Page 41 of House of Dusk
The foxwing gave another warning chitter, louder this time.
“Shh!” Yeneris hissed. “I’m not trying to steal your babies.”
Voices rumbled above, and she smothered another curse. So much for her cunning plan. All she could do now was try to get back to the roof as fast as possible, hoping that her plain dark clothing would hide her, or at least obscure her identity for long enough to escape.
But there would be a cost. If the guards saw an intruder, they would increase patrols, maybe even set soldiers on the rooftops. There would be no second chance.
This was what she got for being rash. She should have waited to contact Mikat before acting. She’d let her emotions rule her, and now she was on the brink of utter failure.
“Excuse me.” A familiar voice drifted from above, sweet and innocent as a daggerdove. “Sergeant Ophus?”
“Princess? What are you—”
“I’m here on the business of the Fates, of course. I have a message for you.”
“A m-message?” The man sounded terrified.
“Your wife has just started her labors. I believe it will be your firstborn child?”
“What? Now? But the physician said it wouldn’t be for another two weeks.”
“Do you think the physician knows better than the Fates?” Sinoe demanded. “Go on, then. You should be with her.”
“But I can’t—”
“I’ve informed the watch commander. Someone else will be along shortly to take your post. Go on. Say hello to your daughter from me.”
“A girl? She’s a girl?”
There was the faintest suggestion of a sigh. Then a hasty, “Of course, Bright One. Thank you. Thank you for letting me know.” Then the quick thud of feet, retreating down the steps.
Yeneris had frozen at the first sound of Sinoe’s voice. There was still a very slim chance that the princess didn’t know she was here.
“Are you coming up from there or not?” called Sinoe. “Believe me, I’m nothing compared to a foxwing defending her nest.”
Yeneris grimaced, and began hoisting herself up. She disagreed. Princess Sinoe was a threatfargreater than any foxwing.
“Well?” Sinoe prompted, after Yeneris slung herself over the ledge and onto the balcony.
Yeneris straightened. “Well, what, princess?”
Sinoe rolled her eyes. “Are you going to tell me what you’re doing gallivanting around the palace rooftops at midnight?”
“I thought I heard an intruder.” She kept her features calm, her voice even.
“And you didn’t alert the guard?”
“I didn’t want to cause a panic. If I was wrong. Which I was. It was only the foxwing.”
“Mmm. I see.”
Yeneris followed Sinoe to the stairs, trying not to feel chastened. The princess did not speak again until they were crossing the myrtle courtyard. She halted beside the central pool, kneeling to dabble her fingers in the water. Sleek silver fish rose to the surface, burbling eagerly. Sinoe pulled a crust of bread from her sleeve and began breaking it into crumbs over the water. “I know you’re Bassaran.”
Surprisingly, Yeneris didn’t freeze. Her heart continued to thump steadily. In a way, it was a relief. Except for the part where she might need to flee for her life.
“Or you have Bassaran ancestors.”
“You scried it.” Of course she had. Foolish to think she could deceive a woman who heard the whispers of the Fates.
