Artyom looked up from the fresh flatbread he was dipping into the spiced tomato and poached egg dish that was their morning meal. “That’s a pity. And Raiah?”
“Not mentioned in the article.”
If Raiah had been injured or worse, the broadsheets would have led with that story rather than Vanya’s latest survival in the face of another assassination attempt.
“Therionetkasfailed, then. Which means Vanya may be aware of them,” Artyom said.
Joelle set the broadsheet aside and picked up her cup of chai, taking a sip. “That was always a risk.”
“Can we continue to afford to take them?”
She set her chai down. “No one has ever attained the Imperial throne by not taking risks.”
“We should not put Raiah in danger.”
“She was never in danger. Allrionetkashave their orders to take Raiah if they can and bring her here. They will die before seeing any harm come to my great-granddaughter.”
It was an order Joelle had demanded be bound in therionetkas’making before accepting any of them into her service. TheKlovodhad provided what she needed, and despite this setback, Joelle had no plans to stop using them.
A servant hurried into the parlor, out of breath, and bowed. “Vezir, there is an urgent call for you from Oeiras.”
Joelle set aside her piece of flatbread and stood, hiding her wince of pain from the motion. She hadn’t yet had her medicine draught that morning, and her joints ached. “Have the switchboard send it to my office.”
Artyom offered his arm to her, and Joelle gratefully took it. He escorted her to her office and didn’t leave once she was ensconced behind her desk. One of her handmaidens oversaw the transfer of the call to the telephone on her desk. When it rang, Joelle answered.
“Yes?” she demanded.
The sound of rapid breathing filled the wire before the voice of the only spy she’d ever been successful at getting into the Sa’Liandel household came through. “He sent the girl away.”
Joelle tightened her grip on the handset. “Where?”
“I don’t know, but she went with the warden as her guard.”
“A warden.” Artyom straightened in his chair as Joelle spoke, eyeing her with focused intent at that word. “Which one?”
“The one who always brings the border reports. He goes by Soren.”
It might have been years, but Joelle still remembered the name of the warden who had been feted after saving Vanya’s life. It seemed the rumor of Vanya’s favor was indeed true.
“He knows about therionetkas. He kept the bodies,” her spy said.
“You’ve done well, and you will be rewarded for your loyalty. Continue your duty.” Joelle placed the handset back on the base, ending the call. “Send a messenger to the press archives. I want a copy of the broadsheets from six years ago, around the time of the train wreck that nearly killed Vanya. They will have a picture of the warden that saved his life.”
“What has he got to do with anything?”
“Vanya gave Raiah into his safekeeping, and if Soren is the one rumored to be Vanya’s lover, so much the better.”
“We should take him alive, if that is the case. Perhaps he could tell us which warden wields starfire.”
“It will be in the orders that go out. I want it today. We’ll be leaving for Calhames tonight via airship.”
Artyom blinked in surprise. “Our House hasn’t been to the capital in years.”
“Vanya will not stay in Oeiras. He will not let this attack lie how he has others, not with the failed retrieval of my great-granddaughter. He kept the bodies of therionetkas, and if I were him, I’d show them to the Houses and the Senate. We must counter his argument. To do that, we must be present.”
She and her House had not set foot in Calhames since Nicca’s death. They hadn’t even sent an honor guard to retrieve her body, forcing the House of Sa’Liandel to escort Nicca home for a final goodbye. Joelle had kept her distance out of pride, but now need required she appear at the capital.
Artyom nodded and stood, bowing to her. “I’ll brief the messenger on their task and prepare the House for the journey to Calhames.”
