Chapter 1 #2
Though I am loath to acknowledge it, at the back of my mind I can’t help picturing what will happen if we lose.
If I fail. If I’m not enough to stand between the Holy States and the freedom of my beloved city.
Will they punish the people for resisting the invasion, for defeating their first attempt at subjugation during the Great Rebellion last summer?
Almost certainly. At least if we build some emergency infrastructure now, if the worst happens …
some of it might still be standing to aid survivors.
“Might I suggest, if we’re keeping costs down, that we have two here,” says Leone, “at either end of the road. It’s in quite a dip and the amount of digging required would be much smaller.”
“Great, let’s do that.” I nod as a messenger runs into the building. The young man spots me, hurrying over to the desk to interrupt the meeting. He bows low, catching his breath before holding up the letter.
“A letter from the Wheel City, signora. From your aunt, Fiora Di Maineri.”
I nod, holding out my hand for it. He hurries forwards and places the thick paper in my hands. I turn it over and see the vibrant blue wax boasts the Maineri seal – a lemon tree. I crack the seal and sit back in my chair.
Fiora’s report holds many layers. On the surface level, she conveys public knowledge from the other Independent States.
But my aunt is clever at concealing messages within messages.
And while on first reading she appears to be merely chatting about the mood of various members of my family, commenting on a rather eventful birthday party for a Sovassan duke, and mentioning unfortunate weather conditions in the far east of the continent, her real meaning is clear.
Everything is ready and in place for our first blow to the Holy States. They wanted to make this a war of resources when they blocked the Argenti Strait, so we will do just that. The Maineri Bank is poised for my order, the family in line and obedient. It’s time.
Time to cut off all trade with the Holy States. Not just from Halice, but from the entire continent.
It’s a risk of course. Businesses could leave our bank and attempt to do their work with competitors.
But the majority won’t, not when the Maineri have been using their influence and wealth for years to persuade, cajole, threaten or bribe whomever and whatever they need.
We’re not just a bank – we’re woven into the fabric of politics and power throughout the Independent States in a thousand ways.
Not to mention the new goods from Coari are a roaring source of commerce – even more than we had any right to hope for.
Pressure from our banks will lean on all ruling parties in the Independent States, to put their weight behind us, to send men and resources to Halice’s aid.
An army large enough to send the Holy States a clear message.
The Independent States stood together as we did long ago. Old Alliances are remembered.
I smile at the page, sitting back in my chair as I review Fiora’s words again.
A sharp rush of dark revulsion washes over me and I flinch at its intensity.
My head jolts up to see Idris furiously marching out of the room.
His golden hair glints in the sunshine as he stalks away, leaving me behind yet again.
Abandoning me to this task. Alone.
Staring at the open door, the same door he vanished through on that dark, awful night, the painful memories assault me.
His rage contorted across pale features and hazel eyes.
His words burying invisible knives beneath my ribs, their bite still burning.
The lightning slashing through the darkness, the door hanging open as the dark, cold emptiness smothers me.
I’m surrounded by people, their voices and tasks blurring into an indistinguishable ringing. I swallow, my pulse throbbing in my ears as I fight to control my breathing. Ache blooms deep in my chest and my eyes are still hooked on the door.
“Um, Signora Renza?” comes a quiet voice. I turn to see Carla, one of the secretaries we hired to help with communications. She pushes her thick black hair behind her ear as she smiles in silent apology.
“You’ll probably want to leave if you’re going to make your appointment with Electi Savino,” she says gently. I nod, folding Fiora’s letter and tucking it into my pocket. I’ll have to finish reading it again later.
My colleagues have retained their titles as Electi.
They were all democratically elected by the Halician people to lead them.
Just because I have now been made Maestrus doesn’t change the trust and decisions of the people.
And each of them spent every day serving the people, working hard to all hours.
Even if one Electi in particular, the one I used to trust above all others, seemed to have forsaken that duty, the others have shown the kind of strength and brilliance Halice desperately needs in this time of danger.
Maggia is in charge of civilian preparations, Savino the army, and Leone is phenomenal at finding the resources we need for both.
“Thank you, Carla,” I answer, getting to my feet.
I have a job to do, I have people to protect, I have a city to save.
I don’t have time to waste thinking about Idris Patricelli.
There is too much else. A cold fist tightens around my gut as I stomp and wrestle thoughts of him as far away as I can manage before lifting my chin.
My shoulders feel bare and exposed in my long dress, but I pull them down as I make my exit.
Flanked by guards, there is a wall between me and the world.
A chokehold of duty. A noose of pressure and expectations.
The war for Halice has truly begun and my attention is needed elsewhere. I don’t have time to feel anything about Idris, not the pain and emptiness of his absence, not the churning inferno of his presence.
Yet Fate refuses to be ignored. Its teeth are buried deep, a relentless torment without even a moment’s relief. Fate won’t be bargained with; he’s deaf to my pleas. People warned me that Fate would make me pay. Perhaps this is his divine manifestation.
But that feels helpless. Powerless and weak. Blaming another being, even an elusive, all-powerful entity, for the insurmountable wedge that’s formed between Idris and me is a lie. A fiction.
I am in control of my destiny.
I made a choice.
Choices have power, but they also have consequences. This is one I’ll have to live with, for however long I have left.
And with war on the horizon, who knows how long that’ll be.