As Shadow, a Light by Rachel Neumeier

Author:Rachel Neumeier
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rachel Neumeier
Published: 2021-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

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City and court seemed, as soon as Tenai departed Nerinesir, to become simultaneously calmer and more anxious. Tension seemed to rise like steam from the very stones of the city, yet Tenai’s departure, no matter how hasty and threatening, also meant that Nerinesir was no longer being continually stirred up by her presence. It was as though everyone had been waiting for Tenai to declare herself an enemy and now that she finally had, well, at least the waiting had ended. By this note of relief underlying the general apprehension, Daniel finally understood just how afraid everyone must have been, right from the beginning, about Tenai’s return to Talasayan, whether she seemed Mitereh’s ally and vassal or not.

Of course, for Daniel, there was no liberation in Tenai’s defection or relief in her absence. His own position was worse than before she had left—and he had felt as though he was going down for the third time even then. How had he let the relationship between Tenai and Mitereh worsen to the point of actual desertion? Even if he couldn’t have stopped the final explosion ... no. He should have been able to stop it. If he had been paying attention. If he had only found a way to show Tenai what was going on, she would never have flown into such a rage at the king: instead, she would have directed her formidable rage toward the right target, and no doubt found a way to rescue Jenna, and everything would be over. Daniel, sitting in the sun on one of the wide windowsills of the map room, leaned his cheek against the warm stone and let his eyes rest on the mosaic that eddied across the wall. It was a soothing thing, abstract gray and white tiles that led the eye in easy swirls around the room.

Mitereh was saying something, but not to Daniel, who—as often happened these days—found it all but impossible to keep his mind focused on the discussion.

Had Keitah maneuvered Mitereh into that stupid decision to interfere between Tenai and Chaisa? Probably he had, Daniel decided. From things people said, Daniel had gathered that Keitah had not actually been present when the king had asked Tenai to let go of her grant. But that meant almost nothing. Even if he hadn’t been in the room, Keitah could have been working behind the scenes to get Mitereh to make that request. More than one string on his bow, wasn’t that the saying? One plan involving Daniel and assassination, and another involving Tenai and a final break away from the king and toward war. And other plans beyond those, each set up to reinforce the chance that Keitah Terusai-e would come out where he intended, on top and in control.

As best Daniel could guess, he had one day remaining before Keitah would order Jenna whipped. Certainly when he had come into the map room a moment ago and found Keitah there before him, Daniel had found the other man’s eyes meeting his with a ruthless impatience that promised terrible things.

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