Page 85 of Flame and Sparrow

Had I missed some obvious answer to all my questions?

Annoyed at the very possibility, I turned back to the rest of the room, reminding myself of the role I still had to finish playing tonight. I immediately saw the reason for the Death Marr’s sudden exit—Dravyn was staring at me from the opposite wall, seemingly ignoring the God of the Ocean who stood next to him, chatting with increasingly animated gestures.

The God of Fire did not look pleased.

His gaze followed the last wisps of Zachar’s power as they disappeared. Then he was striding toward me, looking me over as if inspecting for damage or any lingering shadows.

“I told you to stay away from him, did I not?” His tone was calm enough as he reached me, but I could sense the frustration building underneath. The air heated a little more with each breath he took.

I stared defiantly back, too tired, confused, and ill to bother being careful with my reply. “He spoke to me first. Would you have preferred I offend one of your court?”

“You had no problem tellingmeto fuck off on the day we met, as I recall.”

“I didn’t realize you were a god at the time.”

“Would it have mattered if you did?”

I bared my teeth in a smile. “No. As a matter of fact, it wouldn’t have.”

He leaned closer, his voice dropping low, meant only for me. “What must I do to convince you that you have no business with that monstrous god? He shouldn’t even have come here tonight. He’s only trying to stir up trouble.”

“Why shouldn’t he be here? Is he not a member of your court?”

“He is. But what he is beyond that…it’s complicated.”

“You asked what you must do to convince me. It’s easy enough: You could tell me what is happening with him.”

His jaw clenched.

“He’s a part of your court,” I said, as calmly as I could. “I don’t see why—”

“Enough.”

The word fell like an axe between us, heavy with a hint of violence, and for a moment, I forgot that I was supposed to be playing the role of a hopeful servant. I clenched my fists, resisting the urge I felt to unleash my claws and rake them across his face.

“In case you haven’t noticed,” he said quietly, “your every move is being watched, now. So I suggest you unclench your fists, lest you give some the idea that you don’t care to join me and my court at all.”

He was right; I could feel those watchers, and I realized then how quiet the room had become. I slowly opened my fists.

“Your focus should be on getting through the rest of this night and then surviving the next trial. Nothing else.”

“Fine,” I seethed. “But when I survive it, you owe me more explanations.”

“Ifyou survive it.”

“WhenI survive it.”

“We’ll see.” His tone remained sharply bitter, but the animosity in his gaze had shifted to…something else.

Concern?

I didn’t know what to do with that concern, so I quickly excused myself and resumed my earlier search for a familiar face.

The God of Ice was easy to find; I only had to follow the sounds of his howling laughter.

He wasn’t alone when I spotted him, so I wouldn’t be able to try and make him elaborate on the things the Death Marr had said, which was disappointing. I drifted toward him anyway, the chaos in my soul drawn to the chaotic energy that seemed to constantly surround him.

Mairu was there as well, and six other beings were gathered around her and Valas—Miratar spirits, I thought. These spirits didn’t radiate the same power as the Marr they served, but the energy they gave was much more intense than anything I felt around mortal beings, or even the magical creatures the Marr created.

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