Carmadon or from Premier Davidson. Even Ptolemus hinted that my presence would be helpful. And Elane did as well. She has a mind for these kinds of things. “It must be difficult, to give up—”
I cut him off, tired of this conversation. “I don’t want that place,” I almost shout, my voice too forceful, too loud. “I don’t want any of it anymore.”
Not weighed against what I have now. It’s not worth the trade. But still—I was raised to that place. To Ridge House, to the scarring valleys of the Rift. Shadow and tree and river. Quarries of iron, coal mines. A beautiful home I will never forget. And no matter how much I love Elane, how much I value being who I am, it’s a difficult life to forget.
“I’m not going back.”
“Fine,” he replies, teeth clenched. “Then you can tell Ptolemus that in person. You can stand and watch him leave. Have some spine, Evangeline,” he adds, looking me up and down with a withering glance. In spite of myself and my pride, I feel exposed beneath his judgment. Carmadon is like me, and deep down, I value his opinion. “You can live your own life here, so live it proudly.”
Rage quickly replaces any embarrassment in me. It licks up like flame, feeding my dogged resolve. I almost sit back down again, petulant as a child.
But he’s right.
“Thank you for your advice, my lord Carmadon,” I hiss, dropping into a curtsy even lower than his bow. When I rise, my fingers dance, sending a ring sailing through the trees. It returns in a blink, bringing a small, red apple directly to my palm.
Carmadon doesn’t move. “That isn’t ripe,” he says, his voice tinged with amusement.
I take the largest bite I can as I walk away, ignoring the bitter taste.
TWO
Elane
Was it wrong to send Carmadon after her?
I can’t say. Evangeline wanted this time to herself, to wait out the clock on Ptolemus and Wren, but she’ll regret it later. If she can’t find the stomach to go with them, she’ll wish she was there to see him off at least. There are few people she values more than her brother, and I know firsthand what an effect we have on her emotions. Evangeline thinks I don’t notice how easily swayed she is by the rest of us. The smallest word, a wrong-sided glance. It unsettles her, any risk to our bonds and relationships. Even the slightest possibility of unraveling our circle. After all, we’re the only thing she has left.
And she is the same to me.
I do what I can in the time I have. Packing up her clothes without magnetron help can be an arduous affair, but I do my best. In Norta and the Rift, we both favored our house colors, which made for a very monotone color palette in our closets. Black, silver. Some white. Montfort is different. House colors have no meaning, and I sort through a rainbow of shades to choose outfits suitable for an abdication. Most of Evangeline’s gowns are too heavy for me to move without aid, so I stick to silk when I can. The chrome chain mail is less cumbersome, but still a chore to drag off its hook.
After an hour I’m sweating slightly, but I have two cases stuffed with any specific items we might need. Dresses, shirts, pants, jackets. Not to mention my own clothing. Just in case Evangeline changes her mind.
I leave the cases in the closet, shutting the door behind me to hide them from sight.
Our suite of rooms here is less grand than at Ridge House, naturally, but it is still splendid enough as our status demands. For the time being.
Though we slept in the same place back in the Rift, I always had my own chambers somewhere else, to keep up appearances. It’s both strange and exhilarating to know the space is ours to share, and no one else’s. Davidson’s estate has a very specific flair, and my own tastes don’t match with exposed wood or forest green. I haven’t bothered decorating, though. We will not be here much longer.
The windows face west, at Evangeline’s request. She prefers waking with the dawn, but she knows I don’t. It was a kind gesture, though it does require some finesse in the afternoon, when the sun seems to be directly at eye level. As usual, I spin my hand as if turning a doorknob, and the light beaming in dims to a golden glow. Much better.