“For my sake? I got the shit kicked out of me at least once a month, you know.” Nox failed to control his volume, and it rose by several decibels. He had told himself to stay calm, but something about his mother’s presence brought out the worst in him. The ferrets grew louder in their cage. They ceased playing, pressed their faces against the cage’s bars, and squeaked angrily. “The Gedges sent assassins after me. Your husband ensured I had no friends outside Mou and Lillin. I was miserable. Do you think an apology can make that go away?”

  “The Gedges weren’t the only ones who wanted you killed,” Queen Mercer said. “Your grandmother and, by extension, the entire Mercer family wanted you gone, too. They never wanted me to marry your father. In their eyes, Pallav and all born of him were a blight to the Mercer name. I had to distance you so they understood you were no threat to the royal family’s stability. It’s the only way I could think to protect you from them. Perhaps there was a better way around the matter. But I was young and heartbroken. I wasn’t thinking straight, Nox, and there wasn’t much else I could do.”

  Mou placed a hand on Nox’s shoulder. “She’s not lying⁠—”

  “You knew about this?” Nox pulled free of his aunt. His heart pounded in his chest as he struggled not to yell. Meanwhile, the ferrets grew more agitated, and their chatter became even louder. “Why did you never say anything?”

  “You were young and headstrong.” Mou’s words came out in an almost stutter. Nox guessed his wrath had caught her off guard. “I thought if you knew the truth, it would come out when the guards cornered you or the next time you got into an argument with Edward or Louis. I’m sorry, Baba. Perhaps I was wrong. Your mother and I only kept this from you because we saw no better options at the time.”

  “The longer we waited, the harder it was to tell you the truth,” the queen said. The ferrets’ protests also forced her to raise her volume. “We’re sorry, Nox. I tried my best, but it wasn’t good enough. Perhaps if I had done more, my husband wouldn’t have done the things he did. Maybe if I was a better mother to you and Edward, you’d have a better relationship, and he wouldn’t have turned to a blighted cult for power.”

  “What are you doing about him?” Nox asked. “Will the inquisition take him to the Black Fort?”

  Queen Mercer broke eye contact, looking at the floor. “No. Despite everything, I need to keep peace inside the royal family. The Gedges and Mercers blame you for everything. There is no way to appease them without extending my diplomatic protection to Edward.”

  “So he’s going to walk away from this like nothing happened?” Nox laughed. It was a cold, twisted laugh. He didn’t like his adopted tone, but he couldn’t help it. “That’s just amazing, Mother. He helped kidnap people to be hung from Ygg. Gedge raised a murderer⁠—”

  “Edward will be punished,” Queen Mercer said. “I’m pulling him out of university and taking him back to the Golden Isles. He will spend the rest of his life confined to the palace. No royal guard position or stations await him.”

  “So he’ll spend the rest of his life drinking and fucking whores?” The ferrets’ screeching reached a pitch high enough to hurt Nox’s years.

  “Quiet!” Queen Mercer exclaimed and raised two fingers. Her irises and fingertips glowed a bright purple, bordering lilac. Both ferrets immediately fell silent, and their little beady eyes flashed the same color. They stood at attention, staring at the queen. “Play quietly. You’re getting too loud.”

  One ferret pounced on the other, and they began to wrestle. No squeaks or chatters escaped them. Nox’s eyes widened. He knew his mother had gone to Woodson University but knew nothing about what she studied or her spell set. Mou had told him his parents met during a lecture in the research department but knew no further details. Queen Mercer had no reason to use her magic in the Golden Isles. People often wondered about her mana system, but none were brave enough to investigate.

  The lights and the ferrets’ reaction suggested Queen Mercer was a mind mage. Mind mages enhanced their brains, created illusions, read thoughts and dreams, moved things with their mind, and occasionally bent others to their will. Doing the last to other human beings was forbidden and considered a taboo art. As a result, those inclined toward the branch of mind control exercised their power by taming and commanding magical beasts. Some settled for woodland creatures. Nox had no way to confirm a burgeoning theory, so he looked at Lillin for confirmation. The mimic woman only shrugged.

