by R. K. Thorne
Each member of each clan, when they reached the end of their first decade, would come here to see the emperor and, as part of their journey to become full members of the clan, receive their gems. Her own emerald hung in her left ear now. The bone charm was at home in a chest of other important goods; ideally, it’d be carved some day with her most special, most expert spell. But she would have to reach her third decade to decide that.
If she did, and if Andius let her, all of which was not certain at this point.
Surrounding the glorious tree, six pillars held up the dome, each bearing a statue of its clan’s dragon. The miniature Bone Dragon sat regally on a bed of moss, an olive branch in his grip.
The statue seemed to eye her as they approached the emperor’s dais. As if to murmur, I know what you did. She’d thought the dragon wouldn’t approve, but she didn’t get that sense now. It was more factual, an intensity of awareness. As if its gaze saw her now, more than it had before. The emeralds and bones in the tree seemed to tinkle in her direction, but it must be the wind.
It’s only a statue, she thought. Stop with the guilty nonsense.
But as she trained her eyes on the floor, the memory of leathery wings and wind drifted back at her.
They paused at the dais. The last of a flock of people meeting with the emperor were leaving, and a few advisers were being shooed away.
Emperor Pavan nodded in their direction. “Cerivil, Lara, good to see you,” he said. “I wish you great honor.”
Pavan had long, wavy dark brown hair, eyes like the azure of the woman’s dress, and an easy smile. For someone who held such power, he always seemed at ease, even in the striking red crossover. It was no wonder he’d united them all, even if many said Linali had played the crucial role. A blade hung from his hip, and not just any blade. The rough-hewn, savage-looking weapon was named Shadow Wing for its Obsidian dragon scale near the crossguard. During forging, the scale had fractured into a shape startlingly reminiscent of a dragon wing. At least three dozen charms glittered as they swayed from the handle—jade, lapis, several colors of glass, bone, and wood… so many. And each representing a spell mastered. She could never keep herself from staring, trying to make out the extent of his vast repertoire or admiring the mighty profile cut by Shadow Wing. She couldn’t even be bothered by the fact that a former Obsidian was supposed to represent all clans; it was all too impressive. Da wore about a third on the thin chain around his neck, although he only carried a selection of those he knew, the ones he used most often. His spells, too, had once hung from the Dagger of Bone, until he’d passed it to Myandrin.
“Luck to you, my friend,” said Da. Each clan had its preferred virtue it wished to others in most greetings. As a Bone, what could you have to give but luck? Not much. Da bowed, and she bowed with him, slightly lower.
The room was finally empty a moment later, and the emperor bowed his head. He clapped once to signify that he had sealed the room with a spell of silence, then threw his arms out wide with a grin. “What brings the lovely Bone Clan here to see me today? Some tea?”
“Of course,” said Cerivil, smiling. “The tea and your fine company.”
“And surely nothing else.” He grinned.
His smile was contagious, and there was a fresh spring in her step as she followed the emperor. He led the two of them behind an ivy-covered trellis that backed the throne on the dais. A low table sat with cups and an iron pot of piping-hot tea already waiting. They each sat on a pillow, and to her relief, Pavan immediately poured the tea. Thank the goddesses there’d be no awkward wait to see who would do the pouring. Maybe he still thought of her as a child and she shouldn’t be so happy about it. Maybe he thought of her as an equal. Maybe Andius would turn into a fish and swim out to sea!
She sighed as she accepted the warm cup and took a sip. The spiced black liquid sent a wave of rejuvenating heat from her stomach out. It did make her feel a little better.
Tea distributed, Pavan leaned back, brushed off his shoulder—though it seemed perfectly clean—and clasped his hands behind his neck.
She knew what would come next. Nostalgia.
“Look at you, Pavan,” Da said, as if on cue. “Look at you. I would never have wasted a breath on you if I’d known that the poor apprentice thing was just a clever disguise.”
