Page 33 of The Garnet Daughter
Ferren enters first, immediately taking a seat. Her expression softens now near 99, a blissful look that always indicates a conversation is going on between them we cannot hear.
August regards me with a thinly cautious smile, standing with his arms crossed against the food stations.
Then Selene steps forward, as if she is unsure. I close my eyes as we hug stiffly, avoiding the others’ gazes as they witness our reunion.
“You are here and you are alive,” Selene says, rubbing her palms up and down my arms like she is trying to warm me.
“Yes,” is all I say.
She nods slowly, her words as much a reminder for herself of what is most important as they were confirmation of how truly upset she is.
She guides me to a seat next to Ferren but then oddly positions herself to stand near 99.
“There is a council meeting this evening. We can submit a statement then,” 99 informs instead of greeting me.
“A statement?” I look to Ferren to translate his abruptness.
August’s eyes are on me still, his hasty energy ebbing throughout the mess hall, holding himself back from interjecting and wanting to put me at ease. I wonder if it is as strange for him as it is for me, after speaking to each other freely and relying on just the two of us for so many days. Being in a room with the others fills me with a sense of being too closely observed, and the urge to retreat to avoid assumptions is so loud it screams in my ears.
“On your absence, where you have been since the attack. It is recorded you were present when we attempted to place the ward. It’s not as formal as it sounds.” Selene puts her hands up as my eyes go wide.
“I don’t know why they need to hear that from me.” I panic, thinking of the last time I had to speak in front of a council on Viathan.
“You will only have to be in attendance and agree to the statements we submit,” 99 says, as if that will make me feel more in control.
“You aren’t required to do this, just me?” I turn toward August.
He acts surprised I’ve asked him directly and leans forward to answer me. “No, I don’t have to make a statement. I am covered under Viathan law. Your world is not here to represent you. But all of us will be with you.”
“The attack has made everyone on high alert. I promise it will be easy. It clears any doubts about where you were,” 99 adds.
“We cannot inform them she folded between worlds,” Selene interrupts.
August straightens from his casual lean, now standing as if threatened. “And why exactly is that?”
“It brings too much attention to Calliape. I won’t have it.” She raises her chin to him.
“Well, lying to them brings too much attention to the fact that they know how many ships were in the air space above the Estate. Mine has sat idle and documented,” August informs.
99 crosses his arms and nods, but Ferren doesn’t seem as convinced.
Selene smiles at August in a way that crawls under my skin. “Both Viathan and Cosima are busy with the conjunction and all its facets. By the time they cross-check that information—” She doesn’t finish her sentence, instead leaving the air empty of the rest, confident enough in her argument that she leaves it to each of us to fill in. And whatever August uses to fill in the last sentiment doesn’t seem to sit right with him.
“Selene, they already know she is divine,” Ferren says.
“Knowing she is Mother blessed is one thing. The extent of that power is another. Folding between worlds is . . .” Selene shakes her head. “They will inquire too much.”
A chill runs across my skin as I listen to both of them speak. There is always a current of tension between them, but with it, a sense that some of the context is missing, a secret understanding only the two of them share, having both been vowed to the priestess order.
“What does that mean?” August sounds furious.
“They could . . . take an interest,” Ferren explains.
I huff a laugh because it seems ridiculous. “But what other explanation do I have?”
Ferren nods in agreement.
“No other ships left that day,” 99 says. “It’s well documented.”
