Of Fire and Stars

by Audrey Coulthurst

  “Really?” I asked. I hadn’t imagined that dissent over the alliance would be so pervasive.

  “Yes. And the discussion early this morning was rather fraught. Apparently the Trindori brokered a trade agreement with some Zumordans without consulting the crown. One of the Recusant factions was helping transport goods up the canal. When the fundamentalists got wind of it, the riot brought traffic on the canal to a standstill, and from the sound of it, they haven’t sorted it out yet.”

  “That’s quite a bag of snakes to untangle. What is the Directorate doing about the Recusants in other cities?”

  “Detaining everyone they catch,” he said. “Though local authorities also don’t have consistent procedures or equal amounts of resources, depending on the territory. They’re trying to get some of that addressed now. As for the knife, no further investigation has been conducted, but I put word in with a few people this afternoon.”

  “Typical,” I said. Their idiocy was astounding. “Let me guess—they’ve been focusing on some kind of pointless local project instead.”

  “Security, mostly. Every time a noble can’t find one of their family members for a sunlength or two, chaos ensues, more liegemen are requested. . . . I’m sure you can imagine the rest.”

  “Witlessness at its finest,” I said. I couldn’t bear to talk about it anymore or I’d start throwing dishes. “Any luck getting my father to turn over one of his prize horses to you yet?”

  “Perhaps.” Lord Kriantz smiled. “It will involve some negotiating. Hopefully he’ll come around before I return to Sonnenborne, which may be sooner than expected thanks to the banditry. We’re still rather new to this business of being civilized. I can’t leave my people without leadership.”

  “It’s a pity you’re leaving so soon,” I said, and meant it. He’d only arrived earlier that summer, and it wasn’t uncommon for visiting diplomats to stay for a full year. It would have been nice to have more time to see if his influence could benefit both the Directorate and me.

  “The tribes under my banner still need a guiding hand,” he said. “A firm one. We Sonnenbornes are a powerful people united, but life is hard in the desert. There is always a temptation to return to a state where each person lives only for themselves.”

  I nodded, though it was hard to imagine the kind of society he described. The conversation turned to horses, and we chatted amicably over the meal until only crumbs remained. When the bell rang to call the Directorate to their meeting, we stood up and paused at the end of the table in front of the long curtains that separated the alcove from the rest of the great hall.

  “Thank you for the invitation,” I said.

  “We must do it again,” he said. He kissed my hand in farewell but then took the opportunity to pull me a little closer. “Perhaps we could go for a ride sometime?”

  “Perhaps,” I said, putting some space between us. I’d enjoyed his company but didn’t want him getting the idea I was available to be courted. Still, he was a useful ally, and alienating him would be a mistake.

  “Good evening, my lady. May we meet again soon,” Lord Kriantz said, and favored me with an amused smile before slipping through the curtains and away to the meeting.

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  Dennaleia

  MY PLANS TO TALK TO MARE ABOUT THE BORDER attack were dashed first thing in the morning when I was ushered straight out of bed into fittings for my wedding gown. Servants bustled around me with a rush of pins, ribbon, lace, and fabric, all of which my small form was expected to support. Morning light cast a pale glow in my receiving room, supplemented by many lamps hung at different heights on the wall to give the seamstresses good visibility. But the gossip proved far worse than the poking and prodding.

  “I hear an offer might be made for the hand of Princess Amaranthine,” a seamstress said with a mouthful of pins.

  “Who?” another asked.

  “No one knows. Mina said it was some lord from the north, but Lynette claimed it was a southerner with a string of horses for her to train.” They both laughed.

  I twitched, causing one of them to yelp as she stuck herself with a hemming pin.

  “Are we done yet?” I asked, impatient to escape and get some answers of my own.

  “Almost, Your Highness,” the first seamstress said. “But we haven’t been able to find your attendant. Lady Ellaeni? She should have been here for her dress fitting a sunlength ago. Her dress won’t be ready in time if we can’t get her fitted this morning.”

