Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Autumn went to the summit, walking next to Urania and tried to make her eyes focus. The pain medicine had helped, but her head still felt a little inside out. She knew Light would have done nothing permanent to harm her; it was just residual damage, and she would heal in a few days.
It was odd that she would have been called to the summit so soon, unless something was wrong. But she couldn’t think of anything that she had done to warrant her needing to visit the summit. She wasn’t under an injunction that she could remember, so she had broken no rules.
Urania showed her into the throne room on the Summit. Where the Highest were sitting on their thrones and the East Wind was kneeling in the center of the circle. Light had her rod out, the light surrounding her lighting fire in the gems that studded it.
Autumn watched as Light brought the rod down on the East Wind’s head and nodded as he struggled to his feet. “You may go, East Wind.”
He bowed, clearly struggling, and turned to leave the throne room. At least he had been, until he saw her, and then he paled and swayed as if she’d struck him.
Autumn just walked past him into the center of the throne room, and knelt to the Highest. “I am here, as I was called, Highest.”
“Greetings, Season of Change.” Light nodded her head to Autumn. “I have called you to request a favor.”
“Your will, Highest.”
Light looked sad and amused. “You may not say that after I tell you what it is.”
Autumn just waited. “What would you have of me, Highest?”
“I would have you take the East Wind into your retinue.” Light said calmly. “In penance for his deeds, he must serve a God of my choice until I release him from it.”
“I decline,” Autumn said immediately. “I would not take him into my service, Highest. It would be cruel to wave his failure to kill me in his face every moment.”
“I will make it an order if I must,” Light said, looking at her with sadness and understanding in her luminous eyes. “I would prefer not to.”
“As you say, Highest.” Autumn bowed and tried not to show how conflicted she was. “If that is your wish, then I will do my best.”
“Thank you,” Light still had regret painted on her face. “I promise you that this will help.”
“I can only say I will do what I can,” Autumn said, firmly not looking over to where she could feel the East Wind near the door. “Is there anything else, Highest?”
“You and Boreus might join us for supper.” Light said, smiling at her. “There are some considerations regarding Charan that you might be interested in.”
“Thank you, Highest.” She rose at Light’s gesture. “I will see the East Wind settled, and we will join you this evening.”
“If he displeases you, he fails his injunction.” Light looked over her shoulder towards the door. “He will not enjoy what awaits him then.”
Autumn nodded, bowing one final time to the Highest and leaving the throne room. She stopped next to the East Wind, who still looked pale and shaky. “Come along then,” she sighed. “I will return you to the villa, and we will decide where to go from there.”
He just bowed to her before following her out of the room and down the slope. He said nothing all the way to the villa. Where they were met by Boreus, who had an overly tight grip on his glaive, the blade at the top shimmering in the sun.
“Hello, love,” Autumn didn’t bother to hide how tired she was, walking directly into his arms as the glaive vanished into sunlit sparks. “I have gained a retinue of one.”
She felt Boreus stiffen, felt the rage start to build, and reached for his cheek. “Light has ordered it, Boreus. He is to be in my service until he is released by the Highest.”
“I do not understand their thinking.” Boreus said, voice tight and furious. “Do they not understand that he could have killed you?”
“I imagine that they do,” Autumn said softly. “I do not understand it either, but I will do as I am ordered.”
“I suppose I am not allowed to kill him?” Boreus asked and Autumn knew he wasn’t joking. Knowing that if she gave permission, the East Wind would be dead at her feet before she took another breath.
“He serves me,” Autumn said, voice shaking. “That means I owe him my protection. So no, you cannot kill him.”
“Alright,” Boreus took a breath. “I went and saw the Song today, to thank it for saving your life.”
“That was kind of you, love.” Autumn replied, jolting as a soft something shoved its way under her hand. “Hello Solace.” She gently scratched the soft feathers.
Solace trilled, making her look down at what the fox had for her. It was a small, opalescent stone, shining through all the colors of the rainbow as she tilted it in the sun.
“It’s very pretty, Solace.” She showed Boreus. “Do you know what it is?”
“It is a fragment of the Prism Blade.” The East Wind’s voice cut into their conversation. “I thought them all gone.”
Autumn turned and offered it to him. “You will wear it, East Wind, I do not care how, but you will bear this until you are released from my service.”
He took it from her, fingers closing around the colors. “As you say.” There was no bitterness in his voice, just a profound exhaustion.
“You will remain here.” Autumn said, pointing at the villa. “Once you have rested, we will find a way forward.”
“Thank you,” he said, voice filled with tiredness. “Will you call for me?”
“If you are needed.” Autumn turned her back on him as he crept into the villa and closed the door.
She slumped, looking up at Boreus who was looking back, eyes full of concern. “We are having supper with the Highest tonight. We should get ready so we aren’t late.”