The Founders

by Dylan Steel

  “It’s fine if you fall asleep. I want to look this over for a bit, but I can wake you if I have any questions.”

  “I’m fine,” she repeated, not sure why she was still bothering to argue.

  “Sleep,” he said more firmly this time. “I’ll wake you in a little while.”

  She frowned, annoyed that she felt herself giving in to his insistence. “Fine. But just for a second,” she mumbled.

  Leaning her head back, Sage heard him say something else as she closed her eyes, but she couldn’t make out what he’d said before she felt herself drift off into a welcome sleep.

  7. CEREMONY

  A loud knock startled Sage awake. She rolled her head to the side sleepily and then sat up abruptly, shrugging out from under a masculine arm. Weston stirred lightly at the movement but didn’t wake up. She bit her lip, mortified by the realization that she’d been snuggled under his arm, leaning on his shoulder as she slept. All night.

  “Ahem.”

  Sage’s attention shot to the doorway. She straightened, ignoring the stiffness cracking along her spine as she did.

  Martha stood just outside the door, hands on hips as she stared disapprovingly at the two of them.

  “Mr. Bennick,” Martha said in a loud voice.

  At that, Weston’s eyes finally blinked open. “Mmm,” he moaned a meaningless protest.

  One of the journals slipped down his torso as he began to sit up, but it stayed trapped under his hand. They must’ve fallen asleep looking at it the night before.

  “If you don’t leave in the next half hour, you’re going to be late.”

  “Can’t have that,” he mumbled sleepily, his mouth stretching into a big yawn.

  “Mr. Bennick!”

  Adrenaline flooded Sage’s veins at the sharp tone in Martha’s voice. She scrambled to her feet. She didn’t want the woman’s ire directed at her. Turning to the benefactor, she caught the journal before it could fall any farther and grabbed his hand, giving it a tug. “Wes—”

  “I trust you can handle this,” Martha said, speaking to Sage.

  She nodded, eyes wide.

  “Good,” Martha said, “because I’ve still got a few things to do before you leave. I’ve laid out clothes for both of you.” She jerked her head toward the bedroom, then fixed Sage with a serious look. “Hurry now.” She turned, disappearing out the door.

  “Weston?” Sage croaked through a scratchy throat. She swallowed hard, wincing. “Weston,” she repeated, a little more clearly this time, “we need to get ready for the ceremony.”

  His eyes fluttered open again, capturing hers in a crystal blue sea that took her breath away for an instant.

  She blinked, looking away. It was too late to hide her reddening cheeks. “We fell asl—we overslept. We need to get ready.”

  His lips curved into a dreamy smile. “You don’t need to get ready,” he murmured. “You look perfect.”

  Her eyes flicked back to his in surprise. He still wasn’t awake. It wasn’t at all like him to say something like that. And she knew she didn’t look perfect—the stray flyaways and oddly matted hair in her peripheral vision proved it. She frowned.

  “Weston,” she said harshly. She leaned closer so there was no mistaking he could hear her. “Wake. Up.”

  His eyes widened, and he stood up a little too quickly, nearly knocking her over, forcing her to backpedal to get out of his way.

  “Sage. I’m sorry I—” His voice was strained with embarrassment, but at least now he was awake.

  “Martha said we had to leave in just a few minutes,” Sage said quickly, not giving him a chance to finish.

  He ran a hand down his face and nodded, composing himself as he spoke. “I’m fine. I’m awake. You should get ready. Meet me in the vestibule when you’re done.”

  Sage eyed him suspiciously for a moment, then returned the journal to the shelf. “If you’re not out in fifteen minutes, I’m coming back in.” She crossed her arms. “And I’ll assume you fell back asleep, so I won’t waste time knocking.”

  “I’d expect nothing less,” he said, not bothering to hide a smile. “But I am awake, and you should go.”

  She didn’t need another invitation. Marching through his suite, she made her way into her own room and shut the door behind her. She leaned back against the door, taking in a breath in an attempt to calm her racing heart.

