The Book of Glass

The Pause (22)

Aila helped Cassius spread word about Evander, going through the halls and rounding up whatever people they could find. Some seemed bitter, but many of the servants seemed relieved. Shay sat on the throne before them, fingers nervously tapping on the arm as people watched her.

Emory stood beside Shay, stripped of her swords and armor. As the Daughter of Rosalind, she was no longer the warrior. No longer in charge of fighting Shay's battles. When Cassius cleared the room, Emory took off, rushing through the halls to get to a room where she could be in peace.

She closed the door behind herself and sat down on the ground. Everything they had planned hadn't prepared her for this. It didn't feel wrong, though. In fact, it felt like everything finally made sense. She let out a chuckle. All this time, she thought, and I thought I was just lucky enough to share a bond with you because I was protecting Shay. What a ridiculous thought.

Emory looked around the room before rising to her feet. It wasn't much, and seemed to be in someone's office of sorts. There were a few windows where one could see the cliff the castle was perched on, and where the throne room stood at its peak. At the base of the cliff, white water pounded the rocks, the ocean tearing at the land. She rest her hand on the base of the window as she thought.

Rosalind let all of this happen. She turned her Prophet Princess into a soldier. Emory waited, as if Rosalind was going to whisper to her the way she always had done so before. Nothing came. No whisper, no warmth. "What now?"

"That's a good question."

The Prophet looked up and saw Aila walking into the room. "I didn't hear you come in."

Aila smiled and took a seat in the office chair. "Well, I suppose you will be Shay's Advisor in some form. I know we weren't much help in all of this, but I hope our deal still stands?"

"Of course. We'll just have to mention it to Shay." Emory kept her eyes focused on the scene outside. Everything was different now.

"I don't know much about your politics here, but I believe you two will be working closely together as a way of balancing law and faith, correct?" Emory nodded and Aila continued. "Does that mean you'll be going on diplomatic missions or will you stay here in the castle?" Aila spoke slowly, as if she knew the answer she would get.

Emory finally worked up the courage to look over at the advisor, and when they met eyes she remembered just how different they were. "We haven't had relations with your kingdom for a long time-"

"Not quite a kingdom, more of an oligarchy."

Emory stifled a smile before continuing. "This is new for everyone, and I'll have to speak with Shay about it. Perhaps once she has reached Ascension we can meet at the border. Start small."

"You're too smart to be a prophet," Aila rose and came to stand in front of Emory. She had completely dropped the diplomatic air around her, and was replaced by a playful one. She had her hair cut to her shoulders, which Emory always liked, and a smudge of dirt across her cheeks from being in the passages. "Should I be bowing?" She raised a brow and Emory let out a smile.

"You're fine, Advisor Aila."

"That was rather formal." Aila sighed, stepping back. "Does this mean things have changed between us?" She watched Emory with hopeful eyes, and Emory shrugged.

"I haven't figured it out yet, but, I imagine...yes. I'm not going to be able to do a lot of the things I've done before."

"Is love forbidden for a prophet?" Emory paused at the choice of word and Aila blushed. "Romance, I mean."

"No, it's not." Emory smiled, casting her eyes downward as the sadness sank in. At one point, she had been unsure of Aila, but now she didn't want to see her go. There was something that just... worked for them. Or perhaps it was just her calm demeanor compared to those around her. Emory had never met someone like her.

"Then what is it?"

"The way of the Prophet has only room for one. When Shay has children, her first daughter will be passed the gift of Rosalind." Emory watched Aila's brows furrow. She wouldn't understand because it wasn't her faith. "The Daughter of Rosalind kills herself in the Waters of Eden once the new child is born. It's in those waters that Rosalind finds her new prophet, and accepts the old one into her arms. That's how it has always been done."

Aila said nothing, and Emory leaned forward to give her a small kiss on her cheek. "Thank you for everything you've done, Aila, but it's for the best that we part now. Besides, I don't want to complicate things."

"Things have already been complicated, Emory," Aila grabbed Emory's face and pulled her in for a kiss. Emory sank into her, running her fingers through her hair. When Aila pulled away she smiled. "I see now why it was so easy for everyone to follow you. You have this way about you that nobody can get enough of. I won't say it's your status as a prophet, but... you're so easy to follow. Silly to say, but I'd follow you further if it weren't for my own status in The Land." She smiled and looked over Emory's face. Emory couldn't find words to say, but could feel her heart racing as she felt Aila's skin on her own again. "I admire you, truly."

"Why then?" Emory muttered.

"For your kindness, and how far you were willing to go for your friend. How smart you are at dealing with others, though I will say you had your stubborn moments." Aila let her hands fall down to Emory's waist. "You're more than a prophet. You seem to be your own leader. Rosalind took her time on you, that's for sure."

With that, Emory grabbed Aila and spun her around so that she was pressed against the wall. "Stop talking." They kissed again, but this time it lasted a lot longer.

Shay sat in the Prayer Room, just beside the door as she was too scared to move any further. She knew Emory needed her own space, but Emory was the one thing she needed right now. She had always been there to guide her. Sighing, she ran her hands over her face. If she was going to be queen, she remind herself, she would need to fix that.

Voices sounded outside the Prayer Room.

"We must return home as soon as possible," someone said. "Aila's somewhere, I just can't find her."

"She'll show up eventually. What do you think of all this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it weird? I didn't think Aila could pull it off, but... she did. Even Ceraphin had doubts." There was a pause. "She's good at what she does."

"She is, but don't get too ahead of yourself. The rest of Eden still hates our people. This isn't going to be easy."

"If he would just grow a pair-"

"He wants to stay out of this. He's made that clear. I can't blame him, though. His sister had to kill herself because their faith told her to do so. I'm sure even questioning his faith made him feel like a traitor here. Everyone seems willing to die for these people."

"We're the same for our commander, friend."

Shay rose from her seat, and waited until Aila's soldiers left at the sound of her voice in the distance. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of it. It couldn't be...

Orion?