We start by tracking down Elizabeth and Robin. That isn’t too difficult a task: they’re both present at lunch. There’s an air of finality to the meal. We’re all keenly aware that it’s the last lunch we’ll have together this year.
Elizabeth hands us envelopes labelled with our names and makes us promise to not open them until the Day of Gifts. I feel instantly guilty: I’ve tracked down a present for my dad, but haven’t thought to find anything for my friends. I’m not the only one, either, judging by Robin’s uncomfortable look as she accepts her envelope. Edward seems quite unbothered by it, naturally.
“What were you planning to do this afternoon?” I ask when an ebb in the conversation arises.
“I have to finish packing,” Elizabeth says, “sorry.”
She’s the only one, apparently: Robin finished her packing this morning, and Edward seems unconcerned by it. Knowing him, he keeps his things permanently packed in case he needs to flee the Academy to escape some mysterious peril.
That makes things a bit more awkward; I can imagine how Robin would feel about it just being her, me and Edward. She shrugs, though, and says “Nothing in particular. Why, were you thinking of doing something together?”
“I – yes. If you want to.”
“Sure. What did you have in mind?”
I had not thought that far ahead. I assumed someone else would have an idea. “Uh…” I glance at Edward for help.
“I wouldn’t mind having another look at your progress on that ritual-work project of yours,” he says.
I should have realised that would happen. “I was thinking something a little more relaxing,” I say, trying to keep a stern tone despite my urge to laugh.
“You mean that discussing magic isn’t relaxing?”
“Not for normal people,” I say. “And you agreed we could pretend to be normal people.”
“Tallulah, you do know I have no idea how to pretend to be normal, right?”
This time I do give in and laugh. “What do normal people do with their free afternoons together, then?” I ask.
There’s a long moment of silence.
“We could… get a meal together?” Robin tries.
“Eating here is something we do all the time anyway,” I point out.
“And given Tallulah is somewhat recognisable going out in public doesn’t seem like it would end in a particularly normal way,” Edward adds. “Speaking of which, I should ask my dad about getting you some disguise enchantments – not the best way of doing things, of course, but assuming you want to maintain your normal appearance here the only alternative is you learning to magically modify your own appearance. And that’s difficult magic, and easy to mess up if you’re learning – it would take a good few months before you were good enough to do it without thinking – “
“Edward,” I say.
“Oh. Right. But you see my point?”
I nod. “We could go to the market – oh.” I remember what happened on our last group trip to the market: Elsie unlocking her oracular powers and Edward nearly having an active episode. And besides, I don’t want to run into Amara with company. I still haven’t worked out what to make of her or everything she told me; I’m just hoping that it''s what I need to help Elsie and that neither Blackthorn will find out about the secrets I’m keeping from them.
“So anything that involves interacting with anyone outside the Academy is out,” Robin summarises. “There’s the café, I suppose… or we could just go for a walk in the gardens?”
“If it’s not too cold or wet,” I agree. “That would be nice.” I still feel as if I haven’t taken the time to appreciate the Academy’s beautiful gardens properly. But between the weather and everything I’ve had to deal with this term, I can see why.
Edward shrugs, which I take for agreement.
“That’s sorted, then,” says Robin. Then she pauses before asking: “Is discussing politics suitably normal?”
“Depends whether you’re just sharing your thoughts or whether you intend to try and get information out of me,” Edward says. “The latter won’t work, incidentally, because I don’t have privileged information.”
Robin raises her eyebrows sceptically but says nothing.
“Is there any news on the negotiations with traditionalist parties?” I ask.
“None that I’ve heard,” says Robin. Apparently she spent a while staring at the crowds in the Central Ring just before coming here. Not much has changed since I fought my way through them, as far as I can work out from her account. The group of reformist protestors has grown, but nothing has escalated in concerning ways. And if there have been official statements, Robin missed them.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
I suddenly realise something: on a day like today, Lord Blackthorn should have been mixed up in those negotiations or dealing with the protest or otherwise buried in work. Instead, he was meeting me at the Archive. Was I really that urgent a problem? What would have happened if we hadn’t been able to reach an agreement?
It’s not a comforting thought. “What do you think of the protests?” I ask to cover it up.
Robin shrugs. “People are always going to protest when they don’t get what they want.”
“It’s not that simple,” Edward objects. “And it’s dangerous to think it is. Understanding the public mood is important. What I want to know is what Ariana Carling is doing right now.”
“Trying to put together a coalition of her own, I suppose,” Elizabeth says.
“That’s practically impossible, though,” Robin says. “Without the King’s Party they’d need every other one to agree. And the traditionalists would never do that.”
“Stop me if this is a stupid question,” I say, “but what’s preventing the King’s Party from forming a coalition with a reformist party instead of a traditionalist one?” That seems like the best possible solution from my (admittedly na?ve) viewpoint.