  A brief glance around the room showed her that Martha had indeed laid out an outfit for the day. Sage walked to the edge of her bed and picked up a handful of fabric, pulling it into the air to examine it more closely. The side of her mouth twitched into a grimace as she realized how full the skirt was. And pink.

  So pink.

  Blood rushed to her cheeks, and she was pretty sure her face now matched the dress in front of her. She had a feeling she was going to spend the day feeling like an overstuffed pastry, but she knew she didn’t have time to pick anything else. Besides, it was likely Weston had approved her attire for the day, and it wasn’t like anything she’d actually want to wear would be appropriate for the ceremony anyway.

  Dropping her hand back to her side, Sage let out a sigh as the skirt fell back on the bed. There was no time to feel sorry for herself. Turning quickly, she gritted her teeth and raced into the bathroom to grab a quick shower before throwing on the fluffy powdered pink monstrosity. She had to hurry.

  ***

  “You’ll have to wait here until it’s over.” Weston motioned to a cluster of chairs backstage that overlooked the main stage. “The other benefactors’ pairs will be here too. Proximity tethers,” he said, offering an answer to the unasked question in Sage’s eyes.

  “Ok,” she said quietly, taking a seat as Weston made his way on to the stage, leaving her alone. She bit the inside of her lip as she watched the other benefactors and the Quorum gather behind the curtain.

  “Sage?”

  Sage spun around in her chair and shot to her feet as soon as she saw who’d said her name.

  “Pippa!” She threw her arms around her old classmate, gathering her in a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you.” Stepping back, her eyes traveled down to Pippa’s stomach. Loss and longing squeezed at her chest for the first time in months, surprising her, but she forced herself to smile. She could be happy for her friend. “I guess congratulations are in order.”

  “Thanks.” Pippa’s cheeks flushed pink. “I still have a few months to go.”

  “Of course. Here.” Sage smiled warmly, gesturing for her to sit beside her. She glanced toward the stage. “Is Gr—Mr. Grayson already with the others?”

  Pippa nodded.

  Sage looked at her seriously. “How are you doing?”

  “The baby’s fine. Good, even, as far as they can tell.”

  “That’s good,” Sage said slowly. Her eyes narrowed. “But I mean you. How is it being paired with Mr. Grayson?”

  Pippa’s eyes went wide before she dropped her gaze. “I—” she rubbed her fingers over her bracelet, “—there’s not really much to say.”

  Sage pursed her lips. That answered her question. There was no way Pippa wasn’t tethered. She wasn’t willing to risk her Chances, even with the protection of her pregnancy. Sage couldn’t be sure if her Chances would be stripped right away or if it would be a sort of delayed response that took effect after she had the baby, but she didn’t want to push Pippa any more than she already had.

  “It’s alright. I’m just glad I got to see you. I was disappointed that I missed you at the party.”

  Pippa shot her a questioning look.

  “Mr. Grayson’s party a couple months ago.”

  “Oh!” Pippa said, surprised. Her eyes took on a dull sheen at the memory for a moment before she realized Sage was still looking at her. “I wasn’t, uh—I didn’t realize you were paired with a benefactor.”

  “Why else would I be back here?” Sage tilted her head teasingly.

  “But I thought you were…” She frowned. “Weren’t you paired with Eve
rett?”

  “At first…” Sage trailed off, not sure how much she should say. A lump formed in her throat. “Wes—Mr. Bennick requested me as his pair after Everett died.”

  Pippa raised an eyebrow at her, though Sage couldn’t be sure if it was because of what she’d just told her or the slip in etiquette of starting to use her benefactor’s first name. “Mr. Bennick,” she murmured thoughtfully, staring at her hands. She looked back at Sage. “I didn’t know they could pair with someone after graduation.”

  “Me neither. But…” She shrugged.

  Pippa’s brows gathered in confusion. “But you’re not—you don’t look… Are you pregnant?”

  Sage swallowed, shaking her head. “I was, but I—the baby didn’t…”

  “I’m sorry,” Pippa said quietly, giving her hand a squeeze.

