Chapter Twenty-Two: The Eleventh Road
My eleventh birthday became an international holiday before anyone asked whether I wanted one.
The official name was the World Day of the Open Road.
Governments described it as a celebration of civic access, youth participation, public service and cooperation between human and monster nations.
Ordinary people called it Roman Day.
The Radiant Concord held Black Flame services without placing my face above the altars.
Nhal-Mora suspended transit taxes for twenty-four hours and doubled them the following morning.
Varkesh opened several normally restricted sky routes for public dragon formations.
Solenne provided free spiritual-healing clinics.
Bellamere closed federal offices except for emergency services.
Schools organized service projects.
Train companies offered discounted travel.
Restaurants served nine-crown meals despite my being eleven because their menus had been printed the previous year.
Merchants sold violet-and-gold phoenix ribbons, black-flame lanterns and long blond hair extensions.
I received no share of the unofficial merchandise.
Helena corrected that in seventeen countries.
Every recognized government either observed the holiday or issued a public explanation for refusing.
The refusals received enough coverage to make the day global anyway.
Maris wanted one private dinner.
Cassiel wanted a twenty-four-hour live special.
The Crown wanted a national unity ceremony.
The Concord wanted an Apostolic address.
My registered lay movements wanted a public-service mandate.
The Fourteen Shadows wanted access.
The six principal future-consorts wanted separate protocols so their appearances would not be interpreted as a ranking change.
I wanted to travel.
Not through a continuous documentary montage.
Not waving from one palace balcony before returning to a controlled banquet.
I wanted to stand in as many cities, towns and neglected places as my body could physically reach.
The idea became the Eleven Roads Circuit.
Eleven days.
Sixty-three physical stops.
Three hundred and twelve additional municipal assemblies connected through witnessed mirrors.
Five commonwealth capitals.
Nine major ports.
Four agricultural regions.
Three mountain territories.
Two monster-administered districts.
One island chain.
One town the federal census had nearly forgotten existed.
Doctor Vey limited me to nine active hours each day.
Instructor Morrow required morning physical checks.
Vesper could cancel the schedule by refusing to leave her perch.
Astraea possessed independent authority to suspend the tour if my Apostolic condition destabilized.
Eirene claimed no authority.
She simply intended to prevent anything from killing me.
That became more useful than authority.
I began in Bellamere.