Chapter 36
Loral i
A knock on the door made Lorali jump and her magic, rich with Athanasios' residual power, burst forth. She cursed, dropping the sixth pitcher she'd frozen this week. As dark ice spread beneath her feet, Lorali stepped away warily. Forcing herself to concentrate on counting her controlled breaths until it not only disappeared, but melted into the cool stone.
She was like a child again, magic eluding her control when she least expected it. Having a divine being inhabit one's body without proper precautions or preparations was bound to have repercussions; her body and magic felt as if they had been stretched beyond their limits. She had not left the temple in the two weeks since Veridian—half of which she had been unconscious, half of which she spent relearning what it meant to control her magic with little progress.
With a final, weary breath, Lorali called out, "Come in . "
"Another one?" Heinrich asked as he peeked his head around the door with a wince.
"After I shattered the third, I've only been given steel containers," she joked, picking the container off the floor and setting it on her nightstand. "What can I help you with, Hein?"
"Our new king wishes you to join him for lunch," he said in that playful, singsong voice of his as a grin spread across his face.
"Do you know what for?"
"Nary a clue, but if it means I get to see him? I'm coming with."
"You don't need an excuse. You are literally his emissary and advisor. It's your job to see him." A gentle chuckle escaped Lorali's lips as she draped a cloak over her shoulders, feeling the softness of the fabric against her skin. She glanced at her reflection in the window, her hair slightly messy as she pulled it out from beneath the cloak. She still couldn't get used to the sight of her once starlight hair now darkened by Athanasios' touch.
Everything was changing, and she didn't know if things would ever go back to the way they were. Nothing in Athera would. Or, perhaps, it had returned to its normal that had been long forgotten .
"All thanks to you," he said with a soft grin, leaning against the doorframe as he waited for her.
"Anytime. I think your new job may be worse than being archcleric," she joked, her voice cheerful as she tried to hide the weariness she felt as she walked past him. "C'mon, let's get this over with."
She couldn’t help the tangle of nerves and dread bubbling in her stomach as Heinrich shut the door behind them and fell into step beside her. He knew why she was being summoned, but couldn't tell her—his usually bright smile didn't reach his eyes, and that made her worry.
Whatever it was, it must not be anything good.
***
The atrium was filled with daylight. Tables and chairs were pushed towards the edges, covered in Daeson's calculated plans for how to transition Athera into his control. Lorali had missed most of the process during her recovery, something she was grateful for. It felt as if she had fallen asleep in one world and awakened in another, where the streets were settled and the tension had eased. Sage had been tried and executed before the new Atheran court. With Sylvene's circlet gracing his brow, it seemed as if everything had gone according to Daeson's will. Though if Heinrich were to be believed, negotiations with the city council were tumultuous at best. Trying to work with the existing government rather than overthrowing them. He had convinced the newly- anointed king that in order to rule, it was not just the crown upon his head he needed, but the heart of the people as well.
Lorali's senses sharpened as she picked up on the angry hushed whispers growing louder with each step they took down the hall. After she turned into the atrium, her attention was drawn to Eldric's stormy expression, his finger forcefully pressed against Daeson's chest.
"This is not a compromise," he hissed, loud enough to echo off the high glass ceiling. Heinrich cleared his throat and the two looked up, Eldric's gaze furious as it first landed on Heinrich then softening as it found her.
"High Cleric Wynmar, Emissary Holst—thank you for coming." Daeson stepped away to greet them as if everything were normal. Eldric stalked past his friend, moving to Lorali's side with a firm jaw. The intensity of his anger was almost tangible as he glared at Daeson, making the air around them feel suffocating.
"Am I expected to use formalities now?" Lorali asked, trying to keep her voice light. Daeson's chuckle was empty as he shook his head.
"No. Come, let us eat and then—"
"I'd prefer it if we cut to the chase." Lorali countered, lips pressed together into a tight smile as she looked at the new king of Athera. "Tell me the reason you've called me here. You know I'm not one for politics and pleasantries."
Eldric snorted, and she nudged her elbow into his side.
