Page 114 of House of Dusk
“An ashdancer?” Sinoe said, frowning. “I thought you were looking for a serpent mystic.”
“They were working together. The woman was deranged. She said—” The prince broke off, finally noticing Yeneris lurking along the wall. “You. Leave.”
“Don’t speak to her like that.” Sinoe’s voice was too sharp. Too defensive. She nodded to Yeneris. “Yen, would you please bring some tea? And plenty of pastries.Someoneobviously needs sweetening.”
Yeneris nodded, retreating into the smaller side chamber where the maidservants kept a supply of treats and a samovar of hot tea to serve the princess’s needs. She took care to rattle the cups as she set them on a tray, in case Ichos was listening. Then crept catlike back to the beaded curtain, angling her ear to listen.
“I don’t trust that girl,” Ichos was saying. “The way she watches you. The way she watches everything. She’s probably one of Lacheron’s.”
“I’m the Sibyl of Tears,” Sinoe replied, her tone light, teasing. Fates, she was good. “Don’t you think I’d know if my own bodyguard were a spy?”
Footsteps. The prince was pacing.
“What’s wrong?” Sinoe softened her voice. “You smell like horse. Did you even stop in the bathhouse? Does Father know you’re back?”
“No. No, I—” Ichos faltered. “I had to see you first, Noe. I had to know if it’s true.”
“If what’s true?”
“I was so sure the fire-witch was lying. I mean,of courseshe’s lying. She ran off with that serpent cultist into the Labyrinth of Souls. Fates. Father’s going to flay me alive, isn’t he?” There was a soft thump that Yeneris guessed might be the prince flopping himself onto Sinoe’s couch. “I had them. I could have killed them both. And I let them get away. Curse that woman and her lies.”
“What lies?” Sinoe prompted. “What did the ashdancer say?”
“Father will cut out my tongue if I repeat it.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
A huff. “More than I trust myself.”
“So tell me.” Sinoe again, more gently.
“She said Lacheron has been playing all of us. That he’s just using Father. Thathe’sthe true Ember King.” A long exhalation.
Yeneris held herself still. Things were about to go very, very well, or very, very badly.
“And you think it could be true?” asked Sinoe, her words carefully balanced, giving nothing away.
“No! I mean, maybe. I don’t know. If it’s true, it means Father’s the biggest fool in the world. Which, yes, I’ve said myself more than once, but Fates, I didn’t mean it like this. It changeseverything.”
Another beat of silence. “Well?” asked Ichos. “Aren’t you going to say anything? You’re the fabled Sibyl of Tears.”
Sinoe’s laugh lashed out, bright and fey. “And here I thought you missed me. That you wanted to see your big sister. But you don’t. You just want the Sibyl of Tears, like everyone else. Well, I’m afraid she can’t help you right now. Not until her master releases her.”
There was a faint clink of gold. Yeneris imagined Sinoe lifting one delicate wrist to show off Lacheron’s bangle.
“What master?” demanded Ichos. “What is that?”
“A ‘gift’ from Lord Lacheron,” she said. “It binds me from prophesying.”
A beat of silence. Then Ichos again. “So it protects you.”
“No!” snapped Sinoe. “It’s sacrilege!”
“But the blood tears could kill you, Noe. I’m sure Father only wants to keep you safe.”
“Furies’ teeth, I can’t believe you’re making excuses for him,” spat Sinoe.
Yeneris’s fingers twitched toward her sword, even as she reminded herself that murdering her beloved’s brother was definitely not the best way to begin a relationship.
