Sidheag laughed. She sat there a while, sipping her drink, and then looked out over the party. It was growing quieter the longer it went into the night, but many would greet the sun and then rest. Culin and Sasi might already be asleep. But perhaps not.

“I don’t mind the class, Dalius. Although I’m not fond of the undead.”

“No? Then why not?”

She turned her head. Then Sidheag leaned over. When she leaned back, Dalius blinked and raised a hand. She winked at him.

“I don’t mind singing for certain dead. Ghosts are better than zombies.”

The two stared at each other, then Dalius sighed.

“It is going to be terribly complex for a while. Safe, but we are aware of how…political…Noelictus can be.

A [Princess] of a foreign nation, whomever hired that [Necromancer], and our presence is a complicated mess. I imagine, tomorrow, it will all begin.”

“I’m speaking to Arteis. I promised her. So…I don’t think you can learn to avoid freezing my hands tonight?”

“I was told it might take a few weeks.”

Dalius looked regretful. Sidheag shrugged.

“Then let’s just sit here.”

She turned her gaze to the bright fires and night sky. Dalius sat with her, and when the young woman rose…

Cara O’Sullivan took Dalius’ hand for a moment.

“Tomorrow, then.”

“Tomorrow. I will look forwards to it.”

He met her gaze, and his fingers numbed hers just for a moment. But she felt his touch.

——

Seraphel du Marquin found Cara sorting some food into the rucksack as she tiptoed away from the party. The [Singer] stood up, hoisted the pack onto her shoulders, and froze.

The [Princess] stood there, a wry look on her face.

“I believe you told Paladin Arteis you would see her tomorrow. You said the exact same thing to Violetta and Idelt. Culin and Sasi, too.”

“What gave me away?”

Cara looked around for Dalimont or someone else, but there were no Thronebearers. Seraphel shook her head, amused.

“One does not normally hug people you intend to see on the morrow. I think they put it down to the moment. I, on the other hand, have witnessed most of my siblings run away, some more successfully than others. I have done the same.”

Cara sighed. It took one to know one, after all.

She had hugged Culin and Sasi, and tried to apologize. But the sleepy, sad little boy and girl had just clung to her and fallen asleep. They had shed all their tears. Cara was still weeping, but she had an

[Actor]’s mask.

It slipped a bit, now. As she looked at Afiele’s people, growing quieter, smelled the dying smoke still lingering in the air. The young woman turned as Seraphel watched.

“I did this. If not for me…none of this would have come to pass. Because I broke the seal of the tomb…”

“You did it to survive.”