Page 60 of This Monster of Mine

“I thought I saw you!” she panted. “What are you doing here?” Before Sarai could answer, her eyes went to the book in her hands and widened. She grinned wickedly and slung an arm around her shoulders. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Apparently, I’ve a lot more than I thought.The Alternate Histories of the Sidran Tower Girl? Really?”

Cisuré shrugged sheepishly. “The fifth volume was a massive success.”

“I wonder why.” Finding her horse, Sarai stuffed the book into her saddlebag right as Aelius joined them.

“There you are, Cisuré. Petitor Sarai, a pleasure.” He smoothly escorted them out of the square. “How have you been?”

“Very well,” she stammered. It still boggled her mind that the Head Tetrarch of Ur Dinyé knew her name. “And you?”

“I’m well taken care of.” He chuckled with a smile at a blushing Cisuré. Sarai suddenly wanted to bury herself in a hole. “I hear that your searches haven’t been proving fruitful.”

She nearly choked. “Unfortunately not.”

“Well, I didn’t think it would be easy.” He sighed. “Tullus has received several inquiries from the Metals Guild about missing Guildsmen in Kadra’s Quarter. You wouldn’t happen to have heard anything about that, would you?”

Her instincts kicked in. “Missing?” She furrowed her brow. “I’m sorry, Tetrarch Aelius. We haven’t received any petitions regarding them.”

It wasn’t a lie.Damn it to hell. I’ll turn into Kadra at this rate. A slight shift in the parameters of an answer was his favorite tactic.

“That’s quite alright.” The lines under Aelius’s eyes deepened, and for a second, he looked far older than his age. “I wish he wouldn’t make things so difficult. We’re all on the same side, and what’s best for Ur Dinyé is all that matters.” He exchanged a rueful look with Cisuré. “Incidentally, we’re having a little gathering in a week and a half, on the moonbright night. Would you care to come?”

“Oh, I don—yes,” she amended at Cisuré’s vehement nod. “Tibi gratias ago, Tetrarch Aelius. It would be an honor.”

“It’ll be our pleasure to have you.” Making his farewells, he merged back into the spectators.

“Alright, I’ll concede that I’m a little fond.” Cisuré sighed.

“Alittle?”

“He won’t take it seriously. I think he thinks I’m too young.”

“Ten years is adifferenceat our age.”

Cisuré pouted. “Don’t remind me. Anyway, I keep hearing that Kadra’s tied you up in cases. You’ll enjoy the convivium—party,” she amended at Sarai’s confused look. “Everyone who’s anyone will be there.”

“Should I get something to wear?”

“No need! You don’t have to dress up. Just look good.”

Most days, she doubted she could. “I’ll try.”

“You’ll love it. You know the city, the job, and the commoners now. Time to meet some people of value.”

Value.“Will the Guilds be there?”

“Without a doubt. Youwillcome, won’t you? It’s on the eighth day of the Month of Wind at Delran Tower.”

Sarai smiled grimly. Perhaps an audience with Helvus would trigger another memory.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

The Month of Moons ended with a plethora of gossip about Harion’s new nose—a distraction for which she’d thanked the Elsar daily. Kadra hadn’tpried about her attacker’s identity at the tavern, but judging by his faint smile at the topic of the nose, he knew. A week into the Month of Wind, the second moonbright night of the year arrived quietly, marking over a month that she’d been a Petitor. Dressing, she marveled at the thought. On the first moonbright night, she’d been assessed by Telmar in Arsamea. And here she was, readying herself for a gathering with Ur Dinyé’s most influential people.

Her spirits lifted at the mirror’s now familiar reflection of her in Petitor’s robes, hair piled on top of her head in a bit of architecture that had taken hours. She couldn’t paint her skin or lips whennihumb’s illusion would just cover it all, but she could do this much.

Cato looked surprised when she came downstairs. “That’s beautifully done, Petitor Sarai. Any reason?”

---