Legacy of Fire (The Blaze Trilogy - Book #1)

Chapter 3

“Mine did the same,” a voice behind me calls.

I spin around, and recognise her instantly. Her name is Victoria, daughter of the Mulligan family. My father seemed to approve of them, as her father is a councilman in the Citizen’s Collective – a respectable position. I nod my head in greeting, and she gestures towards the couch, indicating for me to join her. 

“I think we misjudge how difficult it is for them,” she says softly. “While we grow up, all they see in us is limitation. They see flaw, because we are not boys, we are not strong.” She runs her hand over the silken couch. “But then comes a time where we leave them forever, and suddenly the appreciate what a rare thing they had. We’re like birds that they can cradle, momentarily, in their palms, before we fly away, and they realise that we were never theirs to keep.” Her eyes flicker up to my face, and I can’t hold her gaze. I look away. 

She sighs, clearly regretting her remark. I can’t help feeling like I should have offered something back.   

Her voice lifts again, brighter this time. “I had no idea you had the same birthday as me,” she smiles kindly. It’s true - because there are so few children of the South, it is a rare occurrence for two people to have the same Union Day. “I’m glad I’m not the only one being seeing Juno and Bast today.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” I finally smile back, glad for the change of subject.

Juno and Bast were the two elders in charge of the department of Union. They typically oversee the Union process as a whole, as their personnel sort through all possible matches, and eventually decide on a girl’s Union partner based on her lineage and disposition. However, on the rare occasion that a daughter of the South is to be partnered in Union, the Consium holds a ceremony. Bast and Juno are present, and they select the pairing themselves. 

It’s meant to be an honour, but in reality it just makes the whole process more frightening.

“My brother couldn’t get a wink of sleep last night, he was so nervous about what his Allocation would be,” Victoria sighs. A flicker of recognition runs through me, and I remember her twin brother, Collin. Of course he will be receiving his Allocation today. 

“And If finding out his future isn’t stressful enough, Collin’s also going to have to see Kathu,” Victoria gives me a knowing look. 

Finally it clicks into place. Kathu is the Elder of Allocation. 

“Ugh - he approached me as I came here,” I shudder. “I don’t know what he wanted with me, but luckily my father came to my rescue.” 

Victoria nods, sighing. “He enjoys making people squirm.” She leaned in, her eyes dark. “My father says the Consium suspects he murdered his wife. He constantly claimed she was not following her duties, saying that she was not tending to him properly. When department of Union refused to match another girl to him, he was enraged. His wife went missing for several days after that, before she was found in a car crash – her driver had driven the car straight into a wall. But they had no evidence against Kathu, so it was deemed an accident.” 

A car crash. It’s a danger that is virtually eradicated in Aeon – our cars are driven by hand, but also controlled through a series of advanced safety mechanisms. When your car crashes it’s either a horrible coincidence… or not an accident.

“It’s not just his reputation that frightens the other members. What’s more troubling is how he keeps trying to grapple for more control over the High Council. It worries those in the Citizen’s Collective,” she whispers under her breath.

Well - that explains my father’s inherent hostility towards him. An imbalance in the High Council would be potentially disastrous for Aeon. 

“But how would he gain more power in the Council? Our system is designed to prevent any scales from tipping,” I ask softly.