He didn’t answer, as I’d known he wouldn’t. As I’d hoped he wouldn’t. For if his tongue spoke, I knew it wouldn’t be him speaking.
“I think I understand more why you’ve become the way you are,” I continued. “You’ve been hollowed out by him, haven’t you? By Famine. But I don’t know why. I wish you could tell me.”
My little brother had always pretended to know more than he did, but I was sure he knew things that might help me now. If he could only rouse and tell me.
“Linos,” I whispered. “Little Lion, can you hear me?”
His head snapped toward me so quickly that I jumped.
“He can’t,” the daemon that seized his tongue crowed. “But I can, sweet nectar to my soul.”
My chest tightened so that it was hard to breathe. “You don’t have a soul,” I hissed.
“I’m nothing but soul,” the daemon corrected me. “But soon, very soon, I’ll be more. I’ll have a body of my own.”
I wanted to shake the daemon from my brother. “Leave him alone!”
“Oh, no, Airene. I don’t mean to leave him. As you well know.” The daemon stretched Linos’ mouth into a wide smile.
I wanted to scream and strike at him. I wondered desperately if channeling quintessence could harm the pyr, or at least dislodge him. But even if it might, I couldn’t channel at will. I was helpless.
“You won’t have him,” I warned as I backed toward the door. “I won’t let you.”
“I’ll be waiting!” the harsh voice called as I fled from the room.
Putting the door between my brother and me, I stood panting at it for a moment. Healers and assistants passed by, casting odd looks my way. When one actually stopped to inquire if I was well, I decided I had to move on. Time was short as it was.
But I couldn’t leave my brother like this without doing anything.
I stormed up to the clerk at the front. Someone had arrived there before me, so I waited impatiently for them to finish before walking up to her. Rather than smug and superior, the woman looked frightened at my expression. I tried to soften my scowl, but it was etched into my face.
“When was the last time Kallias visited my brother?” I demanded.
The clerk blinked. “Kallias the Sculptor?”
“Who else?”
Lines formed on her brow, but she flipped open her heavy book and began to search through, her finger scanning the lines. “Sixty-three, sixty-four…” Her finger stopped, and after a moment, she glanced up nervously. “It seems the Sculptor hasn’t visited your brother since he was first admitted.”
Cold fury seeped through me. I had another appointment to make. “Thank you,” I said, then began to turn away. But something under the entry caught my eye. The clerk had begun to close the book, so I thrust a hand out to stop it. “Wait. Who visited him there?”
The clerk stared at me with a scandalized expression, but she obliged by folding the book back open. “Master Augur Eltris. Is that whom you’re referring to?”
I stared at the name in the book. Eltris had been to visit my brother and hadn’t told me. How much did she know? What did she plan for him?
“Thank you,” I said woodenly, then turned away.
Outside, I stepped to the side of the entrance, my head spinning. Even within the Acadium, my brother was in danger. I shook my head and set off at a fast walk, knowing I had no more time to stand around and consider it. All I knew was that somehow, someway, I had to protect my brother. Especially from my supposed allies.
My mind was in as bad a way as my appearance when I arrived at the Conclave north gate. Kelena already awaited me. Her expression was carefully blank, but I was sure she saw every errant hair and mud splatter up my trousers. I put it from mind. If the Council put me out for a rough appearance, they were pettier than I’d thought.
“You ready?” I asked as I drew out my Finch medallion for the guards, who were less reticent about expressing their skepticism of my dress.
She nodded and followed.
Nomusa met us at the Conclave doors. “Hello, Kelena,” she said, nodding as the honor bowed her greeting to her. Then she turned to me. “You’re racing the sandglass to the last dust. I was about to hunt you out myself if you didn’t show up soon. What happened?”
“A long day. Weren’t you saying we’re running close on time? Let’s go recommend a Verifier.” I gave Kelena an encouraging smile, but she didn’t return it as she stared around the Conclave. Even as an honor to Iason, she’d likely never seen the grand seat of the demotism before. And she had a big trial before her. She couldn’t be blamed for missing a few things. My smile slipped away.
