Page 57 of Beneath the Haunting Sea
“It’s not my house just yet. Talia is here on the Empress’s order andthe Empress’s coin, and as for treachery—I think that quite depends on your point of view.” Caiden caught Talia’s eye and smiled at her.
Blaive frowned. “WellIshould not like to be accused of treachery, whatever the point of view.”
“Sometimes one gets caught on the wrong side of things despite the best of intentions,” said Wen.
Talia thought of the temple, the strange Star-light, the sliverof the Tree he’d stopped her from touching.
“And sometimes one should just stay out of things altogether,” Caiden told him darkly.
“Pardon me, my lord.”
Talia looked up to see Ahned standing in the doorway.
“What is it?” said Caiden.
“There’s a plan to ride out to the Ruen-Shained tomorrow—I’ve hired horses for the occasion. Do you and Lady Nahm-Aina wish to join the party?”
“Wen’s holding?”said Blaive. “Why would we go there?”
“Miss Dahl-Saida has not yet seen the house, my lady,” Ahned told her.
All of Talia’s insecurities and discomfort about the forced betrothal came rushing back.
“Why would Miss Dahl-Saida care about Wen’s house?”
Confusion lined the steward’s face. “Because she’s to live there come spring. Master Wendarien and Miss Dahl-Saida are betrothed.”
Blaive’s eyebrowsarched to the top of her head. “Indeed?”
Talia looked at Wen but for once he didn’t meet her eyes.
“Yes, my lady. Would you care to join the party?”
A smile spread across Blaive’s face. “I would.”
“And you, my lord?”
Caiden’s gaze bore straight into Talia’s. “I’ll go.”
The memory of that kiss in the stable nearly overwhelmed her.
“Very well. I’ll have breakfast sent up to your rooms inthe morning, and the horses will be ready just after.” Ahned disappeared back into the hallway, and for a moment, no one spoke.
Then Blaive turned to Talia, her eyes filled with laughter. “Might I offer you my most heartfelt congratulations?”
Wen saved Talia the trouble of any reply. “How long might we expect your company at the Ruen-Dahr?” he asked Blaive pointedly.
Blaive turned to Caidenwith undisguised regard. “However long the Lord Estahr-Sol wishes me to stay. Which I hope will be a very long time indeed.”
Talia couldn’t sleep.
Every time she shut her eyes she saw the Star-light pulsing in the temple, the piece of the Tree she’d almost touched.
Her mother, trapped beneath the crushing weight of the sea. No one to save her. No release. Just darkness and drowning for alleternity.
She gave up after a while, jerking out of bed and climbing the stairs to the tower library. She unlocked the door, stepped in, and lit a lamp to chase away the dark. The book she’d been reading that afternoon still lay in the chair by the window. She picked it up and settled into the chair, tucking her legs underneath her.
Outside the house, the wind whispered over the stones, andshe heard the distant thread of a song spooling up from the sea.
