Book 3: Chapter 46: Birds on the Wind


    “Well, good morning!” Sue called across the square. She had at least a dozen people waiting for coffees, yet she took a moment to give Maria and me a scandalous eyebrow wiggle. “Did you two have a pleasant evening?”


    Heat rose to my face, and when I nced Maria’s way for assistance, I saw a furious blush climbing to her cheeks.


    Sue chortled, throwing her head high as she delighted in our awkwardness.


    Letting out a sigh, I grabbed Maria’s hand and led her to the back of the line.


    “So mean,” Maria said,ughing and shaking her head. “I guess she earned that, though, considering her assistance.”


    “Worth it. Wish she’d been a little less public about it, though. I’m guessing some of the vigers were able to infer her meaning based on the nces we got.”


    “Why don’t you look at me like that anymore?” A woman whispered to her husband a few spots ahead of us in line, nudging him in the ribs and smirking at him. “When was thest time you blushed around me?”


    “Oh, you want something to blush about, do you?” he replied. “Just you wait until I’m done with the fields today. I’ll show you something that—”


    I immediately retracted my hearing, shooting a wide-eyed look at Maria.She stared back at me, covering her mouth to hold in herughter. We both lost it.


    “Heavens,” Maria eventually said, wiping tears from her eyes. “Good for them.”


    I luxuriated in the sun’s warmth beaming down from above as we slipped into afortable silence. Maria’s soft hand in mine was a grounding presence, sweeping away any lingering embarrassment from Sue’s not-so-subtle disy. Before I knew it, we were at the front of the line, once more under the traitorous cafe-owner’s scrutiny.


    “You two look positively vibrant!” she said. “Must have been a wonderfully restful evening.”


    “Dear,” Sturgill warned, poking his head around the dividing wall that hid the kitchen. “Are you bothering our friends?”


    “Oh, pah!” She brushed flour from her apron. “Just having a little fun. So, what can I get for you two?”


    “Just the usual, thanks,” I replied, giving Sturgill a thankful nod.


    <em>Sorry,</em> he mouthed, rolling his eyes and only barely dodging the balled-up tea towel flung towards his head.


    Sue shot him a pout as heughed and retreated back out of sight. “Jokes aside,” she said. “I was happy to be of service. That father of yours is as stale as yesterday’s pastries.”


    “Thank you,” Maria replied, staring at the ground as her cheeks turned rosy once more.


    “Don’t mention it.” Sue gave us a wide smile as she flowed over toward the coffee machine. “Won’t be long!”


    We stepped aside, joining the millingmonfolk waiting for their breakfast.


    ***


    As we strode around the side of the heand, I took myst bite of croissant. Its ky, buttery goodness was just as good as ever, and after swallowing, I chased it down with a swig of coffee. The bitterness was perfectly bnced against the croissant’s sweetness, making a content sigh escape my lips.


    “Yeah,” Maria agreed, holding her cup in both hands. “Same.”


    The sun heralded our way to the side of my house, and the moment we stepped into view of my back deck, two creatures met us.


    Corporal ws clutched onto Maria’s front, scrambling around her torso to sniff at her ear. Giggling, Maria raised her shoulder, trying to protect herself from the barrage of sniffs. I wasn’t able to spare much of my attention on the adorable interaction, however, because a crab mmed into my chest, hissing overjoyed bubbles. I caught Snips with one arm, skidding to a stop just before my feet met the sand.


    “Woah!” Iughed. “Good to see you too.”


    She rubbed the top of her shell into my body, her hisses getting quieter. Through some silent agreement, Snips and ws abruptly swapped positions, the former leaping toward Maria and thetter sailing for me. wsnded on my shoulder and wrapped herself around my neck, bing an extremely warm and cute scarf.


    “We were just about to go for a mid-morning fish. Are you two keen oning along?”


    ws grinned at me, grabbed me by the chin, and directed my vision toward my back deck. Apparently they’d been busy doing some fishing of their own after covering the beehive.


    There was a mature shore fish sitting on the table beside the barbecue, surrounded by herbs and spices they’d already picked out. Set on top of a te, arge chunk of honeb glistened, its yellow namesake pooling below it. I raised an eyebrow as I peered down at ws, whose forepaws were steepled.


    <em>Yes?</em> she seemed to chirp, giving me a nonchnt look.


    “Where did you get that honeb, ws?”


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    She leaped up onto the barbecue, one paw on her hip and the other tapping her chin as she inspected it, pretending she’d never seen it before.


    <em>Stolen,</em> Snips hissed, shrugging.


    ws whirled on her, frowning and unleashing a mighty chirp.


    Snips merely shrugged again, and I bent down to pat her head. “Thanks for the honesty, Snips.”


    ws crossed her arms, looked skyward, and gave a dismissive sniff, telling me exactly how she felt.


    “Oh, yeah?” I asked, scooping her up. “Too good for me, huh?” I tickled her underarms until she was struggling to breathe, finally letting her go after she begged for mercy. “I don’t mind that you took a little bit of their honey as long as they have enough to sustain the hive. You did leave enough for them to survive, right...?”


    She gave me an indignant chirp that died halfway through when she realized I was teasing.


    “Sorry,” I said. “I couldn’t help myself.” I stroked her head, scratching that spot behind her ear that she always leaned into. “Now, are these ingredients for what I think they are?”


    Seeing as ws was lost in the scritches, Snips blew affirmative bubbles.


    I grinned. “Well, we’d better get started then, huh?”


