Page 2 of Zenith Tower

She turned before I could press her and started toward the tower’s entrance: a plain stone arch with no carving, hinges, or visible door. Caswell picked the lamp back up, and we followed.

Kieran stumbled on the last few steps before the arch. Hale adjusted his grip around Kieran’s ribs. “Nearly there,” he said, too low for the woman ahead to hear.

“Definethere,” Kieran said. His voice was thin, but he still sounded amused.

“Inside,” Hale said. “Somewhere you can sit down.”

“Sold.”

Hale kept his eyes on the ground ahead, watching where Kieran placed his feet.

The water channels ran along the base of the tower anddisappeared around the curve of the wall. Caspian squeezed my hand. I squeezed back.

At the arch, Caswell stopped. He set the lamp on the stone, said something to the woman too low for me to catch, and turned back toward the bridge. His charge ended where the Tower began.

We passed beneath the arch, and the bridge vanished from view.

Inside, the air smelled nothing like the Hall. There was no old wax, no stone and sweat, no lilies going soft under a formal’s candles. The tower smelled of damp stone and cold minerals. The ceiling rose beyond the reach of the water-light, too high for me to see.

The corridor ahead ran straight and pale, lined with doors that had no handles. My footsteps sounded too loud against the stone, even with the others walking beside me. I matched my breathing to Caspian’s, slow and even, the way I did before a combat assessment. Following his rhythm steadied me.

The door closed behind us without a sound. I looked back. A slab of stone that size should have made some noise, but I hadn’t heard it move.

Astra

The first room held a low stone desk, four hard chairs nobody had offered us, and no windows. I was beginning to think the lack of windows was deliberate. Water-light moved over every wall, the room’s only illumination. The man behind the desk looked thoroughly bored. He didn’t look up when we filed in.

They took our names first, which surprised me. I’d expected the Marks. Instead the man asked each of us to state our full name for the record, and wrote nothing down while we spoke, which made me wonder what the point was.

“Astra Verita,” I said, when it was my turn.

“Mother’s name,” he said.

“You already know it.”

“I need you to say it.” He still hadn’t looked up.

“Selene Verita.” The name came out steadier than I felt.

Only then did he make a small mark on the page and slide it into the stack with the others. He had been listening after all.

Caspian gave his name next, including his father’s name,without hesitation. Kieran’s voice was thinner than usual, though he still managed a trace of charm. Hale gave his name and his mother’s line, then fell silent. The clerk marked each page and moved on.

A woman came for Kieran next and took his elbow before he could object. His knees nearly gave when she steered him toward a side door. Hale went to follow. A broad man beside the woman put a hand flat against Hale’s chest, blocking the doorway. Gray threaded his hair at the temples, and a Council pin caught the water-light at his collar.

“One at a time,” he said. “It goes faster.”

“He can’t stand on his own,” Hale said.

“Then she’ll help him.” The man didn’t move his hand. “Steward Marrow,” he added. “You’ll be dealing with me while you’re here.”

None of us answered. Marrow looked over the rest of us. He was older than Caswell and broader through the shoulders. There was nothing hurried in the way he moved.

He turned to Caspian and guided him toward a second door, one hand at his shoulder blade. Caspian stiffened but went. I knew the set of his jaw. He was telling himself it was a choice.

That left Hale and me in the stone room with the man who’d taken our names. Once the two doors shut, neither of us spoke. The clerk didn’t look up from his stack. Somewhere beyond the walls, water moved through channels I couldn’t see, constant enough that I stopped noticing it.

“They’re waiting to see if we’ll object,” Hale said finally.