The Devil's Garden by Jane Kindred Read Free Book Online Page A

agree.”
    He shrugged. “I wouldn’t know.”
    “You’re a temple courtesan, and the Meer has not asked for you?”
    Cree came to his rescue when he didn’t answer. “It’s against the law for a Meer to consort with a commoner. Even if the Meer aren’t impotent.”
    “What do Meer care for the law?” Azhra turned to Cillian again. “So he hasn’t asked for you?”
    Cillian sighed. “He has.”
    Cree narrowed her eyes, but he ignored her.
    “But you don’t know if he’s virile.”
    “No, I don’t. I have many patrons whose preferences do not run to intercourse.” Cree was practically burning a hole in his head with her eyes. “Cree, I haven’t lied to you. I’m not a Meerist. I do what I am paid to do. That’s all.”
    She studied him a moment, chewing on a thumbnail, her expression wavering between anger and something else he couldn’t define. “But if you were paid to break the law…” She left the sentence unfinished.
    “You mean if he bedded me.”
    Cree flinched at the words but didn’t back down.
    “He hasn’t. ”
    “But if he did—” she picked up his hand and traced the tattooed lines, “—it might be useful information to the movement. If the templars saw the Meer cared so little for the precepts they’ve spent their lives in service to, they might be persuaded that the time for gods is past. It might be the thing to turn them to our point of view. It might end the Meerarchy.”
    “You’re asking me to break the courtesan’s vow.” It was the second time in two days someone had asked him to spy on the Meer.
    “I’m not suggesting you discuss the details of your assignations. Only, should it come up, to confirm whether you’ve been intimate with a patron. Does that break the oath if the patron is already known to have paid for your services?”
    He frowned, not liking the turn of the conversation.
    “Don’t answer me now. Just consider it. And if someone should ask you sometime down the road, well, use your own judgment then. Perhaps future events will make the answer easier.”
    Cillian tucked back the hair slipping forward from his slept-on chignon. Ume had already agreed without question to report on her activities with the Meer. Did she owe more to a patron than she did to a lover?
    Cree wove her fingers between Cillian’s in reassurance and turned to Azhra. “Was it common knowledge when you were the Meer’s consort? Did the templars know?”
    Azhra was quiet for a moment, fingering the fabric of her veil. “I didn’t think so at the time. But after…” She paused, color rising in her olive complexion as if she hadn’t meant to elaborate but was now compelled to. “It was never made public. But somehow they knew. They knew, and they covered it up.” She glanced from Cillian to Cree, a silent plea in her eyes. “I’ve told no one else,” she repeated and took a deep breath, going pale. “I am the mother of the Meer’s child.”
    “MeerRana of Rhyman is your daughter? ” Cree let out a low whistle. “Meeralyá!”
    Azhra gave her a strained smile. “It comes so easily to the tongue, doesn’t it? Taking their names as imprecations.”
    “But she’s Meer? I mean, can she speak things into being?”
    “How would I know?” Azhra gave her a defiant look that seemed to mask more fragile emotion. “It was a dozen years ago. I barely knew the child. They took her to her father as soon as I delivered an heir, declaring it a miracle, as if she just sprang from his hip. Now she lives inside the golden walls of the temple and lives off the blood and sweat of the people, the same as he.” Azhra reddened. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m telling you this. I haven’t spoken of her in…” She sighed and glanced around the room as if the rest of the words might be there somewhere.
    Cillian had never been in such a tense and awkward conversation, even with the most socially inept patron. “Well.” He released Cree’s hand and slapped his palms