CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Grimdar!" Enfri exclaimed. "I thought he was in the far north all this time, looking for more reds or something."

Deebee peered into the wineglass she'd been given and gave the dark liquid a dubious frown. "You'll have to forgive the deception, love. There were more important matters requiring his attention."

She said that with a veiled smile directed across the table in Jin's direction. It put a twinge of anxiety in Jin's stomach.

"It was you." Enfri said. "I thought as much. When Starra said she wasn't acting alone, I figured it had to be..."

"As I recall," Starra interrupted, "your first instinct was to suspect Reyn." She was the fourth and final occupant of their small table and sat across from Enfri, with Deebee on her right.

"I can't imagine Reyn hiding things from me," Enfri said. "Or... err... not something that effects me, at least."

"Mmm, I can accept that," Starra said.

Enfri puffed up her cheeks into a small pout and crossed her arms. "In any case, one of these days, I'm going to have to look into things and find out just what I can do to you hooligans who go around hiding things from me. It can't be legal."

Starra pushed a full glass into Enfri's hands. "I, for one, am rather grateful for the Lady Storyteller's assistance. Without the Gladiator's timely arrival, I fear even Jin would've had a spot of trouble with so many bandits."

Jin hummed a bare acknowledgement. Her memory went to a desperate Aleesh man helpless at her feet, her sword opening his neck to spill his blood over the grass. That bandit was the first Aleesh she ever killed, though not the first she ever chased. Jin could tell herself she was in every way justified in ending his life, but she didn't think Enfri would see it the same way.

She'd never even learned his name.

Laughter rang out across the parlor. Ban sat with Pacifica and Reyn, the two Altieri-born regaling the selkie with stories from their childhood in the Salt Stone Palace. They were in the midst of telling her about learning to sail alongside Pacifica's twin brother when Moon sat down in Ban's lap as if that were the most natural place for her to be. The conversation continued despite Ban's reddening face and Pacifica's japes at his expense.

Elsewhere, Saveen and Kimpo appeared to have made it their personal quest to get Krayson to drink more than a few sips of wine. Their urging was swiftly turning towards coercion, but Krayson remained steadfast. For now. Jin was secretly placing even odds that she'd soon see if he was truly as much of a lightweight with alcohol as Starra claimed he was.

Since the evening began, others began to trickle into the wine house. All seemingly came at the behest of the First Knight. Knights and Dragon Lords made appearances, some only briefly and others settling in for a lengthy stay. Hugin and Rav, Lords of Emeralds and Onyxes respectively, held hands as they enjoyed an evening out of uniform with friends and colleagues. Their bound dragons, Nooka the Artificer and Elloo the Constable, made the rounds to other tables to chat amicably with the mighty in attendance.

A small number of fey came through the wine house, and Jin was gratified to see they weren't held to the same dress codes as the mortals. Most noticeable was Light Hoof, Moon's elder brother. After trading a few friendly barbs with Ban, he was coaxed into playing a game of arja with Kolbat, the Lady of Pearls and Enfri's tattoo artist. Jin didn't consider herself an expert at arja, but she was certain both players were cheating. That or they just didn't know the rules very well.

Odjualla attended Enfri, but while the empress was otherwise engaged, she was more or less left to her own devices. Goodwife Weaver spent most of her time getting to know Maya's handmaidens, Vayless, Ceruna, and Zanda. They appeared to have much to discuss about their respective charges and were soon as thick as thieves. Odjualla also introduced her new acquaintances to her aunt and uncle, who arrived soon after.

House Velahrai, formerly of Chaya Domun, came to pay their respects. Lord Therrak the Velahrai Second Summit escorted his wife, Lady Leilas. They were the parents of Tola Velahrai, Elise's Onyx Knight, but had been Enfri's staunchest supporters among the Chaya Domun Aleesh from the start. Therrak had fair skin for an Aleesh, and Leilas had dark, rosewood skin much like the peoples of the north. Being pureblooded Aleesh, both were exceptionally tall. Therrak was only an inch shorter than Ban, and Leilas was an inch taller than Reyn. Regal and elegant, and far kinder than the ancient empire they descended from. It came as a small surprise that they gravitated towards Maya, and even more of one that Maya appeared to enjoy their company.

There was also a large number of people Jin didn't recognize. Most of them likely hadn't realized half the Imperial Council was invading the wine house until they were in the thick of it. To an outsider, it must've seemed intimidating at first, but the jovial air and welcoming attitudes soon drew even strangers into the revelry. More than anyone, Maya seemed to delight in dragging the more reticent of them into the parlor.

Jin worried that her sister was in danger of overindulging. She would have to limit Maya's intake if it progressed much further.