We hurried down the Conclave steps to the Council’s small door. As we neared, the same male honor as before stepped forward. “The Council awaits you, First Verifiers,” he said, rebuke plain in his voice.
“We know,” I said, my forced good humor evaporating.
Nomusa halted me with a touch to the arm. “Remember what we discussed before,” she warned softly. “Let me do the talking.”
She was right. I was in no condition to speak to the Council. I pushed down the mutinous feelings that rose in me and nodded.
Her smile formed a thin line. “A good start. Kelena, if you’ll follow me.”
We entered the Council chamber. All ten of the Low Consuls were gathered along with Jaxas. No one smiled or spoke as we filed inside. I met Jaxas’ gaze and was surprised to see cold consideration there. I lowered my gaze to the floor. The room had a chill feel to it.
“Demos Council,” Nomusa began with a bow. “Thank you for your time. I’ll be brief. We bring before you one we hope to be the first to join the new Order of Verifiers. This is Kelena of Iris. By all accounts, she is—”
“Kelena of Iason, you mean!” Iason, usually stuttering and uncertain, was neither now. His fury made him shake as he stared at Kelena. “I assume I will return to a sooty kitchen this night, won’t I, honor?”
Kelena flushed, but didn’t flinch away from his stare. “Perhaps,” she said in a quiet voice nearly swallowed by the wind from the open windows. “But that will no longer be my concern if you confirm me.”
“If!” Iason sputtered, looking around with wide eyes. “There’s no question of i-it!”
“I would not say that, old man.” Feiyan leaned back in her chair, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Some of us are more open to equal opportunities for all.”
Berker leaned on the table, his face growing purple with rage. “She’s an honor!” he snarled. “She can no more be a Finch than a dog can be a Servant!”
“Peace, please,” Orhan interjected. A mocking smile played on his lips, and I wondered what he had in store for us. “We have not heard out the First Verifiers.”
“Thank you, Orhan,” Nomusa said graciously, though her eyes betrayed her unease. “It’s plain that Kelena is an honor. But this is her advantage. She’s established a network of honors that span the whole of Oedija, giving us eyes and ears into places we hadn’t previously.” She paused, letting the suspense build.
As with most things, Berker was deaf to it. “Like what?”
“Like the Manifest compound,” Nomusa said smoothly. “And the Laurel Palace. Thanks to Kelena’s foresight, an honor was waiting to bring Airene up to the Yorandu delegation’s quarters the night the Seeker wardens attacked. With her aid, we may know well before the next attack and be able to prepare for it.”
The Low Consuls exchanged looks, and Orhan’s smile grew. Too late, I realized why. These ten people, the most influential in all of Oedija, had more secrets between them than the rest of the city combined. To be told the honors of their households might double as spies only served to weaken our case. Even those among the Council who wished the Order success wouldn’t sacrifice their own privacy. Nomusa seemed to sense the same thing, while Kelena’s expression remained impassive.
“For the good of Oedija,” Nomusa continued hurriedly, “we should elect Kelena of Iris as a Verifier of
the Conclave.” She fell silent, neck darkening with a blush as she stared stonily at the opposite wall.
Jaxas moved minutely. “We are called to a vote,” he said in a soft voice. “Those in favor of electing Kelena to the position of Verifier?”
Feiyan immediately raised her hand. I gave her a grudging nod, and she smiled sweetly in return. But it seemed our accordance was in vain. Daelya raised her hand hesitantly, and Zehaar only followed suit after her two fellow Equalists stared at her. Yet no other hands raised. My hopes sank.
“All opposed?”
Iason’s hand was up first, with the rest of the Preservists following. I waited for the last two hands to raise, and inevitably, they did. Photina of Thys and Tychon of Hull didn’t seem as vindicated as Orhan and his faction, but resolutely determined. Too much risk, too much change. I glanced at Kelena, but she was a statue in her stillness.
“The honor Kelena’s appointment is denied,” Jaxas said. “Thank you, First Verifiers. You are dismissed.”
