Page 55 of The Demon Tide

Ung Li signs the Leave Pass before her and hands it to him. “I’m also granting you one day’s leave to go to Voloi at this week’s end to purchase clothing to replace all that was vandalized. I will be granting you unrestricted travel in Noilaan and to the South Wyvernguard Island beginning on Xishlon.”

I can smell Trystan’s heightened shock as his forking lightning mingles in with my own.

Xishlon—the purple moon holiday only a few weeks away.

The biggest holiday in all the East. A celebration of Vo’s most revered manifestation—Her manifestation of Divine Love.

“I can see my brother? My family, and Tierney?” The yearning in Trystan’s words tightens my heart and makes me feel like I’m yearning too.

And I know that I am—for this Mage standing beside me.

Ung Li sets down her pen and levels her gaze at Trystan, a crease forming between her brows. “You must understand why I kept you isolated, Trystan.”

Trystan holds her stare, and I can sense a resentful fire spark in him, fire that he’s quick to bank down. Trystan gives a slight nod, his green-glimmering mouth a tight line.

Ung Li’s gaze hasn’t wavered. “I heard what you did,” she says, her voice lowering with import, a trace of uncharacteristic emotion in it. “I heard of the child you saved. And I’ve watched you endure countless painful weapons sessions to help us break through Mage magic. I was unsure at first, but I’ve witnessed your loyalty. You’ve proven yourself, Noi’khin Gardner.”

Trystan straightens, rigid as a post, but I can sense the sudden upsweep of water power in his lines.Noi’khin.Valued citizen of Noilaan.

Accepted. Arrived.

I blink back the emotion stinging my own eyes as a single tear streaks down Trystan’s military-rigid face, his breathing gone slightly uneven.

“On my recommendation,” Ung Li says as she threads her fingers together, “the Noi Conclave is granting you full citizenship here in Noilaan.”

I pull in a hard breath.

Trystan slams his fist to his heart in salute, his posture ramrod stiff. “Thank you, Nor Ung Li,” he says, his voice rough with emotion. “It is an honor to stand with the Noi’khin Wyvernguard. It is an honor to stand in defense of Noilaan.”

Ung Li’s eyes narrow on Trystan. “I misjudged you, Noi’khin Gardner. You have more of a place here than you think, regardless of what those who do not realize how you have proven yourself say.”

“I have family here, some that I’ve never met,” Trystan says. His voice is slightly deepened by welling tears, and I fight the urge to embrace him and kiss them away.

“You do,” Ung Li confirms, that always-present steel in her voice, but there’s a rueful note there, as well. “We kept you from them, even as they lobbied to meet with you. We needed to see who you truly are, Noi’khin Gardner. A Vu Trin soldier’s life is not for the weak. But it is time you were given leave to meet with your kin.” Her mouth lifts in the touch of a smirk as she shakes her head. “Rebels, the lot of you.” Her eyes soften with a rare showing of approval. “Rebels of the best kind.”

Trystan gives a slight smile, and he makes no move to wipe away his tears, wearing them like a banner. And in this, too, I find him courageous. And so beautiful it makes my heart ache.

“Your apprentice pay.” Ung Li slides a black wax-sealed envelope toward him, filled with the meager allowance all apprentices are granted. Funds that have been withheld from Trystan, along with everything else.

“Go,” Ung Li says with a dismissive flick of her finger toward the door. She gives Trystan a shrewd look. “Replace your clothing so you have something to wear off-hours. Take a day to explore the city and see what you’re defending.” One black brow rises as a sardonic smile lifts her lips. “Try not to create too much havoc in Voloi.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

TRANSFORMATION

Trystan Gardner & Vothendrile Xanthile

City of Voloi, Noilaan

Eastern Realm

Sixth Month

Trystan

“I don’t sell to Roaches.”

The Noi man glares at me, his eyes narrowed with fury. I notice he’s wearing a Vo necklace. Across the street, other merchants in Noilaan’s clothing district stand, arms crossed, positioned in front of their open-air clothing shoppes as if guarding them from a hostile invasion.

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