Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan Read Free Book Online

Soraya said to Alshara. “I can’t believe he’d be so impertinent in front of the prince.”
    Alshara laughed. “Have you ever seen anything stop him being impertinent?”
    â€œHe’ll never earn a seat on the council like that. And the way he shouted in the final scene! Even the king jumped!”
    They went on, analyzing every detail of the performance. I quickly fixed my hair and escaped into the hallway.

Gyotia reached into the mountain and threw a handful of its fire into the sky, where it shone, fierce and bright. Then he bid it hide for part of each day, so that the earth made from his limbs would not grow too hot.
    So it has always been with light, that it must coexist with darkness.
SIX
    IN THE CARRIAGE back to the palace with Laiyonea, I dared a question: “What’s a qodder?”
    Laiyonea’s attention snapped to me at once. “Where did you hear that? Did one of the others in the pantomime say it?”
    â€œNo, I just . . . overheard it, and I wondered—”
    â€œIgnore it. Only a fool would call you that.”
    â€œBut what does it mean?” I asked timidly.
    â€œIt is . . . a term used by those too ignorant to understand how things are, to belittle those of us who do understand. It comes from the use of qodal to dye one’s hair black.” She touched the ebony knot at the base of her neck. “As if any of us could forget our place.”
    I kept quiet after that.
    Back at the palace, a luncheon for the players and their families waited in the garden. The poppies and blue lotuses were infull bloom, a spill of color under the bright sun. Laiyonea was immediately hailed by the Trade Minister, so I took a seat on the edge of the fountain.
    I stiffened when I heard Mati and his cousin Patic, who had traveled from the Valley of Qora to play one of the ancient chieftains in the pantomime, coming along the path behind me. I had nearly convinced myself that I’d imagined that moment behind the stage. Here in the sunlight it seemed impossible that the prince would do something so rash. Forget about it, I told myself. It was nothing—it wasn’t even the most shocking thing that had happened today.
    â€œBet you’re glad the show’s over, cousin,” Patic was saying as they neared me. “You had so many guards around you couldn’t even water the fields, if you know what I mean.”
    â€œToo bad they couldn’t keep out the riffraff from the valley,” Mati retorted, aiming a mock punch at Patic’s arm.
    Now that he mentioned it, I realized that the temple and stage had been unusually well guarded. “Why were there so many guards?” I asked.
    Mati turned and met my eyes, then looked away quickly. “Oh, with me being on stage, the guard captain thought today was especially dangerous. There’ve been some escapes from the quarries, and attacks at the docks. Father thinks the Resistance is involved.”
    I nodded stiffly. Jonis had been right there in the temple. And Kiti had been helping him. The Resistance had gotten past the guards, and had gotten back out unscathed, by all appearances. I was glad they hadn’t been caught, but . . . would they have hurtMati, given the chance? The thought turned my stomach to ice.
    The luncheon bells rang. Mati shot me a swift, searching look as we joined the others on the path.
    The Qilarite servants had set up round tables at the center of the garden, under a lacy roof of intertwined branches from the surrounding trees. I sat between Patic and Aliana, which, considering the possible alternatives, was a relief. I had a vague sense that Mati had arranged this, but I didn’t dare speculate on what that might mean.
    Aliana was practically mute for the entire meal. Patic, however, carried on a lively conversation with the War Minister’s son on his other side. I picked at my food, my mind returning to the temple changing room. I’d told Jonis to