When the credits rolled, Aveline turned to her with a smile that lit up her face. ‘Santefor tonight,’ she said, her voice filled with unspoken gratitude. ‘I needed this more than I realized.’
Saba returned her beam, grateful for the simple pleasure of spending time with a friend who was not judging her.
‘Anytime, woman,’ she tossed back, sincerity lacing her words.
She sobered for a moment. ‘How are things onTheNautilus?’ she asked, referring to the ship most Akkadians in the flotilla called home.
Aveline winced. ‘Not good. The community is becoming increasingly agitated with each passing day. Suspicion about Shiloh swirls like a dark storm cloud. The gossip is terrible, they’re going wild with tales of betrayal and so many lies.’
‘Who’s behind it?’ Saba asked.
‘Who else? Your aunt Sylvana and your cousin Zsófia.’
‘Typical.’
Aveline bit her lip. ‘Also -.’
Her voice trailed off.
Saba caught her hesitation and turned on the couch to face her. ‘What, hon? Tell me.’
Aveline’s face clouded. ‘Much of the unrest is coming from Khaman,’ she confessed with a shy, embarrassed shrug.
Years ago, Aveline married the Head Cowl of the Solanite movement, a cultist offshoot of the Holy See faith.
Their marriage was arranged, and there was nothing Saba could say or do to dissuade the union from going ahead,for she loathed Aveline’s sneering, hypocritical, and Pharisaical husband.
Even more so, because his cult hankered after the past.
It was composed of younger, more disaffected members.
Young men and women, who had been radicalized by its propaganda and promises of returning to the old, even more traditional Akkadian ways.
‘Why are they so interested in Mak and me?’ Saba asked, surprised, first that Khaman was stirring up shit and also that her friend, who never spoke about her marriage, was sharing at all.
‘Because Mak represents a growing number of Akkadians who refuse to be controlled by the Holy See’s archaic controls that limit freedom. Furthermore, Mak is wealthy and influential, and he holds much of the energy reserves of this flotilla,’ Aveline told her. ‘I happen to know that Khaman and the Solanite aligned high priests are being paid to stoke up violence against him, and the Signet and Sauvage business concerns with their rhetoric and hatred.’
‘To what end?’ Saba asked.
Aveline shrugged. ‘To get him to hand over control of his interests. Like that’ll ever transpire. Members of the Syndicate, too, are behind the unrest.’
Saba nodded, recalling Zolan’s warnings and also how her husband’s deal with her uncle involved his support of the Syndicate’s decisions.
She gained a deeper insight into what Mak was dealing with.
Still, Aveline had to live every day with a man who was a radical, which was way worse than Saba’s predicament.
‘Are you safe?’ Saba murmured.
Aveline sighed, and Saba detected the sadness in her tone. ‘Just this morning, Khaman was on a flotilla-wide broadcastcondemning the attacks while still railing about those who’ve turned away from the true Path of Light. It all hurts my head.’
Her voice trailed off, and Saba was again hit with a pang of worry for her.
‘Remember, Aveline, you give the word, and Mak will send his strongmen for you. I’ll do everything possible to assist you.’
Aveline shook her head and huffed. ‘I wish. The Akkadian and Holy See marriage code is sacrosanct, Saba. You have the luxury of being theŠar’swife and can get away with breaking it, but the rest of us are bound to it, even to death. So while I accept your offer for help, I will have to live with my decision to marry the High Cowl.’
Saba’s heart sank.
