Secondborn

“No one hurt me. I left the Sword Palace because Hawthorne told me what my family was planning for me this evening. He helped me get back here.”

“Firstborn Trugrave,” Clifton says with a curl of his lip, clearly not sure whether Hawthorne is truly friend or foe. “Thank you for returning our soldier to us. She means a great deal to my organization and to the war effort. I am in your debt.”

Clarity Bowie strikes me as being even more powerful in person. He’s dressed in a crisp uniform denoting his status as the leader of the Fates of the Republic, with a white cape styled much like an Exo uniform. “Clarity Bowie,” I say with a deep nod, and then a smile. “I would offer you a seat, but I remember from my youth that you prefer to stand.”

“I remember you as well. You beat my son’s head in with a clock.”

“He should’ve been quicker on his feet.”

The roguish smile that passes over his lips fills me with relief. “Grisholm could use someone like you,” he says, “someone who’s willing to bash him in the head when he steps out of line. I think everyone else is afraid to stand up to him. He’ll be the Clarity someday, and he’ll need a strong Clarity of Swords.”

“I’m sure that Gabriel will be able to assist him in that regard.”

“Walk with me.” Clarity Bowie extends his hand. I move forward and take it. He tucks my arm in his and we stroll toward the rooftop outside. We take the stairs down and wander past the pool surrounded by armed guards.

When we’re out of earshot, he continues. “I look at you, Roselle, and I see your struggle tonight written in the cuts on your feet, the scratches on your face, the rends in your gown, the weariness in your smile. And yet, you still have a rigid command of everything and everyone around you. You handle a crisis as if it’s an everyday occurrence.”

“Forgive me, but in my world, crisis is an everyday occurrence.”

“I intend to change that for you.”

“How can you do that?” I ask.

“By offering you my protection. By taking you away from the Fate of Swords and allowing you a place in my household for a time.”

“I have a position here. I am a weapons consultant for—”

“Yes, and Clifton is adamant about not giving you up. You’ll still be allowed to work with him. He’ll come and visit you in my household when he requires your consultation.”

We approach the ramp leading into the Verringer. I glance over my shoulder at my penthouse. Neither Clifton nor Hawthorne has followed us, but they’re both watching us through the glass. “I’m going with you tonight, aren’t I?”

“Right now, as a matter of fact,” he admits, ushering me onto the ramp.

“Can I say good-bye?”

“You can see them both soon. They’ll be invited to the Opening Celebrations of the Secondborn Trials—to our private party, Roselle. You will be, after all, our celebrity guest of honor at the event.” We enter the Verringer. The door behind us closes. Clarity Bowie offers me a seat by a window. “You can rest after your trying evening. We’ll be in Virtues in no time. Your room is waiting for you, and someone there is very excited to greet you.”

I gaze out the window at Clifton’s and Hawthorne’s grim visages. The Verringer purrs softly and rises into the air. “Who is waiting for me?” I ask absently.

“Your mentor. Dune.”

I gape at him. Then I notice a shiny pin on his lapel. “Are you a gardener, Clarity Bowie?” I gesture to the pin.

“I’ve become very interested in the flower’s beauty and incomparable essence.”

“Roses come with sharp thorns,” I reply.

“I’m counting on them.”

Glossary

air-barracks. Kidney-shaped dormitory airships that dock on the military Trees in Bases like the Stone Forest. They transport troops and house them.

air-billiards. A game played on a multilevel billiards table with an airstick—a cross between pool and air hockey.

airstick. A cue stick that uses forced air to move a ball.

Anthroscope. An expensive sports-model airship.

Aspen Lake. The body of water located within the Stone Forest Base.

atom splitter. An invisible security force field that explodes the atoms of whatever crosses into its path.

Brixon. A port town in the Fate of Stars.

Bronze City. A port city in the Fate of Swords. It’s located on the Vahallin Sea.

Burton Weapons Manufacturing. A Sword-Fated weapons manufacturing company owned by Sword-Fated Edmund Burton.

Census. A branch of the government comprised of agents whose mission is to hunt down and kill unauthorized thirdborns and their abettors. Their uniform is a white military dress shirt, black trousers, black boots, and a long, tailored leather coat. Their Bases are underground, beneath the Sword military Trees at Bases like the Stone Forest Base and the Twilight Forest Base.

chet. A nonaddictive substance that is used to relieve tension and induce relaxation. It looks like a white stamp.

Clarity. The title held by the leader of a Fate.

CO. An abbreviation for commanding officer.