"And they ran off once Connor showed up." Laila finished explaining to her father.
Laila sat in the main hall of her house. Her father paced the floor in front of her and her mother sat across from her, an equally pensive look on her face, a sword settled casually across her knees. Her hand grasping and releasing the hilt. The young man, Connor, stood rigidly near the door to the garden. They had just finished explaining what had happened in the alley to Alain and Lunete. Laila still did not understand how Connor had arrived so conveniently, but, for the time being, she was not questioning the good luck.
Her father paced back and forth, his steps heavy. It was hard enough to handle the fact that his daughter had been attacked, but the fact that it had been on a Consul's orders troubled him deeply. Laila had deliberately left out her manifestations; the attack was enough to deal with at the moment. She did not think that it was necessary to bring up the idea of her being a Magusari—whatever that may be.
"Who could have done this?" Alain said, mostly to himself.
"Is there anything we can do?" asked Lunete.
"I don't know. I can bring it to the Consulate. I should be able to meet with the Consulari Grier. He'll listen to me." Alain answered with his head down as he continued to pace.
"Will that do anything?" Lunete continued.
"Maybe..."
Lunete looked at her daughter, worry clearly etched on her face. She was a Guardian, and this was the type of event they were supposed to prevent. But their interference had not been needed in the city for years. Laila returned her mother's look, nodding silently that she was okay. She then turned to look at Connor.
The young man had been standing in the same position since they had arrived, back straight, hands clasped at the wrists in front of him. He had answered Alain's questions as Laila had told the story concisely, and then he had simply waited. He was definitely a Xenos. Laila could hear the cadence in his voice more clearly now that the adrenaline and fear from the attack had worn off, though she still could not place its origin. There were slight nuances in the speech of each of the cities of the Confederacy, but his was something different entirely.
"I can go to the Guardians in the city tomorrow," Lunete said, drawing Laila's attention back to the matter at hand. "They should be told."
Alain nodded his head in agreement, continuing his pacing.
"And you, young man," Lunete continued, turning to Connor, "Where are you staying?"
"A small inn near the city center, Madam."
"Well, I don't think we can have that. Not after this. You can stay here tonight. We'll need you to come with us tomorrow."
Alain stopped his pacing, looking up at Lunete. "Really? Is that necessary?"
"Come now, Alain-sa. The boy just saved our daughter. The least we could do is put him up for the night. You'll need him as a witness tomorrow anyway. Having him here will just make that easier."
Alain studied Connor and his rigid stance, his gaze slowly shifting over to Laila. He took a deep breath.
"Very well. I'll have Clara make up a guest bed." He gave Connor one more sidelong glance as he walked out of the hall to find Clara.
"Is that it? There's nothing we can do but wait?" asked Laila.
"No Laila-sa," answered Lunete. "There's nothing we can do tonight. You will go with your father to the Consulate tomorrow to present your case. I don't know what will happen, but your father will have to play this carefully. I know you think that the source of this conflict was Torin, and that’s certainly possible. But leave it to your father. He'll figure out what’s going on."
Laila appreciated the sentiment, but she did not want to hide behind her father's position. "Can't I present to the Consulate tomorrow? I was the one who was attacked." Her emotions rose up as she spoke, threatening to overwhelm her voice.
Lunete looked at her daughter with concern in her eyes. "I know you want to stand up for yourself. You've only been a Citizen for two days though. Once your father and I have a better grasp on what’s going on, then you can.” She tried to smile at her daughter. “I don’t think your father was ready for such overt action from Torin. Your little argument yesterday afternoon must have angered him more than we recognized.”
She slid next to Laila, grasping Laila's trembling hand. Laila took a deep breath, calming her ragged nerves. She nodded again.
"Yes, Mother."
They sat for a moment longer in silence, and then her father walked in.
"A room is ready for you, young man. I can't thank you enough for what you've done. Come, I will show you the way." The words were kind, but Laila could see the edge of suspicion in her father’s face and voice. He did not trust Connor.
Connor bowed his head. "Thank you, sir." He turned and bowed his head to the two seated women before following Alain out into the gardens.
“He’s an…. Interesting one, don’t you think?” Lunete said once Connor was out of earshot.
Laila turned to her mother, “I guess. Do you know where he’s from? His voice sounds…odd.”
Lunete nodded her head, “Sounds southern. Likely from one of the villages south of Mount Obrussa. There’s quite a few down there, so it would be hard to know where exactly. But, he’s definitely not from the Confederacy.”
Laila nodded in response, her eyes felt difficult to keep open.
"You need to get some sleep as well, Laila-sa."
"I know."
Laila stood, weariness and stress weighing heavily on her. Her mother walked with her across the garden to her own rooms.
"I will be here if you need anything," her mother reassured her.
"Thank you.”
Laila walked into her room. The emotions of the night continued to hang on her as she slipped off her robes and dressed for bed. She sat on the edge of her bed before lying down, trying to let go of the last dregs of adrenaline from earlier. For a moment she found herself longing for the strength she had felt in the alley, that surge of energy and power that had engulfed her. But it did not come. There was no surge down her spine to save her from the fear this time. She lay herself down as she felt the tears come, borne of the terror she had felt with the knife at her throat. Finally her tears slowed, and she drifted off to a restless, dreamless sleep.
