Page 26 of A Vow of Embers

She gave me a quick smile. “The bride’s mother walks ahead of the groom’s chariot and lights the way with a torch, much in the same way as when the goddess searched for her missing daughter. Only this time the daughter has been found and is on her way to a new life.”

I was very touched by her offer. I wished my own mother could have been part of it but was grateful that I had Maia to fill in. “I would love for you to fulfill that role. Thank you. And I’ll miss having these private sessions with you.”

“I’ll miss it, too. Although you’ll be back here at the temple before we know it and I’ll make sure to catch you up on anything that you’ve missed.”

Since I couldn’t see into the future, I didn’t tell her that I wasn’t sure if I’d ever return. I had incorrectly thought that, after a week or two of being in Ilion, I would find the eye of the goddess, and thathadn’t happened. For all I knew I would wind up right back here in a few months. “I’ll look forward to that. And thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I have really appreciated your mentorship. I’m so grateful I got to know you.”

Maia’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears and her smile got even brighter. “Don’t tell anyone else, but I think you might be my favorite acolyte.”

That made me laugh because I knew all the acolytes were her favorite. She held out her arms and I gave her the hug that I wished I’d been able to give my mother in my dream.

After a few moments passed, she pulled back. “Time to go get ready. I hear Io has everything all planned out for you.”

Nodding, I started up the steps to leave the classroom. I looked over at the seats I always sat in with my adelphia.

“Lia?”

I turned back around and Maia said, “You are capable of greatness. Remember who you are and who you serve. I have faith in you.”

That made one of us. I smiled at her and then headed back to my room and couldn’t keep from constantly touching my hair. It gave me a surreal feeling—like I was dreaming but in my real life. Hair length was how I differentiated between my waking and sleeping states, and it was strange that that marker was gone.

Everything in my life was changing, turned upside down. I didn’t know if my sisters’ guesses about my sudden hair growth were correct, but I did know one thing for certain—it was like the goddess had given me a piece of myself back. It was the wrong color, but I supposed beggars couldn’t be choosers.

And this particular gesture probably wouldn’t have mattered to anyone else, but it was massively important to me. It made me feel seen. That the goddess knew what was in my heart and how having my hair made me feel more like myself again. It fortified me.

Made me think I could get through this.

When I stepped into our room, everyone but Io was there. Zalira was putting new ribbons into Ahyana’s braids while Suri sharpened a set of daggers. They all greeted me when I entered.

“Are you ready to be a bride?” Ahyana asked, her excitement evident. I knew she was trying to suppress it for my sake as it wasn’t a festive occasion, but she was happy about a wedding taking place.

“I suppose that depends on what your definition of ‘ready’ is.” I didn’t think I’d ever feel like I was ready to get married to Prince Alexandros. I felt much too young. In Locris women did not get married until they had aged out of the tribute process. The people had decided it was too terrible to send a new bride to her death.

I also didn’t know what to expect today. I wasn’t sure how different weddings in Ilion and Locris would be. I had attended a couple when I was younger for some aunts and uncles, but I’d never been involved with the bridal party itself.

Io had put herself in charge of organizing everything. She seemed to be enjoying herself, although like Ahyana, she tried not to show it. Io informed me that she was the one who had the most experience. She’d said that she had a cousin who was married a year and a half ago and that Io had helped dress her for the wedding so she knew what would be expected for me to prepare.

I thought she was secretly thrilled that one of her adelphia sisters was marrying her brother.

Even if it was breaking the goddess’s law.

Not knowing what else to do, I packed up the few things I had left and put them into the satchel I’d brought with me from Locris. I made sure to add my pot of Locrian soil, the one I had brought so that I could test the eye of the goddess when I found it. I remembered how Alexandros had mocked me for the pot and did my best to keep from getting angry all over again.

Despite their light chatter, there was a slight air of melancholy coming from my sisters. I wished that there was something I could sayto them, a way to make everything all right. But we were all feeling the pangs of our impending separation.

Our bedroom door flew open and Io walked in carrying various bags and parcels. “These are for you.”

For me? “What are they?”

“Gifts.” She didn’t make eye contact and I knew why.

“They’re from your brother.” When she didn’t respond, I added, “Send them back. I don’t want them.”

Everyone began speaking at once.

“You can’t do that!”

“Gifts must always be accepted and appreciated.”