And there he sits still, in the midst of the Circle of Sorrow that he made for himself.
Centuries ago, the Festival of Uerc had been a solemn occasion, a single feast of remembrance for the fallen god. Now it was a raucous celebration spread out over nine full days that mostly consisted of parties and feasting and betting on horses. Every morning there was a horse race. Every evening there was a ball.
The ball held on the sixth night of the festival had always been Eda’s favorite—it was the most traditional and actually paid homage to the god of animals. This year, it marked only three more days before she made Ileem her husband—and her Emperor. It was also the last time Eda would see Ileem before their wedding, as she was going to adhere to the traditional Denlahn custom of isolating herself for the two days leading up to the ceremony. The custom seemed particularly important to Ileem and she wanted to make him feel as at home in Enduena as possible since it was very unlikely he would ever return to his homeland after they were married.
She planned to enjoy the evening to the absolute fullest, which would be easier if the story from Niren’s book would stop gnawing at her mind.And there he sits still, in the midst of the Circle of Sorrow that he made for himself.
Is that what Shadow Niren and Raiva had meant? That to fulfill her vow she was supposed to go and find Tuer in the Circle of Sorrow?
She dismissed the thought, as she had over and over since reading the myth. How could Tuer be trapped, when a piece of him walked the earth so freely, imbued with power? Who was to say the shadowy god she’d struck a deal with as a childwasn’tTuer himself?
But she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
She swept into the ballroom anxious and distracted, but the instant she saw Ileem she relaxed. He was waiting for her in the center of the room, dressed in black and gold, his jaw freshly shaved and his ear cuff glinting in the light from the chandeliers. He came to join her, and she slipped her hand in his.
Music flooded the ballroom, a quintet of Odan singers dressed in yellow robes; their haunting voices filled the silence, and Ileem drew Eda close.
They danced, slowly, his breath in her ear, his chest next to hers. For a while, she forgot about myths and gods and vows, allowed herself to soak up his presence.
“I love you,” she whispered.
He kissed her hair. “My god has blessed me greatly, bringing me to you.”
She kissed his cheek and cursed the rules of propriety that kept them from kissing any more intimately than that.
“Are Rescarin’s mercenaries disbanded?” Ileem murmured, playing with a stray curl of her hair.
“Scattered like so many ashes, so say the latest reports.” The reports had also informed her that Rescarin had been buried, but that was another thing Eda didn’t want to think about.
As the moon rose outside the ballroom, Eda and Ileem settled onto the dais to watch a mingled host of Odans and Itans perform a pantomime about the gods Uerc and Huen. Eda had seen it a dozen times before, but this year it struck a chord. Uerc, lord of the beasts, and Huen, god of the earth, were great friends until jealousy drove them apart. For centuries they wrestled together in Huen’s halls deep below the ground, until Uerc was blinded in the light of Huen’s great Star. Stricken with grief because he could no longer see the beasts he loved, Uerc climbed the great cliffs where his eagles lived and cast himself from their heights. Huen was consumed with guilt, because it was his actions that led to his friend’s death. He retreated into his underground halls, and was never seen again.
When the pantomime was over, the courtiers gathered for one final dance. Eda tucked herself under Ileem’s arm, and noted with satisfaction that Niren was paired up with a handsome count. The Odan singers picked up an ancient, haunting melody, and the Itans joined in, ringing scores of tiny pitched bells in an intricate counterpoint.
Eda laid her head on Ileem’s shoulder and shut her eyes, letting the music and the movement wash over her. She had never felt more at peace.
And then someone screamed, and she opened her eyes to see Niren dropping like a stone from the count’s arms.
Chapter Seventeen
NIREN COLLAPSED TO THE FLOOR, her head knocking against the marble, blood soaking her hair with red.
Eda was instantly at her side, screaming for a guard, a doctor,anyone.
It was Ileem who scooped Niren up in his arms, carried her through the ballroom and down the corridor all the way to Niren’s bedchamber. He settled her into the bed, his face stricken.
“GET THE PHYSICIAN!” Eda screeched.
Ileem nodded once and disappeared.
Eda sank onto the bed, gathering Niren into her arms, wiping the blood from her temple. Niren was breathing, but only just—dry, awful rattles in her chest.
“Niren. Niren, stay with me. Niren.”
Niren’s body began to shake. Eda held her tight, unconsciously sobbing. The world blurred before her. She wound her fingers through her friend’s.
Niren’s breaths became fewer, with too much space between. The pulse in her wrist faltered.
“Stay with me,” Eda whispered. “Stay with me. I’m not letting you go. I saved you. Isavedyou!”
