark cave. And suddenly, one of our central beliefs is being called false by our own First Leader.

  Again, I have no idea why Keirna would do such a thing.

  Until she opens her mouth again. “In light of what has happened, we’re creating a new destiny for Asphodel. We’re moving topside – now.”

  Silence follows her words as she again looks deliberately around the table, commanding obedience. This is the truest test of such obedience I have ever witnessed, and I think we all pass – for now. Several moments go by in silence before she spreads her hands, palms toward us – her habitual signal that we are free to ask questions.

  Not to question, but to ask. There is a difference in this room.

  “And what are Head Minister Saloman’s thoughts?” Seren asks, her voice carefully innocent as she poses such a delicate question.

  Keirna glares. “Saloman is not your concern. He will give his opinion in due time.”

  Seren raises an eyebrow, but bows her head in submission. This probably means Keirna hasn’t discussed anything with Saloman. I decide I need to pay him a visit – Keirna’s partner usually goes along with whatever she asks, but he has been known to differ in his opinions.

  And he can be a bit unpredictable, so I’d really rather hear his ideas from his own prophet’s mouth.

  “But First Leader, how will we move everyone? There is nothing up there!” Augus stammers. Others mutter in agreement.

  Keirna smiles coldly. This was the question she had been planning for. “For now, we will take only able-bodied men topside, probably two hundred, and mainly from the protectors. Their task will be to build shelter and test a few methods from our Growing Rooms. It is the start of the warm season now, and this will help solve any shortages we have of food and space.”

  “Who will be there to watch the men?” Alva asks. He is the oldest among us, and I can tell by his expression that he hopes it is not himself. I don’t blame him – the thought of giving up my comfortable bed for a pallet on the wet ground is not appealing.

  “I will,” Keirna answers, stunning us yet again. “This afternoon, I will ask for two of you to volunteer to accompany me. When this meeting is adjourned, I wish for each of you to return home and discuss the matter with your partners. No other women and no children or elders will see the outside until we have made circumstances as safe as possible for our people. There is no guarantee of your own safety, but if you decide to aid me, you will be rewarded.”

  I wonder why she is content to be in the dangerous unknown, away from a majority of her obedient subjects.

  Keirna sweeps a challenging glare across the table before turning to face me. “Aitan, I have decided that while I am on the surface, you will remain in charge here. To that effect, I have created the position of Second Leader, and I have chosen you for that position.”

  Shock courses through my body – she chose me? I glance around, seeing my fellow Leaders in equal states of shock, with some reaching shades of anger.

  How can she do this? Why would she? Keirna may be First Leader, but there are procedures to follow. My brain spins with protests.

  “Aitan’s not even a full Leader yet!” exclaims Perce with more indignation than I think is wise. But the others are nodding.

  Technically, I’m still an apprentice. Even though my mentor Claren rarely leaves his home anymore, I’ll remain his apprentice until my seven years’ study is completed.

  The slightest hint of an inappropriate smile tugs at Keirna’s mouth. “I’m surprised none of you have heard. Claren was found dead this morning in his own bed. By our own customs, Aitan is now the full Arien Leader he has diligently trained to be.”

  Revulsion sweeps through my chest as I realize what this means: even before Astrea escaped, Keirna killed a man today. Murdered someone so she could make me Second Leader.

  Her plans are far more extensive than I realized.

  I don’t dare look at my fellow Leaders again. But I’d be insane not to realize what this will mean to them. What they will suspect of me.

  Why did she choose me, when there are so many other, more experienced Leaders available? And why would she – or the other people – trust the brother of the boy who betrayed Asphodel?

  But Keirna does trust me, perhaps more so than the others.

  She shouldn’t, but she does.

  “Are there further questions?” she asks, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. I glance around the table. Most of the Leaders do not meet my eyes. Only Perce flicks a glare in my direction, his face full of jealousy. All five of them are likely wondering
the same thing – why did she choose the youngest, least-experienced of us to step into the second-highest role of authority Asphodel has ever seen?

  But nobody risks any further questions.

  Keirna dismisses us, but as I move to stand, she curls her fingers at me.

  “You must stay.”

  She waits until everyone has filed from the room and the door is closed.

  “Do you have any questions, Aitan? Perhaps you wish to know why I chose you?”

  I nod, understanding that she wants to tell me.

  “I cannot risk having you on the surface. If Lexan is nearby, you would be a temptation for him to return.”

  My stomach sours. Perhaps she doesn’t trust me as much as I thought. The flipside of being in charge here is that Keirna can blame me for anything that happens to go wrong. That would be very dangerous.

  “But more than that, you have demonstrated both loyalty to my Leadership, and potential for future First Leader candidacy.”

  I swear my heart stops beating. I have always wanted to be First Leader. Impossible, of course, but still.

  “I know the power you desire, Aitan,” Keirna says. She leans closer and lowers her voice. “Now that we are no longer bound by the prophecy of the star children, I can choose my own successor. I can give everything to you. But know this: if you cross me, I can also take everything from you. I can ensure that any of your remaining loved ones will suffer.”

  I stand so quickly I don’t even realize I’m doing it until she laughs, breaking past the anger I’ve so carelessly displayed.

  This is the closest she’s ever come to an admission of guilt where my father is concerned, and it’s all I can do to keep from throttling her where she sits, hands folded calmly. Grinning.

  “You will not act on these impulses, Aitan,” she continues softly, her eyes fixed on mine. Black and round and huge. I know what she’s doing, and I’m powerless to stop her.

  She blinks and I’m released. I back away from her and open the door, still fuming that I let myself be caught like this.