  During their many conversations over the years, Queen Mercer told Nox that nothing happened on the Golden Isles without her knowhow. He thought the claim was bullshit. Now, he wondered if it was true. If Lydia Mercer was a mind mage, she likely read his thoughts over the years. It meant she was among the few people in her floating city that knew the truth about Lillin.

  “I’m sorry, Nox. It’s not a good enough punishment, and there’s nothing I can ever do to win your forgiveness.” Queen Mercer pulled a thick roll of parchment from the table and pushed it toward Nox. The seal carried the queen’s official mark. “However, I’d like for you to have what you’re owed. Ratra’s Bow is not enough of an inheritance. Besides, you had to earn it.”

  Nox frowned as he broke the seal and unfurled the page. The Trade Empire’s mark sat at the top and bottom of the front page, and Queen Mercer had personally signed it, too. He scanned the parchment and found his name mentioned several times.

  “This is a deed,” Nox whispered.

  “Yes. You now own a building in the market ring.” The queen spoke rapidly without taking a breath. “It’s between an armorer and an artificer’s store. There’s a general store opposite it and a delver’s inn nearby. I’ve hired contractors to fix the storefront and the floors above to serve as quarters. They’re waiting for your specifications before they start work. The workshop’s design will be up to you. I’ve also spoken to a couple of my merchants in the city. They’ll arrange equipment for you at a discounted rate. Beyond that, you only need to pay for the setup and furnishings in the apartment. All city costs are paid for the next three months. Afterward, it’s all on you.”

  “This is just off the main street,” Nox commented, scanning the following pages. They contained the terms with the city, glassmakers, and contractors. “Anyone looking for a cosmetics boutique must pass the building first.”

  A soft smile appeared on Queen Mercer’s lips. “Do you like it? It was a struggling apothecary even when your father and I were students at Woodson University.” She turned away and studied the scrubbed and empty cauldrons in the center of the workshop. “Pallav and I dreamed of buying the building and setting up a little shop. We knew my family would never allow it. Marrying me meant giving up his dream of being an independent alchemist, too. But—” She paused, cutting herself short. “You won’t work for the Trade Empire, but the business will carry our mark. I won’t expect any patent payments from you; any merchant affiliated with us will give you a discount. However, you’ll be expected to do the same for them. Is that acceptable?”

  “Is this supposed to wash away eighteen years of isolation and rejection, Queen Mercer?” Nox asked. Even though it was a generous gift, it was nothing for the richest woman on the continent. He was wrong. The woman before him wasn’t the cold-blooded, hateful monster he believed he knew. She was weak. He mimicked his mother’s style of speech. “I know everything that happens on the Golden Isles.” Nox shook his head. “You might be the reason your husband never succeeded at taking my head, but how could you allow it in the first place?”

  “Because I needed to balance protecting you while keeping things within the empire stable. I have a nation to protect, Nox. The Gedges kept us from going to war against the Imperium. We needed them. I’m really sorry, son. I am. But I did what I had to as queen.” Lydia Mercer uncomfortably shifted in her seat as she leaned closer. “Please. Accept this gift⁠—”

  “You want me to speak in Edward’s favor if the inquisition comes knocking?” Nox struggled to keep his volume low and tone stable. He placed the parchment on the workstation and pushed it toward Queen Mercer. “Because that’s not happening. Your stepson was involved in the kidnapping and planned execution of dozens. He tried to cripple me further and almost succeeded. Then he came after me twice more. I wouldn’t be surprised if your husband was involved. You’re worried about protecting your people. I understand. They’re more important to you than your first son. Maybe look inside your palace before turning on the people that bring criminals to justice.”

  “Does that mean you don’t want the property?” Queen Mercer asked. “Your father would’ve wanted⁠—”

  “Don’t start with that.” Nox cut her short.

  “Think about it, baba,” Mou said. “This is a great opportunity for you. It could help you get started in life. It’ll be hard work, but you’ll get to spend your days doing something you love.”