“A disguise! You know it was hardly that. I wish I could go back to those days.” The emperor was smiling, but his eyes were tired.
“Those were simpler days,” Da agreed, his own eyes twinkling. “And more complex too. The war? The unification?” He paused. “Linali?”
A small smile crept onto the emperor’s face, and Lara realized Da wasn’t just remembering the past fondly. “You name another reason I wish I could go back.”
Da nodded. “We have all lost much since those days, in spite of what we’ve gained.” He sighed, and Lara felt a stab in her chest at the words, but he continued. “But what of the future, instead of the past? When are you going to look for a woman in your life?”
The emperor laughed and rolled his eyes. “When all of you stop hassling me about it.”
“So never?”
“Not today, that’s certain.”
“Ah, well. I do have another matter I’d hoped to discuss.”
“That’s good. Hadn’t thought my lack of a wife was particularly urgent.”
Lara frowned. Da had sent word that this was urgent? Was one young man’s magic urgent enough to warrant all this? Certainly as Linali’s son it merited some special attention, but… She thought of all the advisors and courtiers being shuffled from the room. That woman must have been something amazing. It was her memory that had cleared those people from the room, more than anything else.
Da smiled. “Yes. I received a most interesting visit this morning. From Linali’s son, Nyalin.”
Lara’s lip twitched. Oh, no, no, no. She would need to keep a neutral facade for this discussion. A seemingly impartial assessment, nothing more.
Wait—she was impartial, wasn’t she?
“Yes, and…?”
“What do you know of his magic? And his… relationship with Elix?”
Pavan’s face grew grave. “I know a little. None of it good.”
“I guessed as much. Apparently, they have declared him devoid of magic and denied him teaching.”
The emperor sighed. “I see.”
“He came to me today to ask for a second opinion.”
The emperor’s eyes were trained on his tea, but he arched one eyebrow. “And did you give it to him?”
“I did. And it leaves me in a bit of an… awkward situation.”
She sat up a little straighter. If she needed to argue on his behalf, she would, and she’d argue hard. It was only the right thing to do.
“You see, I was unable to detect any magic about him—but Lara could.”
Emperor Pavan looked up sharply, almost glaring at her father before his features smoothed. “Wait—what?”
“I could almost sense it while she checked. Something very strange is going on.”
Pavan turned to look at her now, and she swallowed under the intensity of his gaze. It wasn’t just a casual perusal. His eyes bored into her as if he hoped to see for himself what had let her detect his magic when no one else had. His casual mirth was long gone. She could tell him about the handkerchief too… But no. Nyalin catching her crying in the graveyard wasn’t really something she wanted to explain.
“They must be lying,” she said, shrugging. “The abilities are definitely there.”
Da shushed her.
“What? If we want them to change their minds, they’ll have to admit that they’re—” He shushed her again, more sharply this time, and she blinked at him in surprise. “What?”
Pavan looked from Da to her and back. “How could that work? Why would she see it and not anyone else?”
“I really don’t know. I was wondering if you knew,” Da answered. “I wanted to know if you had any ideas. You see, I was ass
uming that his abilities might just need awakening. That can be tricky sometimes. But… that can’t be the case if Lara can feel them. But what could hide his powers from me and all the others?”
The emperor looked hard at Lara, his eyes searching her as he picked up the cup. “Well, Lara does have a certain charm.”
She frowned at him. “I most certainly do not.” While other girls her age had grown into beautiful women, she looked more like Myandrin—straight and bony in all the wrong ways. And when other girls charmed men with sweet words, she could never resist the chance to cut into them. Never—it was just too easy. And she certainly hadn’t displayed much charm in either the gardens or the graveyard.
The men both smiled, looked at each other. She frowned harder at them.
“But that’s not why I’m here.”
Emperor Pavan raised his eyebrows again. “And that is…?”
Da took a deep breath, straightened a little, as if preparing for something big. She frowned. How hard was it to say, Tell those stupid Obsidians to do the right thing and teach the boy? Idiots.
