Chapter 80 #2
“You’re doing what I did so many years ago,” Orra said. “You’re interfering in ways that the Sun would not approve.”
Uncertainty flickered across Andreas’ face, and he turned to Reyna. “Perhaps we should listen.”
“The same way you listened to my doubts all those years ago?” Reyna asked.
He flinched and hung his head.
“I doubted your ideas.” Reyna stepped forward, chin raised as she approached Orra. “I sensed your actions would not be approved by the Sun. Even as I began to split the earth for you, I felt the wrongness of it.”
“And so you backed away,” Orra said. “I don’t blame you for that. You made the right choice then, but I think you’re making the wrong choice now.”
“And why should I trust your judgment after all your failings?”
Orra hesitated, knowing the question was a good one. The number of Stars staring back at her had grown to at least fifty, with more still landing on the turret, their glow receding until they resembled familiar forms from her past. She had to get them to reconsider.
She raised her voice, ensuring all would hear. “Tell me, has the Sun approved this endeavor? Has the Sun chosen the Ahmranans to receive some sort of additional gift like I hear you’ve promised?”
Reyna frowned. “All of these Ahmranans have starlocks. They’ve been chosen by the Sun and blessed by the Stars. What more do you need?”
“The king and queen were also chosen and blessed by the Stars. If my guess is correct from the time I’ve been with them, they were gifted by Lumina and Andreas.”
One of the Stars near Andreas shifted uncomfortably. Moonlight revealed the worry in her eyes as she exchanged a glance with him, confirming Orra’s suspicions.
“If you let Mayvus win, the king and queen will join the Sun tonight and you’ll receive your locks of hair back.”
“It’s the nature of life for these mortals,” Reyna said. “There’s nothing wrong with them dying and being relieved of their starlocks. They join the Sun. We’re giving them a gift.”
A bitter huff escaped from Orra’s lips. “A gift? And what gift are you promising the Ahmranans? What is the benefit to you if they come over here and take over the Vendaran lands?”
Reyna folded her arms across her chest. “I know it’s hard for you to have perspective when you’ve been grounded all this time.
But even you should have noticed there are fewer starlocks being given out.
The Sun recognizes that the people are failing again.
They continue to fight. They continue to value the wrong things. They need strong leadership.”
“They need the Sun,” Orra said softly. “That’s all they’ve ever needed.”
Reyna’s eyebrows rose. “You seemed to think they needed barriers.”
Orra’s face heated. “I will always be the first to admit my sins. But that is what they are. Sins. I was wrong. Don’t make the same mistakes I did.”
Reyna huffed. “This is the Sun’s doing, not mine.”
At that, Orra stepped back, confused. Why would the Sun elevate a group of people bent on enslaving their own? “The people down there are power hungry, looking to kill and defeat, not love or unite. They can’t possibly represent the Sun’s will.”
Andreas’ brow furrowed in consideration.
“I don’t expect to understand the Sun in its glory,” Reyna said. “And I surely don’t expect you to understand it, or even worse, disagree with it.”
“I’m not questioning the Sun,” Orra said. “I’m questioning you.”
Reyna’s face reddened with her rage.
“It’s true. I went against the Sun’s will. But I never claimed to be doing the Sun’s will. I simply never asked what the Sun would have me do. It’s far more concerning to me that you claim to have asked and gotten this answer. Whom exactly were you speaking to? Are you certain it was the Sun?”
Reyna’s face grew even darker. “I will not listen to a grounded Star make accusations against me. The Sun has passed judgment on you.”
“She’s not asking you anything the rest of us haven’t,” Andreas said, drawing both women’s surprised attention. “Several of us have not received the same vision from the Sun. It’s difficult to move forward on your word alone when it seems to go against who the Sun is.”
“I gave you the opportunity to go your own way moons ago.” Reyna’s skin took on a glow as the energy within her built up.
“And with each revolution, you’ve grown more and more disgruntled.
If you wish to side with the grounded Star, so be it.
But just like she is not welcome back in the skies, you will not be either. ”
Everyone around them gasped, a strange hush filling the empty spaces in the room.
Orra shook her head. “That is not your call to make. The Sun grounded me. Not you. I have seen the depravity of Mayvus. If you are aligned with her, you are not aligned with the Sun.”
“We’re not aligned with Mayvus.” Reyna muttered her name like a curse.
“She’s a means to an end. The Ahmranans used her to cross the barrier.
Once she’s done uniting all the people, we’ll put an end to her power, paving the way for our strongest descendants to rule the rest. There will be no more need for starlocks.
That is what we’ve promised the Ahmranans. ”
Orra backed away in horror. “Do you hear yourself?” she whispered.
Then she turned to Andreas. “Are you in favor of elevating an entire race to oppress the others? You’re taking away the Sun’s right to bless the people.
This is madness. You’ve turned your back on the Sun if you’ve turned your back on the majority of its creation. ”
Several of the Stars glowed, the burn of their anger palpable. Within moments, the division could be seen across the stone roof as well as felt between the Stars—half burning with anger alongside Reyna and half cold with fear beside Andreas.
“Says the Star who has been rejected by the Sun,” Reyna spat out, her words hissing with steam.
Orra expected her to take to the skies any moment, the heat of her current state too intense for her earthly body.
She would burn up and fly to the static stars, soaking in the blessings offered by the Sun.
Orra’s longing for the same brought her tears back once more.
“I used to think it was better to do nothing, to not interfere,” she murmured.
“But inaction can still be the wrong action.”
“What are you babbling about?” Reyna’s rise in volume seemed to startle even some of the Stars reflecting her fire.
Orra stood taller, well aware that her dregs of magic could never stand against Reyna. “I can’t let you do this. Not to the people, not to the Sun, and not to yourself.”
Reyna’s glow intensified, the whiteness blinding Orra until it matched the ringing in her ears. She had a sliver of hope that this would finally send her to the Sun, but then everything went black.