  Blinking hard, Sage managed a hollow smile. But she didn’t have a chance to say anything else before a sudden silence fell over the crowd, drawing their attention to the stage where the curtains were starting to roll open.

  Sage twisted her fingers together nervously, straining her neck as she watched the beginning of the ceremony from her seat. To her surprise, Kai was standing in the center of the stage, his presence commanding everyone’s attention without the need to utter a word.

  His silence didn’t last long.

  “Loyal citizens of Eprah, it is with both sorrow and joy that we gather together today,” Kai said, his voice booming throughout the room. “We are here to mourn and celebrate the life and death of the Venerable Nicholas Pruitt—a man who has served Eprah diligently for years as a member of your Quorum of Five. But we are also here to bear witness to a new era. A new member of the Quorum of Five will be inducted this day, once again completing our valued Quorum. But first, let us take a moment of silence for the loss of a great man.”

  Kai stepped aside, clasping his hands behind his back and bowing his head. After a long pause, he looked up and swept his arm to the side, inviting Mr. Gaztok to stroll to the center of the stage to thunderous applause.

  “Thank you. Thank you.” Mr. Gaztok held his hands up, waiting for the surge of approval to quiet down before beginning to speak. “I cannot tell you how appreciative I am for all your support. The Venerable Nicholas Pruitt’s passing was more sudden than any of us would have expected, and it is a tragic loss I know we all feel keenly.

  “As you may be aware, I have already had the honor of assisting the Quorum these past few months. It is with a heavy heart that I assume this role, knowing both the gravity and burden of this position as well as the impossibility of ever truly replacing another Quorum member.” Mr. Gaztok paused, dipping his head as he nodded, emphasizing what he’d just said.

  Sage’s jaw clenched tightly as she realized Weston was right—every word that came out of Mr. Gaztok’s mouth in public was rehearsed. Nothing about the man could be trusted.

  He looked up again, scanning the audience for their approving glances. “I would like to invite the remaining members of the Quorum forward now to perform the sacred duty of transferring power, witnessed by Eprah’s benefactors as well as its citizens.”

  At those words, the four elderly Quorum members on the stage stood, moving forward until they formed a semicircle around Mr. Gaztok. One of the women broke rank to step forward and pin a small medallion to his chest, then stepped back in line. Mr. Gaztok placed both hands over the medallion somberly as he stood before the Quorum.

  Then the Venerable Rufius spoke, his words sending chills down Sage’s spine.

  “Will you now swear an oath of loyalty to both Eprah and this Quorum of Five? To promise to preserve and protect that which makes this nation great—to uphold Eprah’s institutions and the System of Worth in the face of all enemies, large or small, even should they come from within our own borders? To enact and uphold laws that are in keeping with the tradition of the System of Worth and everything it stands for, and to do everything within your power as both a citizen and a member of the Quorum of Five to preserve the lives of those who have proven themselves worthy or who have yet to be given the opportunity to prove themselves worthy?”

  “Upon my life and honor and all my worth, I swear to it all.”

  The Venerable Rufius nodded and beckoned forward the Dignitary of the Peace, who was carrying the same device he’d used on Sage’s bracelet when she’d been tethered. She felt herself holding her breath as she watched the Dignitary fasten the cuff to Mr. Gaztok’s bracelet.

  “With your oath and our approval of your place on the Quorum of Five, we bestow upon you all the authority and Chances that accompany a position on the Quorum of Five,” the Venerable Rufius said.

  When the Dignitary finished a moment later, he removed the cuff, nodding to the Quorum before returning to his seat.

  The four older members of the Quorum maneuvered themselves to face the audience so that two of them were on either side of Mr. Gaztok.

  The Venerable Rufius scanned the crowd and said, “Ladies and gentlemen of Eprah, allow me to introduce for the first time the Venerable Gaztok.”

  Cheers and applause filled the air. Sage swallowed back bile as she pasted on a smile and brought her hands together, feigning support for the transition of power that had just occurred.

  Mr. Gaztok stepped forward, raising his hands in the air, waiting for the celebration to die down a little. Glancing to either side, he addressed the other members of the Quorum first. “I’m afraid I must already beg an indulgence from my fellow members of the Quorum.”

