“Daughter to a living saint, a saint reborn.”

“Is this some Ras Tiegan thing? I don’t follow.”

“We have saints.”

“Yeah, your minor gods.”

“Saints,” Inaya said. “They speak directly to God, and have been chosen, touched by Him in some way. Many have been known to perform miracles. Her mother is a living saint, a woman known to perform miracles. She can cure illness, yet has no magical skill. There are… other things. And Isabet is her only daughter. The others died in the womb.

“So people listen to her? Is that what you’re saying?”

“People believe she speaks directly to God.”

“I don’t get it. Nobody’s recognized her?”

“She is a virgin, and daughter to a living saint. She only ever went out veiled. No one knew who she was.”

“But you did.”

“I… it was in our best interests to find a powerful religious or political figure we could align ourselves with.”

“And she was young. Impressionable.”

Inaya pursed her mouth.

“Oh, I get it,” Nyx said. “And now you owe me a favor, right?”

“Nyx, this is not the time—”

“I can see that,” Nyx said. “In a hurry, right?”

Inaya closed her eyes. God had a very grim sense of humor. “What do you want?”

“I need to get into Jolique’s house. He’s cousin to the Queen of Nasheen I hear.”

“He is also a madman. He sends priests around to women’s houses after they’ve given birth and buys their… unusual babies, when he’s not just buying and trading shifters like dogs. Why would you need to see him?”

“I have a bounty for a man, and I think his captors took him there.”

“Why would they go there?”

Rhys interrupted. “The note is for Raine al Alharazad. Remember him? He’s become a very powerful figure in Nasheenian politics since the end of the war.”

“Didn’t you kill him?” Inaya said.

Nyx waved her hand. “Details. Can you get us in or not?”

“I can show you the house, certainly. It’s on Rue Clery. But I cannot spare any people.”

“I need a safe house,” Nyx said.

Inaya shook her head. “Absolutely not.”

“I could always go find this kid’s mother and tell her where her daughter is.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Inaya, you have no idea what I’ve been through to get here.”

“And you have no idea what I’ve been through to keep this movement together. The entire world doesn’t stop for Nasheenian politics.”

“It doesn’t stop for Ras Tiegan catshit either,” Nyx said. “Your petty rebellion isn’t my problem.”

“Nor is your potential one mine.”

“All right,” Rhys said. “Can we come to some agreement?”

Inaya said, “Rhys, you know what she breaks apart whenever she shows up.”

“I don’t know that things here can get any worse,” Rhys said.