Page 45 of Grounded (Convergence #1)
“My love, please! I need your support right now, not your condemnation. I am dealing with this as you are—as best I can. My heart is asunder! And despite the loving words of a destra for her destru, my words are also true. Yes, he is still Thaxvarien, but he is also lost to our home. He cannot return to Icara.”
Lady Elanianvia went silent.
“Have you two forgotten erials?” Liria asked. “There are other ways to fly. Thax can still go home.”
“No, Daughter,” Elanianvia said gently. “My husband is right. Thaxvarien could, as you say, come to us using a flying convergence, but he would not be allowed to land. The sentries would not even let him pass. Not as he is.”
“Well, that's just dumb.”
Her mouth fell open, and then a burst of sound came out—a laugh. Lady Elanianvia clamped a hand over her mouth and spoke through it. “You are delightful.”
“And wrong, unfortunately,” the Speaker said. “It may seem dumb to you, Liria, but our laws were established long ago, and there are reasons for them. Only Aethari are allowed to set foot in our cities.”
“He is still an Aethari!”
“No, he is not.” The Speaker held up a hand. “It pains me more than you, Daughter. But, according to our laws, if you cannot fly to a city with the magic gifted to you by Source, you are not worthy to be that close to the Source of Magic. You are not one of us.”
“Then your laws need to change.”
Nearly all the Aethari gasped at that. The only two who didn't were the Speaker and his wife. They looked at each other, communicating without words, as those who have been together for many years do.
“Maybe you're right, Liria,” the Speaker finally said. “But they will not change today. And until they do, our son has no home.”
“Now, there, you're wrong. He will always have a home. I am his home.”
At last, that won a smile from the Speaker. “Yes, you are. And that is the heart of the matter I'm trying to address.”
“I don't understand.”
“We will support the two of you. You will want for nothing. We will supply a new home for you and our son. But Thaxvarien—” His throat constricted, and he had to start again.
“Thaxvarien is yours now, Liria. Your destru. I will take care of your needs—shelter, money, food—whatever you require. If you will take care of him. Be his home. Look after him for us, Daughter. That is your right and responsibility as his destra.”
Liria lifted her chin. “We don't need your money.”
“Oh, for fu—”
Lady Elanianvia reached across Liria's lap and silenced her husband with a touch.
Then she said to Liria, “Yes, Daughter, you do. You will need our support because you cannot continue to work here and look after him. Thaxvarien will become your priority. Your job. The Commander has already released him from service. His debt is considered paid. His contract fulfilled. And Commander Havers has also been kind enough to release you from your contract as well.”
What the fuck? Liria swallowed past the dryness in her throat and said, “Thax only needs a few days. He'll be fine.”
“I wish that were true. I hope we're wrong, and you are right. But let us provide for you just in case. See it as a vacation if you like.” She glanced at the Commander. “All has been arranged. You will not lose your job. If Thax recovers soon, and you want to return, you may.”
“But for now, you want me to quit?”
“You are not quitting, Chief Drask,” Commander Havers finally spoke.
“You will always have a place here. Soldiers like you are rare.
Never have I seen such bravery. To go below as you did .
. . I cannot conceive of it. I assumed you were dead.
We all did. Only the Speaker knew you'd return. He kept us down in the pit, watching the barrier until you came through.” He shook his head.
“Great fuck, Drask. You came back in something you converged down there. You survived. Everything you did is miraculous. If you need to leave the service to take care of Private Rennux, so be it. Your contract is cleared. But if you ever want to return, I will welcome you with open arms and a raise.”
Liria looked down at her lap. She had never wanted this job. She was a converger at heart, not a soldier. Unlike those who were born to defend, she didn't feel compelled into military service. But it had been her life for so long that leaving it abruptly was scary.
Leaving Thax was scarier.
As much as Liria hoped that Thax would recover in a few days, she knew in her heart that his parents were right.
His wounds were both physical and mental.
His body was nearly recovered, but his mind was still bleeding.
It was an unpredictable wound that might suddenly heal itself or fester forever.
He needed to get away from the fortress, and Liria had sworn to be there for him.
Pride be damned. Fear too. These were Thax's parents.
They needed to take care of their son, but they couldn't help him as she could.
She had to let them help. That was their right as his loved ones.
Liria lifted her head and looked at the Speaker. “Very well. I accept your offer. Make the preparations. Find us a place to recuperate. Take care of our needs, and I'll take care of Thaxvarien.”
The Speaker nodded, his expression cracking. “Thank you, Daughter.”
Liria nodded and then looked at the Commander. “Thank you, Commander Havers. Thank you for your kind words and your generous offer. I hope I'll be back soon. But it all depends on Private Rennux. He's my priority.”
“Praise Source,” Lady Elanianvia murmured.