Page 144 of House of Dusk
But they had all agreed. As Hura said, an empty throne was an invitation to war. And that was the last thing the world needed just now. It could not be Sinoe; her gift bound her too tightly to the Fates for her to be accepted as queen. Still, Ichos would soon have the assistance of another queen. The dowager, Kizare, was already on her way from Scarthia to rejoin her children and help ease the transition. And she had promised to return Tami, as well.
“Keeping the sharks away, I see?” Sinoe greeted Yeneris, her smile bright in the dusky gloom. It was nearing sunset, rosy streaks staining the light that streamed narrow windows. Sinoe’s hair caught the glints, the ruddy waves brighter now that she no longer needed to dye it.
Ichos gave Yeneris a polite if slightly skeptical nod, continuing on, leaving her alone with Sinoe.
“I still don’t think he trusts me,” Yeneris said.
“He doesn’t trust anyone, not even himself,” said Sinoe. “But that’s his problem.” She seized Yeneris’s hand, tugging her away from the tomb. “I’ve had enough of this place.”
They exited the necropolis through a heavy wooden gate. Freshly carved, Yeneris thought, frowning as something tickled her memory. They were halfway down the steps into the plaza beyond when she remembered. She stopped, dragging Sinoe to halt beside her.
“This is where it started,” she said, her gaze tracing the stones, the four faded statues of the god-beasts. There were no fire spinners, no crowds, and thankfully no skotoi, but this was where they had been standing. If not the exact spot, then no more than a foot from it.
“Where what started?” Sinoe’s lips quirked in a way that suggested she knew exactly what Yeneris was talking about.
“Where I first realized you were...” Yeneris floundered.
“The love of your life? The flower of your destiny?” suggested Sinoe.
“That you weren’t the person I thought you were.”
Sinoe laughed, a clear whoop that set several pigeons winging away in protest. “That’s fair. So you never expected we’d be back here? Like this?” She swung their linked hands, squeezing.
“No,” answered Yeneris, truthfully. But the spark in Sinoe’s eyes made her frown. “Did you?”
Sinoe shrugged, looking away.
“Did you?” Yeneris asked again. “Did you see all this? Did you know?”
“Of course I knew,” said Sinoe, turning back again. “But not because of any vision.” Her gaze held Yeneris, wide and deep and glittering.
“Careful.” Yeneris lifted a hand to brush at the corner of Sinoe’s eye. “The bangle’s gone. If you weep—”
“I’m not afraid of what I might see,” said Sinoe fiercely. “I know you’re going to leave someday. Bassara still needs you.”
A shiver rippled up Yeneris’s spine. The words had the tinge of prophecy. The ache of homesickness she’d thrust deep surged up suddenly, leaving her breathless. Could it be true? Possibilities spun out, like fireflies in a summer twilight.Someday.
“Someday,” she repeated, her throat tight, hand still pressed to Sinoe’s cheek. “But not today. Today I’m exactly where I want to be. Where I need to be.”
“Where’s that?” whispered Sinoe.
“With you.”
CHAPTER 41
SEPHRE
It was strange, being back in Stara Bron. Sephre would have preferred to go straight to the garden, to spend the afternoon with Timeus, to collect seeds and roots, and to make sure he remembered to trim back the gauzebloom now that it was going past. Then maybe a stop in the infirmary, to share a cup of medicinal wine with Abas and make sure they had plenty of tonic. She wasn’t sure when she might next return.
That was partly up to the agia. Which was the main reason Sephre was not in the garden or the infirmary, but here, in the small office with sunlight streaming in to gild the agia’s mantle, making the pale cloth shimmer.
No doubt Beroe had positioned herself intending just such an effect.
“Agia,” said Sephre, dipping her head slightly.
“Sister Sephre.” Beroe’s politeness was frosty, though that was understandable, given the circumstances. “Please. Sit.” She gestured to the couch beside the window. It was new, and she had moved Halimede’s desk into the other corner.
Sephre sat, smoothing the hem of her blue habit. She noticed Beroe eyeing the green ripples along her sleeves. “Thank you for inviting me.”