Six
Citizenship
Laila woke up the next morning to an argument in the garden. She roused herself from bed quickly, wiping away the remnants of her tears from the night, and dressed in a simple robe before stepping out of her room to see what was going on.
As she came into the courtyard, her heart dropped. Torin stood toe to toe with her father, a group of several Guardians standing behind him, including Riker. Laila stopped, stunned. Riker was a Guardian!
"You will not take her!" Her father was shouting.
"She was part of the attack last night, Alain! She and the outsider, the one you are apparently harboring. You are walking a thin line, old friend." Torin's voice was not as loud, but it held an equal degree of threat.
"My daughter did nothing except defend herself! I will not stand here and have you accuse her of something she did not do."
"There are witnesses," said Torin.
"Oh, I'm sure there are. Conveniently provided by you. I won't let you pull my daughter into your schemes, Torin."
"Schemes? I only wish to protect our city. We have to be united in our strength. Incidents like last night and those with the Magus cannot be overlooked. They undermine our internal strength." Torin's voice had calmed, but the threat had not gone away.
"Don't spout your rhetoric to me. I've heard you manipulate the Consulate too many times to fall prey to it. If you weren't so close to the Consulari, you would have been put down long ago."
"Put down!" Torin's voice rose again. "You threaten me. I am the one trying to protect our city. All you are doing is harboring suspected criminals and outsiders. I will not let you stand against me, Alain. Give me Laila now and I promise she will receive fair treatment."
&
nbsp; "And if I refuse?"
"Don't, for old time's sake. Don't make me do this."
Laila finally stepped into the garden. Torin and Alain turned to look at her as she entered.
"Ah, finally. Come to turn yourself over?" asked Torin.
"But... I've done nothing wrong." Laila turned and pointed at Riker. "He was the one that attacked me!"
Alain followed her gesture, seeing Riker. Anger boiled over on his face, and he stomped toward the Guardian. Before he could reach him, however, Torin stepped in front of him, placing a hand on his chest in warning. Alain brushed Torin's hand away.
"That man attacked my daughter. She deserves justice. What are you doing?" he glared at Torin.
Lunete came in, taking a place just behind Laila, watching the argument unfold. Torin turned to the Guardians behind him.
"Wait outside," he commanded. In unison they all turned and made their way out of the front gate, all except Riker.
Torin turned back to Alain, facing him down with Riker beside him. "I didn't want to do this. But you've given me no choice. Show him."
Riker pushed the sleeves of his tunic up to his shoulders, revealing deep, purple bruising along his upper arms. Marks the shape of fingers were clearly visible where the bruise was darkest.
"This is what your daughter did to this man last night."
Alain stared at Riker's arms in disbelief. "How is that possible? She's just a young girl, barely fifteen."
Torin took a deep breath. Laila could see that no matter how the argument had played out, this was what Torin had wanted. A slight smile crossed his lips, giving away his anticipation.
"Your daughter, my old friend, is a Magus." He nearly spit out the last word.
Alain took a step back. "That's impossible. How...how could... No, that's not possible!"
"Oh, I assure you, it is. Tell him." Torin motioned to Riker.
"I saw it myself, Consul." Riker's tone, at least, was appropriately deferential, regardless of the circumstances. "The ground itself rose up and covered her skin like...like an armor. She picked me up and threw me against the wall. That's how this happened." He gestured to his arms.
"And why did she do that?" asked Alain.
"That's enough," Torin said, cutting Riker off, who immediately stepped behind Torin, lowering his head.
"No! I want to know why my daughter would attack him!"
"It doesn't matter. She performed magic. Just like that worthless old man. I should have known something was different when she stood up for him. I thought it might just have been your rebellious attitude reflected in your daughter. But, now I know what it is. She's a Magus, just like him. And Terus has no tolerance for a Magus. Especially one that attacks its Citizens."
"But I'm a Citizen!" Laila blurted.
"For now," Torin responded. The threat hung in the air menacingly.
Alain turned to his daughter. "Is this true? Did this magic really happen?"
Laila did not know how to respond. She wanted to tell her father the truth, but she knew what it would mean. She struggled to find the words.
"I... It...just..."
"Speak, child." The command rang out through the garden. Her father rarely spoke to her like that, but this was too important, and she knew it.
"Yes," she said. She slumped as she said it, her body deflating of its will to deny. If Torin knew, or at least guessed, then it would get out eventually. She felt her emotions return. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she brushed them away quickly.
Alain's jaw hung wide. He could do nothing but stare. Laila could see the smirk on Torin's face.
"You see, Alain. From the mouth of the Magus herself."
"I'm not a Magus!" Laila shouted.
"Then what are you, child?" There was no sympathy in his voice, only contempt.
"I... I don't know," she answered, lowering her head again.
"She must be cast out. And you, old friend, will be released from the Consulate."
