With the evocation stronger than ever, word reached the palace that Markiz Solom Rada had begun working on ridding Vasterya of the rookery as well as his little army he’d been building.
It was too late, however.
The Guard had been sent out to arrest the markiz. He would be tried before the court of the Rada for treason. Jarvis was furious and left little doubt in my mind that the markiz would be dismissed from the Rada and imprisoned.
Moreover, upon my discovery of the mages, Jarvis was interested in conducting some kind of census to discover just how many mages were being born every year. The thought of magic truly returning to our world swept Silvera with excitement.
I received a letter from Kir confirming the rumors in Vasterya and the worry in Pharya over the markiz’s arrest. He promised to keep me informed while the Rada dealt with the markiz. As we wrote back and forth, I was glad for his friendship again. He was unsurprised to learn of my betrothal to Wolfe, having discerned Wolfe’s feelings for me during our time in the rookery.
I grimaced at that. I really had been a blind fool.
Jarek was surprised to learn of my betrothal to Wolfe. He was a little skeptical even, but nonetheless happy for me, proving I was right when I suspected I was nothing but a mere flirtation to him.
The Iavii, now that they were caught in the trap of the evocation, agreed to settle in a few acres of land on the northern border of Javinia. As for Tiger, Bird, Vrik, and a few others, they were imprisoned in the palace jail for murder, theft, and kidnapping. No one questioned it, now that the Dyzvati reigned supreme again.
Haydyn was so busy at first with meetings with the Rada that I couldn’t seem to get her to sit long enough for me to explain my concerns. Finally, exasperated upon hearing she had a meeting with a dignitary from Alvernia, I urged Haydyn to postpone it and talk with me. There was much she needed to know, including the fact that Markiz Andrei was not a good match for her.
Seeing how troubled I was, Haydyn agreed and we headed to her suite. My palms were damp and my heart raced with all I had to tell her.
“I haven’t spent nearly enough time with you, Rogan, and after all you’ve done—”
“Haydyn, don’t—”
“We haven’t even had time to discuss your betrothal to Captain Stovia. Wolfe, Rogan! You’ve barely given me any answers to how that really came about. And none of that fluff about realizing how you felt about one another.” She grinned, her eyes bright. “I want the luscious details.”
So I told her. But not just about Wolfe. I told her everything that had happened to me. She already knew some of it. About the Iavii and the rookery. But this time, I didn’t leave out any details. I told her about Alvernia. About the good people of Hill o’ Hope. About the mountain man. About L and the Moss family.
When I drew quiet, Haydyn promptly burst into tears.
I reached for her hand but she drew away. “Don’t. How can you even touch me after all you’ve been through because of me? That man, Rogan … what he did to you …” She shook her head, her eyes so full of anguish.
“Haydyn,” I said sternly. “I didn’t tell you to make you feel guilty. Nothing happened to me that couldn’t be dealt with. But I came to question things … important things … about Phaedra. About the way we govern. About the evocation. I need you.”
She still looked pale and uneasy. “For what? What about the way we govern? What about the evocation?”
“Didn’t you hear what I told you? There are issues in your provinces, Haydyn. Issues the evocation cannot fix, and I’m not sure it should. What right do we have to suppress human nature? That is not freedom. It is the opposite of freedom.”
Haydyn flinched like I’d hit her. “The evocation makes sure peace reigns in Phaedra.”
Frustration burned in my throat. “But what if something happened again to the evocation? We’d be left with a world that isn’t properly governed because we’re so afraid of our true natures. Perhaps we should accept who we are as a people and be true to ourselves. Govern without the evocation.”
Haydyn stood up now. “I heard all this the first time around, Rogan. I understood. Believe me. The provinces have been left in the