by SM Blooding
All of my friends had been too busy to help me with my speech. I hadn’t wanted to ask for Mother’s opinion. I didn’t need her influence. I closed my eyes and breathed, my hands shaking.
I ignored the heads of Family and the queens who all sat behind me in their rich dresses. I wore the clothing of my fleet; brown pants stuffed into my knee-high black boots, my red sash cinched at the waist. My curved sword hung from my belt. I wished I had my pistol, but I’d had it on me when I’d been captured by the Hands. My vest was black with ornate red and gold embroidery.
The buzz of people talking rose, getting louder and louder. I wasn’t the only one nervous. It was time.
I raised my hands. Words. Today, they would be stronger than any sword, reach further than any pistol or cannon. I would either strengthen our resolve, or dissolve our peace into the worst war our world had seen.
Dear Sky. Please don’t let me mess this up.
I swallowed, my heart racing. The largest group of people I’d ever addressed was my Family when I told them dinner was ready.
The people below were tired of waiting.
I prayed and opened my mouth.
“The time of the Seven Great Families is at an end,” I said as loud as I could, even though there was a device directly in front of me. Joshua had assured me it would broadcast my voice all over the area.
The buzz in the crowd died.
“Our world is changing. The Hands have destroyed many of our people, decimated entire Families.”
Noise rose in the crowd.
My heart pounded. What if they didn’t listen? What if they didn’t care? What if my crazy idea didn’t work? What if I had missed something? There were so many more families out there that I’d never seen. What if this—
“It’s time to bring an end to the reign of the Hands and of the Seven Great Families.”
A cheer went up in the crowd.
“Synn,” my mother cautioned.
It was too late.
“It is time for us to rebuild ourselves, to create a world we can all be safe in.”
The roar built again.
“This is our chance, people of the sky—”
The noise of the crowd cut me off, but it also fueled me on. They were listening.
I raised my fist to the sky. “People of the sea.”
Other voices joined the first.
“People of the land.”
The roar of the crowd made the dais vibrate.
“We will not be ruled by tyrants.”
I almost couldn’t hear myself over the noise.
“Starting today, we decide how to bring order to our world, our peoples. We will decide how to provide protection. We will bring our families together, great and small, and together we will build a new era, where peace has a chance to prosper.”
People stomped, shouted, clapped. The air vibrated with their noise.
“Together, we will build a world where technologies are available to everyone.”
The roar subsided for a second and then erupted again, stronger, nearly bowling me over.
“No matter how powerful you are. No matter how great or wealthy your family.”
I thought the dais was going to shake apart as people stomped their feet, clapped, roared, whistled.
“Today . . . ” Their enthusiasm was empowering. I raised my fist to the sky again and roared back at them. “We redefine what freedom is!”
The noise of the crowd was overwhelming.
I took a step back and glanced at the leaders of the Great Families and the queens. Most of them had lost the color in their faces. Mother gripped the arms of her chair, her knuckles white. Nix looked like she wanted to hurl fire down upon my head.
But the other queens looked relieved, as did several of the other leaders. I was met with grins of approval and more than a few of them stood and clapped.
I nodded, more to assure myself than anything and turned back to the crowd. There was nothing more to say. I raised my fist to the sky and allowed my voice to join theirs.
We could do this. We could redefine our futures.
We could make this happen.
CHAPTER 13
BACKLASH
Mother and Nix were less than happy with me.
Mother took me by the arm and pulled me to the large room that had been set up behind the dais, probably for entertaining the Family royalty. There was a long table in the back with delicacies lined up for them, along with couches, pillows, and chairs for lounging.
Mother had her back to me, the roar of the crowd still thick in the air.
Nix stood in front of me, one black-nailed hand on her hip as she stared at me in disbelief.
I breathed, fighting the connection between us, fighting the need to ask her what she thought, what she wanted, what I should do. Being this close to her with her so angry, it was like standing in the middle of a hurricane.
We stood there for many moments. No one disturbed us.
The cheers of the crowd intensified and dimmed again. Twisting around, I watched Haji slip through the curtained doorway.
A thread of relief ran through me, though my heart was still racing from the adrenaline of giving the speech.
Haji walked up to me. He looked good. His hair was longer, but there were no black circles around his eyes, which happened when he was tired and not taking care of himself. He wore many layers of different shades of brown, except for his hat, which was red. He gave my shoulder a pat and nodded in the direction of the two women.
I widened my eyes and turned to them.
Nix had paced away, the swish of her long, red and black skirt, and the clip of her heals hidden under the noise of the dying crowd.
Were the people outside ever going to leave?
“I am excited,” Haji stated to the room at large. “The words Synn spoke were the ones we needed to hear.”
“Needed?” Nix spun, her hands out at her sides, clawed with rage. “He stated the world didn’t need the Hands.”
“I said we didn’t need to be ruled by the Hands.”
“Or the Great Families?” Mother turned, her round face furrowed with intense confliction.
