Page 92 of Requiem of Silence

She leaned back against a wall and closed her eyes, trying to picture herself amidst this new reality. She felt Mooriah’s presence, but the woman stood next to her quietly.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?” Kyara breathed.

Mooriah sighed. “I honestly did not think that you would want to know. From the moment I arrived you have been… prickly.”

“I’m an orphan. Family is… a dream come true.” She opened her eyes to find Mooriah sorrowful, gaze heavy.

“Then I apologize. It was wrong of me not to tell you.”

They stood together in silence for a while as Kyara got used to the feel of the new ground beneath her feet.

Finally, she sucked in a breath and pushed off the wall. “All right, I’m ready to go back. I have a lot of work to do. But later… I have questions.”

Mooriah smiled sadly. “Of course. I’ll do my best to answer them.”

“Thank you.”

“And Kyara?”

She turned, brows raised.

“I am proud that you’re mine. I am hard on you, which is my way, but know this, if we must be only three, and I could have chosen who to stand with, I would have chosen you.”

A lump formed in Kyara’s throat. She stared at Mooriah, mouth agape, before retreating into the steamy heat of the cave. She sat before the fire, covering her face, trying in vain to hold back the tears.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The earth underfoot is priceless,

valued by all.

Who owns the air or ocean or mountain?

Who taxes our breath, our joy, our dance

in currency other than Harmony?

—THE HARMONY OF BEING

“That woman is impossible.” Jasminda groaned once King Pia and her Cabinet ministers had left the meeting room. This was the third day of talks to end the trade embargo and the leaders had done nothing but go around in circles. “What does she even want?” She dropped her head into her hands and sighed.

Thethunkthat sounded on the table in front of her startled her. A crystal glass half-full of brown liquor had been placed there. Jasminda looked up to find Minister Calladeen seated beside her,holding his own glass. He and some of his top staff had been present for the past two days of meetings. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, and, according to Jack, an intelligent, talented diplomat in spite of his many other flaws, she had to admit he’d been helpful.

He’d kept the meetings on track, offered numerous suggestions for compromise, and had not reacted to Pia’s cutting remarks or thinly veiled insults. Plus, he’d been extremely deferential and respectful to Jasminda.At least he knows how to behave in front of guests, she thought.

Now she studied the glass he’d set before her. She wasn’t much of a drinker, and part of her wondered if he’d poisoned it. But death at this point might be welcome; at least she wouldn’t have to deal with that impossible Raunian harpy anymore.

“Thank you,” she said, lifting the glass gingerly to her lips. The liquor burned as it went down, but she relished it. The sensation jump-started her body, making her muscles and bones feel something other than pure exhaustion.

She exhaled slowly as her insides warmed. “I cannot believe that we are on the verge of economic collapse from an embargo thatshestarted because Prince Alariq offended her by questioning the quality of the Raunian ships we’d purchased.”

Calladeen tapped the table with his own glass before draining its contents in one swallow. “Alariq was always careful. He accused Raun of selling us substandard ships very purposefully. He must have been enacting a longer-range plan, one that he was, sadly, unable to see out before being murdered.”

Her veins began to heat as the alcohol took hold. Was this extra potent or was she just a lightweight? She should probably stop now, but she took one more sip. “Do you know what Alariq’s plan was?”

Calladeen frowned and shook his head. “I know that he wasseeking to use some kind of leverage against Pia. Playing the Raunian shipbuilders off of those in the south, but beyond that, no. We were meant to have a meeting on the matter the day after he was killed.”

“He left no notes or anything?”

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