Page 67 of Grounded (Convergence #1)

Thax spent the next few hours guarding his destra.

Once she was asleep again, he did a patrol of the grounds, checked that all windows and doors had their converged locks enabled, and then went back to keep watch from their balcony.

He didn't like how worried Liria was. When he heard her scream, it sent terror shooting through him.

Just a dream. That's what he said to her, but she didn't believe it.

He saw it in her eyes. It was the strain she'd been under. Had to be.

What an abrupt shift. To go from Liria taking care of him to Thaxvarien looking after her.

Of course, she wasn't nearly as bad as he had been, and looking after her, even in the smallest way, made his chest stretch wider, opening his ribs like wings.

Yes, that was it. His destra put wings in his heart. That's how he flew.

If only Thaxvarien could tell his Liri everything.

But he couldn't confide in her when she was so fragile.

It would only add to the strain, even if what he had to tell her was positive.

At least in his opinion. A wave of peace went through him again, and although words didn't form in his mind, he knew it was the Sources speaking to him.

They did it more and more often lately—putting knowledge into his mind and confidence in his blood.

Ideas filled his head that he knew didn't originate there.

But how to explain that to Liri?

After Liria woke, they had their breakfast outside on the ground-floor terrace as they used to. Throughout the meal, Thax kept pondering what to say to his destra. As much as the Sources guided him, they were quiet about Liri.

“I'd still like to vid your father,” Liria said after they finished breakfast. She sat back with her coffee mug in hand and stared at him.

“Liri, what was your nightmare about?”

Her lips trembled before she spoke, “We went to Icara. They wanted to meet with you. Your father was there waiting for us on a golden platform.”

Thax went still. No images of the sky cities had ever been shared with Medeans. Sure, a golden platform was a general description, but it was enough to make him wonder. He held up a hand to stop her before she went on. “Do you remember what Icara looked like?”

“Absolutely. The whole city shone. Crystal domes topped buildings, and there were entire floors open to the air. Some things were similar to Medean cities—like the floating planters and everwell fountains. But even those were different. The planters were made of gold, and the fountains were rose quartz with white statues of Aethari within them. Everything was so bright.”

“Dear Source,” Thax whispered. “The domes might be glimpsed from the ground, but those other details . . . Liri, you've just accurately described Icara.”

She paled.

“Don't be afraid.” He took her hand. “Maybe it was more than a nightmare, but it wouldn't have been shown to you if we couldn't change it. Now, tell me the rest.”

“Thax, they killed your father.”

“What?” he whispered. “Who killed him?”

“An Aethari man with a pulser. It was a rebellion. You were so enraged that you drew lightning from the sky. You killed all the rebels, Thax. You . . . there was blood everywhere.”

Thax started to feel anxious, but then that calm came to him again—the sense that it would be all right. He would heed Liri's dream and change the outcome. With that decided, he stood up and offered her his hand. “Let's vid my father.”

Her expression went relieved as she took his hand. “Are you going to tell him about flying?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Good.”

They headed downstairs to their old bedroom. Thaxvarien didn't want to bring the vidco into their new room since it was open and anyone viding would get a glimpse of their private quarters. So, they had left the convergence in the sitting room.

Once there, seated before that large screen, staring at his parents, Thaxvarien began to have second thoughts about viding them. They gaped at him after he told them about the accident. Liria looked from him to them and back again.

“Father?” Thax prompted. “I thought you'd be pleased.”

His father jolted out of his daze. “I am! I am, Son. I just . . . I'm so happy you can fly. It's the implications that, uh . . .”

“I think your father is trying to say that it will take some time for our people to adjust to an Aethari who flies without wings.” Thax's mother laid her hand over her husband's. “And you say you've spoken? That's incredible, Thaxvarien.”

“The Source of Magic wants me to continue to be your heir, Father.”

His parents went quiet again.

“Mother? Father? You see that, don't you? Source still speaks through me. I am still the heir.”

“I believe that, Son,” his father said. “But this is a delicate situation.”

Thax stared at his father. He wanted to tell them more. Not only was he still the heir, but he was also a speaker for both sources. But now it felt as if they weren't ready to hear it. So instead he said, “Tell them about your dream, Liri.”

His father's stare locked on his destra. “You had a dream of significance?”

Liri glanced at Thax before saying, “It felt like a warning.”

“Go on.”

Liria told them about her nightmare. From the images of the city itself to the terrible ending that was cut short with her awakening. Thax's mother gasped, but his father only nodded.

“That is a premonition, Daughter. And we shall heed it,” his father said. “If we reveal Thaxvarien's abilities too quickly, the Aethari will be outraged.”

“Enough to murder you, the Speaker of Icara?” Thax shook his head. “There must be more to this.”

“Son, you are looking at this from one perspective. You think it will only be those against you who will show aggression. I don't agree.”

With a weight on his chest, he whispered, “You think I will . . .”

“Not you, Son. Your destra said it herself.

She witnessed a rebellion. That means it will be those who support you who will attack me.

I know there are many people who feel as you do about our laws.

You weren't alone in your protests. It's those who stand against a greater force who must take shocking measures to win.”

“But you're my father. Why would people who support me murder you?”

