Page 36 of Sanctifier

She, Ruellian Delara, was expected to speak to the court of Navenie.

“It won’t be difficult,” he said, leaning back in his chair. He had eaten almost nothing, simply watching as Ru made her way slowly through two soft-boiled eggs, toast and jam, and a rasher of bacon.

Ru sipped her coffee, washing down the last of her breakfast. With a full stomach, she felt far more equipped to deal with him. Even so, the artifact flickered angrily in the back of her mind as if spurring her on, and she couldn’t help but lean into the feeling.

“I’m not doing it,” she said, for the second time.

“The court deserves a proclamation from the Keeper. Theyneedone. If the Cleansing on the solstice is to work as Festra desires, all of the court must be in attendance. You must entice them.”

“You can’t entice people into believing in a god,” Ru countered, trying not to let her melancholy, her rising anger, affect her. “This announcement, thiseventyou’re planning, it’s pointless. Have your lady poison everyone, or do whatever it is she does to make them pliant, and be done with it.”

Lord D’Luc frowned slightly. “You see it asmaking them pliant. I see it as opening their minds to the truth. Lady Bellenet is not a usurper.”

“I never said she was.”

His eyes narrowed. “She is a guide. The sooner you accept it, the sooner you’ll be able to focus all of your energy on controlling the artifact. On making it succumb to your will.”

“Why would I do that when I know full well the result is a new Destruction?” Ru said.

Instead of answering, he gave her a long, disapproving look. “I expect you to wear something appropriate to the event. Something befitting a queen rather than a peasant.”

She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that. “You and your lady need to coordinate better insults. I’ll wear what I like.”

“Even with Taryel Aharis at your side?”

Ru’s stomach clenched.

“Will my friends be attending?” she asked.

Lord D’Luc’s expression said he knew she was changing the subject on purpose. “They are free to do as they like.”

Ru glared back as if to say,you knew what I meant. “Were theyinvited?”

“Yes.”

“Will the artifact be there?”

“So many questions,” he said, rising and offering a hand to Ru. “They’ll all be answered soon, I’m sure. The festivities begin at dusk.” He held her fingers in his, catching her gaze with hard sapphire eyes. “This will be your formal introduction to the court of Navenie. Your introduction as the Keeper of His Heart. Behave appropriately.”

Wrenching her fingers from his grasp, Ru glowered back. The artifact’s voice flared in her mind, a black flame. “I’ll behave however I like, thank you.”

He smiled. “You always do.”

Pearl had just finished buttoningRu’s dress when a sudden clamor arose from the window. The sun was nearly set, and the room was warmly lit with lamps and a lively fire in the hearth. Ru was on edge, ready to snap, and the sound made her nearly jump out of her skin.

Something had come in through the window, Ru thought. But her bed blocked the view, and…

“Goodness!” Pearl exclaimed, just as a man stood up from below the open window.

The man brushed himself off with exaggerated poise. His cheeks and nose were pink, and he delicately reached up to push a lock of coppery hair back in place. He grinned.

“Simon,” Ru croaked, taken aback — not for the first time — by her brother’s acrobatics. “Did you climb in through thewindow?”

“Obviously,” he said, breathing heavily with exertion. “Didn’tquitenail the landing. Did you really think me so foolish as to use the front door? Evening, Pearl.”

Pearl only giggled, her cheeks going pink.

Ru’s gaze darted between them. “Good god, Simon, if you’ve been…”

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