I drew back and forced a smile. “We’ll have time to talk once I’m settled. Or perhaps we can spend a day shopping in the city. My House Leader gave me a small sum to spend.”
Dove took the cue and nodded. “Let’s get you settled, then we’ll talk.” She took my hand and motioned for a servant to grab my few bags, then hurried me up to her room. It was far more lavish than mine at Hedgewild, a small suite with a large sitting area — which even had a small dining area attached to it — a separate room for a study, a private bathing room with attached privy, and a final room for the massive bed and several large wardrobes.
Once we were inside with the doors closed, she spoke — perhaps just a little too loud — saying, “The servants will take your things to your room, but come you must be tired from your journey, just relax and sit for a while.” Then quickly in a hushed and concerned tone: “What in The Bloody Pits has been happening in the south?”
We sat, huddled close, on one of the large couches. “Can we talk here?” I whispered.
I was a bit surprised when she hesitated. She leaned in to whisper directly in my ear, voice barely audible even then. “There are those in my House very good at listening in on others’ conversations.” Leaning back a little she whispered. “I’d like to think we can talk here, but more and more I’m feeling…” She shivered. “…uncertain about a lot of things.”
I nodded. This was interesting indeed. I hadn’t been sure what had been happening in the capital, but it seemed there were undertones of mistrust here, which spoke volumes of the state of things.
“We’re safe to talk here, at least for the moment.”
The new voice startled us both, and we turned to see another woman with us in my sister’s suite. She was perhaps just above average height, but slight of build and seemed smaller for it. Her hair reminded me of Alvere’s raven black, gleaming blue in the bright light coming in through the many windows. Her eyes were emerald green and the similarity of the jewel-toned eyes to the prince’s clear beryl blue was also a bit shocking. She was pale with only a blush of pink on her slender lips. In build, she reminded me a lot of Sparrow. But where Sparrow’s demeanor was open and bright, this woman was mysterious and dark. She smiled disarmingly at us.
“Hello Legs, I’m Midnight.”
It took me a moment to register those words.
“Oh! Midnight!” I turned to my sister. “We can trust her.” Though it occurred to me then, that I was just going off this woman’s word that she was who she said she was and turned back to her. “How do we know you’re you?”
“Maverick said I’d give you something, yes?”
Right!
That had been set up in advance: there would be a sign so I’d know Midnight was around and watching me. She would leave small green stones, smoothed to be perfectly round, in various places where I could see them to let me know she was there, even if I couldn’t see her.
She extended a small hand, delicate fingers closed over the palm. She opened it to reveal a handful of such stones.
I nodded in relief. She put the stones away, somewhere under the all-encompassing black cloak she was wearing and drew in close to the back of the couch, leaning over it to be closer to us. “I am exceptionally good at determining if others are around and listening. But I hear you are too, Legs. You have a spider’s sense?”
I did!
Why was I forgetting all these things?
It’s been a long trip and you’re tired. Also, Midnight just surprised you and I think you’re still a little off-kilter. Don’t worry, I’ll remind you of anything else you’ve forgotten.
Thanks, Auwei.
I drew in a breath and let my hairs feel for any other noises or presences around me. I felt the disturbance in the air of the two women with me… but nothing else… no, wait. Someone passed by in the hall. But they walked past Dove’s room without stopping. “Yes, I think we’re alone.”
“You two are a pair,” Dove said, voice hushed. Then to Midnight. “How long have you been in my rooms?”
Midnight smiled a small, mysterious grin. “You don’t want to know.”
Dove’s eyes widened at that, but she settled quickly. “Will one of you tell me what’s going on?” she whispered.
I looked to Midnight. “I think you know more than I do.”
Midnight nodded and came around the couch, to the other side of me. I slid closer to Dove as the three of us all leaned in to speak quietly.
“I have been secretly working in the capital for over a year now, listening in on many conversations in many Noble Houses, and all I can say for certain is that… something odd is happening.” She looked at me for a long moment, and I felt like I understood this intent gaze.
“Yes, you can tell her,” I said.
Midnight nodded. “Someone or something is making it so that when certain Nobles die, their Lumani die with them.”
Dove gasped at that. I’d known this for some time, and it was still a bit shocking. Lumani were immortal. They were not necessarily immune to harm, but it had been thought that the only things that could harm them were in the Mistlands, while they were in their energy form, not while they were True-Bonded to a human.
