How Shadows Turn to Ash

Chapter 36: Antonia

Viséan walked like every road was paved for him.

No matter where he moved, he always seemed to be front and center, a spot of light even in the sun. Cretara mentioned the five evaluated children the Chosen Family welcomed into their family were ranked. First Chosen must mean first-in-line for the throne. Antonia had only seen people look at Trajan or Octavia the way they looked at Viséan. She found herself endlessly fascinated as they waded further into town.

"Where are we again?" she whispered to Nema.

The town itself was surprisingly gray. Antonia had always been told that Cambria was a desert, but here, thick clouds hung above, obscuring most of the beach from sunshine. Houses around them were all built on stilts, prepared for any storms to bring the water rising toward them. Antonia could see fishermen and dock workers, all with water magic, bowing their heads as Viséan passed.

"Nos," Nema murmured. Antonia nodded. Nema was the only one who could draw attention away from Viséan. Antonia thought it might be for the reasons she found herself endlessly staring at her, but the more they walked, the more it became clear it was wariness, not admiration, in these Cambrians' eyes.

"Nos is an ugly town," Antonia decided when a few muttered unkind words in Nema's direction. She had never heard the word 'Htraehean' said like sin.

How was it that Antonia had spent years not knowing Nema's heritage, but these Cambrians could clock it the second they caught sight of her?

"Nos is a country, not a town," Viséan commented from in front of them. He glanced over his shoulder, also studying Nema. "Try not to be too harsh. Htraeheans aren't known to be very nice around these parts." His eyes drifted to where Cretera and Elbon were also following. Antonia hadn't even noticed them trailing behind, but Viséan seemed to analyze every step he took. "Friend of yours?" he asked and then dismissed the question before anyone could answer. They were on a cobbled path, heading toward a large stable where three horses were waiting. "Of course the man is. One girl is born with magic, and Htraeh clings to faith like a child to a blanket."

"One girl born with magic is all the gods need," Elbon cut in coldly. Viséan's lips twitched. "You said you're First Chosen?" he asked. Viséan nodded. "Then you have the Aik to answer to. Or do you plan on telling your father that your proficiency for diplomacy is a sham?"

Viséan's nostrils flared, eyes narrowing as he studied Elbon. Cretara stood between them, lips quirked upward in amusement. Viséan also gave her a wary look before rolling his eyes, turning to yell something over his shoulder at the stableboys. It was only then that the Cambrian registered. Words that would normally baffle her suddenly made a strange amount of sense.

"Are you doing that?" she asked. Viséan hummed a questioning noise. "I can't speak Cambrian. How can I understand you? How can he?" she asked, gesturing to Elbon.

Viséan laughed. "We were actually speaking Nosean. Each country here has its own language. Cambrian is merely the common tongue for the empire, but as an ambassador, this Htraehean can speak almost all of our languages just fine," he said, jutting his chin to Elbon. "If I used any magic on him, we'd be at war." He turned around, walking backward to face them all, jutting out his chin slightly. "Isn't that right, friend? How is my diplomacy looking now?"

Elbon sneered as Cretara gave a derisive snort of amusement. Viséan gave Antonia a quick wink, ignoring Nema's bristling as she absently tugged at her robes.

"That doesn't answer her question," Nema said, eyes narrowing. "How can she understand you?"

"It answered one of her questions."

"Answer the rest," Nema retorted coldly. "And remember that using magic on someone without their permission isn't very nice, no matter what religion they follow."