Embers of Empire by Michaela Strauther

Author:Michaela Strauther [Strauther, Michaela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781610058889
Publisher: Lanier Press
Published: 2018-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

By the time Julian and Colette were done training, Sathryn and Navier had fallen asleep across her bed. Sathryn was on her side, Navier was on his back, and the book was lying between them. Sathryn cracked open her eyes when she heard Julian’s elated voice as he barged into the room, laughing and talking with Colette, who spoke loud enough to deafen the dead.

“Do you remember the time I snuck into your parents’ dinner party to steal the chocolate apples you had there? I snuck in through the back where your father kept all the cheeses—”

“—and so it always attracted the mice—”

“—so when I opened the door to see you I let out all the mice into the party and everyone had to leave because they were crawling under the tables and scaring everyone half to death!”

“Like Yvette Mantau,” Julian wheezed.

“Who?”

“The lady from Onawa.”

“Oh, yes! The rats ran up her dress!”

“Yeah.” It was Julian’s voice. “And I took all the blame so your crazy mother wouldn’t kick you out.”

“Thanks for that, Lynk.”

Lynk?

“No prob—”

Something caught his voice.

“—lem.”

Sathryn heard Colette’s sudden laughter. “Looks like they found a way to entertain themselves.”

Sathryn shifted her head, as if still in deep sleep, so that she could catch a quick glance at them both. Julian was staring down at her and Navier in slight confusion—and disappointment, if she was reading his face right. “No, you idiot, there is a book between them.”

Julian leaned down just far enough to grab the book from between them, making Sathryn shut her eyes in fear he would notice her awareness. “Sises and Eruma. It’s the book I gave her.”

“Why?”

“Because her mother . . . and we needed something to do.”

“What, you wanted to read it with her?” Her voice was mocking.

“Whatever.” Sathryn felt him set the book back where it had been before. “At least she’s getting plenty of rest.”

“Why’d she run out in the first place?”

“Can you lower your voice, please?” he hissed. “You’re very loud, did you know that?”

She laughed. “Yes. But you didn’t answer my question.”

“I don’t know why she left. Maybe she wasn’t feeling well.”

“‘Wasn’t feeling well.’ Right. She looked pretty fine to me.”

“You can’t fault her. Her whole family is gone and she thought she was improving with the knives—well, until you came in and made her feel like she was helpless. Like she still sucked after practicing for years, not days.”

“I’m very frank, you know that.”

“Well”—Sathryn heard the old mattress on Julian’s bed crinkle, meaning he must have sat on it—“I’m going to bed. Wake Navier up and take him to your rooms. And try not to be so ‘frank’ tomorrow.”

Sathryn hid her face as Colette approached the bed. “Wake up,” she said to Navier, shaking his body. He awoke looking quite stunned, but once he realized it was Colette, he laughed it off.

“Good night, you two,” Julian called.

“Good night!”

“Good night, Lynk!”

As soon as the door closed, Sathryn figured she would stop pretending. She rose and rubbed her eyes for effect. “Who’s Lynk?” She already knew the answer.

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