Page 44 of Rite of Unity

I pulled my hand back, swallowed, and looked away.

The stage was similar to my first trial, but the audience had grown exponentially.This time, we weren’t in a line.I was alone.I wondered briefly where the other women were performing.

After I’d read my tablet, I understood why there was no prep time.There was nothing to practice.Every woman in the Covenant States knew her lineage.It was one of the two defining rules of your station: your family history as it related to our great nation and your ability to have a male child.I was from the Middle for both of those reasons.My dad’s Covenant history, our right to be here, to use the resources the Covenant provided, was dependent on how far back our claim to this country went.

As the radiation had affected all of us, creating a genetic defect that reduced the male population with each new birth—one in every thirty babies was male, to be exact—and no one had any of their former wealth to boost their status, it was decided that whoever got here first deserved it most.

But there was another flaw in that plan: genetic testing.When we’d been forced to rebuild everything nearly from the ground up, genetic testing could only go back one hundred and eighty years.

I stepped onto the stage, resting my hands on skirts wide enough that a strong wind might catch them and blow me away.

“Maryn Veil?”

I turned, swinging, nearly knocking over a microphone stand.“Yes.Sorry.”

A man yanked the mic from its stand and handed it to me.“Probably better if you hold it.”

I nodded.

I stared at him, holding the cold bit of metal in clammy hands.

“You know what you’re doing, don’t you?”

I blinked.

“Mother above.Did no one—”

“Yes.”I cleared my throat.“Yes.I do.”

He frowned, turning and marching off stage.

I tapped the mic, facing a sea of blurry faces and took a steadying breath.Easy as reciting the alphabet.

“I’m Maryn Veil.Daughter of Joel Veil, born 2082.Living.

“He is the son of Thomas Veil.Born 2046.Died 2105.

“He was the son of Edmund Veil.Born 2026.Died 2047.

“He was the son of William Veil.Born 2005.Died 2026.”

I let my gaze skim the middle crowd, avoiding those in the front who were close enough to make eye contact.

“Four generations of Covenant, and before that, the United States, sons, solidify my right as a citizen of this great nation.I look forward to the day I can restore my father’s honor by giving our country a son as well.”

Light applause sounded, and I curtseyed, crossing the massive stage to hand the mic to the man who had first come out to meet me.The words had done what they needed to.In that moment, I was grateful for Vera’s foresight.In my massive dress, I didn’t feel so small.

***

Wednesday and Thursday came and went in a blur.I missed my job and I wanted to hear from Ruth.When Friday finally arrived, I dragged myself to the shower, resting my head against the wall and letting the steaming water ease the tension in my shoulders far longer than we were authorized.But as I expected, being matched to the President’s son had benefits.

I stepped out, toweling my hair, and froze.

A man’s voice, low but urgent, carried into the hall.

Mom whispered something back.

On silent feet, I moved down the narrow hall, stopping just out of sight.