Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Halice’s joy is overflowing and spectacular.
The people come to greet their returning heroes in their droves.
Soldiers are greeted by tearful loved ones; arms thrown around them in giddy relief.
Everyone is clapping and shouting the name of Di Maineri and Patricelli from the rooftops.
Confetti made from crushed autumn leaves is thrown from every window and balcony as the people cheer so loudly the stone beneath our feet vibrates.
The sky is blue and clear, and the crisp air bothers no one.
I am in awe at this reception. Music rings out from every street, and there is dancing and frolicking in the square as the entire city turns into a party for the ages. People whip out their decorations from past festivals and throw them everywhere. Every surface and street is flooded with colour.
Halice is throwing a spontaneous festival. Perhaps we’ll do this next year too – to remember the day Halice fought for its independence once more and won.
Giulia rides next to me, the cinnamon and saffron-coloured leaves tangling in her blonde hair as we giggle.
Idris is on my other side, shouting and punching the air with the crowd.
When we finally reach the High Chamber, the gathering and cheering is immense.
The High Chamber has never gleamed brighter, showering every inch of this decadent square with colour.
The heavens themselves are singing with an endless sprayed rainbow of beauty and colour.
Tears well in my eyes, my throat a little swollen as I’m flooded with pride.
I did it. I protected this.
We drop from our horses. Maggia and Otta rush up to greet us, talking quickly about their relief at us being okay. The crowd starts cheering and roaring as Savino and Leone join us on the steps of the High Chamber. All of us together, the Electi of our High Chamber.
I grab Idris’s hand and look up at him.
“Now,” I say seriously. “I want to do it now.”
“You can’t wait a day?” asks Idris with a puckered brow. I shake my head.
“Halice is a democracy. Its High Chamber must be restored,” I say seriously. “How can the city truly rejoice without one of its most precious treasures?”
Idris smiles as though he’s never been prouder, squeezing my hand amidst a tide of sparks and needles.
Maggia, Leone, Savino and Idris stand before the doors of the High Chamber. I turn to face the crowd, holding up my hands to quiet them. The crowd goes quiet.
“Great people of Halice, today is a day of glory. We stood against tyranny, we stood against fear, we stood side by side with our fellows for what we know is right. We fought and we achieved victory!” I shout. The crowd goes wild, roaring and clapping. I laugh, tears of relief welling in my eyes.
“The time of crisis is over,” I announce. “And so, it is my greatest desire and honour to restore this city to its rightful state.”
I turn to face my colleagues. I kneel before the High Chamber, before the Electi.
“In my last act, I officially relinquish the title of Maestrus of Halice and restore the full glory of our precious High Chamber,” I say. “I also relinquish my seat as Electi.”
“What?” barks Idris sharply to the gasp of the others.
“I will run for my seat again,” I say, lifting my gaze to his, meeting the fury of those twin suns. “But the people must judge if they still want me. After everything that has happened, the people deserve to choose if they want me to continue as their Electi or not.”
“Of course they will!” Idris argues. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“No. I will give the people that choice,” I say with a thick voice. “We are a democracy. If my time as Electi is done, then so be it.”
“I don’t think she’ll have a hard time winning, Idris,” says Maggia with a chuckle.
“Signora Di Maineri, we are proud to restore the High Chamber to the city of Halice,” says Savino, puffing out his chest.
I stand up and the crowd goes wild. I walk to stand by Idris’s side as his fingers snap around mine. He leans closer, his words burning into my ear.
“This is quite the political stunt,” he says.
“Have I taught you nothing? Everything is politics, Patricelli,” I tease.
“This isn’t.” Idris sweeps around and plants a searing kiss on my lips and the crowd goes mad.
The party kicks off in full force, loud drums and sweet strings ringing across the square.
People celebrate wildly, dancing and singing in the streets.
Idris and I find our way back to Giulia and the girls.
Alfieri is with them, as is Royah. But I can’t see Tahira and Bash.
“Oh, that’s a stunt and a half!” Serra laughs as she folds me into a hug. I laugh and hug her back.
