How Shadows Turn to Ash

Chapter 22: Antonia

Antonia had never spent much time with people outside her family. Octavia and Trajan were in the public eye more often than not, and while her parents never said anything, there were glimmers of concern in their eyes whenever Antonia left the palace.

She didn't blame them. It was understandable to be wary when you had a child of unexplained magic. That didn't mean Antonia had to like it. More often than not, she found herself trying to befriend anyone unfortunate enough to be in her line of sight. She had never been good at socializing. There was only so much you could say when your primary knowledge was the contents of the Stories of Second Sons. Still, she had tried to make friends where she could. Unfortunately, the few servants she had merely humored her, and anytime she attempted to speak to someone outside the castle, she said the wrong thing. Or not enough things. Or way too many things. Conversation had never been easy for her.

It wasn't easy now.

Laughter echoed over the boat as people danced on the deck, clapping their hands rhythmically to the beat of the music. Stars hung above them, bathing the sea in starlight as a few couples drifted away to gawk at the beauty of the sky. Antonia took a tentative sip of whatever juice had been given to her, using her free hand to clutch the pendant around her neck.

"One more time!" Nema called out, raising her hands. The crowd cheered. Someone started plucking at an instrument again, and Nema laughed, picking up her skirts to skip around the mast. She wasn't an exceptionally skilled dancer (Antonia had actually never seen someone fall over so many times), but everyone seemed captivated all the same. Maybe it was how excited she was or how she moved with life. Antonia bit her lip and looked down.

Surely, it couldn't be too hard to say something to someone, right? She looked around, trying to pinpoint somebody who was also alone.

Maybe it was a good thing her parents had kept her shut away. Nobody here seemed to notice Antonia, let alone recognize her. Still, she felt as though a pair of eyes still seemed to follow her, always falling away whenever she turned around. Antonia was beginning to wonder if Lucius's spirit was trailing her, patiently waiting for a moment to dole out justice.

The music continued. Nema twirled, and someone whistled.

Forcing herself to move, Antonia walked around, trying to listen to pieces of conversation she could jump into. Some were, unsurprisingly, speaking Cambrian - or at least some dialect of it. Octavia knew almost every language imaginable from her time as heir, but Antonia only knew Romanovian and Dualian. Her mother had mentioned teaching her Htraeh, but at some point or another, it was forgotten.

"Beautiful," someone said enthusiastically. "Beautiful country. You must be so proud!" Antonia turned her head to see a man waving his hands to a woman who looked wary. A tourist, probably. Many people came worldwide to see Romanov's renowned nature and royalty. Antonia drifted closer. "Why are you leaving?"

The woman tightened a blanket around her shoulders. "The Revolutionaries." A few people around her glanced over. "I was a servant in Lord Kaiser's house when they came. They killed him. Killed his children. His husband. Then told me that I was free." She shook her head, brows furrowing. "Free to do what?"

The tourist blinked at her, mouth snapping closed. From behind him, another man turned, eyes alight with ire.

"You're complaining we're no longer confined to the monarchy?" he asked dryly. Antonia looked away to hide her scowl. "Those Revolutionaries are a blessing-

"And yet you're also on this ship to Cambria," the woman shot back. "Why not stay and join the Revolutionaries as they murder without realizing there are consequences?"