The Shadowglass (The Bone Witch #3)(27)

“It’s the same unnamed book we found in Istera,” Zoya said. “Not as decrepit as the one there, so I’m guessing this is a later copy. But it’s an unaltered version, with the foreword written by Vernasha of the Roses intact. Hestia can no longer claim ignorance about shadowglass—not only does she have the original legend here, but it also contains Vernasha’s letter in all its bigoted glory.”

? ? ?

It was evening by the time Lady Mykaela and Mistress Parmina arrived at the dungeons. Neither looked happy. They received Zoya’s revelation with grim satisfaction but, as Althy put it, “it’s enough proof for us to realize their meddling, though not enough for the public to believe the same.” She rubbed at the bridge of her nose. “It’s not enough to accuse the elders of conspiring to steal Mykkie’s heartsglass. The best we can do is obstruction, perhaps, but they can always claim they were withholding information in good faith. Whether or not they were responsible for the blighted is another thing entirely. We can’t accuse them without more objective evidence.”

“They accused Tea without evidence,” Zoya grumbled. “Why can’t we do the same?”

“Because people tend to believe those who are in charge, no matter how ridiculous or corrupt they may be,” Mykaela told her gently. “Who would you believe—an asha council with centuries-old roots in the kingdom and a reputation for justice and order or a bone witch you’ve been taught to fear all your life?”

“I—I would think I’d know the difference.” Zoya looked troubled.

“Most people would like to believe that about themselves, yes.” Mykaela sank wearily into a chair. “But we have been conditioned to obey authority in subtle manners, Zoya. You would be surprised at how very few actually speak up in the face of injustice.”

After a pause, she continued, “We’ve discovered who Sancha al-Sarim is. She was a runeberry picker from Murkwick village.”

“I’ve only been to Murkwick once,” I protested. “Several years ago. You’d taken us there from Knightscross after I’d raised Fox.”

“It only took that one time.” At Mistress Parmina’s imperious gesture, Shadi trotted off to find a cushion. “A few witnesses recounted her slapping you.”

My mouth fell open as I remembered. “I called Mykaela a bone witch, and the girl took offense. But I never knew her name.”

“Well, you know it now. Hestia claims this as your motive for killing her. Though I wonder what possessed you to wait years to exact your revenge after having met her only the once. The Willows haven’t been able to adequately explain that yet. Foul magic transformed the girl. The Deathseekers were forced to kill her before she harmed anyone else. Althy believes it to be the work of this Blight rune you uncovered in Istera. She and Likh are still in Murkwick, drawing Delving runes to ensure none of the other villagers have been compromised.”

Knots formed in my stomach. “I’m sorry,” I said, and Kalen’s hand found mine.

The Valerian mistress dismissed my guilt with a wave, settling against the pillow. “Oh, posh, Tea. You’ve earned me quite a lot of money since you’ve arrived, and it’s only fair that I protect my best investment. Besides, I shall enjoy any chance to tweak Hestia’s nose. But theirs is a heavy accusation nonetheless, even with scant circumstantial evidence.”

“For now, the elders’ main goal is to keep you stationary,” Mykaela noted dryly. “The wards make sure of that.”

“Do they know about what we found in Istera, Mykkie?” Kalen asked.

She shook her head. “As their predecessors believe they destroyed all the compromised books, they might think themselves safe. Quite foolish for Hestia to keep another one in her study. It was good of you to entrust the original book to Lord Garindor. I suspect the elders may pay the Isterans a visit themselves, so at least King Rendorvik has been forewarned.”

Fox smiled briefly at me. “Alyx has granted you leave to go to the oracle, if you’d like. Asha are allowed to present themselves to her for counseling apparently.”

“Alyx?” Shadi drawled. “Are you on a first-name basis with the empress now?”

My brother reddened. “She doesn’t like to be referred to by her title when not in a royal capacity…”

The young asha smiled. “I trust that your relationship is going well, then?”

“It is.” Fox’s face glowed. I didn’t need for him to speak to know why; images trickled through our shared link, the Veiling rune briefly lifting for me to glimpse happy thoughts of him and Inessa.

Mistress Parmina snapped her fan. “You’re a terror, Tea. You’re impulsive and disobedient, and you have a habit of dragging other people into your fights. But you’ve grown on me, and those hags deserve what is coming to them. It’s about time we find better representation in our association. Perhaps I will decide to run for council myself.”

“Wouldn’t you worry that, by joining those hags, you’d become a hag yourself?” Zoya asked.

“Zoya!” Shadi scolded.

“Well, shouldn’t the rules be changed, rather than the enforcer of those rules?”

“What do we do next?” I asked Mykaela, as Zoya and Mistress Parmina fell into a spirited argument.