Conversation buzzed all around, the orcish bard's songs providing tempo. An additional two maids were called on to assist in serving so many distinguished guests, and the bartender looked to be on his last legs as he tried to keep up with the requested drinks. The Hondoan host often came through to see after his guests, and he looked beyond ecstatic to be catering to the leaders of Shan Alee, the most powerful arcanists and greatest warriors of the new empire, not to mention the empress. Master Vintner kept himself at the ready to personally refill Her Majesty's glass at a moment's notice.

At her own table, Jin listened to Enfri and Deebee's ongoing minor quarrel with half an ear. It seemed that while much had changed over the last three months, the relationship between those two— taking turns between that of mother and daughter or childhood friends— was not one of them.

"There were plenty of times I'd liked to have had Grimdar at hand," Enfri was saying. "There were three different instances I thought I might've finally found him a Ruby, but he wasn't around to give me his opinion."

"I'll concede the point," Deebee sighed. "Grimdar's as particular as a dragon can be about picking out the mortal he'll bond with, but that's not my area. I'm Eldest of the silvers, not the reds. Not my place to go ordering him about."

Enfri narrowed her eyes. "Don't give me that. We both know exactly how you got him to do your dirty work. The knighthoods are limiting themselves to ten forged bonds an order, and Kimpo's keeping the tenth spot in the Rubies open for him. Don't go interfering with other orders, love! You bullied Kimpo into sending Grimdar. Admit it."

"Bullied? The nerve, girl. The cheek. The utter gall. As if I could bully my Huntress into anything. As if I would."

Enfri pursed her lips, unconvinced. Jin was inclined to agree with Enfri on this one. It had always been clear that Kimpo was as biddable a mate to Deebee as a dragon could be.

Jin slouched in her chair and stared into her wine, untouched. The argument reminded her of another matter she had to feel guilty over.

"I must return to Grimdar," Jin said quietly. "I left him in the middle of nowhere."

"I should apologize for that," Starra said contritely. "Believe me, I'd rather there hadn't been a need."

"I'm certain we could give him a sending," Deebee offered. "Grimdar can make his way here in short order." She got a thoughtful look. "Now, where exactly were you?"

"Three hundred leagues from here," Jin said. "Between Marwin and the Imperial City, along the new river lands."

Deebee's eyes widened. "Winds. Easy to forget how blustering big the desert used to be. Even so, it shouldn't take Grimdar long to make the trip by air."

"He has my horse," Jin said, looking up. "I wouldn't want him to fly Scorpion over so great a distance."

"Horses aren't fond of being carried around in talons," Enfri agreed. She smiled at Jin. "Shouldn't be too much trouble. We just need someone who can cast two teleport spells in one day. I think half of us here can manage that."

Jin opened her mouth to say something. Instead, she closed it again and nodded in acceptance.

An elbow dug its way into Jin's ribs beneath the table. Jin looked up to see Starra giving her a hard glare.

Ah, this would be what they're telling me to stop doing, Jin thought. She cleared her throat. "My heart?"

She had Enfri's full attention immediately. "Yes?"

"I would... If it is agreeable, I would prefer to retrieve Scorpion and the Gladiator myself."

"Oh. Well, of course, if that's what you want to do."

Jin glanced to Starra and saw that the glare had lessened but not disappeared. "Also... I will not be returning to Shan Alee. Not right away."

She had trouble keeping herself from avoiding Enfri's eyes. Jin had to force herself to look up from her lap.

"You're not coming back?" Enfri asked quietly. Her hands started wringing themselves into knots.

Jin took in a breath to steady herself. Despite her efforts, she felt that her voice was as unsteady as it'd ever been. "There are things I yet need to do. If I am being forthright, I was not ready to return. The situation was... rather forced on me."

Enfri's eyes were downcast. "I see."

"I am going to Marwin," Jin said, putting a little more strength into her voice. "Starra asked I meet with an acquaintance of hers there before our plans were forced to change. I would like to do so, and then I feel I could come back more... permanently."

Enfri looked up, hopeful. "Permanently?"

"Yes. I don't know if..."

Tears welled up in Enfri's eyes no matter how hard she tried to keep them in check. "Really? You'll come back to me?"

Jin needed to force herself to exhale. "Yes. If you'll have me."

It looked like Enfri didn't trust herself to speak, so she smiled instead. Beneath the table, her hand found its way to Jin's.

"It will be a lengthy absence," Jin admitted.

"That's alright. However long you..." Enfri furrowed her brow. "Wait, Marwin? Why Marwin?"

"I was already making my way there when Starra told me of this man I am to meet. It was my hope to arrive there before the Nineteenth of Flame."

"The nineteenth," Enfri repeated. "What's so special about..." Her eyes went wide as she realized the significance of that particular day. "Oh... Oh!"

Deebee finally tried her wine. She smacked her lips in consideration before humming in approval. "It's the seventh today. Eighth, I suppose, in a few hours. I think you have plenty of time. As I recall, it's no more than two days ride from Sandharbor to the ruins of Marwin, and a fair bit easier of a trip now than a year ago."