“In theory, nothing,” says Edward. “In practice, everything. There’s a large traditionalist faction within the King’s Party that would never accept it, and besides all the small reformist parties have been steadfast behind Carling.”
That’s about the response I would have expected if I’d spent enough time thinking about it. Part of me is still disappointed for some reason, though.
We talk about the situation a little longer. Elizabeth is a fan of Ariana Carling, apparently, and voted for the United Reformists. She and Edward debate the merits of Reformist policies for a while. It’s surprisingly civil, and they at least manage to agree that the Reformists should concede the election and focus on becoming a strong opposition to whatever new government is formed.
Elizabeth leaves to resume packing once we’ve all finished eating, leaving me alone with Edward and Robin.
“You know,” Edward says, “for someone who was so keen to talk about politics, you’ve been surprisingly quiet about it yourself.”
Robin gives him a long searching look. “I’m from a Siaril family. You know the problems that can cause when it comes to speaking your mind on politics.”
Because families like Robin’s have no land of their own, and because their seats in Parliament are unelected, they’re reliant on the King’s favour to maintain influence. And that means expressing political views too different from the monarch’s can be dangerous. The arguments Edward made earlier were almost textbook King’s Party line; I wonder how much he actually believes them.
“I do,” Edward says. “But I was under the impression that you were not on good terms with your family and had no intention of involving yourself in politics.”
“You know as well as I do that people like us will never be able to escape politics, however much we’d rather devote ourselves to other matters.” Robin’s tone is light, but I can still feel a sudden tension between her and Edward.
And she’s said the wrong thing. “People like us?” Edward repeats. “You think we are the same?”
Robin grimaces, realising her mistake. “Not exactly, no. But there are obvious similarities, are they not?”
“Certainly. But the comparison you are attempting to draw is invalid. You could quite easily escape politics if you wanted to, I believe; I could not.”
“You’re right. I was thinking – I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted,” says Edward, but his tone suggests otherwise. “You know, I don’t believe I want to walk this afternoon after all. Tallulah, you and Robin go without me.”
And suddenly I’m caught in the middle of whatever this is, without even knowing what it is. I don’t want to abandon either of them. I don’t want to have to choose between them. What is Edward’s problem? It’s something to do with the idea of Robin being involved in politics –
Of course. It’s exactly that. If she’s involved in politics, it must mean she has her own agenda. One that might not fit with what Edward wants, one that might involve using him. It means she can’t be trusted. Can’t be a friend.
The worst part is that I’m not even sure he’s wrong.
“I’m sorry,” Robin repeats. “I haven’t – I do genuinely like you and want to be your friend. I’m not – “
“Do you mean to tell me that your family hasn’t asked you to spy on me and cultivate my acquaintance for their benefit?”
Oh. Never mind. If that’s the case, then he’s definitely right to be at least wary. And one look at Robin’s face is enough to make it clear that it is.
Stars. What happened to normal? And what – why –
“I should go,” Robin says. “Enjoy your walk.”
“Wait – “ I say without thinking.
“Why should I?” she asks. “Unless Edward can still be friends with me despite this – “
Part of me wants him to say yes. I understand why he doesn’t. “At least – at least explain. How long – why – “
Robin hesitates for a long moment, and then composes herself. “You’re right. I owe you at least that much. I do genuinely like you both. I thought – Edward and I – but that doesn’t matter. It was… only a few weeks ago? Grandmother reached out to me – said I could be forgiven my… mistakes. They’d be delighted to welcome me back to the family.”
“If you told them about me,” Edward concludes bitterly.
She nods. “I… I didn’t want to. But how could I not? Stars, I must be the country’s most incompetent spy.”
Edward shrugs. “It was the obvious thing for them to try. I should have realised sooner.”
They both sound calm about it, but I know them well enough by now to know that neither of them is.
“You do understand that they’re not doing this because they care about you?” Edward says. “It’s just that you’re suddenly useful to them, because you were close to a Blackthorn.”
The past tense is what gets to me. That suddenly Robin is the enemy, at least to Edward. How easily he can just see things a different way.
I can’t do that. I can’t look at the girl calmly confessing and not see the girl I’ve spent so much time with the last few months. I’ve never been as close to her as Edward or Elsie – maybe not even Elizabeth – but I was still happy to call her a friend. And I believe her when she says that she didn’t want to do this, that she really likes us and wants to spend time with us.
Besides, I know something of what family can do to you.
“I’m not a fool,” says Robin acidly. “I knew the consequences of my decision when I made it.”
“Did you,” Edward replies flatly. “I wonder what your family will think of you when they learn of this.”
“I expect that – “ Robin stops talking and flinches. I can imagine how she must be feeling right now. In her efforts to keep her friendships while winning back her family, she might just have lost both.
I feel a surge of pity. I want to help her. I don’t want to watch her lose everything.
But Edward is my best friend. And Edward doesn’t forgive easily.