What in the—
“Priests stationed at both main ends of the street,” Zan murmurs.
It’s easy to see all of them: the priests in their unbroken black; Eraya in pristine white; the rest of the market full of color.
They don’t look like they belong here, but I don’t know if that starkness—thatsharpness—will appeal to people who have to live with their magic not working. If that reliability will speak to them, even if it means giving up their color—if they willwantto.
Of more immediate concern, Eraya is clearly leaving them as visible threats behind her while she works her sweet poison unhindered. But—
“Where’s Learned Mujin? He wouldn’t have let her come alone.”
“No,” Teren disagrees, “the Sage of Compassion often appears on her own—”
“No,” Zan cuts him off in turn. “That’s appearance only. She’s always monitored by a ranking priest.”
“Then he’s using her as a distraction for something,” I conclude grimly.
Zan turns into my neck and inhales deeply, then backs up as if steeling himself. “I’ll find out.”
Given how his instincts are riding him, can he really...
Oh. He’s gone totally blank, hasn’t he?
Shut himself down to function; now he’s taking himself away from me on purpose.
Now my own instincts scream at me, and I bite down the anger that rises.
The priesthood ruins fucking everything. I want to scream.
Teren turns to Zan. “Orthis isbait, and you’re going to walk right into a trap.”
“I’ll find out,” Zan repeats.
Teren scowls, and I sympathize.
Zan is always too ready to sacrifice himself.
But when Zan looks at me, he just says, “You will handle the sage.”
No doubt; only trust. Even after my last disastrous showing.
It can’t go the same way this time.
Chasing the Order away isn’t enough; it mattershowI get her to leave.
And it matters because there are more people at stake now.
At least I am used to performing for an audience, but so is she. And I may be rusty after five hundred years...
Or I may have the benefit of five hundred years of meditation that she does not.
I take a breath and nod to Zan. “Go.”
He starts to; stops.
Steps forward instead and kisses me, fiercely.
Thenhe goes.
