Page 121 of The Seeker
As she approached them, Rhys and Meera rose. Her eyes still held the edge of fury, but her voice was utter politeness.
“Does the fire still burn in this place?” Ata asked in the Old Language.
Meera answered, “It does, and you are welcome to its light. You and your own.”
Patiala stepped forward, handed Ata a rope of flowers, and bowed. “Atawakabiche, sister of Uriel’s blood, you honor my family with your presence. We have prepared the guest house for you, or a comfortable tent if you would prefer.”
Ata looked around at the warriors and animals who followed her. “I think whichever option is closer to the outdoors for my animals.”
“We will prepare the tent.”
“Thank you.”
Ata spotted Sabine and Roch on the edge of the lamplight. She walked over without a word and stood in front of Sabine. Then the fearsome woman leaned forward and whispered something in Sabine’s ear before she turned back to Patiala and Maarut.
Rhys exchanged a glance with Meera, but he had no idea what might have been said. Sabine’s expression was frozen. Roch only looked confused.
Patiala and Maarut grabbed torches and led the visitors to the largest of the tents, an elaborate structure lavishly decorated with silk cushions, large mattresses, and rugs Patiala had pulled out of storage.
“Damn,” Rhys muttered. “I was hoping they would choose the house.”
“So you could move into the tent?” Meera asked.
“Have you seen inside? It’s smashing.”
The guests of honor departed before the sun breached the horizon, and the scribes and singers of Havre Hélène retreated to their beds. Roch and Sabine drifted away before Rhys could find them and ask what had passed between them and Ata.
He took Meera’s hand in his, eyeing her Tomir guards. “Come to my cottage, just for a few hours. I have a feeling today is going to be hectic, and I’d love some time for just the two of us.”
She melted into his chest. “That sounds amazing.” She waved her guards away and slipped her arm around Rhys. “We’re going to have to steal the time when we can.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve spent several hundred years perfecting the ability to be sneaky.”
“I know. Damien and Sari spilled all your secrets.”
“All of them?”
“A badger, Rhys?” She shook her head. “Honestly, what were you thinking?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Meera sat in the library with Roch, Damien, Sari, and Rhys. “Go over what we know,” she said. “And tell us what Ata said to Sabine, if that’s within your rights to tell.”
“What passed between Ata and Sabine doesn’t relate to any of you,” Roch said. “But I need tonight to myself. I’ll make our excuses to Patiala.”
“It’s the welcome feast,” Meera said. “The whole haven will be there. We’ll miss you, but if you need time, take time.”
“Thank you.”
Sari said, “Why has killing Bozidar become a priority? He’s existed in North America for centuries. Irin have had their skirmishes, but by and large, he’s kept a lower profile than most Fallen.”
“The lower profile has also allowed him to grow in numbers and strength,” Rhys said. “We were talking with Zephirin—one of the New Orleans scribes and a friend of Meera’s—about what they know and what kind of resistance is in place.”
“Is there anything?” Damien asked. “If he’s alive, his sons are still under his control.”
“If he even knows they exist,” Meera said. “Zep says there is already a contingent of Bozidar’s sons who aren’t free of him, but they aren’t loyal either. They’re rebels who’ve escaped his attention. Flying under the radar, so to speak. They don’t make trouble. He forgets they exist.”
Roch said, “He does have alotof children.”
