Chapter 15 — Peace Beneath a Closing Crown

That should've been the second warning.

Seris read the letter twice, then held it up to the window like sunlight might reveal the lie hidden between the lines.

“Well?”

I was sitting on the edge of the guest-room table, trying to fix a clasp on my coat.

She looked at me.

“It says neutral.”

Cassian, standing near the door, folded his arms.

“It is neutral.”

Seris turned toward him.

“You sound confident.”

“I checked the location myself.”

“That wasn't what I meant.”

Cassian's jaw shifted.

Tiny movement.

I noticed it.

For once.

The gathering would take place at the House of Still Waters, a diplomatic hall built outside Caeloria's direct authority. Human kingdoms and Aetherian envoys both used it. Even the Council technically had to surrender ceremonial weapons at the entrance.

Seris put the letter on the table.

“They'll let me present the Covenant records?”

Cassian nodded.

“All of them.”

“To everyone?”

“Representatives from nine nations. Council witnesses. Independent scribes.”

She stared at him.

“And Ortheon agreed to that?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Cassian hesitated.

“He wants this ended before the borders close completely.”

I laughed.

“That almost sounds reasonable.”

Seris didn't.

Neither did Cassian.

Outside, another caravan rolled through the eastern gate.

More refugees.

More people caught between governments arguing over what I was.

Protector.

Threat.

Weapon.

Problem.

I picked up the invitation.

“If I refuse?”

Cassian answered immediately.

“Elvarin probably declares you hostile by sunrise.”

“Probably?”

“Almost definitely.”

“Better.”

Seris leaned against the desk.

“And the others?”

“Three will follow.”

I sighed.

“So peace meeting.”

“Peace meeting,” Cassian said.

“Organised by people who tried to put a magical leash on me.”

“Hosted by neutral diplomats.”

“Attended by the people with the leash.”

Seris rubbed her eyes.

“We're going, aren't we?”

I hated that she already knew.

“We have to.”

“No,” she said. “They've made it feel like you have to.”

“Does the difference matter if refusing starts a war?”

Her eyes met mine.

“Yes.”

I looked away.

Every road seemed to end at the same question.

What did I want?

And how many people were allowed to suffer because I wanted it?

Cassian stepped closer.

“It's real, Zyrion.”

I looked at him.

“The meeting?”

“Yes.”

“You're sure?”

His answer took half a second too long.

“I am.”

That half second would live in my head for thousands of years.

At the time, I let it go.

“Fine.”

Seris swore.

I smiled.

“Very scholarly.”

“I learned it from restricted manuscripts.”

“Of course.”

Cassian let out a breath I hadn't realised he'd been holding.

We left before sunset.

Just the three of us and four neutral guards riding ahead.

Cassian would've complained about my riding.

Seris would've stolen something from my travel bag.

I'd have threatened to abandon both of them at the next crossroads.

Instead, the road stayed quiet.

Too quiet.

Seris rode beside me.

“You're doing it again.”

“What?”

“Thinking loudly.”

“I wasn't saying anything.”

“Exactly.”

I glanced toward Cassian.

He was riding ahead.

His shoulders looked stiff.

“Something's wrong with him.”

Seris followed my gaze.

“He hasn't mocked you in almost an hour.”

“I know.”

“Terrifying.”

That got a small smile from me.

Then she lowered her voice.

“Do you trust this?”

“No.”

“Good.”

“I trust him.”

Her eyes stayed on Cassian.

“So do I.”

Neither of us sounded convincing.

The House of Still Waters appeared between the trees near dusk.

White stone stood around a reflecting pool. Nine national banners hung from the walls, with the Council's silver standard placed among them rather than above them.

At the gate, guards took Cassian's sword.

Seris handed over three knives.

I stared at her.

“Three?”

“One is for letters.”

“You carry a knife for letters?”

“Have you met letters?”

The guard looked at Epitaph.

Then at me.

“You'll need to surrender the blade.”

“No.”

Cassian closed his eyes.

“Zyrion.”

“No.”

The guard swallowed.

“House rules.”

“Epitaph doesn't let other people hold it.”

“That sounds made up,” Seris said.

“It burned Cassian.”

Cassian lifted one hand.

“Can confirm.”

The guard looked deeply unhappy.

Eventually, they wrapped Epitaph in a neutral binding cloth and let me keep it sealed against my back.

Inside, servants moved between long tables carrying food nobody seemed interested in eating.

Independent scribes sat along the walls with stacks of blank paper.

Seris noticed them and relaxed a little.

“Those are real.”

