Page 27 of Ashes of Aether

Though the room has mostly cleared, five of us remain. Aside from my father and me, that includes Lorette, Branvir, and Kaely.

Branvir’s eyes narrow at the double doors, and he harrumphs, his disdain thinly veiled. I know he doesn’t like my father much. Thirty years ago, when the previous Grandmage retired, Branvir was one of the few candidates in line to take his position. The following decade he also ran for Archmage of Defense, but Heston Harstall was instead appointed. It was five years ago, when Heston was exiled, that Branvir was finally promoted. But I think he would much prefer to be the Grandmage of Nolderan than the Archmage of Defense.

Thanks to all the aether humming through our veins, magi live at least twice as long as normal humans—sometimes even longer. My father will reign over Nolderan for the most part of another century. By then, Branvir will be nearing retirement himself.

Maybe this is another reason Kaely hates me. Because my father outranks hers. And because he will never have the chance to become the Grandmage.

Branvir doesn’t dare to directly defy my father, though. That would cause him to lose his position. And being the Archmage of Defense is better than being nothing.

“With all due respect, Grandmage—” Branvir begins.

“I shall deal with my daughter,” my father snaps. He turns to Kaely and glares at her, not bothering to hide the flames burning in his magenta eyes. She has the sense to flinch at his fury. “I also suggest you deal with yours. Matters which concern the safety of Nolderan and the magi should not be spoken of so lightly.”

Branvir opens his mouth, and I wonder whether he’ll argue with my father. Maybe to say that Kaely isn’t entirely wrong. That Heston should never have been spared from execution.

Instead, he seems to change his mind and bows his head. “Indeed, such things should not be spoken of so lightly.” He glances at Kaely, his eyes sharpening. “I can assure you that the two of us will have a thorough discussion concerning this matter.”

My father gives him a curt nod, and Branvir starts over to the door. Kaely trails behind him. She doesn’t turn, but I know if she dared, she would shoot me a venomous glare.

Now only Archmage Gidston remains, aside from my father and me.

“Lorette,” he says as she too leaves, “I will inform you of Reyna’s punishment when it is decided.”

“Of course, Grandmage.” Without another word, she steps out of her office and closes the doors behind her.

My father and I stand there in silence for a long while. He stares out of the arched windows, clasping his crystalline staff. Archmage Gidston’s office is situated inside one of the Arcanium’s highest spires. It can’t compare to the vastness of the Aether Tower, but you can still see the entire city from up here.

Cobalt tiles ripple across the rooftops below, and Nolderan’s walls stand proudly at the edges of the city. Beyond them lies the thick cover of trees, surrounding Nolderan like leafy clouds. They quickly turn into the deadly drop of steep cliffs. Then there are only sapphire waves, stretching on for hundreds of miles. From the docks in the Lower City, however, you can see the coastline of the mainland on the horizon.

I doubt my father is simply gazing out at the sea because he enjoys looking at it. Most likely, he’s watching the lull of the waves in an attempt to soothe his rage.

What he’s contemplating, I dread to discover. Is he considering worsening the punishment Archmage Gidston suggested? Will it be a longer suspension, or will it be something else entirely?

Maybe he’s deliberating over the decision to disown me.

It seems I fidgeted at that awful thought since he finally speaks. “You will no longer see him.”

“No longer see who? Archmage Calton?”

He must take my genuine confusion as sarcasm, since he whirls around with a face reddened by anger. “Arluin! You will see him no more!”

“Arluin?” I repeat, leaning on the desk. “What has Arluin got to do with any of this?”

“Your feelings for him have made you lose all sense! Made you stupid enough to strike a fellow adept!”

“Fine,” I hiss. “Blame Arluin for this. Even though the reason I lost my temper is because of what she said about both of you.”

His temples twitch. He says nothing. It seems he doesn’t quite know how to respond to my brazen words.

“Don’t think I don’t know exactly what you’re doing.”

“And what is it you think I’m doing?” My father doesn’t raise his voice. I’ve pushed him so far beyond anger that he’s lost the ability to shout.

“You’re using this as an excuse to stop me from seeing Arluin. And you can try,” I sneer, “but it won’t work. We’re already promised, he and I.”

“You’re what?” he bellows.

“Promised,” I say, my lips curling. “It means we are to marry.”