Page 217 of Sunsplitter

He took her to the energy factories, so Qirza could see how humans managed the more complex daeyari energy conduits he’d installed. He took her to the city’s newest district, so she could see apartments being built, a surge in population drawn by fresh ideals. He took her to the hospital, so she could see the records of donations, small but growing, proving the shift hadn’t undermined his food source.

Most important of all, their final walk up the main avenue.

A year ago, the sight of two daeyari prowling the city would have driven the place empty. Now, as a caribou-drawn carriage passed, the coachman tipped his hat to Antal. At the tavern, Iliha heckled from the doorstep, followed by a warm invitation to return later for coffee. At the clothing shop, the tailor called out admiration for Antal’s coat.

All of it, evidence that humans and daeyari could live together, if treated with dignity.

Qirza stayed stoic, eyes probing every interaction, her tail a contemplative sway.

At last, they returned to the capitol plaza. Slanted Winter sunlight filled the stained-glass windows, glistened over frosted cobblestones, gleamed against Qirza’s antlers as she appraised the rebuilt government building.

“What would you care to see next, councilor?” Antal asked, employing the magnanimous tone Fionamara had helped him practice. “We could tour one of the conductive metal refineries? Or perhaps the artisan district? I can also highly recommend the music hall.”

“A kind offer,” Qirza said. “But I believe I’ve seen enough.”

Dread prickled Antal’s chest. He was new to these politics, had only ever trailed in his father’s shadow. Antal was still a probationary council member, still much influence to earn, yet the endeavor fell on his shoulders: his city, his people, to protect or to fail.

He awaited Qirza’s judgment.

“The work you’ve done here is impressive,” she said. “There are refinements needed, of course. But I’ll gladly support an interim approval, and I look forward to continued updates on your progress.”

Antal’s shock manifested in a frozen tail. A slow blink.

He could hear his father’s chastisement: a daeyari ought to never betray surprise, ought to never reveal his hand. But Antal wasn’t his father. And Qirza’s soft laugh seemed more unguarded than anything Avroz had ever offered.

“You’ve built something interesting here,” Qirza said. “Something unique. We daeyari often cling to the ways things have always been, but what a wretched way to pass eternity, neverconsidering change.” She lowered. “I’m glad to see you differ from your father in that regard.”

Qirza was an intimidating daeyari. Antal knew her to be stern, but fair, moved by evidence and authenticity. Her endorsement was a mark of great merit.

Antal had thought he’d need Avroz to see this proposal through.

Yet here he stood, strong enough on his own.

He bowed, touching a claw to his highest antler. “You have my thanks, councilor, for your valuable time and support. I welcome your guidance.” A pause. “Avroz was…”

Qirza scoffed. “I know how he was.”

Antal had rarely seen this side of her, not alackof composure, but the tiniest fissure. Another gesture of confidence, gifted by a daeyari with antler roots as old as the capitol plaza.

“You haven’t visited him?” she asked, more curious than accusing.

No, Antal hadn’t.

Avroz’s guilt had been decided swiftly. Longer debate had been necessary to decide what to do with him. Execution was out of the question, with the threat of reincarnation. Banishment was the typical sentence for egregious crimes, but the council worried over Avroz’s involvement with the aedari, his potential for retaliation.

They’d settled on imprisonment, to be reevaluated at a future time. A difficult and energy-intensive endeavor for daeyari, the constant guards and charged bindings necessary to prevent escape. Despite high security, Antal could levy his position on the council for a visit, could confront his father one last time to see if anything had changed.

But that would only keep giving Avroz power over him.

“I don’t think there’s anything more to say,” Antal replied, his chest growing lighter still.

Qirza nodded quiet approval.

“As for my proposal,” Antal continued, “I hope this interim approval applies to more than just my territory?”

“Ah, yes. I assume your new neighbors wish to adopt the system as well?”

New neighbors. Antal could hardly believe that, either.