Chapters (68)
This wasn’t just about harm. Ranami had seen the look on Phalue’s face when she’d emerged from the cellar where her father was kept. She still felt obligated to him, still felt that tug of family loyalty. Perhaps she was right – he hadn’t been all that bad. He’d loved her. But love didn’t always make a person kind.
The walls of the palace loomed ahead; one of the guards waved from the gate. Ranami lifted a hand in greeting and then leaned in close to her wife. “Even if you were able to account for all the harm caused, it doesn’t mean you should let your father go.”
“What about forgiveness?” Phalue bit back. “What about moving on?”
“You can’t make amends for him; only he can do that. And right now, the people of Nephilanu need justice. They need to feel safe.”
“No one can feel safe; not after Deerhead,” Phalue said darkly. They passed beneath the shadow of the arch. “Poor girl. Having no family or parents is bad enough. Losing the place you called home is yet another way of being orphaned.”
Ayesh stirred. “Not Deerhead,” she said faintly. “I’m not from there. I got here this morning. Stowed away on a ship. They weren’t too happy. Threw me overboard. I had to swim.”
Ranami’s mouth went dry. This morning? No wonder the girl hadn’t known who Phalue was. “You came from somewhere else? But you were on Deerhead when it sank.”
“No.” She struggled to lift her head, to look Ranami in the eye. “I’m from Unta.”
“Unta didn’t sink; Deerhead did,” Phalue said. But she didn’t sound sure.
“There was an earthquake. And then another one. And then one that didn’t end.” Ayesh’s voice was small but clear. The soldiers at the walls must be able to hear. But Ranami found she couldn’t move, couldn’t hurry them into some private chamber. Dread had rooted itself in her belly.
“Unta is gone.”
12
