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Ren recall she had one more part of the rite to endure. Others had already risen from their seats, passing by a priest who stood ready with a tray of black tapers. She followed and took a candle. The wax already felt warm and soft from being so near the heat of the active numinat. All she had to do was touch the wick to the border for it to catch flame. As the mourners returned to their benches, their lights became stars in a sea of blackā€”a reflection of the cosmos to which Leatoā€™s spark returned.

Or so the Liganti believed. Despite the heat of the crematory blaze and the warmth of candle wax dripping onto her gloves, it seemed like cold comfort to Ren.

When the ceremony ended, she wanted nothing more than to flee. But the crowd flowed out of the cremation chamber to a room laid with simple food. ā€œIā€™ll get you a bite to eat,ā€ Tess said, and hurried off. Unable to replenish her energy through sleep, Ren was making up for it by eating more than they could afford.

Unfortunately, that gave Scaperto Quientis a chance to drift up alongside her. So far sheā€™d avoided talking to anyone whoā€™d been in the Charterhouse when they drank the ash-laced wine, but she could hardly dodge him now.

ā€œAlta Renata,ā€ he said, his voice a low rumble. ā€œI apologize for not greeting you yesterday at the Sebatium. I donā€™t imagine you were in the mood for niceties any more than I was.ā€

She kept her mouth shut while she tried to remember. Yesterday? Yesā€”he was leaving when Tanaquis summoned her in. She cast about for something to say. ā€œIā€™m glad you werenā€™t drowned, Your Grace.ā€ Shit. I hope people have gossiped about that. Yesā€”Tanaquis had told her. She was safe.

ā€œYou heard about that?ā€ Quientis asked. His eyes narrowed as he searched her face. She fought the urge to touch her skin, as if that would ensure her makeup was still in place. ā€œDid you see her, too? The Vraszenian woman?ā€

ā€œNo, Iā€”I only heard.ā€ What would Alta Renata say? ā€œShe sounds dangerous.ā€

ā€œDangerous? No.ā€ His scowl was for the room in general, but she felt the weight of it all the same. ā€œOnly as dangerous as anyone whoā€™s afraidā€”which I suppose is enough. But I donā€™t think she was trying to harm me. I suspect she couldnā€™t swim.ā€ His scowl turned to Mettore Indestor. ā€œBut some seem more inclined to pin blame rather than seek truth. Probably best that Simendis handed the investigation to Meda Fienola.ā€

Was he trying to send her some kind of coded message? She couldnā€™t tell, and Tess hadnā€™t come back yet; she was still gathering a plate of food. Ren caught her eye and tugged on her left earlobe.

Much too late, she remembered that sheā€™d meant to arrange a different signal.

ā€œYour Grace,ā€ Vargo said, sliding in next to Renata like he belonged there. ā€œAlta Renata. Here, let me dispose of that for you.ā€ He tucked his walking stick under his arm and took the burned-out candle from her limp grip.

ā€œNo, I can take it,ā€ Tess said, breathless from hurrying across the room with a plate and a cup. Somehow, in the juggling act that followed, Scaperto ended up with the candle, Vargo with Renataā€™s food and drink, and Tess with Vargoā€™s cane.

Which left Renata empty-handed, and empty-stomached as well. She didnā€™t realize she was staring at the food and drink Vargo held until Quientis said, ā€œIā€™ll go put this candle where it belongs. Good day to you all.ā€

At Tessā€™s pointed glare, Vargo cleared his throat. ā€œIt appears you donā€™t need me anymore,ā€ he murmured, handing the food to Renata and accepting the cane from Tess. He leaned closer in what she briefly mistook for a bow, before she realized he was taking a better look at her in the dim light of the temple. ā€œAt the risk of being rude, you look ragged about the edges. Go home. Get some sleep. Thereā€™s nothing more you need to do here.ā€

She wished she could take his advice. But before she could escape, Donaia found her.

Tess took the plate back again so Renata could accept Donaiaā€™s hands in greeting. ā€œYouā€™ve ruined your gloves,ā€ Donaia said, thumb pressing into a spot of soft wax curving over the back of Renataā€™s hand.

After so much time spent worrying she would say the wrong thing, Ren found herself utterly void of words.

Donaia supplied enough for both of them. ā€œThank you for being here. Have you eaten? Oh, I see you have. The food isnā€™t much, but you should eat. I know it must be hard afterā€¦ after the past few days, but donā€™t think your youth will protect you from ill health. You have to take care of yourself. Thereā€™s more thanā€”ā€

ā€œMother.ā€ Giunaā€™s hand on Donaiaā€™s arm stopped the flood of concern. ā€œDonā€™t badger her.ā€

Donaia released Renata to wrap her arms around herself. ā€œYes. Of course. I apologize. It is onlyā€¦ you donā€™t look well, andā€¦ā€ She released an unsteady breath.

ā€œYou should hate me.ā€

For one terrifying instant, Ren wasnā€™t certain which accent sheā€™d said that in. But Giunaā€™s confused reply of ā€œHate you?ā€ and Donaiaā€™s terse ā€œDonā€™t be ridiculousā€ gave no sign that sheā€™d spoken like a Vraszenian.

ā€œIā€”if I hadnā€™t taken him with meā€”ā€ If Iā€™d made the Rook save him first. If I hadnā€™t been who I am.

ā€œIf, if, if. I thought you had more sense than Letiliaā€”ā€

ā€œMother.ā€ Giuna touched Donaiaā€™s arm again, but her mother shrugged it off.

ā€œNo. Iā€™ve flogged myself with ā€˜ifā€™ since that night, and I am tired of it. This wasnā€™t my doing, and it certainly wasnā€™t Renataā€™s.ā€ Donaia dashed away tears as though she was as impatient with them as she was with the rest of it.

ā€œI only meanā€¦ itā€™s hardly fair for you to be harsh with Renata for not being to blame.ā€

ā€œShe knows I donā€™t mean it like that. Donā€™t you?ā€

Ren wished Donaia would mean it like that. This lack of resistance, this unwillingness to hurt her back,

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