“Because his death would make you the Speaker,” Liria whispered.

Thax's father nodded.

“But they would know I'd turn against them for that.”

“Would they? Not all know of our affection for each other, Son. They've only seen you oppose me for most of your life.

Rage flashing through him, Thaxvarien cursed under his breath. “Then I'll never return to Icara or any other sky city.”

“Thaxvarien, no!” His mother sat forward.

“You cannot ignore the wishes of Source. If it wants you to be the next Speaker, you shall . But hopefully, that will be many years from now.” She looked at her husband and then back at Thaxvarien.

“You'll have time to convince our people to accept you. We just need to protect your secret.”

“Yeah, that may be a problem,” Liria said.

“What does that mean?” his father asked.

“Someone else witnessed Thax's flight.” Liria looked at Thaxvarien.

“It was a Medean man from the town,” Thaxvarien took over. “Liria thinks he was scared enough to rally a force against us.”

His father grimaced. “He will doubtless tell others what he saw. Do you think he will be believed?”

“I don't know him well enough to say, but he seems to be an accepted member of the local society. And it's a small town. Our cook recognized him.” Liria shrugged. “I've prepared emergency bags for us in case we need to leave suddenly.”

“Very wise, Daughter.”

Oh, that stung. His own father didn't believe he was capable of protecting his destra.

“I can defend us now,” Thaxvarien growled. “Even better than I could before.”

“You are still one man, Son.” Thax's father leaned toward the screen. “You can be overpowered. And even if you were to win a battle against those townspeople, it would not be good for you. Word would spread about the wingless Aethari who murders Medeans.”

Thaxvarien's face fell. His shoulders and annoyance fell with it. “Oh. I hadn't considered that.”

“You have good counsel in your destra.” His father nodded at Liri.

“I believe the Source has paired you with Liria for many reasons—her wisdom being one of them. Heed her advice, Thaxvarien. If they come for you, flee. Do not engage. You must always consider what your actions can bring down upon your beloved.” His father took his mother's hand and kissed it.

“She must come first. Even before your pride.”

Liria took Thax's hand. He stared at her, his confidence draining out of his eyes like tears. Drying up into nothing. He knew his father was right. His destra’s safety was his priority. Ironically, his need to defend her could put her in danger.

“That doesn't make you less of a man,” Liria said.

“It makes you a tactician. You have to know when to make a stand and when to retreat.

It's a good lesson in leadership. Battle is not always about being strong or weak.

It's about strategy. It's about your end goal.

If you want to be a speaker or a catalyst for change, you cannot introduce yourself to the world covered in blood.

That's the guise of a tyrant, not a leader.”

“Exactly,” his father said. “But I won't leave you to face this alone. I'll send you guards.”

“No, Father. We don't need them. Especially if all we're doing is . . . running.” Damn, that word left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“Yes, you do.”

“Father, any guards you send will inevitably witness my new ability. We cannot risk it.”

His father went silent. But it was the silence of thought. He looked at Thaxvarien's mother.

She nodded.

His father nodded back before turning his face back to Thaxvarien. “I will send you my personal guards—men I trust implicitly.”

“I don't like that idea, Father.”

“Thaxvarien, these are loyal men who have been with me for years. I'm certain that even if they don't like what is happening with you, they will protect you out of that loyalty. You know these men. Do you not agree?”

“It doesn't matter what I think of them. It will be hard enough to keep my secret without you sharing it with more people. We will manage here alone.”

“No! You are special, Thaxvarien. Yes, I want you to run if you are attacked, but that doesn't mean you will be successful. You may need men to guard your back while you run. It's worth the risk. Now, be smart about this and accept my help. If not for yourself, for your destra.”

“Damn it all.” Thax grimaced, but then he looked at Liri. Yes, she was worth the risk. “Very well.”

“Good. I will send them to you immediately. They can take care of the security for you. Meanwhile, I will find another home for you to relocate to.”

“Somewhere in the mountains, maybe?” Liria suggested. “Somewhere remote.”

His father nodded. “I agree. I'll find the perfect refuge for you. If you have to flee before then, head for the Stymerus Range and contact me as soon as you can.”

“All right.” Liria looked at Thaxvarien.

Thaxvarien nodded. He wasn't about to tell his father about speaking for Technology now. Nope. Not happening. He'd only share it with his guards.

“Good,” his mother said. “I feel comforted by this plan.”

“So do I,” Liria said.

Thaxvarien rolled his eyes. That made three out of four.

“Until your new guards arrive, stand watch, Thaxvarien.” His father pointed at him. “You do not lower your guard until my men are there to take over. Understand?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Good.” His father stood up. “They should be there by morning. Until then, may Source guard and guide you both.”

“And you both as well.” Thax inclined his head.

“I love you, my son.” His mother laid her hand on the screen. “Be wary. And watch over your destra. She is special.”

Thaxvarien softened. “I love you too, Mother. And I know how special she is.” He lifted Liria's hand and kissed it. “Liri is my priority.”

Liria kissed his cheek and then said to his parents, “Be careful. You need to be wary too. And thank you.”

His mother nodded, her expression grim, and then she ended the vid.

He clicked the vidco off and looked at Liri. “Well, fuck.”

Liria burst out laughing.