Crewel

turning on me. ‘She’s right. With this political nonsense, you’ve had no real training.’
    ‘The Coventry needs to maintain a face of power,’ Cormac says, sipping his drink. ‘Adelice is key to that.’
    ‘Cormac, you worry about the political and I’ll keep this world working,’ Loricel says, slamming her hands down on the table. ‘If you plan to move her into my position, she needs to be prepared, not indoctrinated.’
    ‘Do I even need to be here for this?’ I ask.
    ‘Watch your mouth, girl,’ he growls.
    ‘I’d play nicer with your future Creweler, Cormac,’ Loricel says to him. ‘She may not be as forgiving as I am.’
    ‘The point is, she’s not ready,’ Maela reminds them, and they both glare at her.
    ‘I’m ready enough.’
    ‘You understand the fundamentals,’ Loricel says, ‘but you have a lot to learn before you can assume my position.’
    ‘What if I don’t want it?’
    ‘I wouldn’t worry about that,’ Cormac says, shaking his head. ‘You’re under stress with the loss of your mentor, but we’ve arranged for you to receive some evaluation and counselling. Enora’s death – it reminds us how demanding this work can be.’
    ‘Guess it’s not all fancy dinners and dresses,’ I say coldly.
    ‘No, it’s not,’ he says. ‘We’ll need you here more than ever now.’
    ‘Loricel planning a vacation?’
    Cormac’s eyes flicker to Maela’s, and he shakes his head.
    ‘Loricel has opted to forgo further renewal treatments.’
    I look from him to her, but her eyes are vacant. ‘What does that mean?’
    ‘It means I’m going to die,’ Loricel says softly.
    I suck in a breath and let it out slowly. Cormac watches me from the next chair, and I work to keep fear off my face. Without Loricel . . .Well, I don’t even want to consider what this place will be like then. Does she think I can stand up to him?
    ‘So you need a new Creweler?’ I ask after a long moment.
    ‘We need you,’ Cormac says.
    I don’t answer him.
    ‘You’ll be studying under Loricel all working hours until . . .’
    ‘She dies.’ I finish his thought.
    ‘Yes, and it’s imperative that you’re prepared to assume responsibility when she passes.’
    ‘Especially since you’re already short a Creweler’s assistant.’
    Cormac’s eyes narrow. ‘She wasn’t half the Spinster you are, Adelice.’
    ‘I’m half the person she was,’ I say with a shrug, barely keeping my voice steady. ‘So I guess it evens out.’
    ‘There are other Spinsters,’ Maela breaks in, but Cormac shoots her a look that shuts her up.
    ‘You needn’t worry yourself about Adelice,’ he says to her. ‘You’ve wasted enough time.’
    ‘That girl would have no training if it weren’t for me,’ she says, stabbing at the air in my direction.
    ‘That girl,’ Cormac says quietly, ‘would be dead if it were up to you. You are in danger of overstepping your bounds.’
    ‘And we know what happens to girls who overstep their bounds,’ I add.
    No one laughs.
    ‘Adelice, you’ll report to Loricel’s studio in the morning. I’ll let her know when your evaluation is scheduled,’ Cormac says, rising from his seat and buttoning his tuxedo.
    ‘Cormac,’ Loricel says. ‘A word.’
    She gestures for him to follow her, and soon I’m alone at the table with Maela.
    ‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ she says.
    I stare at her. She can’t be serious.
    ‘No, really,’ Maela says. ‘We’ve had our differences—’
    ‘That’s one way to put it.’
    ‘But,’ she continues, ignoring me, ‘Enora was a good Spinster.’
    ‘Did Pryana tell you?’
    Maela purses her lips. ‘Tell me what?’
    ‘About Enora.’
    ‘I was called as part of the emergency response.’
    ‘No, about Enora and Valery. In the hallway.’
    ‘No, she didn’t tell me, but there’s something you need to understand,’ she says. ‘If you think Pryana is a puppet of mine, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise. She is a force all her own.’
    ‘Which you created—’
    ‘Which I propelled,’ she corrects. ‘I won’t lie, Adelice. I wanted you to be enemies, but Pryana was never going to be your friend.’
    ‘I don’t know,’ I say. ‘We were hitting it off.’
    ‘Pryana would stab her own sister in the back if it suited her.’
    ‘She seemed pretty upset when you ripped her sister.’
    ‘Listen,’ Maela says, standing and staring down at me. ‘I’d watch who you tell about your own little sister. Pryana’s not the