Page 224 of Children of Fallen Gods

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There wasa buzz in the back of my head. If I were to inspect that buzz a little closer, I’d find that it wasn’t the now all-too-familiar buzz of a headache, or of exhaustion, but instead a voice — a voice that was whispering,What the hell are you doing, Max?

I was dutifully ignoring that voice, probably because if I listened to it too closely, I’d find myself thinking,Actually, he has a point…

The lobby of the Towers was bustling with activity. At the back of the room, the double doors beneath the mural of Araich and Rosira were propped wide open, and the considerable crowd filtered between the central meeting hall and the lobby. Still, my eyes landed on Nura immediately. While everyone else was in movement, like bees scurrying through a hive, Nura stood at the center of it all, still as glass.

And yet, when her stare found mine, I could have sworn I saw her exhale even from across the room.

I was almost insulted that she’d never once lookedthatrelieved to see me when we were lovers.

She pushed through the crowd to meet me. The moment we entered the Towers, Tisaanah had slipped away, now deep in a serious conversation with one of the councilors across the room. Nura’s eyes darted to her before coming back to me.

“You came. I didn’t think you would.”

“Neither did I.” Wholly the truth.

She gave me a small smile.

“I’m glad,” she said, quietly. “To have you with us. With me.”

I had no doubt that was the truth, too.

Nura’s hands were clenched around each other, tight enough that her knuckles were white. She always had done that when she was nervous, even if over the years she had sawed away all of her other tells. Today, everything about her appearance was immaculate, her braids intertwined neatly at the back of her head, her white Order of Midnight jacket spotless and pressed, the buttons as brightly silver as her eyes. She looked the part of a regal ruler.

I know she had dreamed of this day since she was a ten-year-old girl, laying eyes upon the Towers for the first time. Years ago, when we were both nominated as candidates for Arch Commandant, she had stayed up all night cradling her letter as if it were a newborn child.

And today, by decree of the council, the only remaining viable candidate — Nura Qan — would officially become Arch Commandant, and, by terrible, twisted extension, the ruler of Ara.

Incredible, how life could follow the same paths and yet seem so utterly unpredictable.

“How does it feel?” I asked. “To get everything you’ve ever wanted?”

Her smile faded. “I didn’t want it like this.”

A booming bell rang through the lobby four times, drowning out the hum of the crowd. When the sound faded, the room was quiet. People filed through the open double doors.

Across the room, Tisaanah turned to meet my eyes. So did the man beside her — Iya, a council member that I had not spoken to in many years.

“It’s time,” Nura said, under her breath. She gave me one final, nervous half smile and proceeded to the doors. Moments later, Tisaanah joined me.

“This will be an interesting day,” she said, casting a glance to Nura’s back, one that was only just short of a glare. Then it softened when she looked to me.

“Are you ready?”

“Never.”

Tisaanah chuckled. It was a nervous laugh. She nodded to the door. “Wonderful,” she said. “Then let’s go.”

The inside of the council room looked exactly as it had all those years ago. It was large and circular, with windows near the ceiling that spilled mottled light over the seats. Most were already filled, though many of the faces in the crowd didn’t look especially thrilled to be there. Everyone was on edge.

Everything in this room was a stark reminder of the shadow the Orders had become of what they used to be. Only a few aging members of the Council remained. Some were already seated in the front row around the round stage, wrapped in red robes.

“I will admit, Maxantarius…”

A smooth, accented voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up to see Iya standing beside me.

“…I never did think I was going to see you within these walls again.”

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