The Bone Shard Daughter (The Drowning Empire, #1)(50)

“Again with the scowling,” her father said.

She changed the subject. “The fountain in the courtyard. You should destroy it. People are talking about the Alanga returning. You know it’s not just a fountain now. It’s an artifact that might be used against you should they return.”

The woman on her father’s arm paled.

“You’re not the governor yet,” he said lightly. “The eyes closed. Nothing has happened. It’s been part of the courtyard for generations. It’s the Emperor’s job to keep the Alanga away, and the Sukais have done a fair job of that for hundreds of years. I’m not sure why we should stop trusting them now.”

Where she would have normally shrugged off her father’s complacency, now it bothered her, like an itch she couldn’t scratch. “I should go,” Phalue said, pushing herself to her feet.

“Already? You’ve barely eaten.”

“I’m meeting Ranami in the city. We’re visiting the countryside.” The truth, yet not the truth. They weren’t visiting. They were stealing caro nuts. The thought made her belly churn and swoop, a wave crashing over rocky ground.

“I’m so glad you’ve made amends with her,” her father said, reaching for a banana. “I’d rather you married another noble, but I suppose urging you to that would be a bit hypocritical of me.” He pressed his lips together as he focused on peeling the fruit. “But you should get married, foster some children, choose an heir. I won’t live for ever.”

With the way he drank and hid in his palace, it would be a fair bit shorter than “for ever.” Phalue shook her head. “I’m not having this conversation again. I’ll get married in my own time.” Which apparently was when Ranami was ready. If she ever was ready. “I’ll try to be back for dinner.”

“If you see your mother,” her father said, “tell her to come visit.”

Phalue only shrugged at the suggestion and strode out the door. Her mother hated to visit.

Ranami was waiting for her at the door of her home; Phalue barely had to knock before she answered.

“You’re late,” she said, her cheeks flushed. She stepped out and shut the door. It was quietly done, but sharply, in a way that made Phalue very aware that she’d angered Ranami.

“I was held up at lunch with my father.”

“You’re not taking this seriously.” Ranami looked to the sky, peering at the clouds in a vain effort to find the sun. “We need to hurry. It will take time to get to the farms, and we need to avoid being seen by any of the overseers.” She shoved a rough brown cloak into Phalue’s hands. “Do you have to wear the sword? It’s going to stick out.”

The cloak was a little small for someone of Phalue’s size, brushing just below mid-calf when she put it on. And the sword did stick out. “I can strap it to my back.” She unbuckled her belt and refastened it around her shoulders like a bandolier. “There.”

Ranami only gave her an exasperated, skeptical look, and then grabbed her hand. “It’ll have to do.”

They walked out of the city together, and despite Ranami’s irritation, she didn’t let go of Phalue’s hand. Stone streets turned to dirt and mud; tiled roofs turned to thatch. The buildings diminished into the trees and brush of the forest.

It was an adventure of sorts, or at least as close to one as Phalue would ever get. She’d agreed to help the Shardless reluctantly, but what harm would stealing a few nuts do? And what could possibly happen to her if she got caught?

They paid an ox cart for a ride out to the farms. The cart swayed and creaked at each pit in the road, and Phalue watched Ranami stare into the trees. A breeze caught at her long, dark hair, and the backdrop of cloudy sky made Ranami look like a storm goddess. Even wrapped in a rough brown cloak, she was beautiful. It was the determination in her jaw and the set of her lips, the slight bit of worry at her brow, her dark and solemn eyes. “I’ll read those books you wanted me to. When we get back,” Phalue said.

“You always say that,” Ranami said, her voice distant.

Phalue reached out for her, putting an arm about her shoulders, pulling her in close, kissing the crease between her brows. I’m sorry. She willed Ranami to understand. This was important to Ranami so Phalue would have to make it important to her. Ranami let out a little sigh and leaned in. They fit together like two sides of the same nut. At times like this, everything felt so right between them.

It began to rain just before they got to the farms. Phalue didn’t remember what a wet season was like; it had been seven years since the last one. Somewhere in the closet back at home was an oilskin coat that no longer fit her. The rough cloak did a fair job of keeping the moisture out, and the rain would only help them avoid being seen. As soon as the orchard appeared ahead, Ranami rapped her knuckles against the cart. “We’ll get off here, thank you.”

Phalue took Ranami’s hand and helped her from the cart. Rain weighed down the hood of Phalue’s cloak, the cloth sticking to her forehead. Back in the city, the children would be running about in the streets, amazed that so much water could fall from the sky. As the years wore on, they’d begin to long for sunny, clear skies. For now, though, the rain was something to be welcomed.

Mud squelched below their feet as they ran for the nearest hut, where Gio said he’d meet them. Phalue had to knock twice at the stoop before the door swung open with a creak.