Behind the Crimson Curtain by E.B. Golden

Author:E.B. Golden [Golden, E.B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 47North
Published: 2024-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-TWO

Firin

Now

I moved like a marionette on the strings of Father’s training.

“Suri,” I gasped, elbowing my way through the packed kitchen to where she sat hunched at the table, “thank the saints you’re back.”

Everything about her was travel-worn—tangled, stained, and soot-smeared. Had she failed to get a ship to Nusias? If so, where had she been instead?

“Are you staying?” Phinnin asked from Nyfe’s hip.

“Of course,” Suri said, with a strained smile that was more concerning than placating. “Someone has to play Gaydra.”

Everyone glanced at me.

I sat backward on the bench beside her. “We were so worried. It’s good you’re back so soon; now Sweet Winter’s Eve can go as planned.”

The tension in the room disintegrated like an exhale. Suri didn’t seem to notice.

“Thanks,” she said, rising.

I joined her in the food line. Jaari slid into place behind us, her ears practically perked like a dog’s. “Luka’s pulled some gorgeous Gwyn pieces for Gaydra to play,” I told Suri. “It’s fun pretending to play the piano when someone else is actually doing it offstage.”

The ladle paused halfway into the pot. For the first time, Suri looked straight at me. “You’ve been playing Gaydra?”

“Oh . . . I thought you knew. We weren’t sure when you’d be back.”

She stared, gears turning. Then she slopped stew into her bowl and headed back to the table. I followed without serving myself. Troupe members shot us nervous glances.

“Now that you’re back, of course it’s yours,” I said, sliding onto the bench. Leaning in, I whispered, “Except it won’t be you up there on opening night.”

Suri’s spoon clattered against her bowl. “Excuse me?”

I smoothed my braid. “I just said I’d love to show you what I’ve been working on, to catch you up.”

“What are you playing at?”

“Nothing. I’m just trying to help.”

“If you think you can just—”

The kitchen fell silent. Everyone looked between us, measuring the scale of our jealousy. Suri’s chest heaved as she stood. “I’m going to wash up.” Chins swiveled as she left. Her bowl of stew steamed, untouched.

I turned to Nyfe, aghast. “I was just trying to help . . .”

“Of course you were. She’s a bit of a mess after Cidd, that’s all.”

“I don’t give a shit how much of a mess she is,” Luka said at the stove, serving themself. “That was unnecessary.”

Jaari’s eyes narrowed, this time at the door instead of me. I gripped my empty bowl underneath the table. Since Suri had come back so early and I’d embarrassed myself onstage today, Mezua would certainly give her the role back. But that would be a mistake. Suri looked half-dead, but I knew I could do it; practicing the Qoyn & Insei scene had reaffirmed that.

Since she hadn’t left on her own, my only other option was to get her kicked out.

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