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Chapter 26

IRIS

“Here's to hoping everyone enjoyed a serene night of rest.”

Theon was awfully chipper for being up early enough to watch the sunrise. I was almost certain his night didn’t contain much rest, judging by the room he’d exited from. I, for one, hadn’t slept at all. If the shadows under Aspen’s eyes were any indication, neither had he.

For the sake of our ruse, we shared a room. However, he’d disappeared into Theon’s neighboring suite quickly after we’d returned.

Something had shifted in the night. A tentative peace, perhaps. It felt more like an acknowledgement. Like for the first time we saw one another as just... people. Flawed, tired, somewhat scared people who didn’t know much more than that they were searching for something.

A cure. A purpose. An escape.

Unable to face sleep, I’d stood at the door between our rooms, pondering knocking, for longer than I cared to admit.

I decided not to examine it.

“Did you sleep?” Aspen faced me, weariness etched in every line of his face.

“Like a babe.” I averted my gaze, focusing on the rhythmic tap of my shoes against the floor as I moved forward.

Through the walkway’s arches, the sky still swirled with hues of pink and violet, the night reluctant to release its hold. I picked at the dry skin peeling around my nail beds, my thoughts circling back to the events of the night before. Melodic laughter and flashes of glittering fabric circled continuously around my mind, shifting slightly each time until they were unrecognizable. Around and around and?—

A sudden pressure on my arm snapped me back to reality, pulling me from the injury I was about to suffer by walking headfirst into a sandstone pillar. Aspen had slipped his arm through mine, and without thinking, I settled my hand into the crook of his elbow.

“The inner seam is loose,” he murmured, leaning down with a conspiratorial gleam. “I’ve grown rather tired of this coat. My tailor refuses to make another in its pristine condition. A proper hole in the sleeve would justify a new one, don’t you think?”

I met his stare, running my fingers along the seam I’d anchored myself to during our meeting with Kel. His responding wink was all the confirmation I needed. A smile formed as my nail caught on a loose stitch. I pulled gently, rolling the fiber between my fingers.

“Why yes, Theon, we are quite concerned with your sleeping habits as well,” Theon muttered to himself.

“Of course,” I remarked, tugging at another thread on Aspen’s coat as we rounded the corner to Kel’s meeting chambers. “Your beauty rest is of the utmost priority…” I trailed as we entered the room.

The Queen of Marikaim sat alone.

No sign of her Linguistic.

I began ticking off the people we’d spoken to at the party, my fingers still occupied with Aspen’s coat. We had made a point to converse with anyone willing, circling back to check in again.

Had it been enough?

Had our abrupt departure cost us their favor?

“I am sure you are eagerly awaiting the Order’s answer,” a grin snaked across her beautiful face, her vibrant eyes betraying her youth. The Queen of Marikaim was barely older than the three of us, taking the throne swiftly after her ascension. “But first, I must know—how did you enjoy the festivities?”

“I think Theon enjoyed himself the most,” I chuckled. “He often does. It was a lovely night.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Her grin widened. “Now, I find it time you meet the Archival Order yourselves.”

Were they not anonymous?

Kel raised her palms, and the air was sucked from the room.

A dozen figures materialized before us—hazy outlines at first, but with a twist of her wrists, they sharpened into focus, still dressed in their finery.

Twelve Ethera stood before us, as alive now as they had been the night before.

The beauty from Vaelithe. The couple with whom Aspen had spoken at length about sweets—his sweet tooth really was incorrigible. The man who had waxed poetic about trade routes. The older couple who had danced the entire night, even without music.

“Are they…” I whispered.

“Illusions, yes.” Kel’s satisfied grin was contagious.

I had never met an Illusionist before.

Ferrin was the only other Ethera I knew with an Arcanist classification, his ability to harness raw magic used to make his portals. Kel had used hers to create not one, but twelve full-bodied apparitions.

Astonishing.

“They’re spectacular,” I breathed, at the same time Aspen asked, “You control the Order?”

“Nothing of the sort.” Kel shook her head. “The Order exists, yes, but they have no bearing over Marikaim or how our Linguistic uses their powers. That is my discretion.”

“Why, then?” I asked. “Why have us believe we needed to convince them?”

“I needed to be sure, beyond a doubt, that your intentions were true.” She closed her fingers, and the illusions vanished. “There is a new regime in Marikaim, and I am not so young and naive as to believe others won’t seek to take advantage of that. Your word wasn’t worth anything to me yet. I wanted to witness your efforts for coalition with my people, with this realm, for myself.”

The effort for her people was admirable.

“What did you come to find?” I implored.

“You two will make honorable rulers someday.”

Something flickered within my chest at the thought.