    ***


    Beneath the former capital city of Theogonia, Augustus Reginald Gormona let out a deep sigh. It was time.


    “Before I start,” he said, “can you check the locket onest time, wife?”


    “Of course.” Penelope grabbed the thin chain around her neck, tugging on it to reveal one of the few working relics Gormona still possessed.


    Augustus strode forward, and when he reached out, his fingers shook. Clenching his jaw, Augustus balled his fists, beyond angry that his body disyed weakness. After a long moment, he extended them once more. He peered into the locket as he flicked it open, finding a soft, blinking light.


    “Trent yet lives.” Augustus nodded, more to himself than anyone else. “We can begin.”


    “Please forgive my insolence, king,” Tom Osnan Sr. said, taking a knee. “I would be remiss if I didn’t offer onest time—please allow me to take your ce.”


    Augustus fought down his urge to st the man, knowing if he were to strike out, he might identally end his oldest friend’s life. His gaze drifted over his ringless fingers, the sight bringing him a modicum of rity. It was the influence of his chi that encouraged violence, and it was to be ignored. He let out a tense breath that did nothing to calm the fury building in his core.


    “If I were to let you cultivate the forbidden chi, Tom, what would stop you from seizing the crown’s power for yourself?”


    Tom’s face bunched in anger. “My king. I would never willingly betray the crown.”


    “And I wish I could believe that, Tom. I truly do.”


    “For what it’s worth,” Tryphena said. “The auditor made it clear that Tom’s intentions were aligned with Gormona, even after he lost his battle. Perhaps letting him channel the power is a good idea, father?”


    “Ah, my dear.” Augustus ced a hand on her shoulder, always appreciating his daughter’s input. “You are wise beyond your years, but this task falls to me. No one can truly know the secrets another’s heart holds. There is no one else that can do it.”


    She bit the inside of her cheek, then swiftly put on a neutral face.


    He gave her a loving smile. “Are you having second thoughts now that we are here, daughter?”


    She thought for a long moment before speaking. “It’s not that I don’t believe in you. I merely worry about my father.” She bowed at the waist. “I’m sorry. The fault lies entirely within me.”


    “You need not bow, Tryphena. Your worry is appreciated. In fact, I might question your intentions if you didn’t care about my wellbeing. However...” He let a silence stretch, emphasizing the importance of his next words. “Recall our conversations on the way here. I am the correct choice. The correct sacrifice.”


    She dipped her head, her hair falling to hide her face. “As you say, father. Forgive my weakness.”


    He shot a look at Penelope, wordlessly ordering her tofort their daughter. “And you, Tom...”


    The lord raised his eyes, still containing some heat.


    Augustus gave him the smallest of nods. “You still have a ce in the capital, and your family will be a part of the rebuilding process. If your words are true and you are attempting to sacrifice yourself for the good of the kingdom, I thank you.”


    Tom bowed, biting back any retort. “If you change your mind, king, I am ever your humble servant. Give the word and I will join you in cultivating the corrupting chi.”


    “You’d willingly join me in potential madness?”


    “Both for my king, and my oldest friend.” Tom raised his head once more, and when they met Augustus’s, every hint of anger was gone. “Even if we didn’t have the bloodlines we do, and the madness was a sure thing, I would still join you. If for nothing other than the insult to our kingdom, I would happily assist in the destruction of that man.”


    More than anything else Tom had done since his failure, this statement made Augustus begin to truly forgive him. He nodded, acknowledging Tom Osnan Sr.’s resolve. “I appreciate that, Tom, but I believe our forces will already overwhelm them.”


    “As you say, king.”


    Augustus heard the doubt in his voice, making his fury bubble up anew. “I see you do not believe me. No, don’t reply. I believe that is due to ignorance.” He looked towards the merchant, Marcus. “Fetch them.”


    “Fetch them?” Tom asked, his brow furrowing. In the blink of an eye, realization struck him. “Oh...”


    “That is correct.” Augustus grinned. “It is not only me that will be attempting to channel.”


    A momentter, Marcus returned, followed by six sets of footsteps. The handler’s faces were a mix of stricken, excited, and epting.


    “Good,” Augustus said. “You’re here. Are you aware of your purpose?”


    Aisa stepped forward, her eyes alight with possibility. “Yes, my king. We await your instruction.”


    A manic giggle came from the cell beside them, making each of the handlers’ faces dart toward it. To their unawakened eyes, they’d only see a ckened cell. Augustus watched as Tiberius stepped forward into the light of their torch.


    “When you are ready, Tiberius.”


    “Helloooo,” Tiberius sang, twisting his head and peering at them with one eye, the orange me’s light giving his face and bird-like posture a horrifying appearance. “A pleasure to meet you,dies.” He giggled again and sat cross-legged, facing them. “I will be your teacher in the ways of cultivation. Copy my posture, if you would.”


    “Copy.”


    “Copy!”


    “<em>Copy!</em>” came the voices from the other cells.


    One of them caw’d, making a slew of unhingedughs bounce off the walls.


    Augustus sat down cross-legged, as did the rest of the handlers, who were now looking much less sure of themselves.


    “Imagine, if you will, that you are birds on the wind,” Tiberius said, peering at all of them. “The surrounding air is the essence of Theogonia, the granter of <em>strength.</em>”<em></em>He spread his arms wide. “Now draw the winds into your abdomen.”


    When Augustus did so, his core protested, doing everything it could to keep the foreign chi out. Clenching his muscles, he ignored itsints, drawing more and more of the forbidden chi toward his naval area.