Garden of Embers: Beneath Devouring Eyes #2

Chapter 14, Part C

"I hate this," Valens grumbled, keeping one firm hand on his alumna's shoulder, which hunched more and more every second. He glared at anyone who met his eyes too long, trying to warn them with his gaze not to try anything. But lightning could only do so much if the Pyrrhaei throng surged past the double line of Regum Electi and up to the skyhaven platform.

"I do as well, young man," Aix said, keen gray eyes taking in the growing crowd. "But it will be better when we are within the skychariot."

Valens hoped so. A nerve-wracking blend of curious, adoring, and hostile faces surrounded the platform where their tiny royal party waited for the Electi to finish sweeping the skychariot for threats. Mostly hostile faces. Some of the Pyrrhaei would probably kill Domi if given the chance.

"Ow," Domi said, voice choked, and it was only then Valens realized he'd dug his fingers into the boy's slight shoulder.

"Sorry, Alumna." He ignored the stern glare from Domi's new protocol handler for not addressing the kid as "Basilicus". The man appointed by the Rex made Comitas's strictness seem like a reed in the wind, but Valens didn't care. The last thing the traumatized kid needed right now was yet another reminder that he was Princeps Worldholder and the fate of the planet rested on his slender shoulders.

Thank the Eternal Radiance--or whatever source of generosity and mercy remained in this nightmarish hellscape--that they would have the entire skychariot to themselves. Well, to themselves save for the attendants, who had been carefully screened and compelled to ensure none meant the new Princeps harm. Domi needed privacy and quiet. They all did.

"Will we see them again?" Domi murmured.

Valens followed his alumna's gaze to where Arbita stood, alone, next to the Rex and the other Principia to see them off. But he knew what the boy meant.

"I'm sure your mother and the others are safe," he said, though he was not sure. Not really. But if anyone could survive and keep the others alive with her, it was Merula Nocticola. "We'll see them again when we get back."

"If we get the Trellis back. If we don't die and then everyone else with us."

The kid had a good point. But still. "You can't think like that," Valens said, rubbing the boy's shoulder to try to soothe him. "You need to focus on seeing them again. On getting through this so you can be with your mother, Sidus, and Radix again when all of this is over."

"And Edera?" Domi said quietly. "She... she's a widow now. She'll be alone with the--"

"Don't say that out loud," Valens interrupted, his heart pounding. If the Rex found out and captured Edera, one of the unborn twins would be killed whether their mother wanted that or not.

"I messed up everything for everyone," Domi whispered, body trembling beneath Valens's fingers.

Eternal Radiance, what could he even say to that? "Alumna..."

"We are now pleased to welcome the Princeps Worldholder aboard," a voice bellowed from the skychariot entrance.

Relief flooded Valens, followed by a wave of guilt. He shouldn't relish an excuse to escape the task of finding words to comfort his alumna. But sometimes his own helpless inadequacy felt overwhelming.

"Come along, young people," Aix said, sympathy heavy as rainclouds in his gray eyes. He held an arm out, encouraging them to pass.

Their pathetic party of three passed the Rex and Principia, Decus's droning, empty blessings upon their quest rolling over them.

And then at last they were on the skychariot, greeted by a row of beaming Pyrrhaei attendants who stood at sharp attention in their crisp, calf-length ruby double tunicas. The din of the crowd outside faded to a hush, the vessel's promenia sound-dampeners more a blessing than the Rex's hollow prayers.