Page 113 of The Garnet Daughter
“Oh no, I’m not angry.” I brush up against him to whisper without the others hearing. “But I will be if you don’t stop making . . . it so obvious.”
His smile shouldn’t be so disarming, but First Mother help me, it is. “Am I your . . . sexy secret?”
“August!” I smack his bicep and forbid myself from laughing with him. “I’m serious. Please. Just for now. There is too much for everyone to process already.”
“Alright, alright. I promise.” His smile turns from boyish to something else, as if I can stop him from talking about it but not thinking about it.
I fold to a familiar part of the Estate after Ferren updates me on Selene’s location after breakfast. Viathan commanders are posted with clunky, metal-wearing Estate guards at every pillar and entry. The contrast is so strange, they are hard to ignore as I turn the corner to the courtyard, where a group of order members are congregated.
Selene is among them, chatting pleasantly. If it were not for her different style of gown, she would blend seamlessly with them, even the color the same. Her eyes meet mine from whereI linger near the entrance, using a carved statue of a woman as a hiding spot.
Ferren didn’t disclose if Selene knows that I’ve returned, but preparing for such won’t make this any easier. The last time we spoke, it was on such awful terms. It will be harder now, more complicated. It hurt her when I left for the birthlands, but she has to know I had to.
“Hello, you are Calliape, the Frithian girl.” A mature woman’s voice rings softly behind me.
She is dressed as a high priestess, her veil removed, a symbol Ferren has said means she will fight during the conjunction. Her hair is the same color as the fine fabric of her grey dress, except for a thick streak of white running down the middle.
“Yes, I am Calliape.” I step out, realizing I’ve not gone undetected like I hoped.
“I am High Priestess Ursa. I attended the council meeting, the one you spoke in.” She smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Oh.” I let out a noise that is as close to a word as I can. Every part of my body is telling me to fold away from this woman, but I am not sure why.
“They are discussing the highest priestess selections.” She looks past me at the group of order members. “Many fine options. But none with the ability to travel between worlds.”
I freeze.
If she sees my discomfort, she does not care. She only smiles more and glides closer to me.
“Forgive my forwardness, but we are . . . bound by the flightiness of time. You see, I believe the next highest could exact change if guided by the right mentors. And save the Estate and city, of course.”
“I don’t know anything about that,” I say.
The persistent woman steps even closer, gliding as if she floats inches from the ground. “There has not been adocumented priestess who could travel between worlds in a hundred years. I checked. I trust you are aware of how truly blessed First Mother finds you. Such a waste to keep gifts hidden on Frith. But from what I have pieced together, you were not meant for Frith.”
She doesn’t outwardly say it, but it’s clear she knows. How, I’m not sure, and it doesn’t matter. This high priestess knows my mother took me from Cosima, from being born into the Estate.
“High Priestess Ursa, how is your sister doing this day?” Selene’s voice is like a calming salve compared to the thorny mess I find myself in.
“Blessed First Mother, my sister is well, holding onto this plane as much as she can,” High Priestess Ursa replies with an oddly pleasant tone.
“Blessed First Mother.” Selene agrees.
“I was speaking with your dear Calliape,” Ursa says and then turns her attention to me again. “Selene and I are old friends. Before she left the priestess order along with . . .” She doesn’t finish her sentence, only filling the pause with a smile and a tilt of her head.
“High Priestess Ursa, would you excuse us? We have a family matter to discuss.”
“Hmm, of course. Blessed day, Calliape, Selene.”
“Blessed day.” Selene stands close to me, her hands clasped at her belly as we survey the strange priestess gliding over to the others, gracefully integrated into the group.
“Who is she?” I ask.
“Her sister is the oldest living priestess, the one who holds the temporary ward. Her ego was large before, but now it’s grown insufferable. She was close to me and your mother, knew she was pregnant with you,” Selene confesses. “Stay away from her.”
“She came up to me.”
“You should not be in the Estate. The priestess order knows too much about you, about your gifts. They will try to exploit them, make you fight their war at the very least.”