Each word hit her father like a hammer. No longer a Consul, what would he do? And to be exiled. Terus was all Laila had ever known. But, there was nothing for it. Torin was too powerful, too influential. Even if they fought him, they would spend the rest of their lives living with the speculation and rumors. Alain's influence would disappear, and her mother would lose her standing as a Guardian, placed somewhere far away from the city to limit her involvement. Laila could not see that happen. Whatever was happening to her was not her parents’ fault. She would not allow her actions to ruin their lives.
"I revoke my Citizenship," she said quietly.
Torin, who had been watching for a response from Alain, turned slowly to her. "What did you say?"
"If you will leave my parents out of this, leaving them to live their lives as Citizens of Terus, than I will revoke my Citizenship." Even as the words came out she regretted them, but there was nothing she could do now. She knew it was the right thing to do, regardless of the cost.
"Laila, no." Her mother put her arms around her shoulders. "You can't."
Laila felt the tears return; this time she did nothing to stop them. "I have to."
"No, no, no." Lunete's own tears slid down her cheeks.
"Laila-sa, no. I can't allow this," her father said, his own eyes filling with tears.
"But you can't stop me, either. I have the right to revoke, everyone does." She was surprised at how easy the words came, despite the tears flowing down her face. She turned to Torin. "Will you leave my parents alone if I leave?"
Torin cocked his head to one side, studying her. "You would do this? To protect them?"
She could only nod, too afraid her voice would no longer hold as the emotions continued to swell.
He watched her a moment longer. Laila could see contempt in his face, but it was mixed with something else, something she had not seen earlier, respect. He was getting the result he wanted, but not in the way he had planned. Laila wondered if that would help her in the end or not.
"Very well. If you leave, voluntarily, I will leave them alone," he said finally.
She took a deep breath before saying, "Swear it."
A hint of a smile crossed his lips. "I swear it, child. By my honor as a Consul. If you leave the city, by late-watch tonight, I will not bring charges against your parents."
"No! No!" her mother continued.
"It's done," said Torin.
He spun on his heel, motioning for Riker to leave with him. He spoke over his shoulder as he left the gardens. "You have until sunset today to be out of Terus. If you are not gone, our accord is broken, and I will bring all of your family down with you."
And with that, he slid out of the gate.
Laila sat in the middle of her family's garden. Her hands gripped the cold stone of the bench beneath her. Her mother knelt in front of her, tears rolling down her face unashamedly. Her father sat next to her on the bench, his head resting in the palm of one hand, the other placed gently on Laila's leg. Laila was still coming down from the emotions of her confrontation with Torin. His pronouncement had been final; she had one more day in Terus. Taking a shuddering breath, she felt her nerves calm slightly. She reached out and placed her hands on her mother's shoulders.
"It'll be okay," Laila whispered.
Her mother continued to shake her head, unable to speak.
"Why?" her father said.
"It...it was the only thing to do," Laila answered.
"But we're your parents. We're supposed to protect you. I..." He put his head back into his hand again, overcome.
Seeing her father so emotional brought back her own feelings. She felt the tears roll down her cheeks again. She brushed at them half-heartedly. She wanted to hug them both to her. She was terrified. She had put herself in a position with no recourse. But she knew that she needed to be strong, to let them know that she would be okay.
"What will you do?" Alain asked.
"I may be able to help with that." Connor stepped into the garden. He stayed at a distan
ce, likely not wanting to appear rude. "I apologize. I overheard what happened, and I didn't want to interfere. But I think I can help."
Alain stood and flung himself at the young man. "Help? What help can you offer? My daughter is being cast out!"
Connor bowed his head. "She is, sir."
Laila stood and placed a gentle hand on her father's shoulder. "He helped me, Father, remember?"
Alain tried to calm himself, but Laila could feel the tension in his shoulders. He wanted to strike out at something or someone. But Connor had done nothing wrong.
"Speak, boy," he said finally, at least mastering his voice.
"Icarus. I can find him. He can help your daughter. Teach her about being a Magus, about who she is."
As Connor spoke the word, Lunete let out a heavy sigh. "There's that word again. Magus. How is this even possible?" Her voice was still strained, but her sobbing had stopped. She now stood behind Laila, back straight and proud, the Guardian once more.
"I don't know. But Icarus knew," Connor admitted.
All three of them stared at Connor in surprise. "He knew?" exclaimed Laila.
"Yes. He came here looking for you. I don't know much more than that. But I think he could help."
"And you know how to find him?" asked Alain.
Connor nodded.
Laila looked at her father, fearful but now feeling as though she might have a purpose, however temporary.
"It's something," she said.
"It is, child."
"I'm sorry," Laila said.
Alain let out a short chuckle. "Oh, my daughter, don't be sorry. I have seen you show more strength in these last few days than many would show under the same circumstances."
He smiled at her as he took her in his arms. Lunete stepped behind her and also wrapped her arms around her.
"As soon as I can, I will find a way to come find you," her mother began. "Find this Icarus. Stay safe. We'll figure this out."
Laila felt overwhelmed but tried desperately to keep herself calm; there had been too much emotion already this morning. There was little else to be said.
Bones of the Earth (The Equilibrium Cycle Book 1) Page 8
