Apprehension – as she’d thought.Lina’s eyes darted, but there was no missing the chill in them, the bone-deep fear.
Rising beneath the ache of sympathy Ione felt for her was elation, heady and bright.
Lina did not want to leave Oseidos.
“You would be wise to stay,” Ione said, studying the bob of Lina’s throat when she swallowed.“You’ve seen the violence Sowelan’s armies can wreak.Stay with me, and I’ll see to it you’re protected.”
Lina emitted a short, disbelieving laugh; then looked down, contrite.
Ione clenched her jaw, her temper flaring.Even if Lina didn’t know, that was a laugh Ione had heard many times.The incredulous, unasked question, from Saros, her parents, the high priests:What canyoupossibly do?
“This isle is blessed by Menon,” was all Ione could say, her head high and shoulders thrown back.“Go where you like, then, but there is nowhere on earth you’ll be safer than here.”
“It’s not just my safety,” Lina shot back.“Wherever I go, he’ll – ” She covered her mouth, blanching, but Ione had already heard all she needed to know.
With one long stride she closed the distance between them and grabbed Lina’s hands.Held them between them, a promise.“I won’t demand it if you don’t want to talk about it,” she murmured, “but you have my protection, Lina.Not just from Moths – from anyone.”
Lina’s hands trembled in hers.“All I wanted,” she said softly, “was to be invisible.To live peacefully and… and make up for…” She shook her head, her face lowering.
Invisible.Ione fought the urge to press Lina’s hands against her heart, wishing Lina could feel the divinity thrumming there, reacting to her.You’re not invisible, Ione wanted to say.Menon sees you.Menon knows you, even if I don’t yet.
And somewhere, quietly, beneath that:I want to.
“Stay beside me,” Ione went on, “and become my attendant.”
“Attendant!”Lina repeated through a startled laugh.“That’s not exactly invisible.”
“But it’s safe.”Ione squeezed her hands, her pulse racing.She wanted Lina to decide, naturally – and she was so close.She inched nearer, spurred by Lina’s laugh, her surprised smile; her voice went low, conspiratorial, sharing a secret: “The high priests aren’t interested in keeping every mundane acolyte and handmaid willing to do chores, you understand.”
Lina nodded, comprehending.“They want spellcasters.”
“Or wealthy patrons.People with connections.Anyone Saros thinks he can utilise later.Failing that, then anyone who can make themselves uniquely useful.”She lifted her chin.“I’d like an attendant.I’d like you to be my attendant.Agree, and you will be protected not only by my family name, but by Menon’s blessing, passed down from the Great Sage Llyr’s time.”
Lina gazed above them, pensive, past the blue-green hydrangea leaves to the endless, cloudless sky.At the ward, humming like the faint and insistent whirring of wings.
“Yes,” Ione added tartly.“And by the ward.”
When Lina met her eyes again, her own were dark and wary, her brows knitted.“Why me?”
Ione chewed the inside of her mouth, frowning.Frankly, she hadn’t expected to be questioned.It was a very good deal.
“Because…” She glanced to the side, embarrassed, feeling Menon crowding within her ribcage.
Because Menon wants you.
Because you feel warm.
Because if you can help me, then I can save us all.
“Because of what you said to the warden,” Ione decided.“About falling asleep on a bench.It was funny.”A pause.“You’re funny.”
A beat passed and Lina snorted, her guarded edge softening.“Seriously,” she said doubtfully, laughing; for the first time, she squeezed Ione’s hands back, sending a spark of ice up Ione’s spine.“That’s why?”
Someone rounded the corner onto their lane; reluctantly, Ione dropped Lina’s hands and lurched back a respectable distance.As expected from the familiar, graceful rhythm of the footsteps, her mother swayed up the narrow lane, attendants trailing after her in an array of gauzy pastel dresses, a rainbow cast from Penina’s prism of ice.
Also as expected, Penina stopped just before her daughter.“Ione,” she said mildly.“Is there any particular reason your seleneschals aren’t with you?”
Ione held her mother’s displeased gaze, keeping her own expression bored.“I had tasks for them.”
