Mare Barrow

The Kingdom of the Rift

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Chapter I

We were going to let them kill each other.

The words numb me. It was a brilliant plan no doubt, not to mention brutal. But for too long we had tried to tear the High Houses apart. Now, we were going to let them destroy each other, fighting for a fractured crown. The Burning Crown. The root of all my troubles.

Farely's arm was a comforting weight around my shoulders, and I leaned into her embrace. It was the only thing keeping me from falling apart entirely. Unconsciously I shiver, wishing for comfortable heat, Cal's warmth. But Cal is gone, leaving only a gaping hole behind.

"I'm sorry" Davidson says again, spreading out his hands in front of him as a show of apology. His words are sincere, as is the pleading expression on his otherwise neutral features. As much as I try, I can't hate him for this. Angry, yes. But I don't hate him. It's not like he forced Cal to walk away. No. He made that decision on his own.

I nod my head, unable to speak. I do understand why he did this. But that doesn't mean it hurts any less. How long had he been planning this? All those times he'd seen us together, did he know what his proposition would do to our relationship? The hurt, the pain. The familiar yet crushing feeling of betrayal that would accompany it? My heart tells me yes. And in a way, I understand. What was a silly little relationship compared to the future of a country? If the roles were reversed, I knew that I would make the same decision. Davidson wasn't the one to blame.

I lifted my chin in acknowledgment of his words, not trusting myself to speak any further lest my voice give way.

At my side, Farley furrows her brow in annoyance as she considers something. "Would you like to explain to me why I was told nothing of this?" she hissed at Davidson. To his credit, he barely batted an eye at her anger. "You may be Command, General, but this was highly classified between only myself and General Salida. Besides, I was afraid that you were to close to Miss Barrow for such sensitive information." He threw another apologetic glance my way. "No offense, of course."

"None taken," I reply. And truly I mean it. Any energy I have left to spare after the siege had been twisted into anger and directed towards Cal. But even that was futile. I wasn't really mad at him exactly, but rather at the world, at how we were so different yet so alike and unable to truly be together based on the beliefs that set us apart. He believed with him on the throne, Reds and Silvers would learn to live in harmony. But that was too fairy tale like to be true. This wasn't a pretty tale of the prince who fell in love with the commoner girl. This story didn't have a happy ending.

Even as a little girl, I never believed in such tales. They were far too outlandish for my tastes. A Silver prince in love with a common Red? How ridiculous. But now, I realized that my life had to be some twisted version of a fairy tale.

I knew that there would be no justice for Reds so long as the Silver monarchy stood. Cal may have good intentions, but that didn't change the fact that he was surrounded in a pit of vipers who wanted their old lives back, their days of strength and power. And what of his and Evangeline's heir? Would they too uphold, if by some miracle Cal managed to outsmart Evangeline's parents and his grandmother, the balance between Silver and Red? How could Cal not see that?

He had been blinded by the prospect of his old life, of familiar footing. He had stayed with the Guard for as long as he had because he didn't really have anywhere else to go. And now...

And now he's gone. He chose what mattered most to him just as I have.

I can accept that.

A little of the pain eases in my chest, but never leaves. It helps to know that despite Cal leaving, I am not alone. I won't cling to him. I won't beg him to stay.

No.

I'd survived against all odds, I'd come this far. And I'd go even farther, as far as I dared.

The thought empowered me almost as much as my lightning. Though this was a different sort of pleasure. My heart soared at the possibilities of my...my future. This war wouldn't last forever. For the first time, I had hope. I would have a future. Me, my family, Kilorn, Farley and baby Clara, wherever she chose to be in the end. I wasn't sure about the Colonel, and the situation was a little tense, but I knew for all that it was worth, he loved his daughter. He might even come meet and love his granddaughter as well.

A tiny flare of light rose within me. Farley recognized the shift in me. She must have come to the same revelation as me when Shade died. We were alike in that way. The ones we love left us, either unwillingly or by choice. But Farley triumphed through it. And so would I.

"I'm ready," I say to no one in particular. But they understand. Davidson allows himself a small smile. It was almost fatherly. "Are you sure, Miss Barrow?" "I'm ready," I repeat more firmly this time, straightening my spine. Davidson offers me a hand and I take it, heaving myself up.

Farley waves his hand off, jumping to her feet with ease. She brushes herself off and sets off the path leading out of the alley. Strange. I didn't even notice it. In my grief, everything seemed hazy, blurred by the tears. Now I can see a little clearer.

"King Volo and his wife have offered to house members of our war council for two nights in order to properly present and discuss the terms of our new alliance. As well as Ca- Tiberias's ascension to the throne." Both Farley and Davidson scan my face for any sign of an outburst but I keep myself composed. Somehow I think that scares them even more.

Farley nods along with Davidson, agreeing with the idea. Though the plan unsettles me, I don't voice the opinion. At that moment I felt strangely small between the two. One general and one premier. They both continue with the conversation as I zone out. "Does that sound okay, Mare?" Farley nudges my shoulder, snapping me out of it.

"What?" I ask distractedly, blinking at her in an effort to clear my head. She only sighs in response. "I was saying that maybe it would be best if we shared a room." She was giving me that strange look again. As if I were nothing but a sullen teenager who needed someone to keep an eye on her. It seems like her motherly instincts applied to me as well.

Hmph. I was not some melodramatic teenager.

Farley's expression suggested otherwise.

I shrugged, sighing. Even if I said no, she would find some way to spy on me. Besides, I didn't think I could sleep alone tonight, or ever again. Quietly, I was grateful for Farley being a tiny bit overprotective of me. "Sure," I say. Davidson smiles. "Of course." With a small dip of his chin, he breaks off. heading to the council chambers. Farley takes me gently by the elbow, leading me to what I assume are the guest rooms. How she even knows where they are located in beyond me. Perhaps Davidson had already filled her in.

The walls are elegantly furnished just as the rest of the estate, at least the parts that I've seen so far. The silver and black parquet floors have been polished to a high sheen, and I actually jump at my own reflection. Crystal overwrought chandeliers dot the high ceiling and velvet curtains drape along the wall. The epitome of elegance.

Every once in a while a Red maid scurries along and I taste the bitter feeling of anger on my tongue. Back in the council I didn't believe Volo when he promised to unite both Reds and Silvers and I don't believe him now. If he truly meant what he said, why are the maids still here? Was it by choice?

We stop short in front of a glided door, and I swallow hard. I knew it didn't look anything close to the door Maven had used to lock me away, but I still couldn't shake away the feeling of being shut away once more.

The door swings open.

I inhale sharply.

The room was even worse.

It was equally as elegant compared to the rooms at Archeon, displaying Samos pride and strength, from the glided windows down to the tiles of the floor. The faintest familiar brush of electricity tingles along my skin and I freeze. Cameras. My breathing turns slightly uneven. Farley whirls to me at the sound, seizing my shoulders. "Breathe Mare. You need to calm down." She shakes me a bit, and I gulp down deep, steadying breaths. My panic-attack quickly morphs into mortification. "I'm sorry," I whisper. Farley huffs at me crossing her arms but softens at the sight of my shaking form. "Don't ever apologize for what you've been through, Mare," she says, almost scolding.

She pushes me towards one of the two beds, and with slow, robotic movements, I climb in. Farley throws the blankets over me, and I'm too tired to even register the action or how strange this whole scene seemed. But just for now, I would let it pass. I knew in the morning she would encourage me to stop wallowing and get myself together. Farley wasn't one to linger in the pain of the past.

Exhaustion settled itself into my bones as I closed my eyes at last.

And I drifted off into a restless, dreamless sleep.

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