“Move Nyalin to my clan,” Cerivil said. “Let me teach him, if they won’t.”
Lara’s mouth fell open.
Emperor Pavan, however, only stilled for a moment before setting his cup on the table. “You’d do that?”
“Why not? We would be honored to host Linali’s son.” Da glanced at her, bidding her to chime in, but she just stared.
“What if they are right? What if he has no—”
“They’re not right,” Lara blurted.
By Dala. Interrupting an emperor even. So much charm she had.
But Pavan only smiled at her. They were lucky in their ruler. “I see. Do you expect ire from Elix?”
“Why should I? They have already had their chance. Rejected him. If they are correct, why should they care if we waste our time?”
“They shouldn’t,” Pavan agreed. “But if they were wise, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“Perhaps.” Da fidgeted for a moment. “All right, honestly, I am concerned with how it might affect relations with them. But what else can I do? Linali’s son deserves a chance.”
Such passion. If only she could have met the woman, lived in an age with a simple enemy, when a powerful woman could make a difference and inspire those around her. It must have been nice.
“And your clan deserves to win the prize if you can uncover that which the great Obsidians could not? It could greatly change the balance of power.”
Da’s lips pursed. “It’s not about that. But yes.”
Pavan glanced at Lara. “What is it about then?”
“It’s about honoring Linali.”
“Only that?”
Cerivil, too, glanced at her now, and hesitated. He opened his mouth but didn’t speak.
“It’s about the truth,” she said. “If he has magic, it should be honored. Honed. It’s a blessing to the empire, and we must cultivate it at every chance we can. I could not stand aside and ignore it, having seen it for myself.”
Pavan nodded, but he wasn’t taking his eyes off Da. Finally, the emperor turned slowly to look at her. “And what do you think of this young man, as a person? Are you willing to have him in your clan?”
She blinked. “It sounds easier than convincing the Obsidians to change their ways. He should be taught. It’s only fair.”
“And if he is taught,” the emperor said slowly, “and he does have magic, and he does well? Excels? What will you think then?”
She shifted from side to side. Did he mean…?
“If you unlock this magic of his, and he wins your Contests, will you regret demanding honor and truth and fairness with me today?” Pavan smiled a little behind a sip.
She started to laugh—if only she could be so lucky—but fell still as a stone. He was serious. Her heart suddenly wanted to pound out of her chest. Of course. How had she missed it? Da hadn’t come here to convince the Obsidians to change their ways—he’d come here to make a play for power.
And perhaps, in a long shot, to give her this one choice. The thing she’d asked him for.
If she wished, she could decry Nyalin as an arrogant fool who’d never truly be a member of the clan. She could demand they argue with the Obsidians first. She could simply quit insisting his magic was real.
Or… she could not. Either way, she’d make a choice. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.
She brushed her fingers across her cheek for a moment.
“No,” she murmured. “I don’t think I will regret it.”
“Are you sure?” he said.
“How can I be? I hardly know him,” she replied. “But… it’s about what’s best for the clan. Please. Let us teach him. I will do my best to honor the dead.”
Pavan raised his eyebrows again. “Interesting turn of phrase.”
She didn’t see how. “Linali, I mean.” And perhaps her brother, who had hoped Andius would never see the inside of the council room, let alone hold the clanblade.
Of course, she was doing her best to see that he wouldn’t either way.
“Move him to the Bone Clan,” Da chimed in. “We will teach him.”
Emperor Pavan smiled at them both, warm amusement in his eyes, then clapped his hands. She blinked. In the moment her eyes had been closed, the emperor as she knew him had vanished and now in his place was a green-feathered hummingbird. She watched as he flitted high—or she tried to. He was a blur, the only evidence of his passing the leaves rustling in their part of the tree, where crystals of bone and emerald grew.
Another branch twitched, a hum, and then he was back before her and fully human again. He held out two chips—a bone charm and an emerald stud.
