Page 43 of A Touch of Stars and Stones (Kirrian #1)

twenty-four

. . .

Aten

H e doesn’t stop, keeping in step with me, always having my back, despite knowing my father won’t accept us challenging him like this, but I don’t care.

“What’s the plan?” Calix asks.

“No plan. Just time for some truths.”

He doesn’t push for more. He knows me well enough to stay on the periphery when it comes to my father.

Our pace is purposeful, and I’m grateful that nobody stops us as we reach the bridge and enter The Court. All the while, my mind rushes with thoughts, ideas, and questions. Each one sparks off the other until I have a web of conspiracies interlaced in my mind, ready to trip me up and snare me.

Getting a grasp on this part of my ability will certainly be a gift for any role in The Chamber if that’s what Aslendrix has in store for me now.

We continue, snaking through the people to make our way to The Tower, and I hope to Aslendrix he’s in his office.

Calix is still silent next to me, and I wonder if he’s starting to work out what’s happening with Ever.

He might play the joker and give the impression that he’s happy to go along with the crowd or take the lead from someone else, but I know that’s not him underneath.

He’s smarter than anyone gives him credit for.

“Last chance. You know what he’s like.” I offer him the out as we round the final bend before the entrance to The Tower.

“I’m good.”

I don’t stop as I head for the stairs, navigating up the familiar halls and corridors to his office and passing the landing that leads down to Calix and Crimson’s apartments.

The guards outside Father’s office edge to attention as I come into view. They’re new—like at the apartments when I visited Mother.

“I’m here to see my father,” I state flatly, hiding the rage inside.

“You aren’t on the list of expected visitors,” one of the officers states.

“Too bad.” I turn my head to Calix, never breaking a stride, and all he does is grin at me, relishing the challenge of two trained soldiers against him.

They look at us, then at each other, and there’s a moment of communication between them, and they seem to back down. Seems like they don’t actually want to take on the head of the Warrior Order’s son.

“Sorry, Cal,” I console.

“No biggie.”

The soldiers step aside, and I throw the door open and barge in. Calix comes to a stop next to me, and the officers also slide into the room.

My father’s sharp gaze cuts to me from where he’s lording over a stack of papers on his desk, an edge of chaos decorating the wooden structure.

“Aten. What are you doing here?” He addresses me but stares down the two Warriors.

“We apologise, Ciro,” the talkative one of the two says.

“Out. And Calix, while always a pleasure to visit, I believe what my son has to say might be best kept between us.” His brows rise as he does from his seat.

“Cal can stay.”

“Interesting.” He tucks his hands behind his back. “You pointed out that I was in no position to give you orders last time you were here. Well, Calix is certainly under my command, so my order to leave stands. I suggest he obeys.”

Shit.

To his credit, Calix only fidgets on the spot, his body rigid and tense, and I can tell he’s struggling with the conflict.

“It’s fine, Cal. Wait outside. I’ll fill you in when we’re done.” I don’t take my eyes off my father. And he doesn’t look away, either.

Not even the sound of the door closing breaks our staring match.

“Fine. I’ll ask. What exactly are you here for?”

“Ever. Why did you think she’s a danger?” I shove my hands into the pockets of my training top, a casual move.

“Really? I thought you’d have been able to work that one out for yourself, especially given how the last few days have played out.”

He’s been keeping tabs on training! Through Rowan, no doubt and no surprise. “You were concerned before she even started training with us, and I want to know why. I want to know why you hid what she is from us.”

“We did no such thing.” He bristles, angling away from me, and I know I’ve got him. For everything my father is, he isn’t a liar. Bend it, manipulate it, and hide it, but not outright lies to your face.

“You knew. The first time you met her. When she attacked you. I was there, remember. Although you were too busy ignoring me at the time.” My hands ball in my pockets at the memory.

These last few months have been a testament to how quickly you can change from viewing someone as one thing to having it shift and twist until it’s unrecognisable.

“Enough with your tantrums. If this is still your disappointment talking because of your Transference?—”

“It’s about why you and the rest of the Orders lied about knowing Ever was a Fifth, why you are sabotaging her training, and why you’re still worried about her. There are too many things that don’t add up, and we, she, deserves to know whatever truth you’re hiding.”

