President Luis screamed in Demettle’s face. “Your Gaverian has ruined my city and Genevie still walks free! Thousands are homeless! His fire cannot be quenched! All for a conflict we have nothing to do with!”

  “If I recall, your men watched her get away,” said Schemel, stepping in. “We counted on you to be helpful allies.”

  “Pay no attention to her,” Demettle replied firmly. He tipped his head and leaned on his staff.

  By everyone, he meant the Primus, gathered in the Chancellor’s chamber high in the Primus Tower. Ren Prudence, the Assembly Council Representative, led the way out, followed by Ren Nexus and Ren Fester, the Prime Minister and Lord Spender. Mariel and Ren Talon escorted Schemel out, worried she might refuse to leave unless forced.

  The wooden doors closed behind them, muffling whatever the two leaders said inside. Left in the hallway, Schemel broke from her colleagues and sat on a bench by a window. She pulled out her phone, flicking through photos of her time at Se Fina with Jenne, Hamis and Ashey. One showed them picnicking on the grass, another at the beach. She zoomed in on herself in a swimsuit and stared. This was enough to stop her heart from racing.

  The Primus stood straight as someone approached from down the hall. Schemel bristled at how the Yunnish demanded such deference. The figure in the robe drew closer, flanked by three diplomats. She recognised the Grand Mason even before he passed. Still, she refused to rise or salute.

  Xenerisis rolled his eyes at her. Talon opened the wooden door and the Yunnish official entered.

  Schemel sent Marissa a message, instructing her Firstman to dress Jenne and Ashey in replica Red Corps uniforms for fresh photos to impress Wiseman. She also texted En Gesa, arranging a shoot at the Third Farm. She needed images of earthen boys performing magic. Calimer might know the truth, but the Henrikian public did not — and their support mattered more than his knowledge of her army’s strength.

  “Are you worried?” asked Mariel.

  “Donna Maria was evacuated before Regilon arrived. President Luis has no reason to cry this much.”

  “You would be mad to say that in front of him.”

  The next day Schemel made those very views on Soden public, and the Assembly erupted. President Luis responded with a statement declaring Soden’s stance on the Midder-Land conflict. He withdrew his army from hunting Genevie across the UCL and refused to share information on her whereabouts. His final words were the sharpest blow: “If Soden must engage in conflict with any of its neighbours, we will not stand as Henrikian allies.”

  The Assembly was not happy. Schemel faced heavy backlash for her poor handling of the Genevie situation. Journalists and councilmen pressed her with the same question: what was she going to do about Genevie?

  “Once Regilon recovers, he will take care of the traitor,” she would say.

  Then they would ask why she did not deal with the problem herself.

  “You are a Sorel, and Sorels are more powerful than all other ascenders,” they would argue.

  She told them Genevie was a distraction. Her focus had not changed; she was interested only in the Midder-Lands.

  “By the upcoming Sacred Day, Riad and the Krad Plains will be secured as Henrikian territory,” she promised.

  Her armies advanced, driving the Sexites from those regions. Each day they posted videos of celebrations in captured towns, alongside footage of the bodies and buildings they burned.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  But stores were empty. There was no food in the farmers’ market. Prices soared. Earthens abandoned their villages, disappearing in record numbers. The Lady Balancer filed daily complaints, requesting military aid to recover escaped earthens.

  Schemel addressed the Assembly Hall about the crisis. “I am aware of the problems and sympathise with everyday Henrikians who suffer for their country. However, we only have to wait a few more days. Yes, just a few days. We are that close to—”

  “No. That is enough from you,” said Demettle, cutting her off. Schemel fell silent.

  Demettle strode to the front of the Assembly Hall, tapping his stick once. He placed a hand on Schemel’s shoulder. Power surged around them. The old marker constricted her throat, forcing her tongue deep into her mouth. She could not move.

  “Over the last few days, while our High Commander has been busy with who knows what, Xenerisis and I have arranged another meeting with the Sexites. There will be a second negotiation attempt, and our High Commander will accompany me to Yuna to see it through.”

  The days that followed were filled with constant trips between the House of Sentry and the Primus Tower. Demettle summoned her for another meeting regarding their journey to Yuna.

  Traffic in Henrik City was slow that afternoon, so Schemel asked the driver to turn on the radio. He tried different stations without success. “Marissa told me my daughter was having some sort of interview today,” Schemel said.

  After checking with Marissa, she learned it was a live podcast, not a radio broadcast. Not knowing what a podcast was, she pressed the driver for an explanation. Patiently, he described how podcasts differed from radio, and how a live podcast was transmitted on the higher plane of the Ripper Stream. She did not understand, but waited as he connected his phone to the car speakers.

  “…you would agree with me that relationships are built on trust, right?”

  “I guess?” That was Ashey. She always did that — questioning everything she said. Was it really so hard to give a confident answer?

  “If you believe that, you wouldn’t have any problem being honest with Jenne. If he knew about your past, would he stay with you? I mean, I personally would. You’re gorgeous, and nothing you’ve done would bother me.”

  “Jenne can ask me anything. I have nothing to hide.”

  “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “If you say you have nothing to hide, then you wouldn’t mind telling everyone the dirtiest thing you’ve ever done.”

  “Oh,” she said with a tight laugh. “I don’t think I can tell you that.”

  “Well, you have many fans who would love to know.”

  “I mean, it’s private.”

  “Come on,” the interviewer laughed. “Someone told me something about you and a certain teacher at your school. What happened there?”

  It took only one phone call for Schemel to track their location. She arrived at the studio with her men. The interviewer and his staff were standing outside in the sun, a small crowd gathered around them. Schemel knew she would get bad press for what she was about to do.

  She ordered the interviewer and his staff to throw their own equipment out of the studio windows, smashing it to pieces on the ground.

  The backlash was immediate and immense. The media shamed Schemel for her actions, calling her more petty than pretty — an abuser who could not take a joke. The Assembly convened to debate the principles of constitutional freedom, and she was forced to sit through it all.

  On the night before she left for Yuna, she travelled to the Home of Heroes where she visited Regilon’s home. He was asleep in bed, recovering from his wounds. For the first time in a very long time, he had not sensed her close by. Schemel smiled, coming closer until she had her hand resting against his cheek. She’d been the only one to meet him when the firefly returned from the south. She followed him to the hospital and watched him struggle through the first night. She stood there, watching him, not knowing what to say. “Reggie, I need you to do something important for me."

  “When will you leave me alone?”

  “You sound vexed," she said. "Was I wrong to ask?”

  “State your business."

  “I would like a compliment, please. Please say something nice about me."

  He chuckled. "You're still like this."

  "Please."

  He sighed.

  She sat at the foot of the bed and raised her knees, bowing her head to hide her face. His hand fell on top of her head after a long wait. "You try your best. You're resolute."

  "I try," she said. "And I'm the best person for my job, right?"

  "Yes, you are."

  "I'm much smarter than Jacqolin, and stronger too. I could beat him in a fair fight."

  "You can't."

  "Reggie!"

  "You can," he snorted. "You can beat him any day."

  "What else?"

  "You're a great mother and your children love you very much."

  "Reggie."

  "Yes?"

  "Thank you."

  "Any time."

  She took his hand off her head, standing and straightening her shirt. "I'll be out of the country for a few weeks," she said. "I don't know what might happen while I'm away but I hold you responsible for my children. If any of them are harmed in anyway, I will do the same to you."

  "How charming."