“It’s out of the question.” Esmeray’s arthritic hands curled inward. “We’ll find another way.”
“You already said there isn’t one,” Ellie said. “What else is left but to appeal to the source of it all?”
“We’ll find another way.” Esmeray’s eyes glistened. Her malaise was creeping back. The herb she packed in her pipe dealt her relief in cycles. Having wiped her drool and helped her into bed more times than he could count, Taven recognized she would need to sleep soon, which gave him the perfect way to end the conversation.
“Esme needs rest,” he said, standing. None of the others followed his movements, a blatant show of disrespect. “Ellie and Jesstin should stay here for now, and we’ll confer again tomorrow.”
After we’ve left and no one can do a damn thing about it.
Rhiain leaned in toward her brother. “Jess, you tell me what you want us to do. Stay? Go? Asterin is leaving for the Sepulchre in the morning, but I’ll be staying behind. We have a year to solve this, and we will solve it.”
Jesstin closed his eyes. “You can go, Rhi. I don’t think I’ve ever been so damned tired.”
“You can take my room. I’ll sleep here, on the lounger,” Elloven said softly. Her hand hovered just above his arm before withdrawing.
“I’m fine here. You go.”
“Lovely. Shall we?” Taven started toward the door, gesturing for the guests to follow. He bristled at their refusal, the way they looked to everyone but him for guidance.
Rhiain kissed the top of her brother’s head. “We’ll be back tomorrow then. We will fix this, Jess.” She nodded at Ellie. “Elloven.”
Ellie nodded in silence.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Baroness.” Asterin had a hand on his wife’s back as he guided them toward the door. Neither of them had looked at Taven at all. “If you think of anything else that might help us, no matter how insignificant, please send for us right away. If traveling to the mountains isn’t a viable option, there must be an alternative.”
Get them out. Speak to the daughter of Eversong. No more delaying.
Taven sometimes wondered whether he should call his gift clairvoice instead, because most of what he saw followed the words he was given.
I know, he answered. Trust me to see it done.
Then see it done.
“Perhaps...” Esme swayed in her chair.
Taven had to get in her ear now.
Asterin and Rhiain lingered another long moment before leaving. Taven bolted the door behind them.
“I’ll help Esme back to bed,” he said and rushed to the woman’s chair, expecting Ellie to argue and insist on doing it herself.
But all Ellie did was nod and wipe her face.
No more tears, my love. It will all have been worth it. All that has come before will have been but a terrible nightmare.
Now I shall spin you the perfect dream.
Jesstin couldn’t even stand to look at Elloven.
He hadn’t started the evening wanting to die, but the peace he’d felt sitting in that dusty, cobwebbed cell, surrounded by the tombs and ghosts of the past, was undeniable.
“Perhaps this is the Guardians’ unambiguous way of telling you there is no mercy for a man like you,” Gennady said, right on time as always.
“Sod off,” Jesstin hissed under his breath with a panicked look at Elloven, but she was lost in her thoughts at the window. The morning light bathed her in a rosy glow that would have knocked him sideways before, but in a matter of hours, he’d gone from being hopelessly enchanted by her to wishing they’d never met.
If he could go back in time, he would never have helped Elloven or offered her an escape. Then he’d never have seen the way Taven manipulated her, never have felt the bewitching stir of recognizing a kindred spirit.
“If you cause even one more tear to fall from her eyes...” Gennady warned, but he winked away. He never lasted long, but it was always long enough to get under Jesstin’s skin.
