Page 60 of Bright Blinding Ruin

Laconia is my home now, and I’m going to do whatever I can to help it rebuild and grow.

Once I reach the doors to the tall stone building, I pause. My hair is in a fresh ponytail, courtesy of Prim’s ribbon. I tried to wipe the sweat off me as best I could, but I know I must look like shit. With my bloodied clothes, my dirty pants, and my shoes that have seen so much I’m pretty sure the fabric on top is getting a hole or two, I’ve definitely looked better.

But I’m alive.

I glance around me once before I knock. Don’t know why; everyone is still hiding. “It’s me,” I shout, “Rey.” I knock a few times more, just in case nobody’s near the door.

It takes a moment, and I hear the locks inside creaking as they’re undone, but soon enough Frederick’s bewildered face is in front of me, his eyes wide as he takes me in. It’s like he doesn’t believe what he’s seeing, like I’m not really there.

And then his gaze falls to the tattoo lining my right arm.

Oh, sorry, therunelining my right arm.

It’s just as it was before, only its color is golden, not black, and it’s much larger. It covers from the back of my hand past my elbow. Way bigger, because there was more of him to bind.

Yeah. Every part of Invictis is now bound to me.

“You—” Whatever else Frederick is going to say, he doesn’t. Instead, he lunges for me and wraps me in a hug, practically squeezing the life out of me.

Leaning my face against his upper chest, I let myself smile.

Sounds of an audience behind Frederick cause him to let me go and step aside, allowing me to see Fred standing there, a content smile on his face. “I knew you would succeed,” he says, and behind him, I spot Kretia, Ravenno, Aolia, and Hazor, along with a few guards scattered amongst them.

Kretia speaks with a tone that refuses to be ignored: “Gather everyone before the conclave.” The guards bow their heads and hurry out to do as they’re told. She glances to the others. “Let us hear what happened.”

Turns out, she doesn’t want to hear what happened in their home. We have to wait until the four of them are seated in their stone chairs and I stand upon the same circular design on the floor that I did that first day, only now I’m not in chains, and both Frederick and his dad look on from the side of the circular room. No other nobles. Just the seven of us.

“Frederick spoke of a creature the empresses have protected us from since the beginning of Laconia,” Kretia says, her dark eyes on me. I don’t know whether she’s speaking of Frederick or his dad, but it doesn’t matter. “You have defeated that creature?”

I stand tall, as tall as my five-foot-one frame allows. “I have.”

Aolia simply smiles, while Ravenno leans forward. The man would’ve, at one time, berated me or mistrusted me openly, but now he’s as calm as ever as he says, “It is said the woes originated from this creature. Do you believe they will now truly end?”

I nod once. “Yes. Laconia can rebuild and its people don’t have to be locked inside these walls anymore. They can reclaim the land they abandoned and farm wherever they want.”

“Thank you,” Aolia breaks her silence. “Thank you for all that you’ve done to aid Laconia in its struggles.” Her voice is calming. I could fall asleep listening to it, like a soft lullaby, no matter what she’s saying.

Hazor speaks next, “Yes, we are in your debt, however there is much to do still. Laconia and its people will need all the help they can get—” The other grump of the council sounds like he’s in a decent mood, go figure. All it took to get him on my side was fixing all of their problems.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I say, glancing at Frederick and his dad. “I mean, as long as you’ll have me, I’d like to help rebuild.”

Kretia smiles. “Of course. Your aid will be greatly appreciated.”

They don’t ask any more questions about the fight. They don’t want details. They also don’t ask about the new golden tattoo on my arm, and I don’t tell them anything about it. They don’t need to know all the specifics.

Hazor starts listing off things that must be done first, the high priority things that will help Laconia the most, like creating an actual pasture for the livestock and tilling the old farmlands outside the city and getting them ready for the next planting season. I don’t know anything about any of that stuff, but I meant what I said. I’m not going anywhere.

I’m here to say.

I think, with everything I’ve done, my dad would be proud of me. I think he’d understand why finding a way back to earth isn’t something I want to do anymore. I haven’t had a home for so long, but I’m looking forward to making one here.

I’m not sure how much longer we’re there, talking about what needs to be done and in what order, but it must be a while. Frankly, I get bored. I don’t think I need to be a part of these talks. All they have to do is tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. Notsaying I’m going to be good at everything I try to do, but I’ll do my best.

Hey, I defeated an ancient evil no other empress before me could, so cut me slack if I don’t know how to farm or whatever.

After a while, the chatter ends and the members of the council glance at each other. Kretia nods, and then she stands. The others follow, all getting up. “I think it has been long enough,” Kretia says, moving toward me. “Come. Let us announce your victory to the rest of Laconia.” She is the first to walk out of the circular room, followed shortly by the others.

That leaves Frederick, me, and his dad—although Fred glances between us, chuckles, and trails after the councilmembers without saying a word.

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