Page 31 of Prince of Night and Storm
Danon doesn't come home.
I stand numb and silent, dressed in cobalt Court robes and one of Maman's thin gold circlets holding my hair, at Baba's side when the House swears fealty to him as Regent. My father allows Numair and Juliette to swear service to the House though they're too young; so am I. Everyone looks at me. Baba is Muriel's husband but I?—
I am Aerinne Kuthliele. In my brother's absence, I am the pumping heart and flowing blood of the House.
“Ni sovva tala'nir la Montague, la Renaud la Embriel Gauthier,” I tell my people in a cold, raspy voice, “eld'vasha thalar.”?9
1 Words in italics are Ninephene, but Aerinne understands and mentally translates to Everennesse.
2 “It shouldn't have come to this. You know your duty.”
3 He dares spill blood, even a drop!
4 “Surrender or we kill the children.”
5 “I’ll kill you,” but a guttural, colloquial phrase. It can also be said when joking with friends, which is probably how she picked it up, listening to her brother. But the inflection in her voice makes it clear she ain't joking right now. We assume she's using the word to emphasize the threat/and like it’s profanity, because everyone else is speaking Ninephene and Aerinne really doesn’t like to be left out.
6 “Younger Sister.” Familial, not formal. At Court he would say Malisse’mishvan.
7 “Your oath is not to your sister. Perhaps one day it will be, but not now. Do not force me to hurt her or the other children.”
8 “We’ll keep her occupied, and she'll be protected until she can protect herself.”
9 “We will bring to Montague, Renaud and Embriel Gauthier, true war.”
Chapter
Eleven
A CALL TO WAR
I fear too early, for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
With this night's revels.
—Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Scene 4
Present
Istep inside the Faronne Houses dining/war room, prowling the perimeter as family and vassals descend. We'd spent hours caring for our injured and dead, but it’s late and there are decisions to be made.
Darkan? I have questions.
So many questions.
I grab a chair back when a sudden rush of flame and fury answers my query, sucking my consciousness deep into thevoid of my mind.
In this gray, amorphous place, the vague outline of a tall masculine figure emerges, striding toward me. Anger, disappointment, the flickering edges of a fiery emotion. This mood calls for an immediate offensive.If you've forgotten how to play nice, we can't be friends anymore.
Do you realize what you did, you foolish girl?
What do you mean, what I did? I want to know what you did.An edge in my voice despite the empty threat because despite my tolerance for acidic commentary, at a certain point I draw a line.
You made a Vow.
