Page 111 of The Cruel Dawn
“I know she’s worthy of an equal,” Elyn lobs back.
Zephar squeezes my shoulders. “She’s a prisoner here just as I am.”
Elyn’s smirk blossoms into a smile. “Kailed the rebellion. You simply…carried her purse.”
Zephar releases me and steps back. Heated waves of anger roll off of him.
I close my eyes and hold up my hands. “Listen—”
“Kai? A word, please?” Hands clasped behind her back, Elyn marches to the overlook. “Grand Librarian?” she snaps. “I’ve studied under the most esteemed Adjudicators in the Aetherium. I’ve written the laws of more places than those lands where he’s broken laws. I’ve saved the lives of the worthy and decreed the deaths of those who’ve caused harm.Grand Librarian?”
Sweat prickles my underarms, and I feel my heart shrinking in my chest. “Grand Librarian—that’s better than ‘fucking tablet-carrying guttorply.’”
Elyn snorts. “Jail has improved his character, but he remains an ignorant, arrogantguttorply. I know more about this realm and his own order than he ever will.”
I peer at her with my arms folded. “And yet you don’t knowshitabout how to kill the resurrectors, the Devourers, or Danar Rrivae.”
“Shall I leave you to it, then?” she asks, with ice in her voice.
I groan and squeeze the bridge of my nose. “I don’t miss your bickering with Zee. And you’ve been on a tear. That outburst at Jadon up in the glen?”
“Was I wrong?” she asks.
“Not at all,” I say, “but you could at least be—”
“Nicer? More patient?” Her eyes roll wildly, irritation in every loose tendril of her silver hair. “You’re gonna keep losing, Kai, because if he’s beautiful, you won’t be able to tell that he’s your enemy. He wasn’t good enough for you then, and he sure as fuck isn’t good enough for you now.”
I cross my arms and lower my head. “Which one are we talking about?”
Elyn whispers, “Both of them! JadonandZephar. Is it possible for you to fall for someonenotset against Supreme? Someone I don’t have to put in jail?”
I chew the inside of my cheek, then look out to the city below.
The temple bell chimes, a call to the faithful that echoes across the rooftops and fades into the dusky hills. The walkways fill with those faithful now gathering for morning prayers, and the sweet scents of thyme and lavender waft from the temple. Gashoans move toward the courtyard, their heads bowed, their hands raised in quiet devotion, their voices blending in a soft hum of prayer that rises in the stillness of the morning. The rhythm of their chanting almost makes me forget that Miasma is tucked in one of the temple’s chambers.
Elyn sighs and says, “Jadon was born to be bad, but Zephar’sspoiled.His daddy is an asshole, and his momma is an enabler and a climber who only wants to be the mother-in-law of High Lord Megidrail’s only child.” She shakes her head and sneers. “Histemple? I thought the temple was named afteryou, to worshipyou,Celestial.”
I stare at the scented smoke billowing from the city below. “That wasn’t lost on me.”
“And who was the fucker shooting at us?” Elyn hisses.
My head falls back, and I watch the stars fading from the lightening sky. “Yet another question.” I pause, then add, “I told Jadon about Zephar.”
“Are you gonna tell Zephar about Jadon?”
I sneak a sidelong peek at Elyn. “Both are breathing right now, and neither is bleeding to his death. So I’d say no.”
“Are you gonna tell Zephar that you also destroyed Beaminster with another man—Jadon—or should I?”
I turn to her. “Don’t youdare. Andtechnically, I destroyed Beaminster alone.”
Zephar leads his warriors and Shari up to the pavilion.
Elyn and I stand in silence and watch the priests shuffle into the courtyard with their heads bowed. The Sisters of the Dusky Hills dance in formation across the courtyard’s mosaic tiles, their movements fluid and graceful, their faces serene, their arms lifted toward the sky. They twirl in time with the rhythm of guitars and hand drums, their robes flowing out around them.
“In all seriousness…” I squeeze Elyn’s hand. “Thank you for your concern. Feels like old times again.”
Elyn’s lip curls. “Do better, Kai. Stop fucking with the beautiful, toxic assholes.” She pauses, then tugs a lock of my hair. “Nowit feels like old times.”
