know…” He wavered, glancing at her from beneath his lashes before looking away. “I can do my part. Avoid eye contact, touching you…” He cleared his throat. “Whatever you need.”
Veronyka’s stomach turned sour. He was right. Even if he couldn’t help with the shadow magic portion, now that they both knew the risks, they could each do their best to avoid triggering her magic. It wasn’t perfect, but it was better than nothing—better than what she’d been doing before.
She had to embrace what she’d always known: that they were stronger together.
“You told me you don’t like being protected,” Tristan said, recalling their conversation inside the Eyrie after their last sparring match, “but you’ve taken it upon yourself to protect me. That’s not fair.” He raised his brows in mock rebuke.
Veronyka twisted her mouth and nodded. “You’re right. Thank you, Tristan. I… It won’t be forever. I’ll find a way, so we can…” She trailed off, a tingle of embarrassment climbing up her neck, and let him fill in the words: I’ll find a way so we can touch again.
Tristan frowned as he sorted through her words. Then a slow smile crawled across his face, flashing his dimples. Veronyka’s stomach swooped in response.
They stood in comfortable silence for a few moments before Tristan spoke. “So,” he said, casting her a scrutinizing look, “are you okay?”
“Am I okay?” she repeated with a laugh. “You’re the one who almost fell to his death today.”
He didn’t smile. “And you’re the one whose entire life just got blown apart. I’d say we’re even.”
“I guess you have a point,” she said in resignation, staring across the rocky landscape.
“Will you tell me?” he asked. “All of it? Or is that, I don’t know… dangerous? With the bond and all?”
“I don’t care,” Veronyka replied with a shake of her head. “I don’t want any more secrets between us. I’ll tell you everything.”
“I won’t tell anyone,” he said solemnly. “I promise.”
Veronyka smiled. “I know.”
The tradition of kneeling to swear fealty to fellow Phoenix Riders dates all the way back to Queen Nefyra. She knelt before her chosen Riders one by one, just as she’d knelt before Axura herself. It eventually became a part of several important Pyraean ceremonies, including the assignment of patrol positions and marriage rites.
When disputes arose between neighboring communities, it was common for the arguments to be settled and peace treaties sealed by their leaders kneeling opposite each other.
Queen Elysia brought the tradition with her to the valley, and the act was immortalized in a famous tapestry called The Queen Who Knelt, which once hung in the throne room of the Nest and has since been moved to the Morian Archives.
It featured Queen Elysia kneeling before her King Consort, Damian. He knelt as well, the two promising an alliance that would unite their people and serve as the foundation for the empire. For every king Elysia conquered or allied with, she would kneel, offering her loyalty, and if they wanted to keep their positions—and their heads—they would do the same.
—Social and Political Customs of the Pyraean Queens, the Morian Archives, 111 AE
But alone I finally understood what it was to be
an Ashfire. I did not want to rule, but we do
not always choose our destinies. Being an Ashfire
was not a choice, but a responsibility.
- CHAPTER 19 - ELLIOT
AFTER EAVESDROPPING WITH SPARROW and overhearing some of the commander’s plans, Elliot expected it to take several days to devise a way to relay the information about his great-aunt and the Grand Council. He had to make it seem natural—like something that he’d decided to tell the commander all on his own. He couldn’t just stride up to the man the very next day and blurt out his family tree.
Or at least, that was what he’d thought.
It turned out that Elliot could in fact approach the commander the next day, and it was thanks to the gossip he overheard from his fellow Riders during the morning’s Master Rider audition.
Beryk had enlisted Elliot’s help with the proceedings, and it wasn’t long before he heard why they were suddenly auditioning a new master: Empire soldiers had been sighted along the border. Tristan’s patrol was a Rider short—a spot that had surely been meant for Elliot, and something he tried not to be resentful about—and they discussed both the soldiers and the Grand Council meeting within earshot that very morning. Beryk had quickly silenced the talk, but it was enough for Elliot to broach the topic with the commander without raising suspicion.