“I am composed,” Bater replied, flashing me another grin before sobering slightly. “Truly. I would not miss this for anything.”
Emotion flickered across his features, quickly masked by his usual ease.
I smiled and stepped around him, moving toward Talon’s side.
“What is this?” I asked softly, glancing between them all.
Eladaria stepped forward, her voice carrying with formal clarity.
“Kaelia of Haelen,” she began, and the use of my birth city’s name echoed through the chamber like a bell toll, “you entered Umbral as a bound soul and a point of contention. You stand before us now as something far greater.”
A hush deepened.
“You have defended this city not with obligation, but with choice. You have strengthened our young. You have advised our council. You have stood beside our Master not as shadow, but as equal.”
My pulse beat steadily, though emotion swelled beneath it.
“By unanimous decision of this council,” she continued, “we name you Lady of Umbral.”
The words seemed to settle into the stone itself.
Lady of Umbral.
Not a guest. Not exiled.
Lady.
Talon did not look at the council. He looked at me with a possessive glint in those icy eyes.
A ceremonial blade was brought forth, its hilt inlaid with dark crystal that pulsed faintly with shadow. Eladaria accepted it, then turned toward me.
“Kneel,” she instructed gently.
The cool stone pressed against my knees as the chamber fell into reverent quiet. I felt Talon step closer behind me, his presence a steady warmth at my back.
Eladaria touched the flat of the blade first to my right shoulder, then to my left.
“Do you swear to guard Umbral as fiercely as you guard your own heart?” she asked.
“I do.”
“Do you swear to guide its people with strength tempered by mercy?”
“I do.”
“Do you swear to stand not behind our Master, nor ahead of him, but beside him?”
My voice did not waver as my gaze met Talon’s. “I do.”
The blade lifted.
“Then rise, Lady of Umbral.”
When I stood, the chamber seemed brighter somehow.
Talon took my hand in his, lifted it slightly before the gathered council, and said with quiet authority, “Behold your Lady.”
There was no thunderous applause.