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Chapter twenty-six

Adelyna

“Your Ascendance,” Qiana said in greeting, after Adelyna banished the rest of her acolytes.

Adelyna pretended to frown and patted a spot on the divan next to her. “Qiana, none of that. No one can hear you.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Qiana took the indicated seat next to Adelyna.

“It’s been far too long, dear one,” Adelyna said.

“I missed you—the country is so dull. But some things I did not miss.”

Adelyna snorted. “I understand. Sometimes I wonder how you manage to come back here at all.”

“Being around you makes it easy.” Qiana grinned. “Though I am glad being around you no longer means enduring lessons. Remember Sword Man Glidis? ”

“Don’t bring her up now.” Adelyna groaned at the memory of their old tutor. “We’ve been having such a lovely evening.”

“I’ll never understand how someone so intelligent could be so cranky.”

“Maybe the intelligence was what did it.” Adelyna lowered her voice. “She knew things beyond us mere mortals.”

“Ha—that’s probably true.” Qiana’s eyes flickered to white stone and then she proceeded to look around them before she changed them back to normal. “Nothing. We can speak.”

“I’m so glad you came back,” Adelyna said, grabbing Qiana’s hand. Qiana squeezed it.

“Of course. Did I miss anything? I heard the strangest rumors about Aherin, but the two of you seemed to be getting along as well as ever. Though Nerine had some…choice words for me. I figured it was just another argument.”

Adelyna shook her head. “Everything I’ve done tonight is an act—rumors are spreading, and none of them will do me any good. I want to strangle Aherin. And fuck Nerine. And not in the pleasant way. Nerine’s his now.”

Qiana’s eyes widened. “What? How? Oh, what happened?”

“Several things,” Adelyna said bitterly.

In a few short sentences, Adelyna told Qiana about her father’s decision to send her brother to the army, her father’s bargain, and Nerine’s betrayal.

Nerine…Nerine was hers. Until she wasn’t.

All night, Adelyna had endured the court’s smirks, their knowing glances.

There was a time to deal with them, and it was at Adelyna’s choosing. Not theirs.

But Qiana couldn’t remedy betrayal, so Adelyna used their private moments for what Qiana might be able to help her with.

“Do you know if it can be done? To summon the sight?” Adelyna asked. “I’ve never heard of gifts being coaxed like this.”

Qiana paused. “I’m not sure. I assume you started researching?” Adelyna nodded. “Then…I wish Sitri hadn’t disappeared. He might know something.”

“Your demon’s gone?”

Qiana huffed. “Yes. I haven’t seen him in weeks. I think he managed to get in some trouble—Sitri was always reckless. I tried summoning him—”

“And nothing?”

Qiana shook her head. “No. I have to assume he’s either dead or banished. So, he’s not an option. Though, I still think a demon would be the best one to ask. They know many things. ”

“As I’ve been told.”

Qiana turned to where Callidora was speaking to a young woman—some young maiden or another—and then gave her attention back to Adelyna. “My ward. Don’t tell anyone else—she has the sight.”

Adelyna sat up straighter. For Qiana to tell this to her was a sign of how much she trusted her—a ward known to have the sight would be difficult to acclimate to the court, for a few reasons. “She does? And yet stayed in Cow’s Fancy?”

“Yes. A little late in development—and because it’s so late, I wanted her to have time to adjust before—”

“The court found some use for her,” Adelyna finished and sighed. It was not fair some Sword Man’s daughter had the very sight she so desperately needed. Now, that wasn’t Callidora’s fault—though that didn’t stop it from being horribly unfair.

“Quite so.” Qiana reached over and helped herself to a truffle and a goblet of wine. “You’ve seen what happens if you have the sight and no high birth—who knows who would convince the R?ll to give her to them? Why, I’m not sure I’d be able to protect her for long.”

“I think you undersell yourself, but your point stands. I assume that you have a reason for suddenly mentioning that your ward has the magic I need?”

“Yes—she has a demon. I’ve told the others that he’s mine, but he’s really Callidora’s.”

“What?” How did that happen? “I thought you said she just attained the sight.

“She did. He…for some reason offered to help her. Or has some use for her, most like.”

Adelyna cocked her head. Qiana wasn’t usually so vague. “Why do I have a feeling you’re not telling me something?”

“I left nothing out. I just…she doesn’t quite understand how our relationships with demons work. Yet. But I’m getting distracted.” Qiana looked Adelyna in the eyes. “We can speak to her demon. He might tell us.”

“Why?”

“Because he can’t resist a chance to brag.” 155

Now Adelyna laughed. “Typical man. Do we have to, though? Isn’t that…strange? Why not tell her?”

Qiana paused. It was rude for a Sight Bearer to summon another’s demon without permission—beyond rude.

Like deciding to wear another person’s underclothes.

“ We don’t have a choice,” Qiana said. “I don’t have time to summon and bind another demon, and I don’t want to have to make her hide that we did this.

” Qiana’s brow furrowed. “We need someone who may have the knowledge we seek.”

“He could lie anyway. Tell other spirits.”

“Maybe. But any chance is better than none.”

Damn. She had a point. “Alright, it’s worth trying, Qiana. I trust you.”

The two of them proceeded to discuss their plans for talking to Callidora’s demon when Adelyna abruptly asked, “Is there anything else I should know about your ward?”

“Not in particular. Why?”

“I invited her to hunt with me tomorrow.”

Qiana looked at her quizzically. “Truly?”

“Yes. She said it’s her favorite pastime.”

With a dramatic sigh that was more fitting for an exasperated governess, Qiana said, “One I told her not to plan on engaging in at court. I hope you enjoy yourself—she certainly will.” 156

So, Callidora did like to hunt. Adelyna grinned—tomorrow might be better than she expected.

“But is there anything I should know about her? What is her…quality?

“She hates etiquette, loves food, and has a smart retort for everything.” Qiana smiled. “In short, I think the two of you are going to get along splendidly.”