  He turned to face the crowd, a manufactured smile in place. Sage’s skin prickled uneasily, and she could see a flash of disapproval on the Venerable Rufius’s face. He wasn’t happy with Mr. Gaztok’s sudden change in plans for the ceremony, but he hid his feelings quickly.

  “I confess, I’m not sure if there is a precedent or protocol for what I am about to propose, but I believe it is too important to delay. As one of my first duties as a member of your Quorum, it is my honor to put forth a series of names. These are individuals who I believe are capable of leading Eprah as future members of the Quorum of Five. Given the sudden and unexpected nature of the Venerable Pruitt’s expiration, I believe it is invaluable to be more prepared for other such contingencies in the future. As much as we would love for our Quorum to live forever, that is unfortunately not the reality that we will have to face someday.

  “And just as I began training for my role before the Venerable Pruitt’s sickness took hold, it would serve Eprah well to be prepared when the inevitable need for new leaders arises. And so today, I propose the following individuals begin training as I did, ensuring that the future of our beloved Eprah is well protected.”

  Mr. Gaztok cleared his throat, stepping to the side so that he could see the rest of the people on the stage behind him. “Please step forward. Mr. Kai Abeldra, Mr. Edward Grayson, Ms. Serefina Chartreaux, and Mr. Weston Bennick.”

  A murmur spread over the crowd as the four individuals rose and went to stand beside Mr. Gaztok at the front of the stage. Sage stiffened in her seat and felt Pippa do the same beside her.

  “You four have proven your worth and leadership in Eprah. I realize that you are already burdened with so much as such valuable individuals and would have great difficulty taking on additional responsibility at this time. It is undoubtedly a sacrifice, but the Quorum of Five would be honored to consider your candidacy in an ongoing effort to ensure the continuity and strength of our future as the great nation of Eprah. Will you accept this honor and duty?”

  “I will,” they answered in unison, somber expressions on each one of their faces.

  “Very well, then we will of course begin your training promptly.” Mr. Gaztok turned back to the crowd. “Today is a day of mourning and yet it is a day of new beginnings. Of promise. Today is the first day of our future as an even greater nation. Today is Eprah. Tomorrow is Eprah.” His fists shot into the air, raising the roar of the crowd to match.

  Sage felt her fingernails
digging into her fists as she watched Mr. Gaztok embrace his new authority. Weston hadn’t said anything about being nominated for a future position on the Quorum. In fact, she doubted he had known anything about it at all.

  A feeling of unease spread throughout her belly, wrenching tightly at the nerves tumbling inside her. She had a feeling this was just the beginning of the changes and surprises in store for them under this new leadership.

  8. HISTORY

  “Weston?” Sage bit the inside of her lip nervously as she followed a few steps behind her benefactor. “Wes—”

  The door flew out of his hand, slamming against the wall, stopping her from saying anything else. Weston hadn’t said a word the entire trip back to the estate, and she’d been too scared to try to get him to talk. The ceremony had clearly upset him, though he hadn’t shown so much as a hint of emotion when he’d been called to the center of the stage or in the congratulations and platitudes that had followed.

  Now, however, he was tearing through his house, letting his footsteps fall heavily, echoing throughout the corridors. Sage wasn’t sure where he was going at first, but once he’d made his way to his office, she wasn’t surprised to see him heading straight for the bottle of vile blue liquid he had hidden in his desk.

  “Weston?” she asked again quietly.

  He’d already poured himself a glass and lifted it to his lips.

  Her brows dipped in concern. “Please say something.”

  “What would you like me to say, Sage?” he finally snarled, refilling his glass.

  She recoiled. Even before she’d really known him—when she’d been convinced he would kill her for the smallest infraction—he hadn’t spoken to her like that. He’d never spoken to her like that.

  “I’m next in line for a seat on the Quorum,” he muttered into his glass.

  “Isn’t it a good thing?” she asked timidly, hardly daring to take a step closer. “If you’re made a member of the Quorum, you would have so much more power to—”