Chapter 15

This time when the sentries open the large doors, there’s honey hair framing sapphire eyes, and I relax at the sight of Maven waiting in the courtyard, despite her not registering Nex and I approaching. I catalog her fingers robotically picking at her cuticles simultaneously with tapping her foot against the manicured stone surface.

I make it all the way to her and place a firm hand on her shoulder before she snaps out of her despondency.

“Oh it’s got to be good,” I chide and sling a lazy arm over her shoulder to guide her towards the middle staircase of the three.

Nex luckily remains quiet but vigilant, and Maven blinks at me as if Nex and I had suddenly teleported in front of her.

“What—” she starts, but notices my nod towards her hands. “Oh, that.”

I offer a reassuring smile. “I know you well enough to know that you fidget when something’s bothering you, but double the fighting means double the worry. So what’s going on?”

Maven tucks glistening strands behind her bejeweled ear and sighs. “I’m… not exactly sure. Nothing I can point a direct finger at, at least. Princess Atarah doesn’t like to attend court, and she prefers I keep her trove of gossip neat and organized should she ever need to challenge someone’s information.” Maven shakes her head, but I catch a choked chuckle escaping Nex beside me. “But today, she attended court. Court, Ryn. The Princess of Gossip and all things privileged, attended a court meeting for the first time since I was appointed her scribe.”

“What kind of gossip?” Nex buds in eagerly, and I half-heartedly shove him away.

“What was the meeting about?” I redirect.

We start descending the steep steps while the sun slowly dips behind the multiple spires of Callanth. The blue tint of twilight cast over the city below us creates a soft glow on the metal roofs instead of sharp glints.

“Just some protests being organized in Helios. Nothing I figured the princess would care about. But she requested I take meticulous notes all throughout. By the time the meeting was over, she took my notes, disappeared into her chambers, and told me she didn’t need me for the rest of the day.” A shiver runs through Maven and she rubs her arms, but the air is still warm, making me wonder what is nagging at her still.

“Sounds like a pretty tame meeting,” Nex comments, burying his hands in his pockets while gazing over the horizon.

“It was my first one, so I wouldn’t know. But she was so invested the entire time. As if hearing about Helios and Ocassus teaming up to protest was more intriguing to her than why an Ocassean messenger was spotted in the Citadel this morning.” Maven shakes her head in confusion, and I taste on what she just shared.

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“What are they protesting against?” I ask, the shadows growing longer as we near the bottom of the stairs and only a slim crescent of golden sun is left visible. We would make it home before any potential frost storm trapped us, but that doesn’t prevent me from stealing cursory glances at the green color range of the banners on the distant peak.

“Protection. Both Helios and Ocassus have sent official requests to make ample preparations for each peak in case the storm grows. I didn’t even know the storm could grow,” she exclaims, swinging her hands around in expression of her anxiety.

So it’s not just Ocassus who believes the storm is growing now. Helios has been convinced too.

“Do you think Helios will instill any official boycotts during protesting?” I ask the question carefully, hoping beyond my assumptions that I’m wrong. That there’s just a dip in supply. That that mother can buy salve soon.

We step off the final step and follow the path towards the residential area. A moment later the sun has completely set.

“Who knows,” Maven answers with an exaggerated wave of her hand. “I don’t know what proof they even have of the storm growing, but King Aramis was more concerned with the protests. He’s planned a meeting between the high lords and himself to hopefully diffuse the tension.”

I don’t respond, and I hide the fact that I’m chewing on my lip by lowering my head, my hair sweeping in front of my face. Sulien said he didn’t want to publicize the assignment, let alone that he believes the incidents might be connected. Could these incidents be due to the storm actually growing? Would telling Maven count as unnecessary attention?

The path is thrown into further darkness once buildings border on each side. It’s easy to forget for a moment that I’m still actively lying to Maven every time I don’t reveal how I met Nex and why he’s still here, especially since Nex has been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the conversation.

Maven lifts her eyes to the sky of muted colors. “Looks like there won’t be a frost storm tonight. It’s the first clear night this week.”

And without much effort, I let my chance for truth pass.

“About time,” I crane my neck in quiet gratitude to Hesperia. “It’s been a while since we’ve been to the roof.”

That catches Nex’s attention. “What roof?”

“You’ll see,” Maven hints with her lips quirking into a smile. “It’s one of our favorite traditions on clear nights.”

“As long as Leil isn’t at the bottom of his mug already,” I reminisce, the somber mood curling around my nerves relenting slightly.

“We better hurry then. He can’t be left alone too long before he finds something to drink.” Maven picks up the pace, and Nex and I quickly catch up.

Nex chuckles. “Sounds like he’s more like a pet than a roommate.”

I don’t know if it’s the prospect of going to the roof or if my nerves are still bundled too tightly, but I laugh. An irreverent, reckless laugh that shucks the weighted lies off my shoulder, just a little. And it’s enough for me to turn to Nex just in time to notice the parade of emotions dancing across his face, but confusion balks to the purest form of satisfaction I’ve ever seen on another person’s face.