Tse put an arm over Kai’s shoulders and turned her toward the tunnels. “Come,” he said. “I will walk with you.”
They strode behind Shadi, who was already well into the walkway lined with torchlight.
“Do you know what this is about?” she asked her father.
“The Eternal One tells us nothing, not even your mother. She answers only to the gods.”
They passed one of many wolves carved into the stone, all half-eroded by time.
Kai trailed her fingers along the grooves of cold stone. “Mother must have an idea.”
“She is as anxious as you.” Tse’s hand swallowed hers, and he gave her a comforting squeeze. “Between you and I, I believe she fears the Eternal One wishes to prepare you to take on the role of Grand Matriarch. Shadi wonders if her death approaches, and she is not ready to leave this world.”
Kai let out a chuffing laugh. “She is too stubborn to leave us. Mother will live forever.”
Tse kissed two of his fingers and then sent the gesture up to the gods.
“What doyouthink?” she asked. Her father had a strong intuition. It wasn’t always clear, but he was rarely wrong.
“The winds stir. Change is on the horizon unlike any we’ve seen in our lifetime.”
“That’s quite a leap, even for you.”
“Is it?” he asked, his tan skin brightening with the approach of an anchored torch. “The recent interruption in trade has done more damage than anyone anticipated. Action will be required.”
Heat filled Kai’s cheeks. Months ago, Orestis Vidalatos, the king of Perean, made moves that involved one of their more important trade contracts. Immediately after, an offer to restore the contract came with a caveat: a request by the king of Perean for one of Shadi’s daughters’ hands in marriage. The answer had been a swift, scoffing no.
Now that the king was dead, Eslodel still had Perean’s naval support, and Yiria was without a major food supplier. Shadi would never let the slight stand, and something would be done. Kai just wasn’t sure what.
“Mother must live,” Kai said. “If for no other reason than to right the wrongs committed by that mediocre king. She is the only one who can.”
“You speak as if she were the only capable one. She is not.”
“You then. I am certainly not knowledgeable or strong enough to fix our problems.”
Tse stopped and faced her. He raised her chin. “Brightest Star, you are meant to dim all other lights, yet you dim only yours.”
Goosebumps rose along her skin despite the hot and humid temperature. “I appreciate your faith in me. Sometimes, when you speak, I almost believe you.”
He tapped his forehead against hers. “If I must, I will say it a million times a day until you do.”
Ahead, Shadi must have sensed their trailing pause because she turned and hooked her hands to her hips. “Must you two always talk so much?”
“Yes,” Tse said, lengthening to his full towering height. “Actions cannot do all the work of expression alone.” He winked at Kai, then led her to Shadi’s side. “You two go on. I will escort Doli home.”
The women watched Tse take the sloping tunnel back up.
Kai broke the silence. “He says you’re worried.”
Shadi avoided her stare and continued her previous pace down the tunnel. “I’m always worried. Come.”
Kai fell into step beside her. “He also mentioned our fallen trade agreement. Can I help?”
“The council and I are handling it.”
Frustration sparked in her chest. “I worry about our people as much as you. You can confide in me.”
“In the coming days, I will need your support. In the meantime, I will not give you another reason to excuse yourself from the mating ceremony.”
