temple. I never knew how much I loved the Infinite’s Holy House . . . how much all the survivors loved the temple until we watched our ownfall—and rightfully so.” Smiling, watching Kien survey the site, she added, “Parne’s refugees have been rejoicing ever since the king issued his decree that the temple must be rebuilt. Though the Ateans are threatening the work. Father—”
“Ateans!” His elation fading, Kien turned, his cloak swirling with the movement. “Of course they’d try to destroy anything that the Infinite’s faithful cherish.” He sighed. “Let’s discuss a slightly different matter.”
“All right.” She’d tell him of Father’s near-death later. Determined to be patient, she clicked the end of the branch on the pavings beneath her sandaled feet. “What are we discussing?” Because if he offered marriage a third time she’d say no. She would. And hopefully she’d be convincing to Kien and herself.
Still somber, he lifted a dark eyebrow, looked around at others working on the site, then whispered, “Ela, before I’d even unpacked my gear this afternoon, three of the king’s advisors called on me. Accusing me of hiding my relationship with you, thereby causing the king severe emotional distress. And —not to bring up such a hateful subject again—he’s married an Atean.”
“I’ve heard the queen’s an Atean, and I hope to speak with her. But . . .” Ela felt herself blush, remembering the king’s proposal. “Are his advisors blaming me because I refused to marry Akabe?”
“Me. They’re blaming me, Ela.” He grimaced, captivating her with that wry twist of his lips. “But I’m worried about your reputation.”
“Wait.” Ela lifted a hand. This conversation had just shifted to something worse than simple blame. “ My reputation?”
“Yes.” Kien leaned closer and murmured, “Once this story becomes known, if the queen’s a rabid Atean like her predecessor, you might be condemned for rejecting the king. Do you think Siphra will ever forgive you?”
If Akabe’s new wife was truly Atean like the former Queen Raenna . . . Ela shivered. In the end, after Siphra’s revolution, Queen Raenna had succumbed to madness. Possessed by ghastly soul-shadowing deceivers—servants of the immortalAdversary—she’d dashed herself to death on the rocks below the royal terrace. Within that same evening, King Segere hanged himself in his beloved Raenna’s apartments. Would the Siphrans forgive her if Ela had inadvertently brought another queen like Raenna into power? “I suppose not.”
Kien clasped Ela’s hand, startling her with the warmth of his touch. “Once malicious gossip starts, it’s nearly impossible to stop. Believe me. We must work together to mitigate this Atean situation. Meanwhile,” Kien’s tone softened, “the most sensible thing you can do to stave off gossip—and the fairest compensation for my sacrifice in accepting the blame—is to marry me.”
Oh? She stared at him. Kien smiled. And his gray eyes lit with mischief. Was he enjoying her embarrassment? He was. Actor! Schemer! “You’re hoaxing me!”
“Not at all.” He grinned. “It’s the truth. Though you’re not helping matters by yelling—”
“I’ll yell if I want to! You’re bullying me!” She swung the branch at him.
Kien snatched it from her hand. “I’m not bullying you! I . . . Hey . . .”
Ela followed his gaze and stared at the branch. In his hand. He’d never managed to touch the miraculous vinewood before, much less take it from her. Infinite! She lunged for her treasured insignia. “Give that back!”
“Ha!” Kien whipped the branch out of her reach and wrapped his free arm around Ela’s waist, restraining her. “I win!”
Pet trotted around them in a nervous circle now, obviously agitated by their squabble, his big hooves drumming the ground. Beyond him, Tamri, Prill, and a growing crowd all stared.
Really, despite Kien’s fine words
“Ateans!” His elation fading, Kien turned, his cloak swirling with the movement. “Of course they’d try to destroy anything that the Infinite’s faithful cherish.” He sighed. “Let’s discuss a slightly different matter.”
“All right.” She’d tell him of Father’s near-death later. Determined to be patient, she clicked the end of the branch on the pavings beneath her sandaled feet. “What are we discussing?” Because if he offered marriage a third time she’d say no. She would. And hopefully she’d be convincing to Kien and herself.
Still somber, he lifted a dark eyebrow, looked around at others working on the site, then whispered, “Ela, before I’d even unpacked my gear this afternoon, three of the king’s advisors called on me. Accusing me of hiding my relationship with you, thereby causing the king severe emotional distress. And —not to bring up such a hateful subject again—he’s married an Atean.”
“I’ve heard the queen’s an Atean, and I hope to speak with her. But . . .” Ela felt herself blush, remembering the king’s proposal. “Are his advisors blaming me because I refused to marry Akabe?”
“Me. They’re blaming me, Ela.” He grimaced, captivating her with that wry twist of his lips. “But I’m worried about your reputation.”
“Wait.” Ela lifted a hand. This conversation had just shifted to something worse than simple blame. “ My reputation?”
“Yes.” Kien leaned closer and murmured, “Once this story becomes known, if the queen’s a rabid Atean like her predecessor, you might be condemned for rejecting the king. Do you think Siphra will ever forgive you?”
If Akabe’s new wife was truly Atean like the former Queen Raenna . . . Ela shivered. In the end, after Siphra’s revolution, Queen Raenna had succumbed to madness. Possessed by ghastly soul-shadowing deceivers—servants of the immortalAdversary—she’d dashed herself to death on the rocks below the royal terrace. Within that same evening, King Segere hanged himself in his beloved Raenna’s apartments. Would the Siphrans forgive her if Ela had inadvertently brought another queen like Raenna into power? “I suppose not.”
Kien clasped Ela’s hand, startling her with the warmth of his touch. “Once malicious gossip starts, it’s nearly impossible to stop. Believe me. We must work together to mitigate this Atean situation. Meanwhile,” Kien’s tone softened, “the most sensible thing you can do to stave off gossip—and the fairest compensation for my sacrifice in accepting the blame—is to marry me.”
Oh? She stared at him. Kien smiled. And his gray eyes lit with mischief. Was he enjoying her embarrassment? He was. Actor! Schemer! “You’re hoaxing me!”
“Not at all.” He grinned. “It’s the truth. Though you’re not helping matters by yelling—”
“I’ll yell if I want to! You’re bullying me!” She swung the branch at him.
Kien snatched it from her hand. “I’m not bullying you! I . . . Hey . . .”
Ela followed his gaze and stared at the branch. In his hand. He’d never managed to touch the miraculous vinewood before, much less take it from her. Infinite! She lunged for her treasured insignia. “Give that back!”
“Ha!” Kien whipped the branch out of her reach and wrapped his free arm around Ela’s waist, restraining her. “I win!”
Pet trotted around them in a nervous circle now, obviously agitated by their squabble, his big hooves drumming the ground. Beyond him, Tamri, Prill, and a growing crowd all stared.
Really, despite Kien’s fine words
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