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concentrating instead on the beating of the blood in my veins. I stood behind Sidonie, near enough for her
to feel my presence, not so close that it aroused suspicion. I couldn t see her face, but I could feel the
pain radiating from her as surely as though it were my own.
At last he ended. . . . pray that if Blessed Elua is merciful, they will find one another again in
another life and live to see their dreams brought to fruition. Brother Thomas bent his head to Sidonie.
You may speak now, my child.
Thank you. Sidonie took his place before the plinth. Her face was streaked with tears. I will
not . . . Her voice shook. She clasped her hands together hard and willed it to steadiness. I will not
attempt to elaborate on the eloquent words Brother Thomas spoke. I can but thank him for bringing to
life so beautifully the memory of the man with whom I fell in love and for whom I grieve today.
The sentence was delivered with seemingly perfect sincerity, and I knew in the marrow of my
bones that those were the hardest words Sidonie had ever spoken. A few of the mourners sobbed aloud.
She paused, collecting herself. Astegal gave me many gifts during our too-short time together.
He was as generous to me as he was to Terre d Ange. But there is one gift he gave in secret his
greatest gift to me, to us, to the City of Elua. And it is of that gift I would speak on this fearful day, on the
eve of a darker tomorrow.
In a clear, steady voice, with tears drying on her cheeks, Sidonie repeated the tale of
Bodeshmun s death and the hidden gem.
She had inspired hope in Turnone and she inspired it here. I could feel the mood shift, hearts
lifting. I watched Ysandre s eyes shine with pride, Drustan rest his hand on his wife s shoulder, nodding
in approval. Ah, gods! They had every right to be proud of their heir. I prayed one day they would know
why.
I beseech you. Sidonie opened her arms, echoing the priest, echoing Blessed Elua himself. All
of you in Elua s blessed City. Take up this search, leave no stone unturned. Amidst the tragedy of his
death, let us lay claim to this last, best gift of my Astegal and snatch hope from despair, honor from
treason.
They roared.
It went on and on; promises and vows and pledges shouted with ferocious determination. The
denizens of the City of Elua would raze the very foundations of the City to find Bodeshmun s gem.
Sidonie lowered her arms and stepped away from the plinth, stumbling a little. Kratos caught her, but it
was my gaze she sought.
My Astegal, Sidonie whispered beneath the roar, her voice catching in her throat, barely
audible. I feel sick.
I know, I murmured.
That was all the comfort I could offer. As in Turnone, the throng pressed forward, offering their
sympathies, offering their fierce vows. The guards beat them back, restoring order. I was pushed to the
side, unheeded. I found Phèdre and Joscelin beside me once more, Joscelin shoving at the guardsmen
with an unwonted curse as they crowded us.
It didn t matter.
All that mattered was that Sidonie had succeeded. She d been right; she had a role to play here.
She had swayed them as no one else could have done: Ysandre s very well trained heir, Astegal s
grieving widow.
I prayed it was enough.
And I prayed it was in time.
Seventy-Six
Look, Phèdre said in wonderment, gazing out the window of the carriage as we rode to the
reception following the service. They re tearing up the city.
It was true.
Word had spread like wildfire. By the time we emerged from the Temple of Elua, it was already
racing ahead of us. Men and women thronged the streets, worrying their fingertips bloody as they pried
at paving-stones, clamoring to search the premises of merchants and wineshops and threatening violence
to any who might forbid them entry.
Good, Joscelin said briefly.
Phèdre glanced at him. Surely there must be a more logical way to approach this.
He shrugged. You re good at figuring out that sort of thing.
Well, we know Bodeshmun had the gem the night of the fête when the delegation first arrived,
Phèdre said pragmatically. That s when I noticed it.
He had it the day of the marvel, I added. I was just as glad to have her mind working on this
puzzle and not picking out inconsistencies in our story. Sid I caught myself. Elua, this was hard. I
went to watch the preparations in Elua s Square earlier in the day and I saw it then.
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