Page 116 of Rise of a Fallen Man

I’d never trust Leafar again, but I promised to protect him, and I tried to keep him safe, even from a distance. I also hoped that he’d find true happiness that fear had prevented him from searching for before.

“I miss you, daughter,” Mother exhaled.

Her shoulders under the high collar of golden lace dropped. She looked tired.

“Mother...” I shoved a stool closer to the workbench, then sat on it and pressed a hand to the mirror.

I could see Mother and speak with her, using any mirror in this world. However, she could only see me in the ancient one in the throne room. A twister of emotions swirled through me, yet the mirror’s surface remained as hard and smooth as ever.

After crossing through the mirror twice already, I still didn’t understand exactly how it worked and didn’t know how to control it.

Not every emotion seemed to open the portal. Both times, I had been terrified to the point of passing out. The first time, I feared for my life. The second time, for Salas’s. Both times, I also felt helpless, with no way out but leaving the world I was in.

In the throne room that day, I remembered hugging Salas when he staggered back and my elbow pushed the velvet shroud into the surface of the mirror. That was how I knew the portal was open. That was when I told him to fall through it with me.

And he did. He put all his trust in me and did what I asked. He fell with me and let me save his life.

Mother placed a hand against the glass from the other side of the mirror.

“Do you think you can come back soon, darling?”

I heaved a sigh. I missed her. And Father. And my silly puppy. I missed the purpose I had in Rorrim, the hope of making it a better place for everyone.

I was currently taking Political Science courses at the university. A credential in that area of study wouldn’t help me with getting a job in this world, but the knowledge it gave me and the deeper perspective on governance, diplomacy, and politics could be helpful back in Rorrim.

“I can’t come back, Mother. Not until Salas is my equal there, the way he is here.”

She petted the glass before dropping her hand away.

“Well, I’m willing to file a petition with the council to spare his life.”

That wasn’t enough.

I shook my head. “He doesn’t deserve jail, either.”

“But Ari, he broke the law.”

“Then the law is unfair and needs to be revised.”

Every time we’d had this conversation, we’d come to the same standstill. The fundamental laws of Rorrim had been in place for so long, they’d become sacred. No one would change them for the sake of one man—a slave and a former whore. But I saw it as more than just saving Salas. Some time ago, I promised him to make changes to benefit the most disadvantaged groups of the Rorrim’s society, and I held on to the hope of fulfilling that promise one day.

“Maybe...” Mother bit her lip. “Maybe we could make a special allowance in his case. I’ve spoken to several councilors already, and most seem amenable to the idea of granting him a reward for the service he performed for the crown. They admit that by saving your life and apprehending the murderer, he deserves an exceptional leniency. Instead of the dungeon, we can house him in your father’s old hunting cabin. He’d be guarded and supervised, of course. But you will be able to visit him as often as your duties permit.”

“You want him to become my kept man? My pet? How would that be any different from being locked in a dungeon?”

“The king’s hunting cabin is much more luxurious than a dungeon cell,” she pointed out haughtily.

“A gilded cage is still a cage, Mother.”

“Ari, this is a very reasonable compromise. He keeps his life. You keep him as a lover. Moreover, any daughters resulting from this...um, arrangement will be recognized as your legitimate heirs. They will be put in the direct succession line. Is that not the greatest honor a man of his standing could ever hope for? If he gives you a daughter, she’ll rule the queendom—”

“There is no talk about children yet,” I stopped her. “Salas had the surgery, like all men in fun houses are required to have.”

“The surgery is easily reversible.” She waved me off. “The healing witch can undo it in no time, or we can hire the warlock Rotcod again. He performed a true miracle for your father.As a part of his reward, I granted him special permission to attend classes at the medical school. So, his skills are certainly improving. Your lover will be in good hands.”

“Salas is not just my lover. He’s so much more, Mother. I love him. I want to marry him. Here, he’s free and my equal. If we ever return to Rorrim, that is exactly what he has to be there too.” That said, this was the nicest idea she’d come up with for him to date. The progress was slow, but it’d been at least moving in the right direction. “But thank you. I do appreciate your thinking about it. I’ll keep thinking too.”

Salas

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