Page 41 of A Fractured Song

“Is it true you’re a singer?”

Seeing nothing to be gained from denying it, Marieke nodded.

To her surprise, Svetlana didn’t respond with anger or contempt, instead letting out a sigh. “So that’s why Gorgon attacked you on sight, is it?”

“Yes.” Marieke didn’t expand. Brief answers were probably safest.

“Why did you come to our canyon? Last time, I mean?”

“I didn’t come here on purpose,” Marieke said. “I really did fall from the bridge. I was lucky to survive.” She could feel Zev’s tension beside her as his eyes moved between the two speakers.

“I see.” Svetlana interlaced her fingers as she studied Marieke’s face. “And how did you escape? You did well to find your way through the tunnel network.”

“I didn’t find my own way,” Marieke told her. “Gorgon helped me find a way out.”

“Gorgon helped—?”

“Right before he attempted to help me off the edge of a cliff,” Marieke added, cutting over the top of Svetlana’s astonished words.

“Ah.” Svetlana paused. “That makes more sense. I’m afraid he always was hotheaded.”

Marieke frowned, finding these dismissive words entirely unsatisfactory.

“I only escaped with my life thanks to my own resourcefulness and Zev’s timely help. Otherwise Gorgon would havesucceeded in murdering me. And that wasn’t the last time. On two more occasions he tried to kill me.”

“Yes, I’m aware that he followed you to the surface with his vendetta,” Svetlana said heavily. “The whole situation was regrettable, to say the least. If he was here, I would certainly give him an earful.”

“Well, you can’t, because he’s dead,” Marieke said bluntly.

“I know that, child.” Svetlana’s voice was somber, but she didn’t seem overly distressed. “I have my sources of information in your capital. In both of your capitals.”

Zev’s brow crinkled as her eyes turned to him. “How do you know I’m Aeltan?”

“How could I fail to see it?” Svetlana asked. She waved a hand at him. “Your dress, your demeanor, the lilt of your voice. We might choose to live down here, but we know plenty about the world on the surface.” Her attention went back to Marieke. “I never received a satisfactory report about Gorgon’s death. The details seem to have been suppressed. Was it you who killed him?”

“No, it was me,” Zev cut in before Marieke could respond. “I intervened to prevent him from killing Marieke. I do not regret it. But should his family wish to call me to account, I will certainly face them.”

Marieke made a small noise of protest, which Svetlana ignored. The older woman was looking at Zev with the first sign of respect she’d given him.

“That will not be necessary. As it happens, Gorgon had no family. I suspect that’s why he sought to create his little group of followers.” She sighed again. “We all seek belonging, I suppose. In any event, I consider Gorgon responsible for his own death. He did not act with the sanction of our community.”

“So you claim.” Zev’s voice was cold.

“Well then, Svetlana.” Rissin was growing bored with the conversation. “If you’re satisfied that they’re not spies, we’ll be on our way. I wish to take this pair with us, and I propose that—”

“No.” There was no compromise in Zev’s tone, but Svetlana flapped a hand impatiently at him.

“He wasn’t asking your opinion, Zevadiah. And Rissin, settle down. You’re not taking them anywhere, and I’m not satisfied of anything. How should I know whether they’re spies?”

“She asked for you by name to avoid us eliminating her, and you clearly recognize her. Are you saying you’re not willing to speak for her?”

Marieke scowled at the elf.Eliminating?It was a very bloodless way to refer to the murder he and his fellows had almost carried out. But Zev had said they were cold and calculating, according to the legends.

The thought made her frown again, this time in contemplation rather than annoyance. She looked from Rissin to Svetlana. The elves had seemed calculating in the way they’d spoken with Marieke and Zev earlier. Their manner with Svetlana was different. Was it just because the two groups clearly had some kind of uneasy alliance?

“If you want to take us as your prisoners out of Svetlana’s territory, why don’t you bargain for it?” Marieke interrupted the conversation between the elf and the monarchist, watching the little creature’s face for a response.

But it was Svetlana who snorted in reply. “Bargain for it? Down here? What would be the point?”

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