Page 122 of Requiem of Silence

We are not as predictable as leaves, falling from

trees in seasons prescribed by the spinning of

orbs that chase the sun.

We revolve around timelines individual

made original

and unimaginable. For they cannot be foretold,

only forewarned.

—THE HARMONY OF BEING

“Order a recount.”

Jack closed his eyes slowly as his wife’s voice grew more frantic. He couldn’t stand to see the disappointment and sorrow on her face. The only thing he could give her was bad news and he hated to be the one to do so.

“Sixty-seven percent,” he stated simply. “A recount will not change those numbers. Sixty-seven percent of the Lagrimari voted for separation.” He heard a thump and opened his eyes to find that she’d fallen into the armchair in front of the fireplace.

“More Lagrimari voted for separation than Elsirans,” she whispered into the flames.

“A good deal more.” He set the vote results down on the desk and stalked toward her. Only 56 percent of Elsirans had favored separation.

“You and Nadette and your team, you all made a big difference.”

“If only we would have known that the Elsirans weren’t the biggest problem,” she said wryly, slumping farther into the seat. “I just don’t understand.” She looked up at him with an expression of pure confusion and sorrow.

Jack wiped a hand down his face. “I wish I could say something that would make it clear, but I don’t understand myself.”

He braced his hands on the mantel and breathed deeply. There would be no unification. The people had spoken. Now they just had to figure out how to handle things going forward.

“We will still offer a path to citizenship for the Lagrimari, just like we do for people from other countries,” he offered. It was currently a long and expensive one, but they had been working on easing the process. This was just more incentive to do so. “With such a high percentage of Elsirans voting against the separation, we may be able to get the Council to approve some kind of measure granting rights for any Lagrimari who want to stay.”

It was sure to be an uphill battle for their insular nation though. Jack thought of his father-in-law, Dansig, of Benn and his daughters, of others who had adopted Lagrimari orphans and whose familieswere now in a strange sort of limbo. How many would even want to stay here? Jasminda’s expression hadn’t changed and Jack’s heart cracked at not being able to offer anything more.

A knock at the door sounded. It had been like this for the past twelve hours—ever since the attack. Messengers from around the city delivering updates on everything from the vote to the casualties to the damage incurred. The polls had closed before the attack and it was luck—or maybe a lack of luck—that none of the counting stations had been targeted by the True Father.

No, the worst of the damage had been to the utilities, running water and electricity were now in short supply across the city. Repair crews were hard at work, but it would be quite some time before things were back to normal.

Jack opened the door and accepted a stack of reports from the teenage page. The young man bowed before turning and running off.

“What now?” Jasminda asked when Jack returned to his desk.

He set down the mass of papers and began sifting through them. “Engineering reports. Initial repair estimates. Minister Stevenot wants a meeting at the top of the hour to share what the Department of the Interior has so far.”

She was silent for a while as he flipped through the rest of the pages, making quick assessments about what needed immediate attention and what could wait.

Finally, her voice broke through the silence. “Why do you think he stopped, last night? The True Father.”

Jack dropped the report in his hand and faced her. “Kyara said the attack ended just after Oola appeared. Maybe She did something to stop it?”

Jasminda’s brow furrowed. “You don’t think… Oola couldn’t be working with him, could She?”

Jack shook his head. “To what end? I know She’s often had a blind spot when it comes to Her twin, but he’s working to destroy us. She always has Her own agenda, but I don’t believe it’s our destruction.”

Jasminda pursed her lips.

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