Page 50 of Daughter of the Drowned Empire
“I thought we called a truce!” Meera reached for Morgana’s arm, tugging her back.
“Maybe you did, but I didn’t!” Morgana freed herself from Meera’s clutches.
I stood, glaring at Morgana, my chest heaving.
Her nostrils flared. Then she flinched, reaching for her temples in pain.
“Morgana,” Meera said, her voice soft and soothing. “Lyr and Tristan have been apart for a week. They do need to talk. But, Lyr, not tonight. You need to get your head on straight. You need to eat and rest, recover from the past week, recover from what they forced you to do today. I’ll have the cook prepare a meal and send it up. In the meantime, draw yourself a bath.”
“I’m going to smoke.” Morgana slammed the door.
Meera smiled faintly. “She’ll calm down, Lyr.”
“Sure,” I said, but we both knew that was a lie.
An hour later, I was summoned downstairs when Euston announced, “Lady Lyriana, Arkturion Aemon is here to see you.”
I moved slowly through the Great Hall, stepping outside and breaking into a sweat. Had the Imperator already changed his mind? Or the Emperor?
Aemon strolled purposely down the waterway. His blood-red cloak floated in the wind behind him as the sun set, lighting the path in gold and silver sparks. His golden armor shimmered with the reflections of the glass beneath his feet.
“Soturion Lyriana,” he said, bowing his chin in respect.
Relief washed through me. Nothing had changed. I held my chin up high. “I prefer lady.”
He smiled. “You’re both now, your grace. And that begins with moving into your new quarters. I’ve come to escort you to the Soturion Academy apartments. You need to move in tonight.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“THEAPARTMENTS?BUT…Ijustgot home to Cresthaven. I’m to complete my studies here.”
Aemon frowned. “Mages may study at home, but all soturi live in apartments by the Katurium. The training exercises require you to be in proximity. The mornings start with a run, followed by a full day of classes and training. After dinner and a brief rest, you return to the Katurium for combat clinics—fights you must observe, critique, and take turns participating in three nights a week.”
“Three! No…I…I need to be home.” Who was going to help Meera through her visions and care for her after? What about Morgana?
“You need to fulfill your end of the deal with the Imperator. No favors. No exceptions.”
“I know. But the Heirs of Ka Batavia have always resided in Cresthaven through their studies. It’s tradition.”
“Yes, and tradition in Ka Batavia is studying at the Mage Academy, but you’re not. You must adapt to our ways, your grace. They’re going to be watching you, taking score, noting every favor and bend in the rules, and using it against you. The Imperator won’t play fair in this bargain. He’s going to make sure he wins the upper hand in this deal in the end. We can’t let that happen, so we must do everything in our power to prevent that—adhere to every rule and follow the law precisely. You are to be the most model student we’ve ever had. This is step one.”
I stumbled back, staring at the entrance to Cresthaven. My heart hurt. I thought I could pretend everything was normal. I could still marry Tristan. Still live here and protect my sisters.
But Aemon was right.
“I assume my father already knows.”
“Of course.”
“Very well,” I said. “I’ll need a few moments to pack.”
Aemon bowed. “I’ll be waiting.”
I excused myself upstairs, quickly gathering my essentials. A few minutes later, I was off with Aemon, having avoided saying goodbye to my sisters. I was still furious with Morgana and knew Meera would take my leaving again so soon badly. The only upside to this was getting to walk away from Cresthaven and leaving Markan behind. I would still have access to escorts and soturi when moving through Bamaria, but not in apartment housing or when in training at the Katurium. I took some satisfaction in glaring at Markan as I walked out of Cresthaven while he remained still. He’d follow me, of course, but not as closely as before. I gave him a dirty gesture when I reached the outer wall.
I suppose had this been planned, I would have settled into a luxury apartment. But seeing as how all the apartments were already rented by those who’d planned to be a soturion, I was stuck with what remained.
My apartment was small, dark, and bare, not befitting a lady of Ka Batavia. There was a living room along with a kitchenette, bathroom, and bedroom. I walked through slowly, taking stock of my new surroundings and modest furniture. The living room was the barest with only a small couch and table. Candles had been set up around the room. I lit them one by one. The kitchenette had a wooden stove and a pantry with a handful of spice bottles. The bathroom included a toilet, sink, and a shower—but no bath. I lit more candles as I walked around, carrying one into the bedroom and setting it on the nightstand. The bed was single-sized and directly across from a small wardrobe and a desk—all familiar pieces, if slightly more used and plainer than I was used to. But what made my new reality truly sink in was the dummy by the bedroom window. It was dusty and naked, waiting to hold armor—my armor. It still sounded impossible. I coughed and opened the windows, but the air outside felt stagnant and hot from the surrounding city. I was used to the cool breeze from the Lumerian Ocean caressing my bedroom in Cresthaven. The comforting sounds of the waves as they lulled me to sleep each night. There was nothing at the Soturion Academy beyond the noise of soturi shouting outside, and the scent of stale sweat and body odor drifting from the Katurium.