"Winds, is that all it's been?" Enfri asked to herself. "Seems longer somehow."

"A remarkably eventful year," Deebee pointed out.

"The last six months especially," Jin said. She held tighter to Enfri's hand under the table. "I imagine it would be best if I was present for my father's visit, so perhaps I could meet Starra's friend sooner. She's said he is already there."

"I don't want to rush you," Enfri insisted. "You should take all the time you need."

Jin looked her in the eye. "I've wasted too much time already. Of everywhere in the world, I can think of nowhere I should be more than with you."

Enfri blinked in surprise. "I thought... the way you worded it... I assumed you needed more time to process everything."

It wasn't difficult for Jin to smile. "The nineteenth should be more than enough time for my father's visit to conclude. Perhaps once he returns to Althandor, you could accompany me on an additional visit to Marwin."

Enfri looked into Jin's eyes, her voice gone soft. "See the wellspring again?"

"One more dance in the dark."

"No power in Hell or the Ethereum could keep me away. Of course I'll go with you."

Jin let out a trembling breath. When she spoke, she felt in control of her voice again. "And, let us see to it that anything that survived Deebee's fires gets reduced to cinders. All but the wellspring. That's the only pure place left in that cesspool."

Enfri giggled. "Agreed. I'll bring a plaque or something we can mount outside the cave. It'll say 'everywhere but this spot here is rubbish'."

Jin was somewhat aware that Starra and Deebee stood up and left the table. Deebee went to join Kimpo, who by then had coaxed Krayson into trying Hondoan whiskey; he didn't enjoy it. Starra was on her way to torment someone who probably didn't deserve it when her father and sisters came into the parlor. Starra suddenly had the tables turned on her as Captain Suuri and Lady Shaan began telling Reyn an embarrassing story. Something about an opera and a crystal pear. Seifer pretended he didn't hear any of it and instead found a captive audience in Pacifica and the handmaidens.

Alone with Enfri, everyone around them inched further away as if by unspoken decree. Beneath the table, their hands clung together, unwilling to let go now that they'd found each other again.

"I'm sorry, my light," Enfri said. It was quiet, almost too quiet to be heard over the noise around them. "I'm so, so sorry I let you down."

"No more than I let you down. I failed utterly. So many times I asked you to have faith in me, and when it mattered, I didn't give the same faith to you."

Enfri shook her head. "I wasn't worthy of it. The thing is, I don't think you were wrong about me."

Jin felt her stomach sink to hear Enfri believe that, and she knew it to be her fault Enfri doubted herself. It broke her heart to see the doubt she'd given her.

"I'm not used to all this," Enfri said. "Whenever I think I'm starting to get a handle on it, something happens to remind me I'm just a village girl with no business being where I am. I'm inexperienced, naive, and... honestly... way in over my head." She bit her lip anxiously before continuing. "Worst of all, I took you for granted. I knew I was doing it, too, but I didn't take the steps I knew I had to take to fix it. I kept thinking... you would be my devoted assassin no matter what I did. Then I started to do questionable things, and I didn't explain myself to you like you deserved. I'm sorry, my light. I owe you so much. I owe you everything, and I didn't give it."

Jin bowed her head. "You never owed me a thing. All I ever wanted was to be near you."

Enfri scooted her chair closer.

Jin glanced up and snorted. "You didn't have to take it literally."

Enfri shrugged. "I stand by this decision." She looked abruptly anxious, and a shadow came into her eyes. Enfri all but cringed.

Jin recognized the presence of her ancestors. She waited, staring into Enfri's eyes, until she looked her way again.

"They don't like that you're back," Enfri whispered.

Jin nodded. She reached out and held Enfri by the back of the head to pull her closer. Bending to place her mouth next to Enfri's ear, she spoke softly.

"Hear me, Shoen. As my ancestor before me, you cannot defeat me. I am not afraid of you. She is not yours. She is mine, and I will never fear you again. Do us the only kindness you can. Shut up and give my love her father back, or I will come in there and finish what Algara began."

Enfri covered her mouth and gave a timid laugh. "Ohh, he really didn't like that."

Jin hummed. "Did you?"

Enfri nodded. "Very much so. I think they're worried you might just manage it." She reached out and put her arms around Jin's neck, her expression threatening to turn sad. "Is this what you want, my light? Being with me again?"

Jin held Enfri's face in her hands. It was a feeling as she'd never felt before. Jin could have wept for how strongly it came. Never before in her life had she felt so weightless and free. As if light shone from within her, rather than cloaked in shadows as she'd been for as long as she could remember. Alive and unafraid. In love and worthy of being loved. Complete.

She wondered if this was what it felt like to be a knight instead of an assassin.

Their kiss made the room go quiet. Whether everyone around them took notice or the noise was simply drowned out for her in the moment, Jin heard nothing but silence. Silence and the music.

"Again and forever, my heart."