Transgressions of Power by Juliette Wade

Author:Juliette Wade [Wade, Juliette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Astra Publishing House
Published: 2021-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

—

The shadow refused to leave her, even as Yoral escorted her home afterward. Della rubbed away her tears with a handkerchief, but more came after.

How was it possible for there to be so much suffering? Against this ocean of pain, all their careful plans seemed insubstantial. How could they possibly change this? How could they begin to help?

“Yoral,” she said, “did you see it, too?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Yoral answered. “It was nothing like what I was taught about Venorai. You were right to go. I was remiss.”

“What can we do, though?”

He didn’t immediately answer. “I’m sure you will find something, Mistress. Don’t imagine you’ve failed if you can’t save them all. Even one life saved would mean something. Even one broken arm healed means something.”

He was too kind. “I—” More tears trickled down her cheeks. “I think maybe I should lie down.”

But luck wasn’t with her. Tagaret’s Kuarmei intercepted them as they walked into the curtained vestibule. “Mistress,” she said, “we have a guest. Melumalai Forder arrived some minutes ago; Master Tagaret is with him.”

Della swallowed. Pull yourself together. It wasn’t the first time that social concerns had demanded precedence over her own comfort. She spread her handkerchief across her hands and pressed it to her face. After a moment, she crumpled the handkerchief and tucked it, and her tears, into her sleeve.

“Thank you, Kuarmei.” She took several breaths and then walked into the sitting room.

Tagaret was sitting on their striped couch beside the big Melumalai boy; he looked up in relief. “I’m so glad you’re home safe,” he said. Deeper emotion hid in between the words. “Forder and I have been talking about paper.”

She didn’t doubt that for a second. Paper was young Forder’s life, even as it was the Venorai’s death. And three months ago she’d scarcely given it a thought. Such a small thing, to wind together so many people’s lives.

“Greetings of the day, Grobal Della,” said Melumalai Forder. “You’re home, so.”

She nodded. “Indeed I am.”

“Grobal Tagaret is very kind,” said Forder. “He’s nice to speak to.”

“He is,” she agreed. “Scoot over, Tagaret, love, I’d like to sit next to you.”

Tagaret made a space for her. She wrapped both hands around his upper arm and leaned against his shoulder, willing his warmth to ease the weight of the shadow.

“I want to go to Pelismara,” said Forder.

That was a surprise. “Really?” Della asked. “Why?”

“Business, so.”

“He’s been telling me,” said Tagaret. “It’s apparently something encouraged for young people of the major merchant families, to create business connections in other cities. Dorlis and Nenda had thought he wouldn’t be able to do it, but with the deal we just made, they’ve encouraged him to approach us about sending him over.”

Business connections seemed such a lighthearted thing. “What an interesting idea,” she said.

“Yes,” Forder agreed. “Nenda came from Pelismara when she was fifteen, the same age as me, so. And when she was eighteen, she met Dorlis.”

Della managed to smile. “That did turn out to be an excellent business connection.”

“They fell in love!”

“Yes,” she sighed.

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