But he knew the answer to his own question. It was in Eijeh’s blank eyes. Of course, of course Ryzek had taken Eijeh’s memories of their dad—he had to have been so horrified by his own father that he’d stolen theirs instead.
Suddenly Akos’s hands were in fists in Eijeh’s shirt, and he was shoving his brother against the wall, knocking over a row of vials. He looked so small between Akos’s hands; he was so light it was easy to lift him. It was that, more than his slack surprise, that made Akos let go as quick as he’d grabbed him.
When did I get so big? he thought, staring at his thick knuckles. Long fingers, like his dad’s, but thicker. Good for hurting people.
“She’s taught you her brutality.” Eijeh straightened his shirt. “If I don’t remember something, do you think you can shake it out of me?”
“If I could, I’d have tried it already.” Akos stepped back. “I would do anything to make you remember him.” He turned away, running his hand over the back of his neck like Jorek always did. He couldn’t look at Eijeh anymore, couldn’t look at either of the men standing in his quarters. “Why did you come here? Did you want something?”
“We came here with two purposes,” Eijeh said. “First, there is an iceflower blend that promotes clear thinking. I need it to crystallize some of my visions. I thought you might know how to make it.”
“So Ryzek doesn’t have your currentgift yet.”
“I think he’s satisfied with my work thus far.”
“You’re kidding yourself if you think he’ll settle for trusting you over just taking your power for himself,” Akos said, quiet. Bracing himself against the counter, because his legs felt so weak. “If it even works that way. And as for your iceflower blend . . . well. I’ll never give you something that will make Ryzek Noavek wage war against Thuvhe. I would sooner die.”
“Such venom,” Vas said. When Akos looked at him, Vas was tapping his fingertip against the point of a knife.
He’d almost forgotten Vas was there, listening. Akos’s heart hacked like a scythe in his chest at the sound of his voice. All he could see when he blinked was Vas wiping his dad’s blood off on his pants on the way out of their house in Thuvhe.
Vas moved closer to the burner to breathe in the—now fading—yellow fumes. He stayed bent for a tick, then whipped around with his knife drawn and pressed the point to Akos’s throat. Akos forced himself to stay still, heart still scythe-like. The point of the blade was cold.
“My cousin was drugged recently,” Vas said.
“I don’t keep track of your cousins,” Akos replied.
“I bet you keep track of this one,” Vas said. “Suzao Kuzar. He was there when your father breathed his last.”
Akos glanced at Eijeh. Hoping—for what? For his brother to defend him? For a reaction to Vas talking about their dad’s death like it was nothing?
“Cyra’s an insomniac,” Akos said, hands fidgeting at his sides. “It takes a strong potion to make her sleep. That’s what I’m making it for.”
The knife point dug into Akos’s skin, right over the scar Ryzek had given him.
“Vas,” Eijeh said, and he sounded a little terse. Nervous? Akos thought. But it was a foolish hope. “You can’t kill him, Ryzek won’t allow it. So stop playing at it.”
Vas grunted, and took the knife away.
Akos’s body ached as it relaxed. “Is there some kind of Shotet holiday today where you visit the people you hate to make them miserable?” He wiped at the cold sweat on the back of his neck. “Well, I’m not celebrating. Leave me alone.”
“No, but your presence has been requested to witness the interrogation of a confessed renegade,” Vas said. “Along with Cyra’s.”
“What use would I be at an interrogation?” Akos said.
Vas tilted his head, a smile creeping across his face. “You were initially brought here to bring relief to Cyra on a regular basis. I assume that is the use you will be put to.”
“Right,” Akos said. “I’m sure that’s the reason.”
Vas sheathed his knife—he probably knew as well as Akos did that he wouldn’t need it to get Akos to do what he said. After all, they were on a ship. In space.
Akos stuffed his feet into his boots and followed Vas out, Eijeh falling into step behind him. The potion he had made would keep until he got back, stable now that it was cooling. Ornery while heating, though, his mom had liked to say.
People gave Vas a wide berth in the more crowded hallways, not even daring to look his way. They looked at Akos, though. It was almost like being Thuvhesit marked him. It was in his casual chewing of hushflower petals, stowed in his pockets; his careful heel-toe gait, used to slipping on ice; the way he wore his shirts buttoned up to his throat instead of open across his collarbone.
Eijeh’s gait was now as heavy as any Shotet’s, his shirt unbuttoned under his Adam’s apple.