  I muttered a prayer for patience to the god of earth. My talk with Mare would have to wait until my riding lesson. “I trust you sent someone to look for her?” I asked.

  “Yes, my lady. She doesn’t have a personal maid, so we weren’t sure who to ask,” the seamstress said.

  Both of them stared at me, expecting a solution to the problem. I hadn’t talked to Ellaeni the previous night. I’d been preoccupied with Mare’s departure with Lord Kriantz, and Thandi kept us moving around the room with little opportunity to speak at length with anyone. Ellaeni had spent most of the evening on Lord Balenghren’s arm. I had caught her eye only once, as she stood alone by a table of discarded glasses, tracing the symbol of the water god over and over where someone’s water had spilled, her expression troubled.

  “I will find her,” I said. I had a feeling I knew where she might be. But if I was correct, sending another person to fetch her felt wrong.

  Once the seamstresses had put away my gown and Auna had dressed me, I went in search of Ellaeni. The halls bustled with morning activity, pages darting amidst the other foot traffic and liegemen standing sentry at every junction. Though more than a moon remained until the harvest ball and my wedding, decorating had already begun. Servants guided twisted garlands of silk leaves in orange and red from sconce to sconce in each corridor. I hurried past them, trying subtly to shake my hands free of tingles that wouldn’t ease. If Ellaeni was where I suspected, I feared what I might find. It wasn’t like her to disappear without so much as sending a message. Taking a deep breath, I pushed my way through the heavy door of the Sanctuary.

  The door swung closed behind me, dimming the commotion of the castle to a distant hum. My magic quieted as well, eased by the peace of the Sanctuary. Beneath the altar of the water god, Ellaeni sat with her skirts around her and her face in her hands, sobs racking her lithe frame. I crouched and touched her shoulder.

  “Ellaeni,” I said softly.

  “Oh no,” she said, trying to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Dennaleia—I mean, Your Highness—I’m sorry, I—” She put her head back in her hands and rocked forward, choking on another sob.

  “I am only Denna right now. What happened?” I wrapped my arm around her like I would my sister and held her until she found her voice.

  “The letters stopped,” she said. “There’s been a riot over the canals. They’ve started rounding up the Recusants in Trindor, and I’m afraid they’ve taken Claera.”

  “Claera?” I asked tentatively. Ellaeni had never spoken that name before.

  “The chief cook on my ship. She was everything to me,” Ellaeni said. “She took such care with my crew and with me most of all. I’d visit her in the galley at night, and she’d have saved me something special. We’d have eaten dreadful salted meat and black radishes for dinner because it was all we had left at the end of a long haul, and I’d go down there to find she’d carved one of those ugly black radishes into a beautiful flower to have something pretty to give me.” Another tear trailed down Ellaeni’s cheek.

  “I’m so sorry, Ellaeni. I understand. Mare is like that for me. She’s my best friend. I would be lost without her,” I said.

  “No. Claera is not only my friend . . . she’s my heart. My parents forbade me to speak of her while here at court. They don’t approve of someone of my rank associating with a cook.” Ellaeni searched my face with hope and fear.

  Understanding dawned on me. They had been lovers. I blushed over my mistake at comparing their relations
hip to mine with Mare.

  “Why do you think they’ve taken her?” I asked.

  “She has the sea sense,” Ellaeni said. “And now that the Recusants are being persecuted and anyone suspected of magic hunted . . . I worried a little when her letter didn’t come last week. But the mail should have arrived again today, and there was nothing. Between that and the riots . . .” Her voice caught.

  “Oh, Ellaeni . . .” My heart broke for her.

  “I would give anything to make sure she is safe. My rank. My ship. Whatever it takes,” Ellaeni said. “Every night, she’s the last thing I think of when I fall asleep. Every morning, I feel her loss when I wake.”

  No wonder Ellaeni had been so unhappy about being sent to Lyrra. She hadn’t just left behind the only life she knew. She had left the person she loved most.

  I took Ellaeni’s hand and squeezed it. “I’m sure she thinks of you every day, too,” I said.

  “You think so?” Ellaeni asked.