I felt his eyes on me, but I didn’t meet them. I could guess what the Archon meant by his gaze.
“J-just a moment!” Iason cried. The old man stood shakily to his feet and pointed an accusing finger at Nomusa. “You t-try to steal my honor, make her one of your F-Finches, and expect there to be no c-c-consequences? Kelena was my most reliable girl! Yet in light of this betrayal, I am f-forced to dismiss her. Now that I am sh-short-handed, you will have to supply someone in her p-p-place.” He smiled wickedly at this idea of vindication.
Nomusa bowed stiffly. “Very well. We will find an honor to replace Kelena in your household. Anything else, Low Consul Iason?”
He had already sunk back down, the smug smile still on his wizened face. “N-no. That is all.”
Nomusa bowed again, and I followed after. The bow Kelena gave was stiff but to the exact angle required. It seemed that the more fate beat her back into the role decreed for her, the less human she became.
We didn’t speak until we were outside the Conclave doors. “Come with us,” Nomusa said, then turned toward the Aviary.
Though Kelena gave no indication she’d heard, she followed her after a moment, and I trailed behind.
A short while later, we were inside the Aviary’s atrium, and Nomusa invited us to sit as she slid onto one of the tables. She picked up a slice of mango from the platter next to her and thoughtfully bit into it. “Kelena,” she said after a moment, “I’m sorry.”
“You presented it poorly. You made it seem threatening to them.” Kelena didn’t look at either of us as the bitter words spilled forth. “You didn’t think through the barriers being an honor to one of the Low Consuls would pose. You didn’t think how resistant they would be to change. You should have let me speak. If they’d heard me speak, they would have known I’m not a silent maid with a shaved head and tin earrings. They would have heard what I am. They would know how I could help them.” Tears glistened in her eyes, but she resolutely stared straight ahead.
Nomusa looked surprised. “You could have spoken if you wished. Neither of us prevented you.”
Kelena finally looked over at her. “It would have been unseemly!” she hissed.
I gave a sardonic laugh. “The Order is nothing if not unseemly.”
The honor turned her hateful eyes on me. “You haven’t been told all your life to remain silent until spoken to. You haven’t been taught to give the utmost respect to authority, or risk a slap across the face. You move through the world with assumptions that it will give as you require, and it complies. You think it must be this way for all.” She jerked her head away. “It is not.”
I listened in astonishment. She was right. I’d expected the same treatment for her as for myself. It was no more than she deserved. But that didn’t mean it was what others would give her.
Yet as I exchanged a worried glance with Nomusa, it wasn’t for this gap in our vision. We both knew that if we didn’t act quickly, we’d lose her.
Looking back to Kelena, I said the only thing I could. “You’re right. And I’m sorry we weren’t able to initiate you into the Order.”
Kelena’s eyes narrowed, and her mouth parted, but no words came out. An apology was likely the last thing she’d expected.
“But that doesn’t mean you can’t be a Finch,” Nomusa quickly followed up. “For most of our lives, Airene and I have acted as Verifiers without official recognition. I wish we could have given it to you, but we don’t have to let it stand in the way of working together as if you were one of our own.”
The honor’s eyes slid over to Nomusa now. “You would still take me on as a Finch?” she asked slowly. “You would risk the Order’s dissolution to bring on an honor?”
“It’s not charity,” I said. “We need you. You have access, contacts, and knowledge that we sorely require.”
After looking between us for a moment, Kelena nodded. “I have no other place now. If you’ll have me still, I’ll join you. But I’ll need food and shelter.”
“And coin,” I stated firmly. “Nomusa, can we tap the remaining five silvers to our daily allowance?”
“Galene will question it. It would be safer to give her coins out of our own allowances. Perhaps one and a half each?”
I nodded. “Is that sufficient, Kelena? Three scions per day?”
Her eyes were wide. “What would I use them for?” she asked in a small voice.
I realized with a start that she may never have possessed money of her own before. Some honors worked at the banks sorting money, but no honor was permitted possessions of their own. Any money she’d spent before had been Iason’s. “Whatever the work requires,” I said. “Surely even honors take bribes.”
