What have I done? Nathaniel's thoughts echoed strongly in Desmond's head, but the older Maestro couldn't answer. When they got aback to the Jurors, it seemed both of them would be walking a path of fire.
Nathaniel barely remembered the next three hours. He knew that Eliza called in every favor and re-enforcement she had, and she sank onto the throne of Natrine before the sun had even hit the highest in the sky. She conquered the planet, threatened to take the lives of the family without a second thought, and barely glanced at the second throne, meant for a partner, a King if she ever desired.
She was beautiful and terrifying all at the same time, and Nathaniel worried that this was only the first taste of the power that was to come. Would she become addicted to expanding her empire?
Was this his fault, his move that made her inch forward on the path to universal domination? Or had she planned it all along?
It became clear that she would hold the planet by the second day. The messages coming in were only those of congratulations. No one dared attack the Jeffro powerhouse, for they knew what it could do. To the rest of the galaxy, it appeared that they didn't even try.
Only those in the throne room knew the price that was going to be paid.
By the third day, Nathaniel knew they had to go. As much as he wanted to be by Eliza's side, it was time to answer for the crimes that they had committed
“I am the ruler of this planet,” she said. “And I declare that you have committed no crime.”
He gave her a sad smile.
“But we answer to a higher judge, your highness.”
Eliza's voice dropped.
“I know you must go,” she said. “But remember what I said. There is always a place.”
He gave her another sad smile.
“Do you think, my love, that this is the end for me? That I will go back and they will outcast me and I will return to you, happily ever after?”
“It's a dream,” she said. “A blessing in disguise. But I know that your future is going to change upon your return to the Jurors, who have no right to judge you for movements of the heart.”
“I'm a witch,” Nathaniel said. “I'm not supposed to have a heart.”
“But you do, my love,” she put a hand to his face. “You do.”
Chapter 19
“I'm going to come with you,” Devon said, when they finally returned to the ship. Nathaniel had absolutely no idea how long Devon had been there, nor how much of that visit he had spent sitting on Sienna's bed, holding her hand. His only reprieve in all of this was that his Tiro looked a bit stronger than when he had left. She wasn't, however, speaking to him. Her face was toward the floor, and while her color was better, her vitals were still low. He was worried, especially when she wouldn't look at him. She had never been angry at him, not like this. His heart was already heavy with the burdens of the past few days, but this made it sink completely.
“To the school? To the Jurors? To the Order that you left?” Nathaniel couldn't help but snap at the boy. He didn't want him here, not at such a fragile time. If Sienna couldn't learn the balance her heart and her commitment, then he had failed her.
Just a few days ago, he would have given anything to see that she was well. To now be at such odds with her made him want to rewind and start from the top.
Perhaps the very top, the very first moment they had met.
“That's what she wants.”
“Sienna can speak for herself, Devon,” Nathaniel said. “And she can certainty speak to me. It's not appropriate.”
“Don't tell me about appropriate,” Sienna replied. “Don't talk to me about whether or not I don't have to feel alone. You left.”
“I had to,” he said. “And I didn't leave you for good, Sienna. I didn't decide to end your training.”
“But will you?” her eyes flashed. “Will you when we go back and they make you answer for what you've done, and why you did it?”
For that, he had no answer, which frightened him.
“Fine,” he said at last. “Devon can take passage with us back to the school. Whether or not the Jurors grant him entrance will be a different story. But that can be the case.”
“And Eliza?” Sienna asked.
“Eliza will stay here,” Nathaniel answered. Despite her anger, her heart panged for him. “She has a new planet to rule now.”
“Oh,” she said, softly.
“Devon,” Nathaniel made one last ditch attempt to regain control. “Can you at least give us a few minutes?”
“Do you want that?” he turned to Sienna, who nodded.
Devon slid off the bed and headed out the door.
Nathaniel knew he could say so many horrible things to her, so many angry things. Instead, he took a deep breath, trying to regain control in his voice, and spoke quietly, “He seems well,” he said, exhibiting all the control that a witch must exhibit.
“Better,” she answered, still not looking at him. He sighed, sitting down on the bed beside her.
“Sienna, what is it?” he asked. “What are you fearing?”
“What is going to happen when we return?” she asked. “Because something has changed.”
“It has,” he agreed, sinking onto the bed beside her.
“Are you going to leave me, too?”
He wanted to say no, with absolutely certainty. He wanted to assure her that it would never happen, just as he had done before he left.
But this quest had changed things, and now he wasn't so sure.
Or rather, he was sure, but he wasn't entirely positive he had the heart to do it.
“We don't know what is going to happen,” he said. “I killed a monarch, a birthright monarch. They could pull me away from you forever.”
“No,” she said, determined. “It is not the Juror's choice, only their recommendation”
“That may be the case in most choices,” he said. “But I went against Nature in one of the highest degrees, and you have to prepare for the consequence of that.”
She put her head on her knees.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, after a moment. “I haven't looked at the medical reports yet, but you look better.”
“Yes,” she answered. “Slowly. It might be awhile, I was told.”
“Well, then that's what it is,” he answered, closing his eyes. “I'm sorry, Sienna.”
