No, not quite a mirror, she realised through creeping numbness. Sevaka Kiradin was fair where Apara was dark, and younger by a good many years. But the snub nose, the grey eyes – the arc of her brow. Close enough for kin.

Close enough for a family Apara had never known.

As for her face, you’ll know it when you see it.

“No!”

Sevaka’s flailing hand grabbed Apara’s collar. Her head slammed forward.

For the second time in as many minutes, Apara’s sight danced black and red. When it cleared, she was on her knees, and Sevaka was lost to the river.

Lanterns gleamed on the lower bank, the sound of voices close behind. Apara tore her gaze from the waters and vanished into the night.

Rosa plunged into the river as the body struck. Waters surging about her waist and the soft mud of the riverbed sucking at her boots, she half-walked, half-swam to where the woman drifted like a macabre lily blossom.

Bracing against the current, Rosa hoisted her clear. Blood gushed across a torn jacket. Grey eyes fluttered open. A pale, weed-strewn hand brushed Rosa’s cheek.

“Rosa?” Greenish water spilled from her lips. “Always . . . saving me.”

“Sevaka?” Surprise and horror fought for command. Anger triumphed over all. It drove her back through the rushing water towards the riverbank. “I’ve got you.”

“. . .’m sorry.”

“Don’t speak. I’ll get help.”

“Help . . . I helped her lie to you.” Sevaka gripped Rosa’s shoulder. “She killed him . . . She killed her own son . . .”

She fell back, pale and still but for a fluttering chest.

“Sevaka!”

Water streaming through her armour, Rosa stalked through the rushes and into the gathering circle of lantern-light. Cold, hard faces stared back. She laid Sevaka on the grass.

Malachi knelt, his eyes darting. “Is she alive?”

Rosa barely heard. She killed her own son. There was no mistaking Sevaka’s meaning. Anger faded and left behind a cold void where her heart should have been.

“Look after her.” She backed away.

Josiri grabbed her arm. “Where are you going?”

She shrugged him off. “To put things right.”

Fifty-Four

Fifty-Four

Malachi swept the contents of the kitchen table onto the floor. “There. Set her down.”

Water trickling across the tiles, the hearthguards bore Sevaka to the now-empty table and laid her down. The room already stank of blood, and of the riverbed. She moaned as her head came to rest. She’d not stirred to wakefulness in the trek across the garden.

He gestured blindly at the hearthguard. “One of you, fetch Lady Reveque. Quickly!”

“Lady Reveque is already here.”

Lily strode into the kitchen in nightgown and housecoat, a golden halo of disarrayed hair trailing behind. She caught sight of Sevaka and her purposeful expression wavered.

“Malachi? What happened?”

“Rosa pulled her out of the river.”