Malia laughed – not her stage laugh, nothing cynical or caustic.But warm, like she meant it.Like she was trying.
Kai had never trusted his family without being punished for it.But the way she smiled and bowed her head to River as she departed, the searing hostility in her voice when she uttered Saros’s name, made Kai think that maybe, for this, she could be trusted.At least because it would heal her bruised pride.
Mid-morning light shone in from the windows lining the hall the next day, bathing the market, nearly empty during lunch hours, in watery tones.Kai stalked past bolts of silks and wool, the pathetic display of root vegetables and canned goods kept under lock and key, thinking for the first time in days of something other than Moths, war, how exhausted he was.
Lay low, Mam had said.A fair piece of advice.But Kai couldn’t get Llyr’s journals out of his brain.
If he could just get into Saros’s room again.But the old man kept his quarters warded shut, and Kai hadn’t the strength right now to break through.
Something knocked into him.Or rather, he’d bumped into someone, the resulting surprised yelp startling him back to the present.
The hooded figure pivoted, ivory hair cascading down her front, a cross look on her face.Until she saw Kai, and her eyes widened, her shock mirroring his own.
Ione.He hadn’t so much as laid eyes on her since Soliz, over a week ago.She looked the same, and yet different, her usual haughty expression dimmed somewhat by the ill-fitting grey coat she wore over her dress.She gazed up at him like she didn’t hate him.But also like she didn’t know how to feel about him.
Silence stretched between them, everything Kai had wanted to say dying before he could give it breath.
Are you well?
Are you happy?
I hope so.Genuinely I do.
Ione pursed her lips, quick to recover.“Usually I’m the one bumping into people,” she said neutrally.She lifted a hand to her neck, pushing her hair out of the way and revealing the abalone necklace Kai had given her.
His breath caught when she unclasped it and held it aloft between them.“I meant to give this back to you.It was a wedding gift, and…” She winced, apologetic.“I shouldn’t keep it.Especially since it belonged to your mother.”
The pendant glimmered blue-green in the light.It had been dazzling against Ione’s skin – perhaps too much so, for someone who preferred to wear more muted colours.
Even so, Kai couldn’t take it.He pushed her hand gently away.“Mam wouldn’t mind you holding onto it,” he said.“I gathered from her multitude of sons that she might’ve wanted a daughter.”He shrugged, hoping he sounded careless.“You can still, uh, be part of the family.Dunno why you’d want to, but jump on in.”A pause.“Lina, too.”
Ione rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of affection there.“She’ll be overjoyed,” she said, pocketing the necklace.
“How is she?”
How are you?
Ione lowered her face, smiling shyly.“Well, if anxious,” she said.“She still finds it uncomfortable when you’re nearby, but she’s gotten good at tolerating it.”She went quiet, the smile fading as she turned her gaze back up at him.“I’m sorry that bringing her here has caused you a lot of pain.But I’m still glad I did.”
Kai couldn’t help it.He opened his arms, and when she didn’t step away, he pulled her into him.“Ineen, I was so fucking proud to hear how yous made it up here,” he whispered into her hair.“And happy, knowing yous could finally be together.”
Finally she leaned into him, her arms hooking around his waist.“And you?”she asked, sending a knowing smirk up at him.“I’ve never seen River so relaxed.You’d nearly forget we might go to war soon.”
“We won’t.I won’t let it come to that.”
Ione stepped out of his embrace, her eyes grave.“You sound awfully sure for someone too afraid to harness Menon’s powers.”She tilted her head, some of her old smugness returning when Kai didn’t respond.“I can feel you, casting wards all over the place.You haven’t relied on Menon once.”
Kai mustered a smile.Only River had figured that out.“I’m not you, unfortunately.If you still had Menon, we’d all be dead so you could get a moment’s peace.”
Ione sighed.“If only.Saros took Her from me before I could succeed in ridding myself of you all.”She blinked when Kai’s mouth fell open.“Oh, please tell me you already realised.I’ve had enough terrible revelations recently.”
Kai rubbed his face, the relief unimaginable that he didn’t have to break that to her.“Who told you?”
She placed a hand over her heart, looking important.“I knew all along.”
“Bullshit.”
A small smile.“Lina told me, more or less.I’ve only told Cynthia.”She straightened, sombre again.“I don’t want anyone else to worry.And I don’t want you to worry, either.But I will deal with Saros.”
