Chapter 59
It was for the best.
By morning tomorrow Maryam would arrive at Black House, and with the signifier’s return the secret Song had kept would finally out. Evander Palliades would be told of the coup brewing beneath his feet and, inevitably, that Song had kept silent on the matter even when looking him in the eye. She was not sure what she expected from that yet, but a sense of betrayal on his part would not be unwarranted.
It would not be a clean break, but it would be a break – and that, as she kept thinking, was for the best.
She chewed on that thought even as the carriage shook beneath her, catching a loose stone. Evander himself seemed pensive this afternoon, something she had learned to recognize as him practicing a speech inside his mind. As well he should, for from what she had been told he would have to give no fewer than four speeches today.
Landing Day was a feast day particular to Asphodel, and far removed enough from the timing of traditional seasonal festivals that its root might well be genuine. The claim was that, on this day centuries ago, King Oduromai first made shore on the isle. While for most the people of Asphodel the sole celebration was that the temples of Oduromai gifted meals of wine and meat to all who attended the feasts thrown by the priesthood, the nobles had their own custom.
In Tratheke that custom was for a mighty feast to be thrown by the Lord Rector for all the descendants of King Oduromai and his officers in the same district where the great temple of the deity sat, the Collegium. As all the ruling dynasties of Asphodel had claimed descent from King Oduromai in the flesh as means of legitimacy, they took the king’s seat in such celebrations and were expected to foot the bill for such celebrations.
Which were not inexpensive, as centuries of royal houses needing to awe their nobles into submission had made the affair increasingly elaborate and extravagant.
There was a knock on the side of the carriage, the lictor besides the driver leaning close to the window to address them.
“We will be arriving momentarily, Your Excellency.”