  “I’m sure of it,” I said. “If you come with me, maybe we can see about getting you into an attendant’s dress. And I’ll see if there’s anything I can do to help you find out where she is.” I was not truly sure I could help her, but only a terrible friend wouldn’t try.

  Ellaeni turned and wrapped her arms around me. “Thank you, Denna. It’s good to be able to talk about Claera. To have someone who knows.”

  I returned her embrace and pulled her to her feet.

  She grimaced at the tearstained state of her dress.

  “Maybe if we say a prayer, something can be done about those spots,” I said.

  She nodded, and we stepped to the altar of the wind god.

  “Let’s close our eyes,” I said. My magic came softly in the Sanctuary, subdued and easy in my hands. I sketched the symbol of the wind god and invited the tingles out. A gentle breeze dried the spots on Ellaeni’s dress, and then I released the power. The chimes at the air altar jingled as the magic dissipated in a final gust.

  Ellaeni opened her eyes and stared at her dress in wonder. “The wind god truly is powerful here,” she said.

  “Indeed,” I said, dizzy from the outpouring of power, and more than a little surprised that it had worked. My magic really was easier to handle within the confines of the Sanctuary.

  She took my hand and squeezed it. “Thank you.”

  We both circled the room and offered prayers to each of the gods in turn. My emotions churned in me as I tossed the offering chip to the fire god. Ellaeni couldn’t possibly remain at court more than a year—she needed to return to Claera, and I would support her in that. But if I lost Ellaeni, I hoped Mare might stay. I needed at least one person by my side I could trust, and I couldn’t see myself eventually ascending to queen without Mare’s friendship and counsel.

  All the boring meals, poetry readings, and dress fittings I had to sit through would be bearable knowing I could seek out her company at will. She gave me the perspective I needed, shedding light on the world in a way I would not have considered. Then again, if marriage was what she wanted, I couldn’t stand in her way.

  I had to find out the plans for her future.

  I couldn’t go to Thandi—he wouldn’t understand. He already had trusted advisers and confidants he’d known since childhood. Unfortunately, King Aturnicus was the only other person with the authority to give me answers. As soon as I had escorted Ellaeni to my receiving room for her fitting, I sent a page to arrange an audience with the king before I could second-guess myself.

  However, nervousness hit once I was confronted with the king staring expectantly at me from across the massive desk in his study. I took a deep breath to steady myself, as I had done in my early riding lessons.

  “What brings you here, Princess?” King Aturnicus asked me.

  “I heard a rumor, Your Majesty,” I said, twisting my skirts in my hands. “I heard that Amaranthine is possibly going to be married later this year, but she hasn’t said anything to me about it, which makes me think maybe she doesn’t know, but if she doesn’t know, then someone has to be planning it, but I can’t imagine anyone would be planning it without—”

  “Stop.” The king put up his hand, and my rambling ceased immediately. “Who told you that?”

  “Some servants were talking about it. They didn’t know to whom, though,” I added, realizing that I might be implicating someone by mentioning the rumor. He let out a heavy sigh.

  “It is unfortunate that the rumor began, and it’s not entirely accurate. A proposal has been made for Amaranthine, but no binding agreement has been confirmed. Her suitor was kind enough to allow her the time to consider his offer and let you and Thandilimon remain at the forefront for now.”

  My eyes widened at the words “binding agreement.” That binding agreement would take away the one person I trusted implicitly. Was that what she wanted?

  “Please remind me why you have an interest in this, Princess Dennaleia,” the king said. He frowned and leaned back in his chair, which creaked as he shifted his weight.

  “I don’t want to interfere with anything that will benefit the kingdom,” I said, “but I’ve found Mare to be a valuable source of advice and company in my time here in Mynaria. I would never keep her here against her will, but I feel that she might be important if I one day ascend the throne. I value someone who gives such good, honest counsel.”

  “Are we speaking of the same individual? The one who showed up properly dressed yesterday for the first time in her adult life?” the king said, his tone sardonic.

