Page 160 of Artemysia
I circle my arm around Eira, my own heart bursting—for Yris, for Ivy—for a future with less hurt and death.
The Syf king sees me off with a letter to King Galke.
I ask the Lindwyrm to stay with Riev and Ivy. Ivy promises to care for both of them until I return. South Kingdom is not ready for a Lindwyrm. I don’t know if the creature understands, but I leave one of my swords and a dirty shirt of mine next to where it sleeps in my bedroom, and promise to be back. I point at Ivy, and mime as best as I can that she isn’t to be bitten. It blinks its slatted eyes at me and hisses its forked tongue in the air. Good enough.
The other day, King Foss wondered aloud if the Lindwyrm follows my orders because I am good at command or if it senses my bond with Riev, and therefore transferred its allegiance while Riev is incapacitated.
I like to think it’s a bit of both.
Throg and I ride for Stargazer. He talks about Ivy the entire way home.
“After him, I wanted much more from the world.”- Delphine
Two months later
Ivy hasn’t sent word that Riev is awake, though we have been writing each other. Hawks and falcons are able to deliver our letters, since Syf no longer interfere or control the messenger birds we send.
King Foss offered her an honorary role in his personal guard, so she can train with them. Or in her case—she might be training them. She’s also been working at the Syf confectionary and is now an official apprentice, having won them over. I hear she’s come up with some odd concoctions and flavor combinations, and during breaks, she’s teaching the rest of the staff how to throw knives. Eira has a batch of blue tea waiting for her in the evenings when she comes home. Between the two jobs, Ivy has found the right mix of violence and wholesome for her that keeps her feelingsafe and happy.
I stay in my role at the Academy, as captain to a hundred soldiers.
It’s chaos for a while, as King Galke and the Academy reorganize their strategy in this changed world. Are Syf still the enemy, or potential allies? What about North Kingdom? There is talk of retribution for the decades of damage they’ve done to our people. They also worry that the North will invade us for our resources in the mountains.
King Galke, his advisors, and the colonels debate endlessly about the politics, strategy, and future of Stargazer.
On my next request of absence, I see my father. He’s moved out of Stargazer to a plot of land near the West River. I’m happy to see that he has no grays in his dark brown hair yet. He seems hopeful for the future, even though the sadness around his eyes will probably never vanish. He’s gained muscle, and his skin is sun-kissed again, like it was when I was little.
Of course, he’s bought several new books for me, and I take them back to the Academy. Now that the outer regions are safe from rabid Syf, he will start his elk farm again. He’s missed the countryside.
I promise to send him money so we can save up for it. Perhaps I can take more time off to help him on the farm.
My shelves at the Academy are full, so I take my books to the clock tower.
The tower is still where I go when I need to think—when I need to escape. Owlfred has been around, leaving owl pellets full of mice bones and small bird beaks. I sweep them away and pour out berries into a bowl for him.
Lifting the lid to my storage chest, I rearrange the existing books so there’s room for the new ones.
I can’t bear to rummage to the bottom of the trunk.
I know my candied pearfruit is still stashed in its tin, and I’d promised Riev he could have the rest for his twenty-sixth birthday. In our generation, it isn’t uncommon to die before thirty because of the Syf. None of my other lovers made it. Why should this one be any different?
But perhaps the next generation will be different. It’s why I risked life and limb, heart and soul.
I think I’ve made a difference in the world.
It’s all I wanted.
Itwasall I wanted, until Riev.
After him, I wanted much more from the world. Love. Passion. Attachment.
He may never wake, I tell myself.
Even if he does, he might not know who he is anymore. Many other Syf have lost their memories after being cured. At least it’s a brand-new start for them, in a way.
I don’t want to ruin the dyed leather covers of my new books, so I squeeze back the tears.
A flutter at the window interrupts my heart-rending thoughts.
