All differences are settled in death.It was a favorite human saying, especially as a man’s last words—or so Ellina had learned from her time in the legion. The phrase was overused, she had always thought, though she could understand the strength a man might draw from it. She understood the strengthshemight. No matter what arguments had divided Rishiana and Ara during their lives, they would now rest beside each other in death. The thought filled Ellina with a measure of comfort…and disappointment. She had not known until the moment she had spoken the words that shedidwish to visit her mother’s crypt.
The guard was watching her. His pale hair gleamed orange in the light of the nearby sconce.
“You should not hold your blade like that,” Ellina said.
“What?”
“It is poor form.”
The guard was amused. “Green glass never loses its edge. I do not see why it matters.”
“It matters if you take pride in your training.”
“Perhaps you and I were trained differently.”
“Perhaps you were not trained at all.” The guard’s amusement slid away. Ellina continued, “I wonder, what use does my sister have for an untrained soldier?”
“I am notuntrained.”
“Then you are simply lazy.”
His jaw flexed. “Queen Farah chose me personally.”
“To guard dead bodies? The stakes, I am sure, are very high.”
“I am not just guarding dead—” He caught himself. His eyes, already narrow, became slits. “You should be careful, princess. I would hate for word of your…curiosityto reach the queen’s ears.”
“I would worry less about my curiosity, and more about what you have done to satisfy it. Why not tell me whatisdown in the crypts, and see your mistake through?”
For a moment, Ellina thought the guard would take up his sword and swing. Almost, she moved to topple him. It would be easy to throw his balance, to take his weapon for herself, even if she was wearing a dress. It was as Venick had often said: the palace guards were kittens.
But like a kitten, the guard did not take up his sword. Instead he said, “Queen Farah knows that I am devoted to her.”
“Does she.”
“She values my loyalty.”
“How nice for you.”
Ellina turned to leave. Though it tempted, there was no point in riling this guard further, not now that she had what she had come for. She reached the end of the corridor when the guard spoke again. “If the queen does not valueyourloyalty, it is because of what you are.”
Ellina halted. Something about the guard’s tone set her hair on end.What do you mean?she might have asked.What does Farah think I am?But no. Farah did not know that Ellina was a conjuror. No one did.
Still, Ellina’s pulse was unsteady as she turned back to face the guard. She pretended to misunderstand him. “What I am. You mean, because I am a trained soldier? Because I killed guards like you on the night of the coup?” She watched the guard pale as he remembered who, exactly, he was speaking to. Elite legionnaire. Famed spy, a honed killer. Never before had a princess chosen the legion over the comforts of court, until Ellina. It had sparked stories, rumors of her prowess that were mostly overblown, but could also be used to her advantage. Like now. She slipped on her deadliest smile. “No. I do not think Farah minds at all.”
???
Later, Ellina apologized to a frazzled Livila.
“I did not mean to stay so long at the garden party,” she said. Outside, the sky glowed pink. A chill seeped through the stones: a sign of the coming winter. “I must have lost track of time.”
“It is no worry,” Livila replied, dipping her head as she quickly undid the buttons of Ellina’s gown. There would be no knife after all.
“But it is a worry. I would hate to be responsible for your missed curfew.” A pause. “I saw what they did to Ermese.”
Livila’s hand flinched against Ellina’s back.
Softly, Ellina asked, “Did you know him?”
