Page 167 of Insolence
Pure dread seized me. “Please, sweetheart.” A key scratched at the lock. “Keep me safe.”
“Oh, fuck you, Tiss. You selfish,stubborn—”
More banging and rattling came; another key scraped the lock, but the door didn’t budge. Not yet, but whatever remaining seconds we had were burning away.
“Promise me, Elodie.Sayit.”
Fear and fury gushing down our bond, her agate eyes glinted dangerously, shifting between me and the door.
“Yeah, I promise. But I won’t forgive this fuckinginsanity. That’s a promise, too,” she growled, pushing me backward so hard the floor swooped out from under me. Lurching blindly back, my hand caught the table. Breathless, I somehow managed to keep from dropping to my ass.
The correct key hit home, clicking crisply in the lock as I righted myself. The door flew open with a stomach-dropping finality.
Dread clambered up my throat as Deirdre sauntered into the room, looking between us with far too much interest. My gaze darted to Elodie. Seated again, her face was the picture of serenity, not a trace of the protectiveness bristling from every pore. The vehemence humming down our tie.
“I’m terribly sorry, Lady Madoc, but I’m afraid I must ask you to wrap up your visit now. High Priestess Elodie must go about her duties, after all.” That soulless grin cut across Deirdre’s face, her honey-sweet tone putting my teeth on edge.
I pasted my humblest smile over the mask I was barely keeping in place. “I’ve decided to join the temple, Mother Prioress.”
Elodie made an uneven sound, her calm facade belying her fingers clutching either chair arm so hard her knuckles strained.
Deirdre blinked, looking between us. “Did I hear you correctly just now, Lady Madoc?”
“Your reverence,” said Elodie, “might we have a few more moments alone?”
“Can you believe you’ve been here anhouralready?” Deirdre’s tone turned brisk. “I’m afraid if you haven’t divined to the lady’s satisfaction by this point, you won’t, your holiness.”
Spine straight, shoulders pushed back, I channeled all the grace of a highborn wife—burning, bleary eyes, muddy clothes, and all. “I’m invoking Sanctuary, Mother Prioress. My husband has recently died, and I’ve nobody to vouch for me anymore.”
Deirdre’s focus cut to me. From her seat, Elodie swore softly—hopefully too softly for the prioress’s human hearing to discern.
Walking around the table, I clamored to maintain command of the room. “Although I foretold of his untimely death years ago, it’s no great secret that I am ill-favored. Clan Madoc will doubtless find reason to blame me. Gods only know what slanders they’ve already invented. I’m not sure I can trust the clan of my birth to protect me, either. I require Eisha’s protection.” While my words were mostly self-assured, my heart was lunging against my ribs.
I’d lost count of the times I rehearsed this story on my way up the mountain in the event things went sideways.
“I’m sorry, Lady Madoc,” said Deirdre. “Did you sayIlliamis—”
“—dead? Yes, Mother Prioress.” I met the full intensity of her regard. “I also invoked a changeling’s Right to Sanctuary.”
“You’ll submit to the ritual? I assume you are aware of the, ah, the outcome.”
“Of course I am. Isn’t every woman in the realm?”
Terror and rage shuttled at me from Elodie, smothering in their intensity. Scanning me from head to toe, the prioress snorted in disbelief. But if she was as clever and conniving as everyone said, she was already calculating my value. Weighing what advantage I might bring her.
“Mother Deirdre, I’d much rather throw myself on Eisha’s mercy than trust the capricious hand of the law. Confirm with Clan Madoc, if you wish. I hardly think Orum will dispute my request to remain here. Or simply grant me this small plea for mercy between mages. Either way, I’m quite certain I want to pledge myself to the goddess this day.”
“You’re dismissed, Elodie. It seems Lady Madoc and I have matters to discuss.” Deirdre didn’t bother glancing at the high priestess.
She gripped her chair for two beats longer. Fury flashing in her eyes, I caught her glare in my peripheral vision. I couldfeelher thoughts lambasting me.
So be it. Whether I knew her or not, a lifetime without Elodie would be meaningless. An existence hardly worth bearing.
“Lady Madoc, it’s a high honor.” Her gaze steely, the Second High Priestess rose from her chair. “I know you’ll be very happy here.”
Radiant with love and loathing, she ceded me to Deirdre.
Chapter 48
