The Shadowglass (The Bone Witch #3)(25)

The cell I was provided was the cleanest in the Kion dungeons. Kalen had put two soldiers to work scouring and scrubbing. It was bare of furniture and essentials but comfortable enough to while away time. Zoya had solved the former issue by dragging in tables, pillows, and a softer, wide feather cot (“Needs to be big enough for two people, I reckon,” she quipped wickedly, and I blushed), glaring at the guards, daring them to protest. They did not.

Althy and Kalen were still conducting daily Delvings, and our food was carefully monitored, prepared by either Althy or my mother, the latter soon taking over the kitchens in the Valerian asha-ka and shooing the Valerian’s suspicious maid, Farhi, away.

To ensure my good behavior, the association had uprooted my family from Knightscross while my case was pending. My connection to the azi remained intact, however—a secret I kept. More than once, I was tempted to sic it on the elders for the condescending way they had treated my parents and siblings.

“Bone witches aren’t the only suspects. Druj is still running amok.” Zoya slurped her tea and slammed the cup down on the table. “They have little to stand on, and they know it.”

“The elders are doing everything in their power to restrain Tea’s movements,” Shadi reminded her, setting down her own empty cup. “And despite the flimsiness of the evidence, they remain in charge. They’ve successfully argued to withhold their findings until the trial commences.”

“A witch hunt, then,” her lover grunted.

“They want to humiliate me,” I said shortly. “To have my family on hand to watch.”

“Well, they thought wrong,” my mother butted in, adding a plate of eggplant tahdig to the table. My father and brothers had accompanied Kalen to the barracks and weren’t expected back for the rest of the day. “We already know that they’re bullying you for being a bone—a Dark asha. And we won’t let them.”

“Of course not!” Daisy chimed in cheerfully, following with some grilled jujeh. “Buck up and eat something to keep up your strength, Tea bunny. You’re skinny enough as it is.”

Mistress Parmina had been kind to house my family. She and Mykkie went to the association daily to argue my defense. I scowled at my sister, then transferred my grimace to the plate she had set down. Daisy was not known for her cooking talents, and I doubted that my years away from home had improved her skills. “I’m not skinny.”

“Yes, you are. All this magic takes energy.” She smiled brightly at Khalad, who sat beside me. “They say you’re the Heartforger. My sister’s told me stories, though I’ve never quite understood the intricacies of the work you do. It sounds rather noble.”

Khalad blinked, looking up from some complicated work involving vials. “Pardon, Lady Daisy?”

“Don’t bother the man, Daisy.” I was in no hurry to inform her about Khalad’s orientation—she’d learn it soon enough, and there were other things to worry about. Mykkie, Zoya, and Althy had been running themselves ragged investigating Sancha al-Sarim’s murder, and I still didn’t know who she was or why I had allegedly killed her.

“And Fox is with a princess now. Fox!” Mentions of royalty had always rendered my sister awestruck. “I wasn’t expecting—well, I assumed being technically dead would close some doors when it came to relationships, but sweet Anahita of Koshti, the princess of Kion herself—”

“You don’t understand the gravity of the situation, Daisy,” I interrupted. As I expected, the jujeh tasted horrible, but I chewed on valiantly.

“Of course I do.” Daisy refilled our bowls of tea. “I was there when you raised him from the dead, remember? I don’t claim to know anything about asha politics, but this isn’t all that hard to understand. You’re a powerful asha, more powerful than they are, and the Willows don’t want that. I’m happy for Fox, and I’m happy for you. Father has already given his blessing.”

I almost choked on the jujeh. “What?”

“Sir Kalen didn’t ask Father to the barracks just to show him around. Father already suspected he would ask permission to court you.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Though I figured that’s putting the cart before the horse at this point.”

I looked down, a warm glow spreading across my cheeks.

“Ah, I wish I had more of both your luck! My interests have dried up in Knightscross, so to speak.”

“Did they blame you?” I found myself asking before I could stop myself. “Or Mom and Dad?”

Daisy stilled. “For what?”

“The people back home. Did they blame you for me?”

My mother sighed. “There were many who thought bone witches the spawns of the seven hells. But more were afraid than they were hateful. They feared retaliation should Lady Mykaela—or you, for that matter—hear of any mistreatment, and they relied too much on Rose’s and Lily’s services as forest and water witches to be too hypocritical. We knew the townspeople had resentment, but they left us alone and bought from your father’s forge as they always had.”

Daisy grinned. Her heartsglass shone a healthy, cherry red. “You being Dark asha actually elevated us in the community, albeit not in the usual manner. People go out of their way to give due deference, strain their backs as they bend over. Whatever they may personally think of us, they are outwardly respectful.”