Shadow Scale: A Companion to Seraphina(88)

“And that they’ll let the exiles go,” I said. “I’ve met a few already. Eskar has been preparing your way, it seems. Do you know where she is?”

“She’s here,” Comonot said. “You just said so.”


“No, she was here. She’s been missing for almost a month,” I said, adding the last fortnight to Lalo’s reported two weeks. “You don’t keep better track of your operatives than that?”

“I don’t worry about them, if that’s what you’re asking,” said Comonot. He pulled a mass of gold chains out of the neck hole of his robe and sorted through their pendants for the right thnik.

Kiggs was returning to us through the harborside crowd. “We sent a runner ahead to House Malou,” he called, “and they’ve hired some bearers to—” He cut himself short at the sight of the Ardmagar’s jewelry. “Don’t dangle your thniks,” he said, hurrying to block Comonot from the prying eyes of passersby.

“Porphyrians aren’t alarmed by dragons,” I assured him.

The Ardmagar rolled his eyes at the pair of us. He’d found the communicator, a silver oblong, and spoke into it: “Eskar. Where are you? Report at once.”

We all strained to hear over the milling crowd, the washing sea, the screams of two gulls fighting over a fritter—possibly one of mine—but the thnik didn’t peep. Comonot shrugged. “Silence proves nothing. Maybe she can’t answer at the moment. She’ll get back to me as soon as she can.”

I felt the dizzying rush of panic postponed. “Orma’s gone, too.”

“Ah. Well, in that case, I’d guess that the Censors got wind of them and they had to go deeper into hiding,” said the Ardmagar, turning away. One of his secretaries came running up to lead the old general to the litter they’d hired for him.

“Doesn’t the Tanamoot’s treaty with Porphyry forbid the Censors from coming after exiles here?” I asked, dogging his steps. Kiggs followed right behind me.

“Only registered exiles,” said Comonot over his shoulder as he reached the boxy conveyance. A bearer held open the purple-and-white-striped curtain as the Ardmagar clambered clumsily inside. “Your uncle would not have been registered.”

Kiggs, at my elbow, said quietly, “Don’t worry, we’ll find out what’s happened.”

I nodded stupidly. The effervescent fear was back, the rush under my ribs. I had pushed down my worries about Orma, but Comonot’s talk of Censors brought it gushing to the surface. I took a tight breath and gestured at the litter. “Where are you going now?”

“House Malou. They’re expecting us,” said the prince, making no move to get in after Comonot, but studying my expression. His own held a mix of concern and regret. The breeze tossed his hair around and blew through the gap between us.

The Ardmagar popped his head out of the striped curtains. “Quit lollygagging, Prince. You have Agogoi to meet, and a nation to represent.”

“Give me a minute,” said Kiggs, waving a hand irritably at Comonot, his eyes never leaving my face. The Ardmagar snorted and pulled his head back inside the litter.

Kiggs leaned in; my breath caught foolishly. He said, “Selda has kept me apprised of your progress here. She’s worried that you’ll feel you’ve failed.”

I looked down at the sea-beaten stone pier; his eyes were too much for me.

“And she told me,” he continued doggedly, “ ‘Lucian, you are to take good care of her, for she may be feeling fragile. Tell her we love her just the same, and we’re so pleased she tried, and it’s going to be all right.’ ”

I had not been aware of fragility, but his words brought a raging tide of emotion to my shores. I had failed to find Orma, to protect Abdo from Jannoula, to gather the ityasaari. The garden I’d longed for was here, and I couldn’t have it; the prince I’d longed for was here, and the answer was exactly the same. For a moment it was too much. I waited until I trusted myself to answer. “She is very kind. Kinder than I deserve.”

“We will discuss your deserving,” he said, and though my eyes were still lowered, I could hear the smile in his voice. “We’ll have plenty of time.”

“Yes, you will!” cried Comonot behind us, popping his head out again like some impatient turtle. “Prince, now. Seraphina, come to House Malou tonight. There’s to be a welcoming dinner; they won’t mind one more. Say whatever you need to say to each other then.”

I met Kiggs’s eyes at last, all full of hope and worry. He pulled himself away and climbed into the litter. The bearers hefted it up and trundled slowly away from me, up the hill, toward the colorful marble facades of the western heights.

I watched it go, wondering if Kiggs and I would indeed be able to say all we needed to say to each other, and how long that would take. High above me, a gull laughed.



I desperately needed a bath if I was going into high company this evening. I returned to Naia’s apartment for my things, and to check on Abdo.

His extended family was there en masse today; I could tell from the solemn expressions that nothing had changed. I crossed the crowded flat to retrieve my bathing box from behind the curtain, which took some time. I had finally understood, after broad hints from the aunties and a straightforward talking-to from Naia, that it was rude to greet the room at large. I had to greet my elders individually, by name. After fetching my box, I crossed the room again, saying farewell to everyone individually. Abdo’s aunties laughed and called after me, “We’ve almost civilized you!” and “Don’t forget to tip the attendant!”