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Suvi screamed into her pillow to muffle the rage and embarrassment she couldn't contain. It stabbed at her gut like a knife and burned her skin like the worst necromancy spell she'd ever heard spoken of, the ones that even the most depraved wizards disavowed.
It. Wasn't. Fair !
A knock on her door stilled her, and she listened as Sonder opened the door without waiting for permission. She could tell it was him by the way he shuffled along, as well as his customary announcement: "I'm respecting your privacy by knocking, but asserting my authority as your favorite uncle and authority figure by coming in anyway."
Suvi hated that she could feel herself smile despite everything. She wanted to wallow in her self-pity, but as usual, Sonder made that problematic. He crossed the small room in a few steps and settled on the floor beside her head.
The room was silent for a few moments before he spoke. "You know, I've never known Steel to lose control like that. I must applaud you, Suvi; that's a skill many warriors would envy. What's your secret? Maybe I can sell it to the highest bidder down at the training grounds?"
Suvi stayed silent with her face still buried in the pillow. Sonder sighed. "Ah, well. No matter. It was only inevitable, I suppose. After Soft cursed Steel when you were a toddler, it was only natural that you two would come to blows."
At the mention of her father, Suvi perked up. At the mention of him cursing Steel, she sat up on her bed and clutched her pillow to her chest.
"What curse?" she asked hurriedly. The idea of her father placing some arcane curse on Steel was unfathomable to her.
"The Parents' Curse," was his quick reply. "May you have one just like you." He intoned this in a grave voice, as if reciting an ancient incantation.
Suvi tilted her head and made an inquiring noise.
"It's a gentle jinx placed on unruly teens, mostly, that they have a child just like themselves to repay the heartache and frustration they caused their parents. Steel told me, while we were courting, that when you were a toddler and she was pregnant with Cadilla, she had been teasing Soft about how well-behaved you were and that you must take after Stone. That's when your father said, 'In that case, I hope your oldest child is just like you.' Cadilla is Steel's first child, but you, Suvi, you're her oldest, and these tantrums are merely your father getting his revenge. No one could tell Steel and Stone what to do when they were at Banner's."
Suvi looked up from her fingers, which she'd been tapping nervously, trying to remember this story about her parents. "Really?"
"Oh yes! The trouble your mother and Steel would get into! All unproven, of course, but that rebellious streak of yours is an inherited trait, I'm afraid."
"Then why is she so unfair?" Suvi couldn't help herself; all of her pent-up frustration came pouring out. "I'm top of my class! I've never missed an assignment or gotten anything below an S! Only Silver is even close to me in combat! Why won't she let me go to Sarazmir with everyone else? I'm perfectly capable of boarding a skyship and behaving for a week! It's like she doesn't trust me-"
Suvi felt her voice break on the last sentence. Her head feeling muffled and heavy, she flopped down on her bed and rested her cheek against her pillow.
"It's not that she doesn't trust you," Sonder said gently. "It's everyone and everything else she's wary of. You're the only thing she has left of Soft and Stone. She loved them with everything she had. And then you came along- did you know she held you even before your mother did? She cut your cord and promised to protect you. Worry makes even the most rational people paranoid."
Guilt gnawed at Suvi, but before she could respond, a sharp knock made both of them look up as Steel's voice rang out clearly: "Suvi, may I come in?"
A moment of silence passed as she and Sonder looked at each other. He shrugged as if to say, Your choice, kiddo.
Taking a deep breath, she called for Steel to come in. Silhouetted by the light from the hallway, Steel's red hair glowed like a Fireball spell. She stood in the doorway for half a moment before closing the door almost all the way behind her and approaching the bed.
Suvi scooted over to make room and noticed that Steel had changed out of her armor and into a simple tunic and trousers, the closest thing to casual wear Steel ever managed lately.
As Steel sat on the bed, Sonder looked up from his spot on the floor and asked in a lazy tone, "Would you like a Calm Emotions spell, or do I need to stay to referee this conversation?"
"Neither," Steel replied wryly. "Suvi and I are fine. You can leave us and be assured we won't wake the younger ones."
Sonder nodded and gave first Suvi a kiss on the forehead, then Steel a kiss on the cheek. He left the room, closing the door behind him with a soft snick .
Steel was quiet for a moment, her hands folded in her lap. When she spoke, her voice was softer than Suvi had heard it in months. "I would like to apologize for losing my temper with you. Your frustration is valid, and I'm sorry for not acknowledging that."
She took a deep breath before continuing. "I've spoken to Archmage Serenity, and she's agreed that I may act as chaperone for the group. I know it's not ideal to have your guardian with you, but I hope that's a compromise you can live with."
For a minute, Suvi said nothing, processing this unexpected turn. Then she nodded slowly. "Alright. I'm sorry for yelling at you. That wasn't nice."
Steel smiled, a genuine smile, not her usual commander's expression, and opened her arms slightly. "Hug it out?"
Suvi dove into Steel's arms, and the two talked in whispers until late into the night. When Sonder peeked in on his way to bed, he saw the newly appointed Sword of the Citadel keeping a watchful eye on her oldest child, both of them finally at peace.