“Amica?” suggests Emilia brightly as Alfieri pulls her closer.
“Oh, yes! First round is on Idris,” Alfieri announces and Idris barks with laughter.
“Alright, but the second is on you!” Idris throws his arm around Alfieri’s shoulder as the two lead the way. Giulia falls into step with me, fingers intertwined with her fiancée.
“We can plan the wedding properly now!” she says giddily. “Oh, we can set a date!”
“Let’s do it as soon as possible,” Michelle says.
“What about your colours?” Giulia asks with wide eyes.
“Forget the colours,” Michelle says. “I have you.”
“Awww,” Royah says. “That’s so cute.”
“Where’s Tahira?” I ask her.
“Gone to check on the boats,” Royah says tensely. Tahira has been icy with me ever since the reveal, each look a scowl or withering glare. While Royah seems to have forgiven my trick for the lives it saved, the betrayal for Tahira runs deep. Her anger is understandable.
I wish it weren’t so. But I also don’t regret it. It won us the war. If the cost of that is our friendship then I will mourn its loss, but live with that all the same.
The Amica is rammed but people clear the way for us as we settle at our usual table.
Lysa is with us, chatting with Serra about the Wheel City and inviting her to come and check it out for herself.
Michelle chats Emilia’s ear off about the painting she’s going to make from the war.
Idris and Alfieri are swapping stories about their exploits on the night Nouis died – Alfieri has been with Royah spreading chaos in the Holy States camp with the other Coari mercenaries.
Giulia and I sit side by side, giggling with each other as person after person comes over to congratulate and thank us all for our work.
“I think you’ll win your seat back, Renza,” says Giulia gleefully.
“If Fate wills it so,” I say, leaning back in my seat with wine in my hand. I look down at the blue glass goblet, the shallow red wine catching my attention. It’s almost the exact same shade as Nouis’s blood, the small stream that poured from his nose as he made his last threat.
“What is it?” asks Giulia softly, her fingers wrapping gently around my wrist. I meet her eyes, and sigh.
“Nouis’s last threat, I can’t seem to shake it.”
“Renza, that monster has been haunting you for months and months. It would be hard for anyone to forget it.”
“You should’ve seen him, Giu.” I rub my throat, but on second thought I’m actually glad she didn’t. “He was so sure, he was practically gloating. He promised that the Red Sands Bannerhood would turn against us … that even if the blow doesn’t kill, the wound would fester.”
“Like the assassin that almost killed Idris?” asks Giulia. My stomach churns as she makes that connection. We were within a razor’s edge of losing Idris.
“Perhaps he was just taunting you, trying to get in your head to make you slip up,” Giulia offers. I shake my head.
“He has something planned, something yet to come.”
“Are you sure?” Giulia asks, setting her glass down.
“Yes. And it has to do with the Red Sands Bannerhood.”
“They are our friends,” says Giulia firmly. “They wouldn’t turn on us like that. Tahira might be smarting a little from the secret you kept, but ultimately, we won the war and she’ll come around.”
“Nouis would have wanted the trade deals with Coari to break down if, somehow, we won that battle … but it’s so profitable it would need to be something huge. An insult that couldn’t be unanswered, something devastating and drastic that could—”
My eyes fix on the table next to us. A large family is laughing and joking, their kids bouncing up and down in their seats, dark eyes shining with unbridled joy.
My heart drops.
“KAZ!” I shout, bolting to my feet. The young prince in our charge. The future of Coari. The hopes and dreams of a nation. He was here, while all of us were there.
The entire table turns sharply to look at me. Idris bolts to his feet with me as I run out of the café.
The crowd is thick and unyielding, but I force my way through, screaming. I break through the door, panting as I look left and right.
“Renza! Renza!” shouts Giulia chasing after me, Idris racing just three paces behind.
I spy horses tied up outside the pub. I sprint for one, ripping the rope free. Giulia reaches me as I swing myself up.
“I’m coming!” she shouts as she grabs a second horse and swings herself up. Then we charge through the streets on horseback, sprinting to face Nouis’s final blow.