Another pause.

“Well, quite the list of demands.” His jaw tightens, and he saunters from behind his desk and comes to stand before the map on his wall. “You, none of the trainees for that matter, are in any position to demand knowledge from us.”

“You’ve kept us in the dark, and it’s dangerous.” It feels like the anger and tension, built up over weeks, are about to set fire inside my chest. My hands in my pockets are burning with rage as if I might use them as physical weapons.

This might have started about Ever, but there’s unfinished business between us, and it’s bleeding into this argument.

Getting it back on course is the safest move, so I join him in front of that map.

“You said she was a danger. Well, she is. Although,” I look over him, “when you warned me, I don’t think that you meant that in the same way.

I think you believe her to be dangerous to Kirrasia.

” I nod to the map. “Not us on a personal level during training—though maybe Azur, or Ascella, stars, even I might debate that.”

“She injured you?” His head snaps towards me. Wow, maybe he does still care.

“No blood drawn.” I give my half-truth in return and keep the rest to myself.

“You wanted to know about her and what she knew. Your concern isn’t just on a physical level,” I state.

“So, if you already knew she was a Fifth, what else are you worried about?” I turn and stare at the map, taking note of the movements and changes over the last few months, my mind whirring again.

“Sunatora? It’s been what, over twenty years since we had to defend against them, although I know there are more army deployments now.

Or is it Nehandun? They’ve been quiet for even longer.

Do you think she’s a spy? That the King is finally brave enough to send someone in?

” I know she’s not, but I feel like pushing him.

“She is no spy,” he spits. “She knew nothing of us, or even what she is herself before she came here.”

“Agree. So, it must be another secret you’re hiding from her.

” This was perhaps the worst part of the deceptions that Ever has been subjected to, and part of me hopes that I’m wrong.

But what Aurelia said to Ever in class, about knowing Fifths and them both being dead, has stuck in my mind.

At Ever’s Transference, Kamari said that it wouldn’t matter what her Advocate was, being a Fifth was already determined, so I ask the question that would make the most sense of all of this. “Do you know who her parents are?”

“Enough!” He bellows. “You have no right to level these questions at me.”

“Maybe, maybe not. But Ever has the right. She’s in the dark. About everything. And you might believe it’s safer that way, but I can assure you, it’s not.”

He stalks off around the office like he can’t bear to hear that he’s been caught out. His avoidance is answer enough for me, at least that he’s guilty of knowing and keeping some level of detail safely away from Ever.

I wait for an explanation or something that will make sense, but the silence stretches.

“When, and only when, you are in my position shall you have the right to question my decisions. You have no idea just how difficult things are now. How perilous our peace now is.” His voice holds an icy calm, and for a split second, I wonder if there’s something else he’s hiding.

Something that would explain why it’s so important to keep such a rare ability hidden.

“Well, thanks to your decision, I’ll never be in your position, will I, Dad ?”

His cold eyes turn to me, and all I see is disappointment. “Your path shouldn’t have to change. You’ll still be the Head of an Order. You are just as powerful as you always were. Don’t let the colour of the Order deter you.”

Just like that, he dismisses me again and dismisses my concerns. “Why did you do it? Why did you sell me out?” My voice quietens, but I know he’ll see the bite in those words.

“You think that my decision was a simple one? That it was as simple as if I should or shouldn’t be your Advocate?”

“Yes,” I grit the words. “You raised me for this. This was meant to be my future.” I hold my arms out, signalling the room we’re standing in.

“Now, I have no fucking clue. And that’s on you.

And Mother. Stars, you say, be the next head of the Guard Order.

I don’t even know how to control her gifts.

Because I’ve spent my entire life training to be a Warrior. Not a fucking Guard.”

“And you will need both. Believe me.”

“What aren’t you telling me? Why is everything out of your mouth so fucking cryptic.” The storm of anger threatens to take over and lash out. That latent strand of Warrior power pulsing inside of me, clawing to be set loose.

“You have a Fifth in your training year. You will need all of your skills.” He doesn’t elaborate.