Page 49 of Insolence (Eisha’s Hidden Codices #1)

She looks at me for a long moment, and there seems to be a whole universe spinning inside of her head. “May I?” She gestures with the flower.

“Please.” My every molecule is buzzing while she leans across the table.

With the tenderest of touches, she brushes a lock of hair gently behind my ear. Her clear eyes rooted to mine, she tucks the rose there.

“Beautiful,” she intones, letting her hand linger in my hair.

My heart lunges against my sternum, something akin to delight surging within me.

“Which brings me to the Accords,” she says, remembering herself and pulling away.

“And here I thought you’d forgotten.” I bring the last of my toast to my mouth.

“Mm. A deal is a deal, and I never break my promises, Tiss.” She turns her mug in a circle, the heavy pewter scraping dully through the tablecloth. “The High Clans were the founding clans before the city-states were established, before the realm was united.”

“Right,” I say.

“They went to war over resources preceding the realm’s founding, yes. But mostly they fought over the status of changelings.”

The status of changelings? I lean forward.

“Two of those founding clans, Leofel and Keithan, elevated the changelings among them.

These women were revered— mages and demuns alike.

They were teachers, healers, warriors. Advisors to the chieftains.

They led men into battle, taking much glory for themselves.

None of that sat well with Jedrek, Madoc, and Owin, who were afraid of their power, their strength.

They kept changelings suppressed in their own clans. Sort of how things are now.

“Then, during the height of the war, the existing settlements had grown. More clans and unaffiliated individuals joined the fray, each picking a side. Afraid of what they didn’t understand, most sided with Jedrek, Madoc, and Owin.

“At first, this coalition sought to suppress Leofel and Keithan. But with the mages and demuns among them strong, trained, and vicious, the latter were nearly unstoppable. Until the sweeping plague. Then the crops failed. Game became scarce. So many thousands perished that the founding clans’ chieftains were forced to come together. To forge a tentative peace.”

She pauses, her eyes roving over my face and the few remaining bites on my plate.

“The drafting of treaties went on and on, the five chieftains never voting unanimously. Until…” She watches me expectantly.

“Until the Indigo & Veridian Accords were proposed.”

“Very good.” She gives a small smile, her hazel eyes burning bright.

“The Accords ultimately elevated these founding clans to governing status. Declared them noble houses. Established the city-states, the patriarchs, the drūKing, and his line of succession. Thus, uniting the realm.” She lifts her cup in a mocking sort of toast before upending its contents into her mouth.

“Well. The Accords also brought the newly ordained patriarchs into agreement that changelings must be subdued. Controlled under strict measures. And the most insidious part— this agreement would turn women’s families against them. Turn us against each other. Particularly the highborn.”

That means Keithan and Leofel’s patriarchs ultimately betrayed the changelings in their own clans. It suddenly feels like the dreary day outside is pressing down on me through the glass.

The impact wrought by these decisions sours my stomach. The sisters and Mother Deirdre probably feel so vindicated doing the bidding of these men who have us imprisoned, meanwhile keeping the poor betrothed girls drugged and helpless simply for being born.

“This is the truth nobody talks about.” The pain in Elodie’s sigh is palpable.

I get the sense she’s been burdened by this unacknowledged truth for a long time.

“It was the Accords that ordained the Ceremony of Induction.

Dedicated the Temple of Eisha to imprisoning demuns who break Inviolable Laws while simultaneously training legions of mages to become high priestesses.

“Ideally, we’re to be sold off as seers to the high houses of the realm. Used as pawns to further the political machinations of the elite.”

Wait a minute . Something unsettling occurs to me. I’m opening my mouth to ask about what Sister Delia said before the lottery: that Eisha’s betrothed will be transferred to other temples to become sisters themselves after the Binding Ceremony.

Does that mean the sisters here are also demuns?

I don’t see why not. The prioress is clearly a powerful mage.

I’m opening my mouth to ask when the greenhouse door flies open on a rattling gust of wind. We both jump in our seats.

“Tiss! There you are.” Ghisele is standing in the doorway, rain sluicing onto the floor from her lowered umbrella. “I’ve been looking for you everywh— Oh.” She flinches, registering Elodie next to me and the feast between us. Her eyes narrow. “Didn’t know I was interrupting .”

A raging blush heats my face. I’m on my feet, my napkin drifting to the floor before she’s done talking. “What time is it? Gods, I didn’t even hear the clock tower chime,” I hear myself babble.

I quickly thank Elodie for lunch and hustle out of there.

When I hurriedly brush past Ghisele, she watches me and murmurs, “Isn’t this quaint?”

By the time I slip outside, I’ve lost the thousand-petal rose that Elodie tucked behind my ear.