  “I know what you really want, Nox.” The queen picked up the stack of papers and tidied them into a clean pile. “You want to feel close to your father. It modeled your initial mana system like his. My vault had weapons and tools far more potent than Ratra’s Bow. Yet you picked it so you could have another piece of Pallav. This will sound like manipulation, but this deed. The building. They’re pieces of his dream, too. We’d talk about this palace even after we married and couldn’t leave the Golden Isles. I was as much a prisoner of the empire as him. Being queen and her consort is no easy life. Responsibilities weigh you down, and your freedoms are limited. But we’re still free to dream. So, please⁠—”

  “Fine.” Nox took the deed from her. His eyes drifted to the ferrets. They looked sad. Hurt. “You’re right. This is extremely manipulative of you, and the ploy worked.” He held up the papers. “This is neither a bribe nor a gift. I’m not accepting this because I forgive you for everything you, the Mercers, and the Gedges put me through. But because this is what I’m owed for all that I endured. Let’s just say my father’s assets paid for the building.”

  “Baba, listen.” Mou placed a hand on Nox’s shoulder. “She⁠—”

  “Please, Mou.” Nox interrupted her, too. “Don’t defend her. I’m not sure if I’m willing to forgive you for knowing everything you did and telling me nothing. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, but—” He paused. “That’s it. Just thank you. I love you dearly, and you were more of a mother to me than Queen Lydia Mercer, but I’ll need time to get past this. She knew about her husband’s attempts to kill her firstborn. Yet she did nothing besides send messages to an infant monster, hoping she’d keep him safe. I trust Lillin with my life, but she did, too.”

  “I saw the contract in your memories, son,” Queen Mercer added, but neither her son nor her former sister-in-law paid her any attention. “I gauged Lillin’s power as soon as you returned with her. There was no one better to protect you. Each feeding made her better suited for it, too.”

  Mou paused. Her shoulders slumped as she took her hand back. “I understand.” The tears filling her eyes threatened to overflow, and Nox’s chest tightened further, but he held his own. “Will you at least write to us? Everyone is dying to hear from you.”

  “I’m banished. Remember?”

  “Not anymore,” Queen Mercer said. “I’ve drafted an official decree. As an apology for Edward’s involvement in the recent incidents, you’re listed as an ally. You’re still not welcome on the Golden Isles but will benefit from all trade privileges and may communicate with our subjects. Any of my subjects that do you harm will be subject to punishment.” She rose from her seat and kneeled in front of Nox. The Trade Empire’s leader, the richest woman on the continent, took his hands. “Will you ever consider making room for me in your heart, son? I know I don’t deserve the title of mother. I just want to be able to talk to you occasionally and ensure you’re well.”

  “I don’t know, Queen Mercer,” Nox said. He slipped out of her hold and marched out of the workshop. He needed his friends. Isolation would do him no good. And despite Mou’s presence, he felt alone in the workshop. Nox paused halfway up the stairs. He loved Mou, and despite his feelings toward the queen, he still had fond memories from before his father died. She was scared and as messed up as him. Her position appeared to have left her isolated, too, and he couldn’t help but sympathize. Nox would never admit it after eighteen years of neglect and isolation, but he missed the woman’s affection. He wanted her approval and affection. “Maybe someday,” he called. Neither woman replied, but Nox knew they could hear him. “Just not today. I need time before considering a relationship, but I doubt it’ll be possible while Lord Gedge is still around.”

  EPILOGUE

  The Wedge had two cabins, crew quarters, and a large cargo hold spread across two of the three lower decks. The vessel rarely carried anything heavy besides the passengers’ luggage, furniture, and the occasional large package from the Oakheart Estate. It had three guns, one on each side and another at the bow, but they rarely saw use. Altogether, the Wedge carried little weight and rarely had more than four crew members and four passengers.