“For what?” she asked. “I know you, you did what you had to do.”
“I responded that way because I couldn't think.,” he said. “All I saw was Eliza, on the floor. And three seconds before, Desmond had told me—did something happen with you?”
“I crashed,” she answered, and his eyes went wide.
“Oh Creator.” He put his head in his hands. “Sienna, I'm sorry.”
She said nothing to that, hugging her knees.
“Can I see Devon now?”
“Sure,” he said, sliding off the bed and feeling useless. He used to be able to think under pressure, thrive under it. Now, he might as well be half-drunk, for all his mind was working.
Eliza was still on board, retrieving her personal items. It wasn't a time for romantic goodbyes, but Nathaniel did want to say goodbye to her. Every time they say goodbye, it was on the hope, not the promise, that they would see each other again.
She was folding a jacket, which wasn't like her. She had people to do that for her, servants to do everything but breathe for her.
“This will not be an easy planet to secure,” Nathaniel said to her, leaning in the door way. “Your workload doubled, if not tripled.”
“Building an empire,” she said. “But do not think it's because I am power hungry “
“I know,” he said. “You have to take care of your people.”
“And you have to take care of yours,” she said, softly. “Don't give up, Nathaniel. Please don't.”
He sighed. “I may not have a choice in the matter. And even if I do…what kind of life am I giving her? Am I doing more harm than good, just because I'm stubborn.”
&n
bsp; “I can't tell you what to do, my love,” she said, softly. “I can only be here to support you.”
He shook his head. “I'll call you,” he said. “As soon as I know anything. But it'll probably be awhile before we…go out again, her and I. She crashed, that's what Desmond felt. She could have died, and I wasn't there. Or worse…I could have pushed to take her out, and then what?”
“The death of a warrior,” Eliza said. “That is what she wants, ever since she accepted death was inevitable.”
He cocked his head. “How do you know that?”
Eliza smiled. “We are closer than you think,” she replied. “And we talk about you, often.”
“That, I don't want to know about.” Nathaniel stepped forward. “One last kiss, my love, before you depart?”
She leaned in, putting her arms around his neck. Their kiss was sweet, soft and passionate. She may be a Queen, and soon an Empress, but Eliza would always be his love, his one and only heart.
“Thank you,” he whispered, putting his forehead on hers. “I'll walk you out.”
“Don't,” she said. “It will be too hard.”
Her eyes flashed, though, it was with more than emotion.
“You don't want them to know you have a weakness, an attachment.”
“Usurpers are threatened their whole lives,” she said. “They will find anything to try to take me off their throne. It might be twenty years before this settles.”
“If only you could make them promise to just not attack Jeffro.”
'If only diplomacy was that easy,” she answered. “I think I have everything.”
“I'll bring it back to you if you don’t,” he said. “Personally.”
Saying goodbye to Eliza was always the hardest thing he ever had to do. But this time, as the ship took off, he felt his heart rip out.
“The Jurors are already aware of the situation that unfolded on Natrine,” Desmond said, when Nathaniel joined him in the cockpit. “We'll be met in the hanger.”
Nathaniel expected as much, and tried not to show his fear.
“And?”
“You and I will both be questioned, likely half the night,” Desmond said. “In solitary.”
“In solitary?” Nathaniel said in shock. “Why?”
“Because if the killing of a natural born monarch was premeditated, our ideologies could spread,” Desmond said. “And the last thing they want is for us to recruit others.”
“But it wasn't ...”
“I know,” Desmond said. “But those are the rules.”
“Wait,” Nathaniel replied. “I have a Tiro who needs me. They can't keep us apart. No one can separate us, those are the rules.”
“That is true,” Desmond said. “So she will be questioned, as well.”
'But she wasn't even there!” Nathaniel cried.
“Nathaniel,” Desmond said. “Are you thinking with your head? You know these are standard procedures”
“But Sienna's different,” Nathaniel said and Desmond gave him a sad smile.
'Yes, that's been the case all along, hasn't it?” Desmond asked. “They have always made allowances for her, for us.”
“They haven't made it easy,” Nathaniel answered. “We've had to lie to them, to seal her files, to go over and under rather than straight through. How were we supposed to train her, when they put all those roadblocks in our way? They crippled us from the start.”
“They told us that she wasn't going to make a good witch, for so many reasons,” Desmond answered.
“They did not mean to damn her. It was the way of Nature, Nathaniel, that her body is the way it was, and we are trying to go against the laws of Nature, with these drugs, with this training. She isn't meant to be a witch, Nature didn't intend that.”
Nathaniel said nothing, staring out into space as he let out a long breath.
“I can't think about this,” Nathaniel said at last, leaving forward. “Why don't you get some rest? I'm going to fly manually for a while.”
“Manually?” Desmond asked in surprise “It's a long flight.”
“I know, but I want a distraction,” Nathaniel answered. “The only way this could get worse is if they just filmed the fact that Eliza and I kissed in her bedroom. Which, knowing the Jurors, they probably already know.”
“Nathaniel,” Desmond ran a hand over his face. “Was Mariah and I getting us exiled not enough of a warning for you?”