"So I've learned," Daeson agreed, taking a deep breath before continuing. "The city council expects you and Eldric to atone for failing to complete the terms of your gallows bond. Eldric was arrested and though your bond is... annulled, they say it is the only way they will move forward with negotiations. They want to move forward with your original punishment, but I've convinced them you would best serve Athera alive. Both of you." The king's voice was tight as he looked down at her, hands clasped behind his back. Eldric's silence put her on edge and Lorali's brow furrowed as she read between the lines.
"Will we be free to leave?"
Daeson closed his eyes, pressing his lips into a thin line. "Your work would be compulsory. You'd be bound in Athera's service."
This is not a compromise , Eldric had said. Staying in the city they called home meant choosing between this or death.
She understood. Faced with uncertainty, there was no choice but to prioritize the needs of the city over his personal attachments. If this meant getting the city council's cooperation and a peaceful transition into his rule, then she knew she couldn't hold it against him.
Yet, the thought of staying in her tiny house perched on the hillside—with its lush garden and wild ivy crawling across the stone—until her skin wrinkled and hair greyed, wasn't the comfort it once had been. She wanted more than the forest cottage with its small garden and empty rooms she had once called home. Yearned to conquer the towering Vikal mountains and uncover the hidden enchantments they held within. See ocean waves crashing onto the sandy beach of her hometown, while the piercing calls of gulls soaring overhead filled the air. Wanted a life outside of Athera, to go wherever her feet may fall with someone at her side. Perhaps home wasn't where you ran to, but who you ran with.
Pulling the keys from her waistbelt, Lorali unclasped and pressed the steel into Heinrich's palm with a resolute nod. "The cottage is yours. Don't kill my plants."
Her brother's knowing smile was wide and bright as he pulled her into a hug.
"I wouldn't dream of it," he whispered into her hair, gripping her tighter .
"Lorali, what are you doing?" Daeson's tanned skin paled as he asked a question he already seemed to know the answer to.
"I think I've served this city long enough," she said, words hanging in the air as she extended her hand towards Eldric.
"Run away with me." It wasn't a question, but an offering. To follow where the other may lead—dive into the unknown and discover who they were. To have faith.
As the rogue's lazy smile stretched across his face, her heart pounded in her chest. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he quirked his eyebrow as he looked down at her. "Do I even have a choice?"
She grinned and her eyes, for the first time in a long time, were alight with the promise of tomorrow. "It's this or death. I assume you prefer the former."
"Well, when you put it that way, how could I possibly refuse?" Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Eldric's smile melted into a gentle expression.
"El, don't do this." Daeson's eyes were wide, and he whispered, almost pleaded, as he gripped his friend's shoulder."You'll be branded a criminal. I'll have to place a bounty on your head. You can never return. Just take the offer."
"All of that only matters if I'm caught," Eldric said, as his arms enveloped Daeson in a tight embrace. Conveying more than words ever could.
"Thank you for everything," Daeson murmured as he clung to him, his deep breath dissolving into a chuckle. "Just know that if your ass gets caught, I might not be able to save you."
"I happen to be pretty good at evading the law; been kind of doing it for quite a while now." Eldric laughed as they parted.
"You were caught. Twice. Your track record is less than stellar." Daeson teased Eldric with a mischievous look.
"He's got a point," Heinrich agreed as Lorali said, "Good thing we're owed a complimentary head start."
Eldric gaped, placing a hand over his heart. "Maybe it's a good thing we're leaving. I don't think I could survive dealing with all three of you at once."
Bittersweet laughter echoed throughout the atrium.
"I think it's time for us to run," Lorali said, slipping her hand into Eldric's with a soft smile. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, despite knowing this goodbye wasn't forever. But as their footsteps echoed off the temple's ancient stone walls, clicked across cobbled stone, and raced down the dirt-trodden path that led them home, she couldn't help as they fell.
Excitement couldn't outweigh the grief as she left a piece of herself behind. Lorali had buried it in the garden soil with him, watered it with her tears. With each passing day since they had met, it grew stronger and more vibrant until it was time for the seeds to scatter on the wind as they prepared to leave Athera far, far behind.
And, hand in hand, they did.