  Things changed after Lord Oakheart gave his oldest daughter complete control of the vessel. Annabelle and Nox occupied one cabin while Kris took the other. Both had double beds, a desk, a dresser, and a nook for drinking tea and watching the cloud sea. The professor insisted the couple take the larger of the two rooms. The less room she had, the smaller mess she’d make and therefore spend minimal time cleaning. Meanwhile, the bigger room had enough room for Nox to set up his portable alchemy kit, and he liked the option of topping up Trap Foam or curative brews when necessary.

  The second deck contained the kitchen, mana engine room, and crew quarters big enough to house eight people. The ship currently had five crew members, so Lillin and Wilson took the empty bunks. Meanwhile, the Beaufort siblings occupied the lowest deck. The cargo hold closest to the hull rarely saw use. It was perfect for their portable lab. It housed Ernest’s cot, feeding vats, and tabs, and kept them out of the crew’s view.

  Kris failed to give the party a destination. She only told them they’d be flying north along the continent’s western coast. The Imperium occupied the continent’s heart and eastern sections, so they’d stay out of their lands. The Beaufort siblings refused to board without the assurance of the vessel staying out of all Imperian territories. Most wouldn’t recognize the pair, but the Inquisition knew their names and wouldn’t hesitate to pursue them.

  Because of the ambiguity, Nox couldn’t help but wonder whether the woman knew where they were going. The Wedge flew over settlements with two or more rifts along their boundary. Kris ordered the party and captain to ignore them.

  Nox spent his time on the vessel, taking a much-needed break from brewing and memorizing tomes full of arcane theory. Instead, he spent his time exchanging banter with his friends and in bed with Annabelle. When in the mood, he had Annabelle teach him the scripts she learned in Beginner Manipulation. Beginner Animation used the same collection of runes and spellforms but combined them to create spells of greater complexity, removing the need for intent. The library typically didn’t lend students books when they went away for the semester breaks. However, they had no such qualms about professors. Kris checked the books out for him, and he poured over them during sleepless nights or early mornings.

  When Kris and the party indulged in evenings of liquor and merriment, Nox sat with them, but his mind drifted to thoughts related to Noxian Brews. He couldn’t wait to expand his business. Queen Mercer’s gift had proved more substantial than Nox initially assumed. The building was unreasonably large for a company as young as Nox’s. It had enough room for a huge workshop and shopfront. The planned staffing quarters were much too large for the number of workers he planned to hire, and the top floor felt much too grand for him and Lillin. Unless the shop took off in the first couple of months, he would struggle to pay the taxes and costs of running the building.

  The contractor had proved compliant and treated Nox like he was still a prince. Exchanges with him always felt Nox feel spoiled and dirty. However, his plans and crew appeared worth whatever price Queen Mercer paid them. Nox delayed their departure for half a week to discuss goals and pick out designs. The initial work they did on the workshop and shopfront already left Nox impressed.

  After some thought, he offered his friends the middle floor and a part of the top. Annabelle thought it too early for their relationship for them to cohabitate. Besides, her father wouldn’t tolerate her openly living with a man. Pudge’s work demanded frequent access to livestock, the research department, and the university’s stables. Moving off campus wasn’t an option for him. It was much of the same for the Beauforts. The research department had invested in her work on making weapons out of monster parts and had built several immovable installations in her primary laboratory.

  Much to Nox’s surprise, the Woodson siblings had also enquired whether the offer extended to them. They were sick of living with their great-grandmother—more accurately, a great-aunt—and wanted a space away from her. They offered to pay rent of twenty gold coins per month for two rooms, a shared bathroom, and the staff kitchen. Nox had agreed but insisted they use the top-floor kitchen and dining room for him and Lillin.

  Nox foresaw new money troubles in his future. Paying tuition would no longer be a challenge. Instead, he would need to run a business and pay staff, taxes, and titanic maintenance costs. He expected it to be a challenge but one more enjoyable than struggling to pay for his education.

  It was the third morning of their voyage when Annabelle poked him awake. The first lights of dawn peeked through the porthole, and the gorgeous noblewoman lay next to Nox in the nude. They had fallen asleep with her arm and a leg draped over him.

  “I’ve got a question, and I’d like the truth,” she said, staring into his eyes.