You are not listening.
Sowelan knock-knock-knocked against her skull.Not Sowelan, not her skull – the door.Cynthia’s chair skidded against the floorboards as she stood to answer.
Mikau burst in, dressed in a fine indigo uniform, a healer’s satchel of clinking phials and scrolls slung over their shoulder.They halted halfway between the threshold and the table, their face grey; beyond, in the hall, the sounds of hurried footsteps and muted commands made Lina feel cold.
“Cynthia, there you are,” Mikau said, although their eyes were trained on Ami, who slowly rose to her feet.They swallowed and flicked their gaze back to Cynthia.“Come with me.”
Cynthia did not budge, even when Ione rushed to her, unsubtly placing herself between them.“What’s going on?”
“Not to… cause a panic,” Mikau began, twitching a little at the dull roar outside, “but Sowelan’s devotees are marching up the mountain early.And we’re meeting them.Now.”They let out a quick, controlled breath.“Cynthia, as one of Menon’s seleneschals, you’re expected to stand beside Kai.”
The air pulled from Lina’s lungs.She heard a surprised noise, Ami, her hand fluttering over her mouth.
Not next week, not as agreed.
Now.
Cynthia quieted, her face ashen as she looked to Ione, like she could contradict this, stop this.Ami hurried around to Mikau, steps faltering, nearly crashing into them.No one spoke for a heavy moment, all of them doubtless seeing the same thing Lina was, memories of fire and blood, their lives gone up in flames.
They knew this was coming.But facing it now, days earlier than expected, was like a punch to the stomach.A cruel reminder that Kai and River, Cynthia and Mikau, they would all descend the mountain to meet Rigel.
And perhaps none of them would return.
“River is getting ready now.”Mikau cleared their throat.“We’re meeting him, Kai and Archpriest Saros in five.”
Ami clasped their hands.“I’m coming, too.”
“Absolutely not.”Mikau took her face and sent her a hard stare.“You’re to stay put.Here, where it’s safe.”They forced out a smile, an unwilling leader in the absence of Kai and River.“Cynthia and I are to show our faces and present a unified front.Menon Incarnate and his shoal of loyal underlings.We will be more than fine, especially if Kai can work out his differences with Menon, but there may still be trouble and I want you well out of the way of it.”
Ami wilted, let Mikau draw her into their arms.
Their attention locked onto Ione.“You’re to stay here as well, Lady Ione.”
She scoffed.“Oh, I’m at no risk of walking into this.But – ” She ushered Cynthia and Ami with her back to Lina, alone at the table.“ – we’ll keep Cynthia.Lina, Ami and I will need protection, you understand.”
The noises outside ran together, shuffling bodies and stomping feet.Mikau heaved an impatient sigh.“You’ll be fighting Saros, then.He wants Kai to have an entourage.”
“Oh.”Ione pivoted, shoulders squared, and issued Mikau a withering glare.“I am more than happy to fight Saros, Mikau.”
“Ione– ”
“Ione.”Cynthia, her voice soft.Although still sheet-white, Cynthia disentangled herself from Ione’s grasp and, miraculously, squeezed her hands.“I am still a seleneschal.”
Cynthia strode, fists clenched, to stand beside Mikau, and Ione hugged her arms and whirled to face Lina, helpless.
My heliade, a small voice whispered.Lina wasn’t sure anymore whose it was.I will protect you.She slipped away from the table, casting for Ione, pulling her close.
Ione peered up at her, her eyes dancing.Frustrated, she dug her palms into her closed eyelids.“I…” She glanced at Ami, barely holding back tears, and with a purifying breath hauled Ami with her to Lina’s side.“We’re – we’re all being very dramatic,” she said hotly, summoning a smile for Cynthia.Rising where Ami fell.“You’ll be back in time for dinner.Perhaps we’ll even gettwoeggs.”
Ami sniffled and said something that sounded likeFried frogs.
Mikau smiled at her.At all of them.“Well,” they said.“Until we return.”
“Until we return,” Cynthia echoed, her voice barely audible over the commotion outside.
“Yes, yes,” Ione said, a queen again, although she still leaned into Lina, still clutched Ami to the both of them.“We’ll see you in a few hours, after Kai has frightened them with rain or a big wave and everyone has generously decided to leave one another alone.”
The click of the door snuffed out the clamour outside, leaving Lina, Ione and Ami alone in the airless quiet.Ione pressed harder into Lina’s arms, but Ami stepped away from them, wiped her eyes, shook out her limbs.
