The Fall by Christie Meierz Read Free Book Online

platform. They left their phase platform. “You cannot conceal such a plan. Your communications can be traced.”
    “It will do the Sural no good. And this time, no spy will spoil my aim.”
    She buried her face in his robe and peered into him without probing. He held something back, but he interrupted the question she wanted to ask by lifting her chin with one hand and bringing his mouth down across hers.
    * * *
    Laura’s tablet chimed at the end of the evening meal, after Vondra left with Veryth. She stifled a yawn and pulled the gently-vibrating object from her pocket. A symbol she didn’t recognize blinked in one corner.
    “I can’t read it,” she said. “It’s not one of the syllables Kellandin taught me.” She handed it to the Paran. “What does it say?”
    He settled his chin in one hand while the fingers of his other hand danced over its screen. Then he nodded.
    “Well?” she prompted.
    “The analysis rates as very good,” he answered. “The crossover points are admirable.”
    “So that’s good enough?”
    “Overall, yes. Inheriting your artistic skill is the most important factor if you want your heir to follow you into the artisan caste. The probability of that is very high.”
    She squeezed the bridge of her nose. “I didn’t think that far. It never occurred to me that my child might have a… place… in Tolari society.”
    “We will guide you.”
    Laura nodded. She was almost too tired to care, but she pressed out the next question that came to mind. “Now what?”
    His lips twitched. “Now you send a direct request to the Paran’s apothecary and await the response.”
    “Your apothecary? ” She choked, suddenly wide awake, face burning. “But—”
    “It is our custom. Requests for an heir made to a member of the ruling caste must go to the head apothecary. The same practice holds in every province.”
    “But—” Her heart fell. Not Meilyn . The head apothecary didn’t like her, though he always behaved with strict courtesy in her presence. He had been a close companion of the Paran for years, and she had more than a little suspicion he neglected to learn English so he wouldn’t have to deal with her directly. If he had any say in it… She sagged back into her chair. So much for that idea .
    The Paran peered into her face and handed the tablet back. “I sent the request. Should I not have?”
    “No but—I mean, yes but… I mean…” Her stomach lurched.
    “My love.” He stroked her cheek. “I have known him all my life. He is not a cruel man.”
    “He’ll tell you not to,” she muttered, looking down at the table.
    “If he does, I am free to ignore him. The analysis rates well enough that he can make no compelling argument against it.” He cocked an eyebrow.
    She blinked at him through the fog of fatigue.
    “I have little doubt he will seek me out shortly.”
    “What?” She straightened, glancing at the door to the hall and then back at the Paran. “And why are you so bright-eyed? You stayed up all night too.”
    “The stimulants we use to counteract winter drowsiness work well after what you call pulling an all-nighter .”
    “That’s cheating.”
    He lifted one corner of his mouth. “Nevertheless.”
    She grumbled and opened her mouth to retort, but closed it when an approaching presence, filled with a convoluted mix of conflicted annoyance and resignation, caught her attention. “I think he’s here,” she whispered.
    A solidly-built man just beginning to gray, Meilyn came through the doorway wearing the bright yellow robe of his caste and an expression that could curdle fresh milk. Laura hurried to clear her emotions the moment he walked into the room. If he wanted to read her, well, he was out of luck. If he tried to probe her, he’d deserve what he got. Fully awake again, at least for the moment, she flashed him her most insipid social smile.
    Meilyn bowed to the Paran deeply, gave Laura a cursory nod, and waited.
    “ Speak ,” the Paran said, in