Page 20 of House of Dusk
“That’s fine,” said Sephre hastily. “I don’t need to know.” She seized her teacup, as if it could shield her from the agia’s expectant gaze. “Right now I’m more worried about the skotoi. The star sign. This isn’t a coincidence.”
Halimede stared at her a moment longer before nodding. “No. Cerydon warned that there would be signs. That there are those who carry the weight of the past, even if they do not know it. Many things may be reborn, not just the Ember King.”
A flicker of ice licked up Sephre’s spine. There was something strange in the way Halimede’s eyes held her. But before she could name it, the woman looked away, saying, “We need more information.”
“Somehow I doubt the Serpent is going to come knocking at our door, begging to explain his nefarious plans.”
Halimede gave a grim smile. “No. But there is an opportunity to learn more. And perhaps it will soothe your fears that your presence here endangers Stara Bron.” She gestured to the map sprawled across the nearby table. “I have a task that would take you from the temple for a time. It’s not without risk, but it could gain us answers.”
“What task?”
Halimede tapped a wrinkled finger to the northwest of Stara Bron. Another marker rested there, beside a dot labeledPotedia. A village some seven miles from the temple, with a populace that was more sheep than people. They tithed a small supply of woolen cloth each year. Sephre had traveled there once with Sibling Abas, years ago, to perform a cleansing of the tombs. They had stopped along the way to collect a particular species of creeping pergem that grew in the high meadows.
It took Sephre a moment longer to recollect the significance of the marker. Or rather, the number48painted onto the wood. She sucked in a breath.
“Another death?”
“The most recent yet. They found him yesterday eve.”
“So you want me to go and examine the body? Check it for snakebite?”
“Itwassnakebite. The tomb keeper’s death report said as much.”
“And...did he have the same mark as the girl Iola?”
“He wouldn’t know to look for it. Thus far we’ve only instructed the tomb keepers to report deaths by snakebite,” said Halimede. “You will go and see for yourself. Check the body for the mark. Or any other worrying signs.”
“Like if it gets up and tries to kill me?” Sephre offered wryly.
Halimede’s lips crimped. “Indeed. Which leads to your second task. Even the invocation of the merciful flame could not guard Iola’s soul. It seems we need a stronger deterrent. Once you have completed your examination, you will invoke the consuming flame. We must not allow another demon into this world.”
Sephre’s breath caught. The consuming flame was the most potent rite she knew, save for the Embrace itself. But rarely used, and for good reason. It utterly incinerated the corpse, removing any possibility of it being inhabited by a skotos. But in doing so, it deprived the soul of their connection to the mortal world, and the prayers and grave goods that might grant them strength during the trials of the netherworld.
Halimede arched a brow. “I realize you’ve spent much of your time in the herbarium these past years, but I trust you haven’t forgotten your training?”
“No,” Sephre found her voice again. “It’s just...”
“It is better than the alternative,” said Halimede. “The family will understand. It is our highest blessing, after all.”
We’ll see about that.But Sephre nodded, recognizing the logic. “Anything else?”
“Be wary,” said Halimede. “And watchful. The demons have already come for you once. And they may have a mortal agent.”
“The green-eyed stranger?” Sephre scoffed. “I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself.”
“I have no doubt of that. But you will not be traveling alone.”
CHAPTER 7
YENERIS
Yeneris walked along the hallway, five precise steps behind Sinoe. Close enough that she could still serve her purpose. Not so close that she intruded on the royal presence.
She saw how Sinoe’s shoulders hunched. The clench of her jaw that had been there ever since her brother delivered the summons.
But this was an opportunity. That’s what mattered. A chance to finally see the fabled Sibyl of Tears at work. Better to focus on that. Not the way Sinoe’s slender fingers clutched at the hem of her gown, picking and picking at the embroidery.
“He’s a mystic,” Ichos was saying. “A dedicate to the Serpent.”