She shook her head. “Not coin. Favors we exchange, and small items we cannot obtain except through barter. What use could an honor have for coin?”
“To stash it,” I suggested. “To save up enough to escape to another life, or to at least have the choice.”
Yet again Kelena shook her head. “Where would they go? Oedija is home. Our families and friends are here. Our lives are here. We don’t know the world beyond the polis’ walls, except for those of us who have lived on the estates. We’d be more slaves than here, for our masters would be the hateful Fates.”
I closed my eyes. I didn’t know the Fates she referenced, but the rest made all too much sense. Every man, woman, and child wanted the freedom to do with their life as they would. But not at any cost.
“Very well,” I ceded. “But you will get the coin nevertheless. If you must say you’re spending it on another’s behalf, so be it. But it’s yours to use how you see fit.”
“Just don’t buy clothes like Airene’s,” Nomusa suggested. “Get something a bit more fashionable.”
As I shot her a dirty look, a smile slowly crept onto Kelena’s face. It brought out a smile of my own. Perhaps we’d gained a new Finch after all.
Nomusa grew serious again. “We’ll need a cover story. But I can think of only one that’s suitable.”
“I’ll do it,” Kelena said abruptly. At Nomusa’s surprise, she clarified, “You wish me to be the Order’s honor, do you not?”
Nomusa nodded slowly. “Only for appearances. In all other ways, you’ll be a Finch, with full rights and responsibilities. But you’ll have to keep that from everyone, including Hyrol, the Aviary’s current honor.”
To my surprise, Kelena smiled. “No need to worry about that. Hyrol is part of my network.”
Chills prickled my skin. Though some part of me was gratified at my suspicion of Hyrol being warranted, most of me wondered what we’d gotten ourselves into.
Nomusa masked her own reaction. “That’s settled then. Now we have to assign duties. Airene, I assume our responsibilities remain the same?”
I nodded and said nothing. Until I knew how our recent inductee would take the news of Famine, I didn’t want to risk ruining my credibility with her.
Nomusa looked to Kelena. “Then that leaves your duties. We hav
e a glaring gap of knowledge where it concerns the Manifest. Our top priority is to anticipate when the Seekers will make their next attack, and where. Any additional news you can gain of the Despot’s whereabouts and Vusu’s doings would also be invaluable.”
Kelena nodded, though her eyes darted between us, clearly wondering what we’d kept for ourselves. I resolutely looked away, not meeting her gaze. There would be time enough to tell her later.
“Good. Then I have one last piece of news.” Nomusa cast me a look. “The Archon approached me earlier today. He informed me that the Council has deemed it necessary to elect the last Low Consul. As the typical manner of doing so — by consensus — has left it open, it will require a simple majority among the remaining unrepresented eleven Servants to win.”
I listened, stunned. Was this why Jaxas had stared so intently at me? I grasped immediately what it meant for him. So long as the eleventh seat of the Council was empty, Jaxas had the power to break ties. Once it was filled, he returned to little more than a glorified moderator. It was the way our demotism was supposed to function, true. The Servants were of the citizens of Oedija, elected to power rather than inheriting it as the Wreaths did. Yet despite all those lofty ideals, I knew Jaxas was who we needed in that position right now.
“Is there no way to delay it?”
Nomusa shook her head. “The date is set. Three days from now, the last Low Consul will be elected. With times as desperate as they are, nothing is likely to change that. I’m working with the Equalists to find a suitable candidate, as well as with Tychon and Photina if they’re willing. We won’t allow Orhan and his Preservists to determine the course of Oedija.”
I hoped she was right. For if they elected one of Preservist leanings, I feared Oedija would already be lost.
16
Dusk Summons
Clepsammia released Agmon Brandheart from his vision. ‘It is for you to decide, Hero of Man. You must make your decision soon.’
Agmon opened his eyes and found they’d arrived at the battlefront. The enemy soared before them in the form of a great serpent. All trembled as Famine’s eye, black as a stormy night, fell upon them.
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