  “I believe so,” I said, allowing my mouth to quirk into a partial smile. She had looked outstanding. But I couldn’t tell him the other reasons I wanted her to stay—how she had taken me to see the city, how we’d broken into Ryka’s ready room, and how when she looked at me I felt like I could fly.

  “Amaranthine still has things to learn. She must accept that her kingdom comes first. She is eighteen and already past the age when she should have been betrothed. I had hoped you would be an example to her rather than the other way around,” he said.

  “Oh, I’ve tried, Your Majesty.” The lie came easily, but I hated myself for it. I didn’t want her to be like me. I wanted her to be herself.

  “I’m sure you have, my dear. Perhaps you should begin spending more time with the other nobles and spouses of those on the Directorate. That would be a great asset to Thandi.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. I apologize for intruding into family business. I only wanted to offer some thoughts on ways that Amaranthine might contribute to the crown in the future.”

  “Speaking of my wayward daughter, I’m sending Thandi down to observe your riding lesson today. He needs a respite from Directorate business, and I’m sure he will be interested to see what you’ve learned.”

  “Of course, Your Majesty.” As if the business of Mare’s marriage weren’t bad enough, I wouldn’t even be able to talk to her openly with Thandi there.

  I should have cared about the chance to ride with Thandi and impress him with what I had learned.

  I didn’t.

  “It was nice of you to stop by, Princess.” The king waved me out of the room.

  I strode out into the hallway with confidence, but my facade crumbled within minutes of walking away. The king had already made his decision. I could only wait to see what Mare’s would be.

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  Mare

  THANDI TROTTED ZIN UP AS I LED FLICKER AND Shadow out for Denna’s lesson.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked. I’d hoped to finally get some time with Denna to share with her what Lord Kriantz had told me about the Recusants and the rioting in Trindor.

  “Making sure you’ve taught my future wife something useful.” He gave his horse a few hearty pats on the neck. “Besides, Zin and I could use the exercise.”

  “We’re riding out. You probably don’t have time.”

  “Oh, but I do. Father has given me the afternoon off from the Directorate. They’re wrapping up their
discussion of how much border support is needed to prevent further raids. My vote has already been cast.”

  “Fine.” I made a lengthy show of checking the girths and stirrup leathers on both horses while we waited for Denna.

  His horse fidgeted, swinging her head around to nibble at his boots.

  “You shouldn’t let her get away with that,” I said.

  “And you shouldn’t be riding a cull. Or a horse with war breeding,” he retorted.

  “Forgive me if I fail to take advice from someone with only four cachets to his name.”

  Thandi scowled at me. “Some of us don’t have time to spend all day down in the barn, Mare. Some of us take our responsibilities seriously and care about the crown.”

  I snorted. “If you run this kingdom like you trained that horse—”

  “Don’t even pretend you know anything about what I do,” he snapped. “Let’s both stick to what we know.”

  Denna cleared her throat, alerting us to her presence. I scowled in Thandi’s direction one last time before turning to Denna and handing her Shadow’s reins. She smiled as she took them, and the tension bled out of me.

  “Lovely to see you, my lady,” Thandi greeted Denna.

  “Always a pleasure, my lord,” she replied, swinging up into the saddle with ease. “I’m sorry for being a few minutes late.”

  “It’s no problem. I had the chance to chat with my charming brother,” I said with the warmth of a winter gale.

  “We’re taking the hill paths, I presume?” Thandi started his horse in the direction of the trail without waiting for an answer.

  “I suppose so,” I muttered under my breath.

  Denna gave me an apologetic look.

  “Walk with me, my lady.” Thandi gestured to Denna to ride up alongside him. She squeezed Shadow into a jog to catch up, leaving me to follow behind them barely within earshot.

  “We may have had a breakthrough with the Recusants,” Thandi said.

  “Oh?” Denna asked.

  “Another of their leaders here in Lyrra has been captured along with something far more valuable. He has some sort of artifact—a silver bowl—that seems to identify those with Affinities. He’s been tight-lipped about how it works, but it’s only a matter of time before we break him down. Then we can begin testing anyone suspected of magic.”