Scion of Cyador

CLXV

Jerial steps into the green-walled salon of the Empress. Her eyes circle the room, then come to rest on the man in the silver-trimmed green tunic and trousers who stands from where he has been sitting on the white divan, beside a red-haired woman in formal blue tunic, trimmed in both green and silver.

A small boy in green trousers and tunic turns. “Jehwhal!” His legs pump, carrying him toward the healer in green.

Jerial bends and scoops him up, hugging him.

Lorn and Ryalth follow their son.

“This is all…hard to believe,” Jerial says, shifting Kerial to her left shoulder.

“It’s hard to believe you won’t be staying in Cyad,” Ryalth says. “I worry about Kerial…with you gone.”

“You and Aleyar can do all that I could.” Jerial turns to her younger brother. “You know it’s better this way. All I’ve ever really wanted was to be free and to help you as I could, and with you on the Malachite Throne…”

“I know,” Lorn says heavily. “We still worry.”

“I’ll be fine. Ryalth has arranged a villa for me in Lydiar…and a position as the healer for Ryalor House there.”

“Eileyt will ensure that we know if you need anything,” Ryalth confirms.

“It was good you gave him Ryalor House.”

“Besides Lorn, he worked the hardest to build it. But he didn’t get everything,” Ryalth says. “You’re getting the two thousand golds, and we did keep a little, in an account with the Trader’s Exchange. It has to be mine. Lorn cannot own anything.” She smiles. “If anyone had thought about a lady trader as Empress-Consort…they would have forbidden that, too, and someone will probably make sure it does not happen again.” She laughs gently.

“I wish you could be here for the ceremony,” Lorn says.

“The longer I stay, the harder it will be to leave, and if I try to be free here, I’ll always be looking over my shoulder. And you will worry about me, and then I will be caged by your concerns.” Jerial eases Kerial back to Ryalth.

The healer and the heir embrace, and then Ryalth and Jerial embrace.

After a time, Jerial looks back once, at the door, before she steps from the salon.