Nine

The tires of the jets landing gear hit pavement and I'm startled awake. I'm not sure when I even fell asleep. I rub at the last earring in my ear. Kilorn sees me do it. It has been ninety days, three long full months since I have set foot in this country. Since I have smelled its air. Since I have heard his voice. When I look around the jet, Kilorn is still watching me.

"You ready?" He asks and it's a hundred different questions at once.

No. I am not, I think but I nod my head anyway.

He raises an eyebrow, clearly not believing me. "A lot of people know who you are." It's not a question or a warning, it's a statement.

Yes, they do, I almost groan to myself. At the few meetings that I did attend in Montfort they reported on the progress of Norta and have mentioned several times that I have attained a sort of fame. Not all of it good. There are still rumors and gossips swirling around about me and Cal, me and Maven, and also me, Cal and Maven. If the looks that I get in Montfort are any indication, it'll be ten times worse here. I hang my head slightly, dreading it. "Yes, I know."

Farley speaks gently at my side, "We can radio for Cameron, if you…" She trails off. If I can't control myself? If this is too hard? Too much, too soon? Farley has only called for Cameron once while we were in Montfort. A blazing panic attack over took me and I will not experience that again. I will not. Cameron tried to be gentle but it just made it worse and I shocked her in my fear and panic. She never let me apologize for it even though I tried to several times.

I take measured breaths, "No." My voice is stern and full of strength. Strength I no longer feel. "I'm ready." I am still a liar and Kilorn knows it. He eyes me warily as the plane pulls to a stop. I feel the jet power down like its dying. The electricity leaching from the walls.

I start unlatching my buckles too fast if only to hide the fact that my hands are shaking. I'm trying desperately to even out my breathing but I have no idea what is on the other side of that door. I hear and feel the hiss and pull of the ramp door at the back of the jet opening.

The sun is shining overly bright in the early autumn sky. It's midafternoon and the sun is high in the sky casting blinding reflections off the other jets on the runway. I spot the Samos jet idling nearby. Evangeline must have arrived this morning.

There is a line of soldiers waiting for us as we exit the jet, they salute as we descend the ramp. The colors of their uniforms vary from scarlet, mountain green and finally a new burgundy color. An even mixture of red and silver. They escort us to our own transports, four black hulking bodies idling not too far from the jet.

My own guards are young, I notice as they guide me to the last transport on the runway. Gisa's age if not older by a year or so. One of them is red and one of them is silver. I can't stop myself from asking questions, "Are you newblood?" I ask with no preamble. I have no energy to be polite, and I don't need to. Not with the young soldiers, not here.

"N-no m-ma'am-Miss." The red boy stutters. Either I make him nervous or he wasn't expecting me to speak. Or both.

I turn to the silver, "What is your ability?"

The silver soldier is calmer and able to keep his voice still. "Telkie, Miss."

The red soldier takes my luggage from me with the practice ease of a servant. The silver opens my door and bows his head. He offers a hand to help me in the transport as if I were a lady. I don't take it. I am no lady and I don't need his help.

Both soldiers get into the front seat. The silver is in the driver seat and explaining different switches and gadgets on the dashboard to the red. The silver is so calm and patient with the red soldier. It reminds me suddenly of Cal with the children at the Notch. I feel the lonely pull in my chest yank. "How long to the palace?" It's an hour from Fort Patriot in traffic, I know this. I ask all the same, if not just to have some noise and a distraction from the thoughts in my head.

"About an hour, my-," The red soldier catches himself, "Miss Barrow."

"How long have you been a driver?" I turn my attention to the silver soldier, watching him in the review mirror.

"Three years ma'am," He says with no hesitation, his eyes not leaving the road as he pulls us off the landing strip. "I'm currently training other officers to do so.

"Were you in the army before?" I ask blatantly, my gaze never wavers. I know not all silvers are the same, just as no red is the same.

"No miss," His gaze flickers to mine briefly in the mirror. "I was a driver for House Iral."

"The Panther." I offer. I remember her from court when I was Mareena, and also from her death at Coros prison. The same needle that killed her killed Shade.

He nods curtly, "Yes ma'am."

"And how do you feel about the changes going on in the country?"

To his credit, he doesn't react to my question and answers quickly. "Relieved, ma'am." He glances over at his comrade next to him. "I have friends that are red." That is answer enough and he doesn't elaborate. I can see a pink blush rising on the back of the red soldiers' neck.

The red boy turns in his seat to look at me, his cheeks a flaming reminder of his blood. "I'm free ma'am," He says quietly, "Thank you."

I shake my head and sit back in my seat. "Don't thank me kid." Thank you for your service rings dully in my head and I want to vomit.

The red soldiers shoulders slump, a frown forming on his lips in disappointment and he turns back around. I'm not sure who he expected to meet today but I am certainly not living up to the expectation.

