“He doesn’t want to speak to you.”
Eira bit back pointing out that Griss hadn’t even gone to ask Ducot what he’d want. She took a deep breath and reached within her for an emotion that resembled calm, or gentle. Surely something like that still existed in her seas. Or was she all chop and icy daggers now?
“Please,” Eira said softly. “Just, get him? If he doesn’t want to speak to me after I tell him why I’m here then I’ll leave. I promise.”
Griss stared down at her, head cocked, a frown on his lips.
“Eira, tell me what you want,” Ducot’s voice came from behind Griss. “Make it fast; and it’d better be good.”
Rolling his eyes, Griss pushed open the door the rest of the way to reveal a common area much like the Solaris competitors had. Ducot sat with a morphi woman Eira had come to know as Amlia, and the morphi trainer. The latter two stared at her with intense gazes. But Ducot didn’t even turn. He kept his back to her. Yet, Eira could feel his pulses washing over her like a tiny barrage.
How could she tell him without raising everyone else’s suspicion? She couldn’t, Eira realized. Eira bit her lip. She was doing things all wrong again. This was exactly why the Court of Shadows had kicked her out. Or, rather, never really considered her a member in the first place.
“I… Nevermind. I’m sorry to interrupt,” Eira said sincerely. “I shouldn’t have barged in. If you have a moment, Ducot, I’d like to speak with you sometime tonight. You know how to find me.”
“I do indeed.”
Griss shut the door on her face without another word.
“How rude,” Alyss mumbled.
“They hate me.” Eira started down the stairs. “Not that I blame them.”
“What you did really wasn’tthatbad.” Alyss dropped her voice to a whisper. “The punishment isn’t even close to the crime.”
“I don’t even care about that. There’s something they need to know.” Eira gripped the railing so tightly her skin squeaked as she continued to descend. “I was hoping that Ducot would at the very least listen. But I guess not.”
“You never know.” Alyss bumped her hip with Eira’s. “He might surprise you.”
“I might indeed.”
Eira and Alyss turned. Ducot eased the door to the Twilight Kingdom’s common area closed with a soft click.
“You… I thought you…” Eira fumbled, trying to find words and failing.
“I heard what you said.”
“After the door was closed?” Alyss blinked, startled.
“Obviously.” Ducot stood on the stair right above Eira, meeting her eyes with his. She was reminded of the first night he’d taken her to the Court of Shadows. “So?”
“Not here.” Eira glanced around. “Come with me.” She started back for the bench she and Alyss had just occupied.
“Are you coming as well?” Ducot asked Alyss.
“She already knows everything. And I need my trusted friends,” Eira said before Alyss could answer. “I can’t do all this alone. Whenever I try to, I screw things up.”
“At least you’ve finally realized it,” Ducot mumbled.
“That’s what I said!” Alyss beamed and the two shared a conspiratorial look that Eira wasn’t entirely sure she liked.
Back at the bench, Alyss and Ducot sat while Eira stood, pacing by the river. She worked to keep her voice in check so it didn’t carry up to the manor or over the water. She came to a halt, finally deciding where to begin in her explanation.
“I’ve been thinking about what we know—or what I believe is true—and what the Pillars want. I’ve come to a conclusion and I just want someone to hear it and you’re the only person who will listen to me. So, please, will you hear it?”
He kept her in suspense for an agonizing moment. “Very well.”
“Thank you.” She heaved a sigh of relief. “We’ll start with that Ulvarth was unfairly imprisoned for stealing and extinguishing the Flame.”
