“Take her up stairs and make her comfortable,” Errol instructed as the door opened. The following clamor of foot falls on the stairs vibrated through the study punctuated by another sob. My heart squeezed painfully yet again.
The pain in Candra’s sobs when she yelled for her father and the deep disappointment in Errol’s eyes before he turned away haunted my thoughts. What would he do with me? I had deliberately disobeyed, flaunting the code and all that he had so carefully taught me over the past months. The worst punishment I could think of was forbidding me to ever use the talents again. Would he do that? After all, I had just proven that I cannot be trusted to abide by the rules. I was dangerous. As dangerous as those Elitists that I studied in the history book. Didn’t they also ignore the code too, blatantly defying the authority and necessity of law?
I covered my face with my hands. Fresh moisture flooded my eyes. Why couldn’t I just die right now? I wouldn’t have to face Errol then. Of course, I would have to face the goddess and her scales measuring my soul against the weight of a perfect heart. I knew without a doubt in that moment that if my heart were weighed upon that scale I would be found wanting. She would only grow angry and throw it away to be consumed by the rat of the earth.
The door to the study opened and the images of the goddess and the scale fled my thoughts as I stared up at Errol. He stood in the doorway for a moment, outlined by the light of the hall lamp from the frizz about his head to the sturdy set of his legs. Then entering, he closed the door behind him.
“Zezilia?”
I swallowed carefully, but my voice still shook when I replied, “Here.”
“Come here.” He crossed to the lamp on the desk and lit it as I crept from my haven in the corner. Looking me over in the light he frowned. “You must be frozen, child. Why didn’t you light a fire?” He turned to the cold hearth and began to build a fire.
“How is Candra?” I asked hesitantly. I was half afraid that he would tell me that I had no right to know, but he simply answered my question without turning.
“She has a broken collarbone.” He struck a fire stick and lit the tinder. “She will not be climbing trees or doing much of anything for about a month, but she will heal.” He rose from the tending the flickering fire and looked at me.
I quickly lowered my eyes. I didn’t want to see the anger that I knew was there.
“Sit down,” he ordered softly.
I obeyed by quickly perching on my desk chair as far as possible from any other chair. He promptly nullified my efforts by dragging over his desk chair and setting it before me. Easing into it, he sighed.
“Look at me, child.” I reluctantly raised my gaze to his face. His eyes were frowning, but the emotion in them was more disappointment than anger. “As soon as we are done here, you are going to march upstairs and apologize to Candra. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” I agreed. “I am truly sorry, Errol. I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
He grunted. “The consequences of our actions are not always as we intend. Be thankful that the results of your transgression were immediately manifested and Candra was only injured. Otherwise, the situation could have been much worse. You could have been lifting a sharp or heavy object above her head. In that situation, no quick thinking on your part would have saved her life.”
I stared at him.
“Yes, you did save her from breaking her neck, but remember that the reason she was in danger of breaking her neck in the first place was your fault.” He folded his arms before him. “I expected better of you, Zez. You are her senior by four years and much more mature. You knew better.”
Tears pressed against the backs of my eyes as I struggled not to cry again. I knew he knew I had been crying, but to start all over again right in front of him would be humiliating. “I am sorry,” I offered meekly. “I won’t do it again.” I bowed my head. He couldn’t trust me anymore. Not that I blamed him.
“I know, Zez. I know you will not do it again.” He leaned forward and rested his forehead on his hand.
“I am going to add a new text to your studies, the Almighty’s Revelation. You will read it every moment that you are not studying the other subjects. You are not allowed to do anything but lessons for the next week. You will eat your meals in here and see no one but Adreet and I. Is that understood?”
“Yes.”
“Now go apologize to Candra and get to bed.”
I didn’t wait to be told twice. I was across the room with my hand on the door handle when Errol’s voice stopped me. “Zez?” I paused. “I forgive you.”
“Thank you.” I murmured and slipped out into the hall with a heavy heart. Errol’s forgiveness, though welcome, did nothing to lift my heavy heart.
Hadrian
A MIXTURE OF RELIEVED and disgruntled gazes greeted me as I entered the High King’s bed chamber. All six of the lower kings and their oldest sons stood about the room in various poses of boredom, waiting. The Mesitas and his cohort of chanting Segia darkened the right corner of the room with incense and hostile frowns. The High King’s family huddled close to the left side of the bed.
“Sept Son Aleron, my liege,” the old servant announced in a clear voice.
Cayphis turned at the sound and met my gaze from across the room. He was an old friend from the days I trained under Neleck, and his father consulted with Neleck about matters of state. The heart-weary look in Cayphis’ eyes pulled at my
