Page 86 of The Sovereign: Part One
His fingers tapped idly against the nav ring.“And you feel that difference affected you in a negative way?”
I hesitated before answering, aware of the way his questions guided me toward thoughts I hadn’t fully formed before.“It made me curious, always searching for the reasons behind things.The subtle differences in Sovereign and Supplicant behavior, why systems are built a certain way.Why some things are hidden while others are freely shared.”I lifted a shoulder in a small shrug.“Avaryn never had to ask those questions.”
Maxim absorbed my words, his expression thoughtful.“And do you think one of you was better off?”
“In Hyperion Proper, curiosity is, at best, discouraged and, at worst, dangerous.A life spent suppressing insatiable curiosity is only half-lived.I’m glad that Avaryn can accept the world as it was given to her.”
“It’s strange, isn’t it?”Maxim said.“That we live in a world that stifles curiosity but worships progress.As if there’s a line between the sort of curiosity they approve of and the kind they fear.”
“Because, obviously, unauthorized exploration would be far too dangerous,” I said, the sarcasm and bitterness slipping through before I could stop it.“We’re expected to excel, to achieve, to be models of precious progress.But only in the ways they’ve sanctioned.I’ve spent my life being praised for doing everything right—so long as I never questioned the rules I was so good at following.”
Silence stretched between us, comfortable but also loaded.It was Maxim who broke it, his voice shifting to a lower, more careful tone.“Your papa didn’t seem entirely pleased when I mentioned you going to The Vale.”
I sighed, rubbing my temples.“You might’ve been too forward about it.”
He frowned slightly.“How so?”
“It’s not that you did anything wrong, per se.”I turned to face him.“Supplicants aren’t typically persistent.They offer support, not assertion.Not in a way that steers the conversation rather than guiding it.”
He kept his gaze on the road as we neared our Sablestone, but there was recognition behind his eyes.“I see.”
I reached out to lightly touch his arm.“It’s not your fault.It’s not even wrong, it’s just unexpected.And until our Oathbond, we have to be careful.If someone reports it, The Citadel will act swiftly and I’ll have no standing to fight it.”
He guided the transport onto the drive and then reached for the control panel.
“Oh, are you…?”I began, but the subtle light of the entry platform made me trail off.
Maxim eased the transport forward another meter, pausing as the platform smoothly descended into the sub-bay.With a hiss, it locked into place, and he guided the vehicle into its designated spot.A tap on the control panel set it in Park, powering it down.
“This is actually the first time I’ve used the sub-bay.I wasn’t even sure if it was operational.”
Maxim fought back a laugh.“They’re designed to remain idle for extended periods, considering most Sovereign don’t acquire a personal transport until they turn thirty.”
“Makes sense,” I said, nodding.
“And you’re right—about my deviations being a potential risk.”
I exhaled, turning the thought over.“We need a way for me to warn you.A phrase or a gesture to signal when you’re stepping outside expected protocols.”
He glanced at me, intrigued.“A signal?”
“Yes,” I said, lost in thought.“Something subtle.”
His finger tapped against the nav ring.“Something natural.Something that wouldn’t raise suspicion.”
“Exactly.”
He contemplated my suggestion for less than a few seconds.“What if you touched your necklace?”
“What necklace?”I breathed out a laugh.“The only ones I own aren’t exactly for everyday wear.”
Maxim smirked, reaching into the inner pocket of his jacket and withdrawing a small, elegant box.“This one, maybe?”
He passed it smoothly into my waiting hands.Higher points came with certain privileges—an upgraded transport, access to a refined clothing line, and a Supplicant bank account with a larger allocation.A small portion of a Sovereign’s paycheck was also allotted to a separate fund for their Supplicant, ensuring a degree of financial independence.Once only an unenumerated right, this funding was just recently enshrined into law, part of the first Supplicant civil liberties bill I helped draft after securing a position in the Dominion Building, and one of my most meaningful victories to date.
I slid off the lid, my breath catching as the necklace inside caught the interior glow of the transport.A delicate chain, understated yet undeniably exquisite, was crafted from Aetherium.The rare, weightless alloy shimmered subtly even in the low, ambient light contending with the darkness of the sub-bay.Suspended at its center was a single heritage-grade diamond pendant—my birthstone—catching the light in a way that made it seem almost alive.
A breath escaped me, his name carried with it.“Maxim!”
