The Shadowglass (The Bone Witch, #3)(26)

“I’m sorry.” I didn’t want that. Knowing they were disliked was worse than receiving false courtesies, polite or not.

My sister shrugged. “We’re a hardy breed, and it’ll take more than a cold shoulder to take us down. I miss talking to you, Tea bunny. It’s been a while since we’ve had any sisterly heart-to-hearts.” Daisy clasped my hand to hers. “We all miss you,” she said earnestly. “Mama wouldn’t stop crying for weeks after you two left, and the only comfort she had was knowing two of her children were leaving, instead of one remaining in the ground.”

“Oh, Daisy.” My mother sighed.

It had been hard growing up these last years without them. In many ways, my family members were almost strangers to me now. The more years standing in between their lives and mine, the fewer chances there were for them to intersect. “It wasn’t smooth sailing for me either, as you can tell. I had to learn to be something I knew nothing about. And Fox had it even worse.”

“But you both made so much of yourselves,” Daisy argued. “More than the rest of us could in Knightscross.”

“I’m in prison, Daisy. That’s not exactly an upgrade.”

“Not for long, I’m sure. You have friends in Princess Inessa and Empress Alyx! I figured occasional arrests came with the territory. Dark asha frequently clash with people in power, just like in the books you used to read. You used to love all those volumes on asha.”

“I was sillier then. Reading about asha was very different from becoming one myself.”

“I knew you’d leave the village sooner or later. Mama’s looking a bit teary eyed again, but it’s true. When Lady Mykaela first arrived and told us you were going to be a novice, it seemed like you were simply fulfilling your purpose.” She smiled. “I was jealous. I thought about leaving Knightscross myself, but it’s hard to give up the safety and comfort of family for the unknown. I don’t have a silver or a purple heartsglass, but do you fancy one of the zivar or dress shops here would be willing to take me on?”

“You want to stay in Kion and work?” I was delighted. “Mama?”

“We talked about it, Tea.” My mother sounded rueful, proud. “Your father and I agreed it was Daisy’s decision to make.”

Daisy made a face. “As I said, I’ve exhausted all my options in Knightscross. Hawk and Wolf can run the forge just fine.”

Khalad looked up, briefly distracted. “Was all that previous talk intended to butter up Tea into giving you a job at the Willows?”

I burst into laughter. “I don’t mind. I really don’t.” The idea that I would have one more sibling in Ankyo with me was marvelous. And whatever flaws Daisy had, this was her way of asking me for my blessing. I responded with a hug. “Chesh’s is the best zivar shop in the city. I accidentally filched one of her assistants, and I can ask her if you can replace him. Or you can work with Rahim Arrakan.”

“Rahim Arrakan?” Daisy was wide eyed. “You know the Rahim Arrakan?”

I had no idea Rahim was popular in Knightscross.

“I’d love that! I appreciate all the money you and Fox send back home, but I’d like to earn one of his dresses with my own money. Besides,” Daisy sighed. “He’s rather handsome in a rough, burly sort of way, don’t you think?”

Khalad and I looked at each other and decided, without needing to voice it aloud, that Daisy should find that out in her own time too.

“And where is our brother anyway, Mr. Heartforger?”

“Sneaking into Hestia’s quarters with Zoya and Shadi.”

“What?” I cried.

“Oh, right.” The Heartforger looked abashed. “I wasn’t supposed to—”

But I had already sent out my mind, touching on the edges of Fox’s as he rummaged through the elder’s study. The wards couldn’t stop that.

What are you doing? I seethed, and he straightened up.

Damn it, Khalad!

Don’t you damn it, Khalad me. Why are you at the Imperial asha-ka?

What does it look like? We’re looking for anything that resembles a Blight rune.

You don’t even know what the Blight rune looks like! And you’re not doing much to hide yourselves!

“Are you talking to Tea?” Zoya asked Fox while she snooped around a heavy stack of papers lying on a table.

“How did you know?”

“Your nose always scrunches when she’s in your head, especially when she’s about to lose her mind.”

I am not losing my mind!

“She is definitely losing her mind,” Fox confirmed.

“Well, tell her not to worry. Shadi’s keeping a lookout, and Mykkie’s keeping nearby asha distracted.”

You brought Mykkie into this?!

“She volunteered, actually,” Fox said, defending them. “This isn’t as harebrained a scheme as you might think, even if Zoya thought it up.”

“Oh, ha. Ha-ha. You’re going to regret that.” Zoya held a book aloft, triumphant. “I take apologies as payment in paloodeh. With extra cantaloupe.”

The Blight rune?

“Well, not exactly,” she admitted when Fox asked, “but we found the next best thing.” She turned the volume over to my brother, and in his mind, I gasped.