“And I do love a party.” Her smile widened. “Lenys!” she called.

An auburn Ethera strolled gracefully into the room, hands tucking into the pockets of their trousers.

The Ethera looked strikingly similar to the woman I’d seen Theon with at the gathering—but sharper. Lenys’s hair was a deep copper, brushing their shoulders, and a terracotta waist corset wrapped around their middle, fastening beneath a silk brown tunic.

“When you finish your book, Iris,” Kel said, “let me know how the story ends.”

Following Lenys out the way they’d come, Theon, Aspen, and I exchanged glances. Theon held his hands up, clearly unaware how Lenys connected to the woman from the night before.

Divine help us.

Instead of being led to the archives, as I’d suspected, we found ourselves in a disheveled but quaint workshop.

Aged paper of varying degrees lined every surface— diagrams in ancient languages along the walls, scrolls of unreadable text strewn across desks and workbenches. Quills and ink pots littered the space, dried wax crusting most surfaces.

“No need for introductions,” Lenys drawled. “I’ve heard more than I care too about some of you already.” Hazel eyes narrowed at Theon.

“My apologies.” Theon did not sound apologetic in the slightest.

“No need, my cousin sends her compliments.” Lenys brushed a hand over their sleeve. “You want something.” It wasn’t a question.

They waited expectantly as Aspen explained our purpose—our need for the decoder, the resources we’d brought to ensure its creation, and the second ancient text we’d offered as the Linguistic’s payment.

“It should be ready tomorrow,” was the only response we received before Aspen and I were ushered from the room. I didn’t miss how Theon lingered behind, nor did I question his reasoning.

“That was far easier than it should have been,” Aspen breathed out heavily.

“Maybe things are finally turning around,” I offered.

“Maybe you’re right, Virlana.” He offered me his arm again, and I grinned at the hole forming in the elbow of his coat. “Care to celebrate?”

* * *

The Marikaim chef placed the last bottle of wine in my arms, reminding me once more which cheese paired best with each one.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him I planned on drinking it straight from the bottle.

“I recognize that bottle.” Aspen eyed the aged label with suspicion. “We have one in Arcton’s cellar. It’s from the time of The Passage. How did you manage to talk your way into that?”

“I put it on Kacidon’s tab.” I shrugged, linking my arm with his.

“Pardon?”

“Pardoned.” I made sure my smile wasn’t too smug.

“And what possessed you to do that?” he asked.

“I’ve been using Kacidon’s tab since I got here.” I couldn’t muster even a hint of remorse. “You all dragged me into a life debt I had no say in. I am merely taking advantage of the positives in my situation. A real optimist, some would say.”

“You agreed to that, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Oh yes,” I mused. “Yes, I had a lot of agency in that decision. Risk my mother’s life by opposing a queen's demands, or agree to her terms and save not only my family but the innocent lives of people in both of our realms.” I nodded solemnly. “A tough decision, truly.”

He sighed so heavily I thought he might break a rib.

Dramatic man.

The afternoon sun drifted lazily across stone pathways as we walked aimlessly around the castle, arms still interlinked, searching for somewhere to spend the rest of the day.

When we were almost back to our rooms, I halted, taken aback by a laugh I could place anywhere.

Turning a corner, I ran down several steps before stopping short at an alcove lit by Marikaim’s enchanted flame.

She turned, and I was face to face with honeyed hair, still with a layer of rose-pink underneath, and vibrant green eyes. Beside her, fingers entwined, stood the Queen of Marikaim.

“Iris?”

The years stretched between us.

“Cecily?”

A grin broke across her face as she pulled me into a hug, her citrus scent enveloping me. I breathed her in, the years between us falling away like sand through fingers.

“Love?” Kel’s fair voice came from behind her.

“Oh!” Cecily laced her fingers with the queen’s again, her smile never fading. “Iris is the one I told you about, Kel. From Vaelithe.”

Recognition lit in Kel’s mahogany eyes, her posture relaxing as she stepped fully into the light.

“What a small world.”

Indeed it was. By the love shining in Kel’s eyes, Cecily must have been who she’d spoken of before the ball—the lover she hoped to make her queen. Funny how the intricacies of the world worked, bringing us all to this moment.

“Iris and Prince Aspen are the visitors from Kacidon,” Kel told Cecily. “For the celebration.”

Cecily’s gaze flicked between us, stopping at our still interlocked arms before returning to our faces, and I saw nothing but genuine kindness shining there.

“It is so good to see you finally out of Vaelithe, Iris.”

“I am happy for you.” I smiled at the pair, holding tight to each other in the halls of Tidemoor Keep. I hoped Kel would keep true to her word.