Page 24 of The Storm of the Empire

Dad shook his head, but Mom took my hand in hers. “Could it be the call?”

I groaned, slipping my hand from hers and taking a large swallow of my home-brew. No one wanted for me to get the call more than I did, but with them always on the lookout for signs, it only made it harder when they never came.

“I hate to disappoint you, but I don’t think that’s what it was. It just felt like a pull to home, that’s all. Sure, I was worried about why. I thought maybe the Goddess was trying to tell me you were in trouble. But all I’ve read about the call suggests I would have a strong sense of that being the reason for the pull, and I didn’t. Maybe I just needed a break.”

Mom’s shoulders seemed to droop, which didn’t help. But telling her I was coming to terms with it never happening for me was a bad move.

“You can’t lose hope, my love,” Dad said, reading my thoughts easily.

I offered him a bland smile. “So what’s new?” I asked, sweeping all further conversation under the rug, officially.

They exchanged a look that was clearly an agreement to stop pushing me and concede to my subject change. I was relieved.

“Well, Alora is doing well. Her egg is halfway to hatching already! They are doing the six-month health check tomorrow actually."

“That’s great news,” I smiled, making a mental note to check in with my friend while I was home,

“And I’m trying to grow raspberries,” Dad continued. “But there’s been a lack of decent sun of late and no storm opals to be spared. Not even smaller ones.”

Mom rolled her eyes. “He’s going to drive me mad if he doesn’t stop talking about raspberries, I swear it to the Goddess,” But then she turned to Dad, and a loving smile broke out on her face.

They were so in love. Despite the years of their lives being defined by Mom’s career in the capital, they have always been strong as a couple and as parents. Dad held everything together and accepted her need to be away from our homeland, but I think they were both relieved when she had to retire.

Since then, Dad had really come into himself and found his happiness too among the males of the Storm Kingdom. He’d added a network of underground rooms to the family home to pursue his dream of hydroponic farming and test out new techniques to be developed for the rest of the city. He loved innovation, but there were hardly any opals to spare of late. Since they were the only way to cultivate most things in this climate, he was always looking for ways to improve things.

And here I was, feeling like I was missing out on a life promised to me in the First Kingdom as well as life here. I was stuck between two worlds, unable to take my rightful place in either. All my loved ones in both places kept moving forward, and I was held back by an ancient rule about needing a ryder and achieving the melded level of magic in order to qualify to do a job I would excel at just as I am. Okay so my magic wouldn’t grow, but my combat skills were unrivaled.

Sometimes, I felt like I shouldn’t be in the First Kingdom at all. I should admit defeat and return home to join the Archeiai. I would be of value in the schools working alongside Mom as an instructor. I’d just never be a flyer like I was supposed to be.

Why did I have to be born a dragon? I was envious of my brothers who fell so easily into life here.

What was the Goddess’ plan for me? That was what I really wished I knew. Then I’d have direction. A path to follow where I knew I could make a difference. I should pray on it while I was here.

It was said that to worship the Goddess on sacred ground in the place of your birth was to connect your energy with her in its purest form. I didn’t know when I’d get another chance to come home so I shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Temple of the Storm. If I was seeking answers, this was the place to try.

“Do you not like the home-brew, darling?” my father asked when I didn’t speak.

“It’s wonderful. I think perhaps I just need to clear my head. I might visit the temple and light a candle. That always gives me clarity.”

“But you plan to stay for a few days at least, yes?” Mom asked. “Your brothers will want to see you.”

“Yes, I’m just tired after the flight and not feeling my best..” And this feeling I didn’t know how to explain to them wouldn’t leave me. Now that I was here, it was less of a pull and more of an unease. It’s like I was waiting for the other boot to drop or for a disaster to unfold at any moment. Maybe whatever I was called home for hadn’t happened yet?

“You’ll be back for dinner then?” Father asked as I rose.

“Of course, I wouldn’t miss it. It smells amazing.”

He smiled. “I’ll send ravens to your brothers to make sure they will be here as well.”

I headed to the room I knew was kept as if I still lived beneath their roof to change into some spare leathers and pin my hair up in the looking glass. I grabbed one of my old cloaks from the hook.

“I won’t be long,” I called out as I slipped out the door, leaving them to share their concerns about me in hushed whispers.

The storm hours were approaching. The air smelled heavy with it, and the streets were mostly empty while the fae of the Storm Kingdom went inside for the still hours. The hottest part of the day was also the most turbulent, and storm fae formed our days around it. Only the watchers stayed in the fields tending the storm opals during this time. It was one of the most hazardous professions, but as the opals gave us energy and life, they had to be protected. In other kingdoms, such resources were taken for granted, but our skies were dark more often than not, so every ounce of power was harnessed and stored to keep our society running.

I was glad not to meet anyone in the street. Explaining to acquaintances and family friends that I’d achieved nothing since we last spoke wasn’t exactly a fun idea. It had been that way for years on high holidays until I stopped coming home for them. There was only so much to say to “What have you been up to?”

No younglings, no relationship, no prospects, no advancement. At least if I had a ryder, I’d be honored for my service in the King’s Army as we prided our Archeiai above all else.

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