Page 71 of Among the Burning Flowers
Marosa sat in numb silence as they returned to the Palace of Salvation. All the way back, she held in her grief, but it was so large, so wild, that it threatened to split her. Her father left her alone in the entrance hall, where she swayed like a blade of grass, her sight dimming.
First her mother. Now this.
How much loss could one soul bear?
For only the third or fourth time in her life, Marosa ascended the steps of the tower alone, without Ermendo. She could not even begin to fathom how she would break this news to Ruzio.
When she finally reached her apartments, drained and aching from the climb, she doubled over and vomited on to the floor. Each surge wrung icy sweat from her in rivulets.
‘Save us,’ she choked out. ‘Anyone, I beg you, help us. Saint, Dawnsinger, Smith of the Heavens—’ She groped for the pendant. ‘Mother, I beg you, help me. What now can I do?’
She sobbed until she made no sound. At last, Priessa returned, her chest heaving.
‘Marosa?’
‘I killed them,’ she choked out. ‘Ermendo and Yscabel. I killed them.’
‘No, Marosa.’
‘Yes.’ She looked up at Priessa, her face tearstained. ‘Where is Ruzio?’
‘Ruzio is gone.’ Priessa pressed a note into her hand. ‘She was with her lover in the kitchens when the Vardya came. That is why she was not taken.’
‘Her lover?’
‘Lord Bartian,’ Priessa said quietly. Marosa stared at her. ‘They have been having an affair for some time. Ruz was even with child by him once. I am sorry for not telling you, but … I felt it was her business, even if it was a vice, so I looked the other way.’ She closed her eyes. ‘I do not understand why I was spared. I can only think that my lord father protected me.’
‘Fýredel has never seen you with me. He did see Yscabel and Ruzio.’
Marosa unfolded the note. Ruzio had clearly written in haste, and the ink was smudged in several places.
Yscabel is gone. I cannot bear the suffering. My lady we have dressed warmly & gone to the tunnel you found. They will arrest us as well if we stay, knowing we are your friends. Better they cannot use us against you. Saint protect & keep you in adversity. We will try to reach Prince Aubrecht. I pray we return, but if not, I trust to embrace you again in Halgalant.
‘No.’ Marosa started to rise, more tears spilling down her cheeks. ‘They will not survive the mountains. Essa, we must stop them—’
‘We can’t.’ Priessa caught her by the waist. ‘They are gone, Marosa.’
Marosa sank back to the floor in despair. Priessa embraced her, and they both wept bitterly.
****
Ruzio did not return. In the small hours, Marosa pored over maps of many ages, trying to work out how long it wouldtake a person to reach Mentendon on foot. As Jondu had said, there had once been a Gulthaganian path through the Spindles, known as the Pass of the Imperator, but surely nothing remained of it now. Even if it did exist, it would be deep under the snow at this time of year.
The longer Marosa looked, the more she suspected that Ruzio had known there was no hope. That her friend had simply wanted to die on her own terms, with the man she loved, beyond the stranglehold of occupied Cárscaro. In that moment, Marosa was tempted to do the same.
But Queen Sahar would not have wanted that. She would wish, above all, for Marosa to live. To learn to be a flower that, deprived of water, kept growing. A flower that could bloom in fire.
Stand firm, like a desert rose, and you will yet be queen.
She pictured her mother now. Her broad smile and her warm brown eyes. Sahar Taumargam, who had discovered the murder of an Inysh queen, a fellow woman, and refused to ignore it.
And Marosa Vetalda knew what to do.
Aubrecht of the House of Lievelyn, Crown Prince of Mentendon, has sought annulment for his betrothal to the Donmata Marosa, Princess of the Draconic Kingdom of Yscalin, for her country has broken faith with the Saint.
Let it be known that His Virtuousness, the Arch Sanctarian, and Her Majesty, Queen Sabran of the House of Berethnet, who is the blood and heir of the Saint, hereby grant this annulment with the blessing of the Saint. Let it be known that Prince Aubrecht is now at liberty to marry whomsoever he desires.
Marosa
