The Carnelian Way

22.1

Rina walked toward Sara's trial with red eyes, the hood of her saffron cloak pulled low. She accompanied Anya, Anat, Martha—the latter two also disguising their Denese features. They took a narrow cobbled pathway used by servants, hoping to avoid as much notice as possible. The road was crudely cut and hugged the mountain slope, zigzagging between the district levels.

She stifled a yawn. She'd barely slept the night before. Thoughts had spun around her mind, weaving webs filled with gruesome outcomes, and no matter how many times she'd brushed the memories away, the sticky globules stuck.

News of what Sara had done to the lord had spread through the city and fed the long-held fear of the population. Sara, the Arkis-spawned tainted she-witch. This, this was why the Denese must be kept in their place—within walled outposts. A pair of gossiping maids had even questioned whether a hint of the taint had addled the brain of their emperor—Mai the Magnificent was half-Denese, after all.

They seemed to forget that Mai took the taint during the forsaking, protecting them all. Though it still had to pass through him, a treacherous part of her pointed out. What did he do with it?

She swept the thoughts away and proceeded along the path toward the administration level, where the court district sat. It would be a public trial. Sara would be tried before a mob that wanted to rip her to shreds. Something that made her mouth dry and sent washes of cold through her body. Why would Mai do this?

The sound of shouting brought them up short. Anya motioned with a jerk of the head for them to leave the road and wait for her.

Wordlessly, they made their way to a small garden nestled beside the limestone cliff face. Water trickled down the rocks, feeding a pool filled with lilies. Ferns, flowers and vines sprouted around it, shielded from the burning sun by a date palm.

The shouts continued. Shadows from the palm fronds slithered across Rina's robe in time to the slippery dread in her guts. The whites of Martha's enormous eyes shone white beneath her cowl. Rina took Martha and Anat's hand and squeezed.

"Mai won't let anything happen to us. We're his guests."

They all flinched at a large bang, followed by a shrill scream.

"I promise you. He won't."

"So why did he let us walk alone?"

The defiance in Anat's words made Rina grimace. But Anat had been so silent since Rina's return to the women's quarters, at least she'd recovered her tendency to question authority.

"We came with Anya."

Martha peered around to the road. "I'm inclined to agree with Anat. This isn't safe."

"Nobody forced you to come. Magister Ro did warn us," said Rina, a bite in her words.

Anat's breath hitched.

Martha shot Rina a glare. "Anat? Are you okay?" She let go of Rina's hand and cupped Anat's cheek." If you want to go back, we can. We don't have to go."

Still holding Anat, Rina sensed the trembling along the girl's body.

"No, no." Anat shook her head. "I need to go—to face this. To face them. " She indicated the walls on the other side of the pathway, separating them from noble estates. One of Lord Cassander's mansions would be near.

"As you wish." Martha stepped back into the street and peeked out, then turned back to them, chewing on her lip in the silence "Should we see if Anya is okay?"

Rina shuffled her feet. Anat's skin was cold, even in the heat of the morning.

Anyone who came this way would wonder what they were doing here. Their clothes were too grand for staff, and no noble or Magister would walk this way when they could take the ocean route. Were a patrolling guard to come upon them, their ears would perk at their accent. Not all the guards welcome the Denese presence.