The Ashen Raven's Treason

Chapter 38

I did it. I mastered the Luminary tether. Gustus sits before me, wrapped in a golden beam of ribbon, glistening bright with recognition. But he doesn't see me yet. Not because he can't, but his head is dipped low towards the beef and cheddar soup on the table in front of him. He drops the spoon within the soup and raises it back out, playing with the contents rather than filling his stomach.

His shoulders hang forward, slumping. Light flickers around him, recollection pouring in as the bond strengthens, and I see that he's not alone. My breath hitches at the sight of his company. Theo at his arm, leaning over a bowl of similar soup and taking a bite, only to chew like he can't stand the taste.

And...Cloak. His back is to me, but his horns and broad shoulders are unmistakable. My heart constricts within my chest, pain lancing every movement I make. Whether a blink, a breath, or a shift in the tether keeping me connected to Gustus. Everything hurts at the sight of him. I want to rush to him and wrap him in my arms, telling him everything will be all right, but I can't be certain. I can't lie to him. And he's not the person I'm here to see.

Cloak doesn't appear to be eating anything either. He hangs his head over his plate and stares at it. I wonder if he's breathing until his shoulders raise in a dramatic breath, a heave of exhaustion.

Suddenly, the vision flickers. Roiling nausea grips hold, and the vision of the three men sitting at the table spins. The castle isn't tumbling; I'm feeling the drain of the tether. No wonder Mutes couldn't handle this for long; I can't stand to look at Gustus for more than a few brief moments.

He must know I'm here. Before the vision fades. I don't want him to believe I haven't attempted to contact him, even if he hasn't done the same for me.

With all the strength I have left, I send a wave of my magic in his direction. Immediately, his head snaps up, eyes flitting around the room before landing on me. Shock blanches his skin, brows furrowing for a moment before realizing the volume of the being standing before him. He gasps, but the sound is inaudible. I can't hear it the longer the tether holds on.

Gustus grips onto Theo's arm, nearly falling out of his chair. Theo's face contorts into confusion, then fear as he realizes something is wrong. Gustus reaches for Cloak unsteadily, grappling like he's taking his last breaths, and points shakily over the prince's shoulder. I see the word he speaks. Marie.

Cloak whirls expectantly. His eyes travel right through me. Such desperation on his face, it nearly breaks me to see him look forward to hating me further. As soon as he notices I'm not there, his face falls. The flicker of a smile disappears from his lips and he hangs his head, chin pointing towards the floor.

Without another second of consideration, he turns back in his chair. Slowly. Like the effort to move strains him. They must believe Gustus to be insane; Theo continues to console, but the prince stands from his chair, staring directly at me. He knows I'm here; he knows I'm alive. And that's what I came here for. To tell him that, although they're not looking, I'm in Rivian somewhere. Untouched and breathing, learning how to grasp the complexity of our shared strength.

I stumble, and the tether flickers. He reaches for me. I panic and release just as the world presses down on my shoulders and I fear I'll choke on my own rising vomit. I'm shot backward, into the black of my vision. Only this time, I'm not falling. Something tugs me upwards, fighting against the current of wind.

My eyes fly open and I grip onto my throbbing skull, wincing. Rolling doesn't help despite the volume of pain stabbing deeper and deeper into my brain. I forget my company. A deep, drawn-out moan leaves my lips and when I try to lift myself off the pillows, I can't. Mutes' tethers weren't as infinitesimal as I have allowed myself to believe. This is real pain, and it doesn't immediately depart.

I recognize the scared cry coming from the bottom of the bed, and I try to reach for Edire, but my numb fingers fall short.

"Are you all right?" Fidibi's voice comes to me past ringing ears. "Marie, do you need me to call a healer?"

"I'm fine," I croak out. I pinch the bridge of my nose as the last of the pain withers away, following the same trail as the tether. "The tether...is exhausting. Edire—she can't do this. We must protect her from it."

"I can't object to her!" Fidibi's shrill voice cuts through the room and I open my eyes long enough to see Edire's blotched cheeks. She watches every move her mother makes, from the rapid pacing to biting at her fingernails with such ferocity, I fear she'll stab right through them with one of her fangs. "But I can't let this happen either. I can't—Edire isn't strong enough for this. She's only a child and I shouldn't have—"

With enough strength, I raise myself onto my elbows. Edire scoots to my side. "I'll do everything I can to make sure she doesn't have to go through this. I'll protect her."

Fidibi whimpers, tears flowing from her eyes. She rushes to the side of the bed, throwing her arms around my neck and nearly knocking me backward. The jut of my chin cuts into her shoulder, airways blocked off by the sheer force of her embrace. "Please, Marie," she mutters into my shoulder, quiet enough that Edire can't hear. "Please don't allow her to take my daughter away. Don't let her be a pawn."

Another task to add to the list of growing needs at this palace. I still need to understand my tether to Gustus and what I saw. The expectancy on Cloak's face. I can't place whether it was hurt or anger that I wasn't actually standing there. To Gustus, I was. I might've just given him one more sleepless night.

Now I must protect Edire. That will be my main priority. If a strong Luminary with a second form can hardly manage the tether, a child as young as her won't adapt to it. I understand the Void Queen's reasoning for training her so young; she believes that with enough practice, Edire will strengthen. But not enough. There's a reason why the tether takes so much energy, and they mustn't use it with as much frequency as they do.

The Void Queen will have to look for another connection to her forces. Not Edire. I'll do everything to ensure that doesn't happen. For Fidibi, for Edire's father, for the innocent child herself. She doesn't understand the volume of power given to her, but I won't allow her to believe she's simply a means for use. There is more to her—a person underneath all that power. Small and delicate. Alive.

I close my eyes and clear my head. At least Gustus knows I'm alive. Maybe he'll tell everyone, or he'll keep it a secret. Either way, he knows. If only I had enough strength to deliver the same message to Chaska.