Prince of Fire and Ashes: Book 3 of the Tielmaran Chronicles by Reimann Katya

Author:Reimann, Katya [Reimann, Katya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2010-03-31T22:00:00+00:00

“Fisher-trull!” Tullier spoke loudly enough for Savin to glance back disapprovingly. “If she didn’t want to be insulted, she should not have cast the first stone!”

“Go on ahead,” Gaultry told the big footman. “We need a moment to confer before you bring us to the Envoy.” They were in glass court garden, a little distance from where Gaultry had fed the tamarin the peach the night of Dame Julie’s concert.

“There’s nothing to discuss,” Tullier said. “I’ll accept his offer and ship myself out of here. It’s clear no one wants me.”

“Forget it,” she told him. “And if I were you, I wouldn’t embarrass myself by trying to tell this Envoy that’s what you’re planning. If I have to stick half my own Glamour-soul back in you, I’m not going to let you go.”

“You can’t do that without asking Mervion to help,” Tullier said, sounding suspiciously snivelly. “Don’t even say you’ll try.”

Gaultry closed her eyes, trying to collect her wits. How to reassure him that he was wanted? Wanted enough that she would face down his wounded pride to keep him? Of course he was right—she could not imagine herself going to Mervion and asking such a favor. Not after those hateful words that Coyal had spoken! She did not—she did not—take her sister’s support for granted. “Ask Mervion? I wouldn’t hesitate,” she lied. “But you won’t push me to that. Lily upsetting you is no good reason to slave yourself to Sciuttarus’s call. Elianté in me—can’t you admit even that?”

Tullier looked away. “Gaultry,” he said faintly. “I never told you about the spell Corbulo made that day we killed the family and their guards.”

Gaultry could not look at him—not even at his back. A perfect, ripe peach was hanging by their side, just by her shoulder. She reached out and twisted its stem, letting it fall into the cup of her hand. The peach fuzz was soft, its flesh warm, the color a perfect balance of pinkish yellow and red. “You never told me,” she agreed levelly. If she had asked, he certainly would not have told her.

Even now, she was not sure she wanted to know, but the boy was determined to tell her. “The spell didn’t come out right. Something happened, and Corbulo couldn’t finish it the way he wanted.”

“You interfered?” Gaultry said. She tried not to be disappointed when the boy shook his head.

“The mother did. It killed her, but it also stopped Corbulo from completing the part of the spell that was intended to cloak him. That was why he cut her body so—the frustration. Llara in me! Her sacrifice was brave, but it seemed so pointless. Her boys were already dead. Why should she even have tried to be anything other than a pawn to our plans?

“But if she had not ruined the last part of the spell, it would have been Corbulo, not myself, who stood in front of the Prince’s table that day the Princess remembers. Unlike me, Corbulo had enough experience that he would have seen the mission successfully completed.

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