“All right. It is done.” He dropped the jewels into her surprised hands. “Accept Nyalin moLinali into your clan. Let me deal with Elix. And luck to you, Lara.” He patted her twice on the shoulder. “I hope you don’t need it.”
A hand shaking his arm jolted him awake. Nyalin rubbed his eyes and blinked groggily as two figures came into focus.
Lara and Cerivil were leaning over him. Lara’s mass of hair and braids tumbled over her shoulder, coming close to hitting him in the face. The heat was still oppressive around them, but a gentle breeze blew across him from some unseen window. Walls painted forest green were lit by midday sun—or was it a bit later than that? Closer to dinner? For that matter, how had he gotten here? Had he just passed out on the floor? The other Bone Clan members would sure fear and respect him now.
More important than all that, though, was that they were smiling.
“Nyalin. I hope you’ll forgive us but…” Lara started.
“But what?” Groaning, he struggled upright, making them back away. He wasn’t sick or tired enough to deserve their hovering.
“We went to talk to Pavan.” Cerivil clasped and unclasped his hands in a movement that was dangerously close to wringing. “To the emperor. On your behalf. Without you.”
Nyalin fell back on the bed in relief. “Oh, thank the Twins. What did he say?”
“We didn’t ask him to make the Obies reconsider, though.” Lara was smiling, but there was a warning note in her voice.
“Lara,” Cerivil chided. But Nyalin wasn’t going to complain about the derogatory nickname. Not like there weren’t jokes being made about the Bone Clan.
“What did you ask him, then?” Nyalin asked, sitting up again.
“If we could teach you instead.” Cerivil smiled and puffed up his chest, arms crossing.
Nyalin raised an eyebrow and glanced from one to the other. “You look happy. That’s good, right?”
“Yes. Yes, it is.” Lara nodded, placing a hand on his forearm. He pretended not to notice the strange, sharp stab or the heat of her fingers. “I suppose we should have asked your permission first.”
Cerivil made a shushing noise, but Nyalin only laughed. “It’s fine. Not like I had much choice or blood in that clan anyway.”
&nbs
p; Lara’s father blew out a breath in relief and bowed just a little. “That’s good to hear. If you’re willing to join our clan, the emperor is all for it. We’d like to extend you a formal invitation.”
If Cerivil’s grin was proud, Lara’s was dazzling.
“Sure,” he said before they could change their minds. “I’m in.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Just like that? Don’t need to think it over?”
“Nope. Maybe I should go get some of my things, I guess? Won’t take long, I don’t have much. But then I can start right away.” He frowned. Where was he going to live? Maybe Grel would loan him some coin.
“Here.” Lara held up a hand, fingers poised to drop something.
He raised his hand, and she dropped the gems of his new clan into his palm.
He stared. They looked strangely naked. You never saw gem chips unless they were on chains, in charms, in someone’s ear. These were just… sitting there.
Waiting. For him.
“Well, go on,” she urged.
“Oh, don’t hurry the boy, Lara,” said Cerivil. “It’s a big change.”
Shaking his head, he hurried to set aside the bone chip and remove the obsidian stud from his ear, replacing it with the emerald one. The skin around the piercing only complained a little. He stared at the pale charm and the dark stud on the bronze coverlet beside him a moment longer.
Opposites, like the Twins, the dual goddesses worshiped throughout the empire. One dark, one light—one his past, one his future.
Cerivil placed a hand on his shoulder and chuckled. “Don’t look so stunned, Nyalin. Go on, now. Get your things. You should perhaps tell Elix and your siblings the news too. Although the emperor said to leave Elix to him, so you don’t have to.”
“I’ll avoid that if I can.” He glanced at Lara at the mention of siblings. The idea of being associated closely with Raelt was dreadful but protesting the term “siblings” would also slight Grel at the same time, so he remained silent.
Cerivil continued. “When you return, you can stay here for now. This room will do. My students are always provided with housing, here or elsewhere. And a small stipend.”