Page 74 of A Touch of Stars and Stones (Kirrian #1)

“You first, Calix. You were with the Warriors. We were infiltrated, so why is Rowan saying differently?”

I move towards Ever and nod at her to take a seat on the bed, where I join her. Calix hops onto the desk, but Crimson hangs back near the door, keeping her eyes down.

“It was a mess. After the trial, everyone was already hyped up and asking questions. And then the alarm sounded, and everyone got recalled. The test protocol started, but people were confused as to whether it was a test or not. We still don’t know why.

It should have been straightforward, but it went to shit.

Kirrians doubted what we said and didn’t follow the practised drill, and it caused mayhem inside The Court. ”

“I spoke to your father. Defensive operations on the western side.”

“Yeah. Except there wasn’t anyone to defend against. The tower that authenticated the alarm only reported a small scout party, none of whom were captured. Warrior scouts were sent out along the coast, north and south, towards the border, but there have been no reports we’ve been privy to.”

“But we were attacked,” Ever states as if needing to reassure herself.

“Would someone fill me in?” Micah interjects, impatience in his voice.

“Someone got to Ever,” Crimson says.

His face goes slack before he turns back to Ever. “Really? You weren’t safe in the cell?”

“Apparently not. Kyra came to tell me of the attack and said I’d be safe, but then two men came for me.” She grips the edge of my bed, scrunching up the bedspread.

“Two unknown attackers got into her cell, took her pendant, and tried to either take her or kill her,” I assess and break down the information as fact.

“They were trying to hurt you?” Micah clarifies, his voice edged with shock.

“They sure as zuns weren’t there for anything good, and taking her pendant didn’t evoke any sense of peace.”

“What did you do?” Calix asks.

I look up at him. He shouldn’t need me to ask the words.

“One got away.” He nods to me but can’t help glancing at Ever.

“So, what does all of this mean?” I turn to everyone in the room and take a breath.

“Who would attack, or at least threaten to attack Kirrasia, and have the means to infiltrate The Court cells to reach a prisoner?”

“Who knew she was there?” Crimson asks.

“Everyone at the trial knew, even if they weren’t with us when the Guards took her.” Micah looks at me. “The trainees. The heads of Order and Custodians.” Micah extrapolates. “Too many people to narrow it down.”

“You think this was about me?” Ever asks Crimson, her voice timid.

“I don’t like the idea that anyone got through our defences. We were put into action for nothing. Almost like we were moved away from where we were needed.”

“A distraction,” I say, repeating what I told my father. But if that was the case, it was about Ever and getting to her rather than anything else. A test, maybe?

“That doesn’t make any sense. Why would anyone come after me? Ten, you?—”

“You’re a fucking Fifth, Ever. Have you forgotten what happened at the trial—what you did?” Crimson snarls.

“Hey, back off, Crim.” I stand and take a step towards her.

“Easy, Ten. We’re here to help. You know that.” Calix gets between us. “Yesterday was a big day for all of us, okay. We’re still reeling.”

“What does your father say?” I ask Crimson, giving her one last chance. She shouldn’t be here if she’s still hostile towards Ever. And after siding with Ascella and ignoring me in the trial, she needs to prove where her loyalties are.

“Apart from what he relayed from your father, nothing to help. He knows something doesn’t add up. He was heading back to meet with Orion when he dismissed us last night.”

“The other trainees?” Ever asks. “Are they okay?”

“They’re fine.” Crimson’s voice cracks through the room as if she’s angry at Ever for even asking the question. “No thanks to you.”

I narrow my gaze on Crimson, warning her.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Ever. Don’t listen to her.”

“Ascella is in the medical wing because of me.”

“We have bigger problems right now, Little Siren.”

Addressing everyone, I ask, “What about training?”

“Suspended. Apparently, the trial is void. So, it’s just the remaining three trials,” Micah says.

“Just like that? Warrior trial over?” I don’t buy it. Regardless of what else happened yesterday, my father would never just give up his trial. He prides himself on his trial being the toughest.

“What’s wrong?” Ever just asks me.

“I don’t know. I think Micah is lying, or he’s being fed the wrong information. And if that’s the case, by whom?”

“Let’s get some food,” Calix offers up, jumping off the desk.

“Count me out,” Crimson answers, and I don’t argue.

“Come on, Crimson. Don’t be like that,” Calix encourages.

“Forget it. I’m sorry, Ten, but I can’t pretend like everything is alright.”

“Fine by me.”

“Easy, Ten. She’s your friend. And Calix’s sister.”

“She had her chance.”

Crimson leaves the room, and Calix curses under his breath. Ever walks over to him and, to my annoyance, returns the hug he gave her earlier. I’m pretty fucking sure I warned him about touching her.

The rest of us leave my room and head towards the food hall. We still haven’t seen Raiden, Capella, Azur, or Ravi.

As we enter, the fire rages, but there’s nobody else here, the room deserted of trainees and Custodians. So, what is Rowan doing? Where was he going? And why does he think Ever should be in a cell?

“If training is suspended, is everyone just waiting in their rooms?” Calix asks before heading over to the door that will grant him access to the kitchen.

We all sit down, Ever next to me, conversation stilted.

“Everyone’s gone,” Calix reports back. “They’ve all left.”

“Weird. There’s always staff.” Micah says.

“Who can cook?” Calix asks.

“You’re serious?” I ask him.

He just shrugs.

I glance up and see Rowan enter and head towards us with far too much purpose in his stride for my liking.

“Good, you’re here. We’ve been summoned,” he announces.

“Summoned?”

“Every trainee, the Custodians and all members of The Chamber have been requested to attend an announcement outside The Tower.”

Ever’s body turns to stone beside me, and it takes everything in me not to run my hand down her back to soothe her worry.