“Good.”

Cassian pointed toward the far doors.

“The hearing chamber's through there.”

I stopped.

Seris nearly walked into me.

“What?”

I could feel it.

Not magic exactly.

Something older.

A pressure beneath the floor.

Familiar.

My Soul Crown gave the faintest hum.

Cassian went pale.

“Zyrion?”

“There are Crown lines under this building.”

Seris's expression changed immediately.

“How many?”

“I don't know.”

I closed my eyes.

The feeling disappeared.

Then returned.

Weak.

Distant.

Maybe old ceremonial wards.

Maybe nothing.

Cassian stepped closer.

“This place predates the modern Council. Old binding architecture is everywhere.”

“You knew?”

“I knew the hall had ancient wards.”

“That isn't what I asked.”

He held my gaze.

“No. I didn't know you'd feel them.”

Seris moved between us.

“We can leave.”

Cassian's head snapped toward her.

“What?”

“We walk away.”

“The delegations are already here.”

“I don't care.”

“If Zyrion leaves now, Ortheon gets exactly what he wants. He'll tell everyone we refused peaceful arbitration.”

Seris stared at him.

“You sound like him.”

Cassian flinched.

She regretted it immediately.

I saw that too.

“Cassian—”

“No.”

His voice came out quieter than expected.

“You're right to question me.”

That surprised all of us.

He looked at me.

“But this meeting matters. If we expose the Covenant here, in front of independent nations, Ortheon can't bury it.”

Seris looked toward the chamber doors.

Then at me.

My decision.

“I'll go in.”

Seris closed her eyes.

“Of course you will.”

Cassian looked relieved.

She didn't.

Before we reached the doors, Seris grabbed my sleeve.

“Wait.”

Cassian stopped too.

She looked at him.

“Give us a second.”

His face went strangely blank.

Then he nodded and walked ahead.

Seris waited until he was out of earshot.

“You're going to promise me something.”

“I don't like the sound of that.”

“Tough.”

She took both my hands.

The anger was gone.

Now she just looked scared.

“If something happens in there, you leave.”

I frowned.

“Seris—”

“No fighting the whole room.”

“I wouldn't—”

“You absolutely would.”

“Depends on the room.”

“Zyrion.”

I stopped joking.

She tightened her grip.

“If they attack us, if the Council tries something, if everyone turns against you, I want you to run.”

“And leave you?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

Her jaw tightened.

“That's not how promises work.”

“Then I'm not making it.”

“You promised at the peace gathering years ago you'd stop deciding everything alone.”

“This is different.”

“It always is with you.”

I tried pulling one hand free.

She held on.

“You can't save everyone by standing in front of every blade.”

“I can try.”

“That is exactly what I'm scared of.”

Her voice broke on the last word.

Barely.

Enough.

I went still.

Seris looked down.

“I've watched you get worse.”

That hurt.

“I'm fine.”

“No, you're not.”

She looked back up.

“You're tired. You're angry. You're scared. And every time someone threatens one of us, you act like dying first is some kind of solution.”

I didn't answer.

Because I'd thought exactly that.

Many times.

“If something goes wrong,” she said, “you get out.”

“What about you and Cassian?”

“We'll follow.”

“And if you can't?”

Her eyes softened.

“Then trust us.”

Trust.

Such a word back then.

I looked toward the chamber.

Cassian stood beside the doors.

Waiting.

He saw Seris holding my hands.

Saw my face.

Then looked away.

“Promise me,” she whispered.

I should've known better than to promise things around Epitaph.

Still, I squeezed her hands.

“I promise.”

She searched my face.

“You'll run?”

“If it goes wrong.”

“Not fight everyone?”

I sighed.

“Not fight everyone.”

“Good.”

She smiled.

Relieved.

Then she leaned forward until her forehead touched mine.

Only for a second.

My heart forgot its job.

When she stepped back, neither of us said anything.

We didn't need to.

Not yet.

Cassian watched us approach.

Seris smiled at him.

“He promised.”

Cassian didn't answer.

“Cassian?”

His eyes stayed on the floor.

“Good.”

One word.

Quiet.

Wrong.

Seris frowned.

I noticed.

This time, I noticed.

But the chamber doors opened before I could ask.

Warm light spilled across the hall.

Ortheon waited beyond it.

Behind him stood ambassadors, councillors, scribes, and a golden ceremonial circle built into the floor.

Everyone rose when I entered.

Peace had set the table.

Trust had brought me through the door.

And somewhere beneath our feet, the first chain was already waiting to close.