I pull my bag onto my lap, finally alone from prying eyes and I pull the fourth letter out. It's not nearly as eloquent as the last letter and neither is the next one. They are filled with ideas and annoyances of everyday life. His grandmother buzzing around him trying to run his household, loosing Julian to research and libraries. And me. Always me. But he always ends them the same.

"I miss you, I love you.

Always waiting,

Cal"

As I finish the fifth letter we pull up to Ocean Hill. The palace is still as beautiful as I remember. It's Cal's family home and he got to keep it, just as Evangeline and Ptolemus kept Rift House.

Of course, Cal has to share. Julian and Annabel have taken up residence here with their own apartments and any dignitaries that visit are also offered lodging in the palace. Through the front window of the transport I can see the others have arrived and are currently spilling out from their own transports. When we roll to a stop I let myself out while the soldiers rush to grab the rest of my bags.

They weave us through the palace to the residence hall. Ocean Hill has been cleaned, no more dust is coating the surfaces and the floors shine in the afternoon sun as if they've recently been polished. I spot servants darting across the hallways here and there, not in fear and hard determination, but in excitement. I hear them giggle as their whispers of "They're here! The lightening girl! The general! Scarlet Guard! That's Mare Barrow!" bounce against the marble walls and down the hall.

The different escorting soldiers break off to different doors with their perspective charges. Farley is across the hall from me, in the same rooms we were in the last time we stayed in Ocean Hill. I have the same room, the room farthest from Cal's.

My soldiers are silent as they open the room to the salon and move to let me through. It has been redecorated, no longer ornate and in different shades of green and jade. The garish ivy printed wallpaper has been removed and the walls are smooth, light cream color. The floors are thin lacquered planks of dark oak. The furniture is simple, a purple velvet stuffed couch and a few overstuffed grey armchairs surrounding a small table in the middle. There is a small television across the room from a beautifully carved fireplace, I'm sure the TV is used just for broadcasts. The door to the bedroom has been opened and I can see from here it has been decorated to match the salon, the windows are open and I can see the white sheer curtains blowing in the ocean breeze. I love it.

The red soldier clears his throat as the silver places my bags near the door. "Dinner will be served at seven in the small dining room." He says, almost bowing, but then catches himself and salutes.

"Is he here?" I ask quickly as they turn to leave, not bothering to clarify who I mean. I immediately regret it. They know who I'm asking about.

They exchange a glance between each other. I've probably just fueled whatever rumors are circulating the palace. "He's flying in from Archeon now, Miss." The silver answers after a beat. "Mr. Jacos is with him."

I nod in silent dismissal and they close the door behind them. I grab my bags and haul them in to the bedroom. The fluffy duvet on the bed is the same shade of deep purple as the couch in the salon. Royal purple, not quite Titanos purple. This is darker. I busy myself with unpacking the clothes Gisa forced me to bring. Archeon is only an hour away by jet, he'll be here any minute. I shake my head trying to rid my thoughts of a certain burner, but my heart is hammering against my chest at just the thought of seeing him. Will he come find me once he lands? Will he wait for me to come to him? As he did in his room? On the bridge? He will let me make the choice, I know it. But will I?

I pull the letters out of my smaller bag and Tahir's itinerary comes with them, floating to the center of the bed. I pick up the schedule and scan it. Farley did say he changed something.

October 10th

0500 Depart Montfort

1300 Land at Fort Patriot

1400 Arrive at Ocean Hill

1900 Dinner

October 11th

0800 Breakfast

1100 Bridal Luncheon

1400 Tour of Ocean Hill / New town and surrounding areas

1800 Arrive at Ocean Hill

1900 Dinner

October 12th

0600 Breakfast

0800 Depart Ocean Hill

0900 Depart at Fort Patriot

1000 Arrive in Archeon

1100 Tour Archeon and surrounding areas

1400 Depart Archeon

1500 Arrive at Fort Patriot

1600 Arrive at Ocean Hill

1800 State Dinner *Dress nice, formal affair*

October 13th

0800 Breakfast

1200 Lunch

1700 Wedding procession

1800 Wedding Dinner *Also formal, dress nice*

October 14th

0800 Breakfast

0900 Depart Ocean Hill

1000 Depart Fort Patriot

The one change made, the one I adamantly said I did not want to do, was go to Archeon. When I spoke with Tahir last week, I had refused to go. Threatened to light him up like a chandelier if he made me. This is Davidson or Farley. More than likely, Farley. I'll have to bring this up to her later. I still don't want to go.

In one of Cal's letters they said they cleared out the palace. Sold what was not needed and kept what was sentimental. No one but the children from the academy live there now.

Maven is buried in Archeon.


Let me know what you think! Leave me a review!