“As part of the delegation into Daanoris, the empress said we must look the part—which, by Kion standards, is to be as ostentatious as possible. We shall all be the poster girls of hua excessiveness before this is over.”
“There you are!” A loud, booming voice was the only warning I received before I was swept into a bear hug by Rahim. Chesh popped up from somewhere behind him, grinning, and with her was Likh, who had shed the customary black clothes he had been given and now wore something more familiar to me: a hua of amber and blue, with beautiful koi swimming down the folds. Councilor Ludvig accompanied them, smiling.
I squealed happily and turned, trying to wrap my arms around Rahim’s massive shoulders. This was proving difficult because he refused to relinquish his bear hug. I settled for clinging to one giant forearm instead. I extended my other hand to Chesh, who wasted no time hurrying in for a hug of her own. “I missed you guys.” It hadn’t been that long since the last time I’d been in Kion, but after our escape, it felt like years had passed.
“We were so worried!” Chesh stroke my hair. “We heard about what happened to the prince. I’m glad you’re here!”
“The empress, she says it is dangerous for you to walk in the Willows still,” Rahim proclaimed, still holding me in his death grip.
“Fah!” I said. “What do elders know? They go around, grimacing in their dull hua and their shades of blech. Shall they decide who I can and cannot take in as clients? Even if Empress Alyx did not insist, I shall dress you well and spit in their faces! Pshah, like so! And so here I rush, armed with my best designs. You represent the ateliers of Kion and must have only the best to show! I can’t possibly afford all these!” I protested.
“The empress is footing the bill,” Chesh pointed out. “She insisted we provide you with the highest quality silks that Rahim possesses, as well as the best of the zivars in my inventory. That goes for you too, Likh.”
“Me?”
“I understand that the elders have not yet made a decision regarding your petition, but the empress insists you be outfitted as an asha regardless.”
Likh’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you, Lady Chesh.”
“Don’t lose heart so easily, Likh my dear.” Chesh hugged her former assistant. “Let’s get to work! Lady Tea, I have several accessories I want you to look at. Empress Alyx wanted me to fashion the strongest protection spells for you.”
“A rightful decision of the empress,” Mistress Parmina snorted, stomping into the room with Shadi and Althy close behind. “And at such exorbitant rates, even for you, my dear Rahim! What of our wayward Dark asha?” Mistress Parmina gestured at me. “Mykaela missing in Odalia, and Polaire along with her. My Dark asha, wanted fugitives in Telemaine’s kingdom! The elders in particular are not happy about you and the empress defying their wishes! Imagine how much revenue that will cost our asha-ka, hmm? A wardrobe full of hua and zivars will not be enough if we are known as criminals!”
For the right price, Mistress Parmina would stick a knife into every one of those elders herself, but two years living under her asha-ka had taught me the importance of silence. I waited for Shadi to speak up. She did not disappoint.
“I’ve just received our account reports from Ula this morning, Mother. All our asha in Kion have been booked solid for the next six months.”
Mistress Parmina’s head spun so fast, it was like an old barn owl swiveling its head. “How so?”
“The nobles are intrigued, Mother. To be a fugitive in Odalia is not the same as being a fugitive in Kion. Even given Tea’s unavailability, it is enough for them to be associated with the asha-ka she belongs to.”
“And also, my dear Parminchka,” Rahim broke in, releasing me so I could finally draw breath, “you forget about the untapped potential that is the eager Daanorian public. Their emperor is enamored of both our princess and of asha. Perhaps in the near future, there will then be visitors from Daanoris, asking for beautiful asha of the Valerian they have heard so much about?”
Mistress Parmina visibly thawed. “Well. I suppose the asha-ka must continue to grow. And as the Empress Alyx has vouchsafed all expenses, I see no reason why you should not do as she asks.”
Rahim winked at me.
I drew Althy to one side. “I think the elder asha might have something to do with the troubles in Odalia,” I told her quietly.
She stared. “And how did you come to that conclusion?”
“Polaire didn’t learn of the Heartshare rune from the book. She told me she’d found it in Mistress Hestia’s study.”
“She’s not in the best frame of mind. How can you be so sure?”
Telling her I’d snooped in Mistress Hestia’s mind would only land me in more trouble. “I trust Polaire.”
“But why would they do that?”
“I don’t know yet. I was hoping you could help me with that.”
Althy looked troubled. “The elder asha and I don’t always see eye to eye, Tea, but to accuse them of what is practically treason…you might not like them, but they are loyal to Kion.”
“Please, Althy.”
The older woman sighed. “If you believe there is something suspicious there, then I will take a look. But we must keep it quiet. We are already in enough hot water without more accusations.”
“A moment of your time, Lady Tea?” Councilor Ludvig asked me as Althy left.
“I have been struggling with my conscience for a while now,” he continued as Rahim pounced on Zoya and Likh in turn. “Alyx is aware of this latest development, and I feel it is important to let you know.”
“What is it, milord? Did something happen to Mykaela or Polaire?” I asked with concern.
“No, there is no change in either. I am close friends with the father of Baron Cyran, the youth who succumbed to the sleeping illness some years ago. The lad woke up yesterday.”
“What?!”
“Say nothing of this to anyone, save your brother and Khalad—and perhaps your small circle of asha friends who will be going with you to Daanoris. Istera is keeping his miraculous recovery a secret from the rest of the kingdoms, and I trust you will do the same. The Heartforger came to us with a cure last month.”
My hands shook, hope bubbling inside me. “Then that means…Prince Kance—”
The old man shook his head. “I do not know yet. It was the forger who requested secrecy, and I suspect he is at Daanoris, attempting to do the same to Princess Yansheo. He left us no clue how to replicate his cure. He is the key to Prince Kance’s life, Tea. This is promising, but locating him is imperative.”
Likh and I emerged a short time later with an armful of hua. Zoya remained behind; I saw her take Shadi’s hands in hers as we were leaving. Likh clung to his share, terrified that someone might snatch them away from him at any minute.
“You better get used to this,” I told him, my head still spinning from Councilor Ludvig’s revelation. The forger could cure Prince Kance. The forger could cure Prince Kance! “Rahim’s been looking at you like a cat looks at tuna. He’s been looking for a new model for his latest summer collection.”
“I hope I don’t cause trouble for him,” Likh said, worrying. “Or Chesh.”
“They’re the most popular artisans in their trades, and their opinions aren’t easily dismissed. You’re an asha whatever the association decides, Likh. Don’t you forget that.”
“And if they decide against me,” the boy said dreamily, rubbing his cheek against the exceptionally soft satin, “then at least I’ll have all this to remember it by.”
The Heartforger paid little attention to the approaching army outside, more concerned with the strange lightning-shaped beads he was forging. His calm unnerved me.
“There will be no more lives lost among the Daanorians, Yansheo,” the asha promised the princess. “Not while I breathe.”
“But how? At least two kingdoms stand against us.”
“Trust me. Khalad?”
“A day or two more is all I need.”