“Devon is staying on board with us,” Nathaniel said. “Like Maestro, like Tiro.”
Desmond wanted to say so much, but he stayed silent, rising. Sienna was no longer his to reprimand, praise or comment on.
“Call me if you need me,” he said. “I don't mind taking over. Or, in reality, putting it on autopilot.”
“Thanks,” Nathaniel said, half-heartedly
“It's been a ride,” Desmond said, putting his hand on Nathaniel's shoulder “I don't regret it. I'm not sorry it happened.”
“It's been an honor,” Nathaniel said, meaning that as his former Maestro left. He just hoped that honor didn't turn into horror when they landed.
Chapter 20
“You are clear to land,” came the voice crackling over the radio. “Be aware you will be met by escort officers, to quarantine”
“Copy that,” Nathaniel said, as the sun rose over the planet. He loved flying into the sunrise. It was a golden explosion of beauty and colors. Today, though, as it erased the darkness, it made him feel like his time to hide was over. Facing the dawn meant facing the future, and he knew it was going to difficult. “Landing procedures in place.”
The radio crackled silent, but it wasn't silence in the cockpit.
“Can you tell her?” Nathaniel turned to Desmond. “I don't want her to be alarmed when we land. I've seen other escorts meet ships and it's aggressive”
“No,” Desmond said,. “That's not my responsibility to tell her.”
“I'm asking you as a friend,” Nathaniel said. “You're better at inspiring calm than I am. I feel like I'm going to shoot through the roof. I need to land this ship, focus on something simple.”
Desmond debating refusing. As a Maestro, you had to multi-task, calm your Tiro, while dealing with the most chaotic and high trauma situations. It was not ever easy, and Nathaniel had never had to experience that. There had always been two of them.
What Desmond noted was that it wasn't just nice to have that support, it was needed. There was no way a Tiro with needs like Sienna could be effectively managed by one Maestro. There had never been a Tiro like her, and there would likely never be a Tiro like her again. They had failed.
But, in a way, Desmond thought, they had succeeded. They had learned so much about themselves, about her, about working through difficult situations, about managing over walls and under tunnels. They had advanced medical trials and survival rates in the locust gene, and relations with so many nations who simply adored her, who loved the fragile but determined Tiro.
They had succeeded.
Except, with her heart, her status, and her training. They hadn't made her a witch because they weren't ever supposed to.
“I'll tell her,” Desmond said, getting up. “For old time's sake.”
“Excellent,” Nathaniel answered, not looking at him.
Sienna was not alone, as Desmond expected. She and Devon were snuggled up, playing with her tablet. They looked bright eyed and awake, happy, young.
Desmond saw himself reflected in the scene. His early days with Mariah played in his mind. He couldn't help but clear his throat, despite telling himself that he wouldn't reprimand her.
“Maestro,” Sienna couldn't help but jump, looking caught. Devon raised an eyebrow, with no intention to move, daring Desmond to say anything. “We are ready?”
“To land? Almost. Nathaniel just got the landing instructions, so a few minutes left. I need to talk to you, though.”
“Oh?” She sat up a bit more.
“Alone.” Desmond glanced at Devon, who turned to Sien
na.
“Do you want that?” he asked.
“Devon,” Desmond hadn't ever gotten along with this boy. He had tolerated him, for Sienna's sake, but he didn't have time. “Out, if you please. I can have two minutes.”
“It's all right,” Sienna said, after a moment. “Desmond probably just wants to go over my packing list and make sure I didn't forget anything.”
Devon kissed her on the cheek and hopped off the bed, giving Desmond a smirk as he did. Desmond resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he left, instead sinking into a chair.
“It is that, isn't it?” she asked, turning to him. “My clothes? My things?”
“That's all packed,” he said. “I just wanted to talk to you about landing.”
“Nathaniel is landing?”
“He is,” Desmond answered. “We're cleared to land. But when we do, we'll be met with an escort guard”
“What?” she asked. “Why?”
“I think you know why,” he answered.
“But…but…Nathaniel didn't mean to,” she said. “It was an accident. Eliza was in danger.”
“Sienna,” Desmond said. “I'm not going to sugarcoat things for you. You are smart, you are educated, you know how many dangerous factors are at play here. We will be taking into solitary, into quarantine. You'll go with Nathaniel, of course…but it will be a trial.”
She paled, her hands twisted into fists and her eyes flooded with tears. He hadn't quite expected it, but then, she had an emotional few days.
“But—”
“I don't want you to be scared,” he said. “When they approach. You know that there will be no violence, and whatever care you need, they will give you. But they will be quite serious about it, and every detail will be gone over. Your association with Devon probably won't help matters. Especially given the fact that…”
“You and Mariah were already in trouble.” She picked at the blankets. “Why did Nathaniel send you?”
“Because I'm better at staying calm,” Desmond said. “And Nathaniel's scared.”
Sienna gripped the blankets tighter.
“I can't walk off a ship right now. Not on my own. But I'd like to.”
“So, one last time,” he said. “Between the two of us, then, toward defying the Jurors.”
“Desmond, do you have a plan?” she asked.
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