I met her eyes. “Yes.”
Both women were silent.
“So—” Haji looked at me, taking in a deep breath, his expression open, “tell me what your plan is. I hope it does not entail you taking the place as ruler.”
I snorted. Leave it to Haj. “No.”
He smiled.
“But it does entail setting up a new council, one where all the families have a voice, where all the religious orders have a place.”
Nix’s eyes rounded. “You’re not seriously considering allowing the Ears of the Priests to have a voice.”
I nodded. “I am. They were the tyrants once. Now you are.” I looked to my mother. “And us.”
“Synn,” Mother said, coming toward me, her hands out. “When I said that I would support you, I didn’t think you would be so foolish. Gather the tribes to you. Lead them.”
“Mother. This is the right decision. It’s the right thing to do.”
“And what would you call this new—” Nix flung her hand through the air. “—council of yours?”
I shrugged.
“Or did you even think that far?” Nix let out an explosive breath. “Primus, think—”
“I am not yours, Nix.” I roared wordlessly and punched the air beside me to punctuate my point. I turned to my mother. “And I don’t belong to you either. I am a man, a leader of my clan, and you gave me the power to lead these games.”
“The games, yes.” Mother took my hand in hers. “But not to turn the world from us.”
I wanted to hit something. “What did you think we were doing here? What did I tell you when I offered up the games? I said we were going to broker a peace.”
“With the Great Families and your queen,” Nix said, her eyes ablaze.
“You,” I growled, “are not my queen.”
Wi
th the intensity of her stare, she was sure to bowl me over.
I watched both of these strong, powerful women. “Would you have me broker a peace with only half of the world? What about the other half? They’re just supposed to fall in line what you dictate? And who decides what you dictate to them? Who manages what’s fair?”
Nix glanced at my mother.
Mother bowed her head, the jewels jingling together.
Outside, the din quieted as the crowd dispersed. There were festivities tonight, planned by others, but the games themselves wouldn’t start until the next morning. Tonight was a night for celebrating the promise of a new day.
“What you two want to create is something we’ve already tried.” I just needed them to understand. “Powerful people in power. No one to balance their rule.”
Mother’s dark gaze grabbed mine. “There is a balance in the Great Families.”
“To who? To those who are worthy? You honestly think that you’re fair to everyone?”
Mother’s eye twitched.
“You and I both know you’re not. You try, but you don’t always succeed.”
Nix gave a very unladylike snort and flung her hand. “And you think your new council will do better?”
I thought about it carefully. “I do.”
“Why?” Mother asked quietly.
“Because the voiceless will be heard.”
Mother watched me behind a mask of stone, and then blinked. Her hand shook as she brought it to my face. “You remind me so much of your father.”
I smiled a little, my heart twinging in remembrance of the man who should be standing here instead of me.
Mother turned away. “He had the same idea once. I turned him down, thinking it was a bad idea.”
“And it is,” Nix hissed.
“Frankly,” Haji said, “the fact that you are both united against this idea has me thinking it is good.”
The queen narrowed her eyes at my friend. “And who are you to have a voice in this council?”
“The only person in this room I trust.” I raised my chin, meeting her gaze.
She raised an eyebrow. “The childhood friend whose family was destroyed.”
Haji clenched his fists, the muscles in his jaw ticking.
I put my hand on his arm. “Try to remember who is to blame for that, Nix. That would be you. You decided to burn his entire Family alive for no reason.”
Nix opened her mouth, but then closed it, flaring her fingers.
“We’ve allowed you a place of honor among us. Do not ever forget that you have not earned it, and do not think for one moment that there is a single person in this room who wanted to give it to you.”
“I have you.”
My right eye twitched. “No. You don’t.”
She raised her chin and looked toward the door.
“I think,” Mother said, watching the queen, “you might be right with your idea of a council of tribes, though my pride says you are wrong.”
I nodded, but kept my silence.
Mother faced me squarely. “How can a Family so strong make themselves answerable to a lesser tribe?”
“Redefine what you call ‘lesser’, Mother. Your Family might have powerful Marks and they may command the largest letharan city, but that doesn’t make you better than those out there. There are people out there who are better than you because they’re weaker, because they’ve had to fight harder just to scrape by.”
Her eyes flared minutely before she lowered them. “You are calling me petty.”
I had to tread carefully here. “Perhaps.”
An eyebrow rose, but she didn’t do more than tip her head to the side in response.
Nix watched us both incredulously. “You can’t honestly be considering this, Ino Nami.”
Mother paused, then met the gaze of the queen. “I am. With conditions, of course.”
“And what would those be?”
“They will have to prove themselves leaders in the games.”
I nodded again. Technically, we already had this in place. I just needed to spread the word, ensure that all the leaders who wanted a seat on the new council were actively participating in the games. I would, however, have to find a way to ensure that the older leaders were able to participate. Some of the more physical events would be unheard of for Mother to— “That will mean you will have to compete.”