“When?” I ask.

“Now. I’ll escort you.”

“Great,” I speak to Ever.

Eyes dart around to one another at the table before Calix makes the first move to stand.

We all follow, and as Rowan leads us out, we find Raiden and Capella, Azur, and Ravi waiting near the far end of the residence corridor.

“Do you guys know anything?” Raiden asks me.

“Did Darien say anything about Ever when you asked? Was he hiding anything?”

“Oh, now you want to share? No. Nothing out of the ordinary. Why?”

We still didn’t know if we can trust any of the Orders.

“Oh, you’ll take my information, but not offer it back. And here’s me thinking we were all in this together. Oh, wait. No. You decided to run off and leave the rest of us locked in our rooms.” Seems she’s pissed I didn’t invite her along to help.

I shake my head. This isn’t the time.

Raiden hangs back, and I’m glad not to have to defend my decision about that right now.

We make the well-worn journey over to The Court and pass the differing settlements on the way up and around the cobblestones towards The Tower, and every step closer, dread follows, like we’re walking into something that we can’t get out of.

“What’s wrong?” Ever asks.

“I don’t know.” But everything in me, every instinct, is telling me that there’s something wrong here.

“I hate this. It reminds me of when I first came here and when I met the Maker for the first time.” Ever shudders as if ice just skimmed over her skin.

My hand reaches for hers, needing to try and calm her.

Heat races along our connection as soon as I touch her skin, and I sink into the comfort, not wanting to build my shield to keep her out.

She looks at me and smiles. And just as I feel the advanced warning of pain and what I know will be the images that show a possible version of the future, I let go, severing it.

Silence trails with us as we round the final bend in the spiral street before The Tower, and as we approach, we get a glimpse of the full Chamber assembled outside in a familiar arc.

“This can’t be good,” I murmur.

“No shit,” Calix agrees.

Rowan turns to halt us when we’re in position. Even without my ability, I’d be able to tell everyone’s feeling nervous and bracing for bad news. The air is so thick with apprehension that it’s oppressive.

As with any announcement, it seems, my father stands forward, ready to get on with the show.

He sweeps his eyes over the crowd but ignores me, focusing on Ever instead.

Shit, is this about Ever? My heart pounds as I assess the ways we might need to escape. It’s not looking good, considering there’s only one way in or out of here.

“Following the events of yesterday and the seriousness of the incident before us, it has been necessary to call this impromptu gathering,” he starts, “for undue use of force. For interfering with an Order-led investigation and for behaviour unfit for both Guard and Warrior, the following decision has been made.” He pauses, and I can’t keep my eyes from Ever as I comprehend what he just said.

“Aten Ciro’s training is to be terminated, effective immediately.

” Where I feared Ever’s name would fall, mine is now in its place, and my father’s words ring in my head, confusion knitting my brows together.

They never terminate training. You’re assessed and then provided a path.

This doesn’t make sense.

“And, to ensure this behaviour doesn’t continue, Aten Ciro is hereby banished from Kirrasia and will be stationed at an appropriate outpost in Estereah.”

“No!”

“What the fuck, Ten?”

Voices and words explode around me, layering over each other, and I see people reacting and jostling around me. I’m still processing the first blow, but the second has me staggering to stay standing. It’s like my Transference all over again.

Betrayal solidifies in my chest as I search for my mother in the crowd. She isn’t here, but Ever is.

“Ever!” My voice won’t do me any good amongst the chaos now spreading like fire amongst everyone.

I can’t leave her.

No. No.

“ Ten. What’s happening? They can’t do this, right?

You said that protecting a trainee would be justifiable.

You did it to protect me, they know that.

” Her voice grows louder in my head, and the push of power from our connection amplifies everything.

It threatens to drown out and consume my own power and fear as hers grows, no, erupts inside of her.

Footsteps sound, steady and rhythmic, and I know it’s my father’s men coming to restrain me. I might not have anticipated the banishment, but the next steps along his plan are simple.

Restrain. Isolate. Escort me out of The Court. And Kirrasia.

And I have nothing to fight him with.

“I love you, Ever. I’m sorry I haven’t told you before now.” I look up and search for her in the disarray.

Calix and Crimson crowd me, and Aurelia even stands at their side.

“Ten, no. We can fight this. I can fight this,” Ever’s thoughts scream at me.

Warriors close in, but so does she. And she’s got Ravi with her. She barges past Calix and grabs my hand.

Shadows explode around us, far denser and more menacing than when we did this in class.

“What are you doing?” I ask as I hold on to her hand with a death grip, knowing she’s going to be ripped away from me at any second.

“I won’t let them do this to you because of me.”

“You can’t protect me from this, Ever.”

“I can. We can leave. Go. I’ll happily leave this place for you. We can go home—to my home, together.” She’s pulling more energy, more power than she has before. It’s in the very thickness of the shadowy mist clouding us, clinging to us, and keeping us from view. “We can go now. Run.”

“Stars, that sounds good. And if I knew you’d be safe, I’d be pulling you along with me right this second. But I can’t risk you. I’ll speak to my father. We’ll figure this out.” That’s the only thought I can make sense of.

This is a mistake. It’s not going to happen.

Ever’s grip on Ravi drops, and the shadowy fog recedes, leaving a silent audience around us.

“I love you,” I say, desperate for her to hear me.

My eyes lock on hers, and I watch as the darkness in them retreats, leaving them glacial green and full of rage.

They remind me of the first time I saw her when she looked every inch the threat she could be, but her beauty overruled my senses and has consumed me from that day onwards.

She has consumed me ever since.

“Aslendrix, please watch over her,” I whisper under my breath.

Praying to our Goddess is becoming a necessity I really fucking hate.

“We’ll find a way, Ever. Hold on to that. I love you.”