Juliet McKenna - The Assassin's Edge

“I set her on the path that led her to die,” said Planir harshly.

“Horseshit.” Troanna shook her head. “You diminish her by thinking so. Larissa was young but she was an intelligent girl and she made her own choices. I never approved of your association but no one can accuse you of influencing her decisions.”

“You’re too kind,” said Planir coldly. “Though that was because I loved her rather than out of any respect for your sensibilities. She is still dead.”

“Until you grieve, she will remain so.” Troanna ran a finger over the swell of the brightly decorated urn, apparently not noticing how Planir tensed. “There’s one notion the Archipelagans hold that I’ve come to share. No one is dead as long as one person who knew them in life still remembers them as they were. Do Larissa that honour.” She got briskly to her feet with a nod of farewell. “You know where I am if you want to argue this further, as light relief from twisting Kalion’s tail. Talk to Shannet. She’s outlived nigh on her whole generation and knows all about loss. This is possibly the only thing we’ll ever agree on.”

Planir said nothing as the Flood Mistress tossed that last comment over her shoulder. He sat motionless in his chair for a long while until finally, his expression still unchanged, tears coursed down his cheeks.

For a stone mason’s son, you make a very good carpenter, but can’t you hang up your tool belt for one evening?” I was exaggerating; all Ryshad held was a small hammer.

He held out an arm and I stepped into his embrace. “It looks good, doesn’t it?”

I looked around the shrine. Stones chosen for even colour and smoothness gave a solid foundation to close-fitted wooden walls. The roof above was held firm by rafters finished with the same exquisite care. Around the base of the wall the rich scent of new timber breathed life into niches where the incongruously prosaic vessels holding the ashes of Suthyfer’s first dead stood. Charcoal marks and faint scores on the wood promised carving yet to come; I could see Saedrin’s keys, Drianon’s eagle, Halcarion’s crown and Raeponin’s scales. In the centre of the floor, the palest stones Ryshad and his fellow craftsmen could find raised a plinth waiting for whatever deity this place would be dedicated to. The wide doors stood open and a shaft of sunlight lit up the empty circle.

I slid my arm around Ryshad’s waist to feel the reassuring strength and warmth of him. “Has Temar said anything about a statue yet?”

Ryshad shook his head. “Guinalle suggested Larasion.”

I could see the sense in that. “Sailors heading in both directions will always want to pray for fair weather.”

“Dastennin’s the Lord of the Sea and four men out of five in Zyoutessela swear by him before any other.” Ryshad held me close with absent affection. “Guinalle changed her mind, anyway. Talking about this new hall she and ’Sar want to set up reminded her that Ostrin’s shrine held most of the aetheric lore in the Old Empire.”

“Build a bigger plinth,” I suggested. “Let them share, like the temple in Relshaz.”

Ryshad laughed. “It’ll be a while before Suthyfer can boast anything that splendid. You could fit this whole landing inside that place.”

“It’ll be as fine as any Imperial fane when it’s finished.” I pulled Ryshad with me to look more closely at the faint designs on the inner face of the wall. “If Pered’s got anything to say about it. Is that Larissa beside Halcarion?”

Ryshad nodded. “He’s trying to include as many of those lost as he can.”

I studied the broad sweep of the mural Pered was planning for the first half of the circle. It followed the lie of the land outside so closely that, when it was finished, it would almost seem as if the shrine had windows not walls. Those coming for solace would see the gods and goddesses reassuringly engaged with the folk of the landing. Trimon sat with his harp, framed by dancing children. Larasion wove garlands for the girls who sat with Halcarion, all dressing their hair in the reflection of a still pool that, thinking about it, didn’t actually exist hereabouts. Never mind, Ryshad would doubtless dig one. Drianon wove reeds into baskets by the door of a solid little house, goodwives busy about her. Talagrin stood some way off with a group of men about to go hunting for something to fill the pots that Misaen was hammering at his forge.

“I like it,” I said.

“So do I.” Ryshad kissed my hair.

An array of lidded pots surely too small to be serving as urns caught my eye. “What’s that?”

“Shiv’s helping Pered with his pigments.” Ryshad grinned. “He says Flood Mistress Troanna would be appalled at such mundane use of his affinity but she’s not here to see.”

“So it can’t hurt her.” I finished the sentence for him. Awkward silence hung between us.

“Pered’s talking about studying Artifice,” Ryshad said with careful casualness.

“He can have that song book.” I chose my words with equal care. “I won’t be needing it any more.”

“No?” Ryshad looked down at me.

“Forest riddles and charms hidden in songs, that was fun,” I told him. “Sheltya, Elietimm, Guinalle and her adepts, that’s all too serious for me.” An involuntary shudder surprised me. “Far too dangerous. They can keep their secrets and welcome.”

“So what are you going to do?” Ryshad’s dark eyes searched my face.

“Vithrancel’s boring.” I met his gaze unblinking. “But it’s got our house and that’s got walls, a roof and a decent privy so it’ll do for the moment. As soon as Suthyfer can offer as much and more besides, like taverns for sailors to spend their pay in and market halls for trading and barter, I want to come back here. I’ve already written to Charoleia to send me a cargo of wine on the first ship she can.” I grinned at him. “I’m going to try my hand at being a merchant. It’s just another way of gambling.”

Ryshad nodded slowly. “Then I can take the job Temar’s been trying to thrust in my hands.”

I felt a sudden qualm. “He’s offering you service with D’Alsennin? An oath?”

“No, and I wouldn’t take it if he did,” said Ryshad firmly. “Temar knows that. He wants me to act as Suthyfer’s steward. Someone’s got to get things organised around here and he reckons I’m the man for it.”

I couldn’t decide if Ryshad was flattered or embarrassed by this accolade. “You’ve served D’Olbriot, you know Zyoutessela inside out, you know more about Kellarin than anyone else. He couldn’t make a better choice.”

“I hope you’re right.” Ryshad hugged me.

“Of course I am.” I frowned. “But you’re not to be sworn to him?” I didn’t want any ties pulling Ryshad and me apart, not any more.

“No.” Ryshad kissed my hair again. “It’s time to be my own man. Besides, the Emperor will be happier to see Suthyfer with a measure of independence from D’Alsennin. It’ll make it easier for him to sell to the Convocation of Princes.”

The Sieur D’Olbriot would back Ryshad’s integrity and ability against anyone else’s arguments for one thing. “So who will you answer to?” I wondered just what possibilities this notion might present.

“In due course, there’ll be merchant’s guilds and more shrine fraternities, craftsmen’s companies. They’ll all want their say. If ’Sar and Guinalle set up their hall, they’ll stick their spoon in the pot.” Ryshad looked down at me and grinned. “I’ll be needing to know just what’s being said over the ale tankards and round the trading halls if I’m to keep one move ahead of the game.”