“I’ve sat through my fair share. Not by choice.”
“Family obligation?”
“Maybe not all the time. I’m glad I went to the last one.” His eyes cut to me, and my cheeks warm as I take the meaning personally.
“How’s your mother?” I ask.
“I’ve still not spoken to her.”
I nod, not sure if that’s a good thing or not.
We make the rest of the journey in silence, weaving through The Court. I try to take in something new every time I walk through, like the hut that has delicious, sweet aromas coming from it or the one that looks more like a tavern, with tables set up out in the sun.
And then we’re outside The Tower, and Ten takes the lead again, hitting the stairs.
“Do I knock?”
He shrugs as I stand in front of the door. “If you’re invited, I’d just go in.”
“Do I need to make a good impression on her? Will she give me some random power if she doesn’t like me?” I check.
“Doesn’t work that way.” He shakes his head.
“Well, as I still don’t understand how it works…” I turn to the door. “I’ll knock.” I raise my fist and bang on the door, but it barely makes a sound against the thick, ornately carved wood. So, I opt for Ten’s plan and push the doors open.
It’s only been a few days since I first came in here, but that time seems to have dwarfed so much of my old life.
I walk as confidently as possible into the room, my head facing forward, my spine straight. And although I’m desperate to look back for Ten, I don’t.
When I reach the bottom of the dais, I pause, looking up at her sitting in a wooden chair, with two others flanking her, just like last time. No other members of the Orders are present.
“You have questions,” the Maker speaks to me.
“Many. Too many,” I answer under my breath.
“Your Transference will fall on the Claiming Moon,” she states. Just like that. “Who will be your Advocate?”
A deep pull on my heart takes hold andwraps around my chest as I think about this. I’ve only one option. “I’m not sure if Lyle would. Do you know where she is?” I want to see her, to fill her in on everything that’s happened, and to have her on my side through this. She was the one to bring me here.
“Lyle has been helping The Chamber with an investigation. We’ll see that she returns in time for the ceremony.”
“Can’t I see her before? She’s my only family.” Understanding why she’s kept so much from me for so long may still take some adjusting, but I love her. I need her.
“That may not be possible,” one of the other women says.
“It’s not just you who has questions, Ever Hart.”
I tilt my head at the Maker. It’s spooky how she does that.
“Did you mean for me to hear you?”I think the words as I stare up at her empty face.
“If you heard me, I intended it. Come here.”
I lift my foot, climbing the few steps up to the dais. She holds her hand out to me, and I glance back at Ten this time, who takes a step forward himself. But then jolts to a stop.
“No. This is your journey,” the Maker commands. “Alone.”
Fine.