“I will not be competing.” She took in a deep breath. “Perhaps it is time one of my children took my place. I will have them all enter and I will abdicate to the winner.”
“You have already decided Oki will rule in your place.”
“And if she cannot survive the games, then perhaps her brother will rule in her stead.”
She would never let Ryo go.
Mother motioned to someone. A young woman in Ino silk robes stepped forward, her hands folded in front of her, the wide pink sash tied in a neat bow in the back. “Send out word to all those who wish to participate in Synn’s council that they will have to send their leader to the games. Those who are too old to participate actively should consider who will take their place.”
I tipped my head and frowned. “Not everyone is going to want to abdicate as you did.”
“Those of us who are too old to bend will have no place in your new world.”
I shook my head. “We cannot dictate how their families are to be run, Mother.” I looked to the messenger girl. “They will need to find someone who can participate in the more active games, but we are in no way telling them how to rule their families.”
The girl glanced at Mother and nodded to me before backing up quickly.
“This is madness,” Nix said, throwing her hands in the air. She whirled on me. “You will have to participate as well.” Her lips curled. “My Primus.”
I let that one slide, even though it was painful. “I am already on the lists.”
The queen looked around the room and began to pace again. “And how will you decide who the winners are? How much thought have you put to this?”
Mother, who’s face had been lost in thought, looked at me, startled. “A great deal of it.” She advanced on me. “You’ve been planning this all along, haven’t you?”
“I did mention—”
“You mentioned nothing of this—” Her hands stabbed the air on either side of her. “—magnitude with me.”
I took in a solidifying breath. “Think about it. What would have happened if one of the lesser families did win Zara’s hand? What would have happened if she did choose someone who the other Family members didn’t think was their equal? El’Asim would no longer have the ability to lead the Great Families.”
“So you decided—”
“Mother.” I shook my head. “I want to give all the families a chance to have a voice. If we kept the same structure, these games would be like dangling a treat they weren’t allowed to have. It would be cruel and would undoubtedly cause more conflict. We’re supposed to be fixing that. Not making it worse.”
Haji stared at me in surprise, the corners of his long mouth turned down. “I’m impressed.”
I narrowed my eyes, but didn’t look at him.
“And what tests have you devised?” Nix demanded. “How will we know if they truly are the strongest?”
“We have tests for all the city types,” Mother said dryly, watching me. “We have tests for flexibility, survivability, sustainability, war tactics, strength, and many other things. Airships, letharan, boats, and land. We even have tests using your planes, Nix.”
The queen bristled, her eyes falling on me in warning.
“There are even tests to fix failing technologies on the fly.”
I nodded. A lot of dissention revolved around the fact that the technology wasn’t shared. This would show we really did mean to treat them as equals.
It could still blow up in my face.
Nix took in a deep breath, pinning me with her dark eyes. “You really have thought of everything.”
There was probably something I’d missed.
“What about shows of individual prowess?” Nix asked, her voice in a purr. “Surely no one could out power you?”
I tipped my head, ignoring the intent behind her words. “Just because I have a powerful Mark doesn’t make me the best with it.” I met the queen’s gaze. “You would be surprised what people can do with less than powerful Marks, Nix. They have to try harder, work smarter. A powerful Mark can actually be a weakness.”
She looked away, flexing her fingers.
Dyna entered the room, the roar of the crowd finally receding. I could hear music filtering from the arena area. “Is everything all right back here?”
I watched Mother and Nix.
Everyone did.
Mother turned to the blonde queen. “I believe so.”
“Sister?” Dyna asked.
Nix didn’t answer. She just swept out of the room in a swirl of thick skirts and the angry clicks of her heels.
Dyna laughed and folded her arms over her chest.
CHAPTER 14
A NIGHT OF REVELRY
Haji clapped me on the back and gave my shoulder a painful squeeze as he propelled me out of the room and toward the arena. “It is good to know you still possess the ability to survive the frying pan.”
I stopped Haji outside the door. We were still behind the dais, but were tucked between it and another wall, the stairs leading down to the arena before us. I gave him a fierce hug. It felt like an eternity since the last time I’d seen him. “How have you been? I thought for sure you were pissed at me.”
“Or you me.”
I pulled back and we both grinned at one another.
He headed down the stairs, his curly hair falling over his face in the darkening light. “I never thought I would see such a thing as the El’Asim telling us to disband the Great Families.”
I shrugged and walked beside him. “It seemed like the right thing to do.”
He chuckled. “Indeed. Well, I say we get drunk, enjoy ourselves, and then sleep as long as the world wills it.”
Except the world would not will me to sleep in. I had a lot of things to do before I entered the arena tomorrow.
While I had planned what kind of activities we were to be tested in, I had given each task to Ino Yotaka and those he trusted. I had no idea what we would be faced with, but I also knew I couldn’t afford to lose. I’d just thrown down the gauntlet. If I failed these tests, I’d lose the only chance at real peace we had.
