For Darkness Shows the Stars

been relieved by the news, but it wasn’t enough. Kai had been right. This wasn’t merely about Ro, or even Dee or Jef. This was about every person on the estate, including the ones in her family, who would be in trouble if the baron’s edicts were maintained.
    The winter chill lingered down here, and Elliot wrapped her shawl more tightly around herself. In the flare of the matches, Elliot could see that her sister wore long, fingerless gloves and a thick scarf.
    “It was very dangerous of you to come here,” Tatiana said when she saw her. “I could tell Father.”
    “You could,” Elliot replied. “But I don’t think you will.”
    Tatiana moved to another set of sconces.
    “I’ve heard you’ve been spending a lot of time down here. More than you did even when we were growing up.”
    Tatiana shrugged. “I’m paying homage to our dead ancestors.” Her voice was clipped, but there was a slight waver at the end that gave her away. Tatiana was frightened.
    Mags had sent word that Tatiana spent hours in the sanctuary every day, lighting candles and saying prayers for the soul of the Boatwright. Her father’s decision rested uneasily on her. Tatiana possessed many faults, but callousness toward the Luddite traditions her ancestors held sacred was not one of them.
    It was Elliot’s only chance. “His spirit would be more at peace if he was sent out to sea.”
    “Your obstinance has made that impossible.”
    Elliot shook her head. “I have never forbidden anyone from coming onto the Boatwright estate. It’s our father who won’t cross the border, not even to lay our grandfather to rest in the manner of his ancestors.”
    She saw Tatiana swallow hard. Her eyes looked glassy in the candlelight. “Is that what you’re here to do? Order me to relinquish Grandfather’s body?”
    “I’m here to talk to my sister about doing what we both know is right for him.”
    For a moment, Tatiana was silent. “It was over the line,” she said at last. “Our workers belong here. But Grandfather does not.” She sat down in a nearby alcove. Above her, the insect stars glowed dimly. “But if he goes, Father will be so upset.”
    “And then what?” Elliot asked.
    “Then he’ll be upset !” Tatiana repeated angrily. “That must not seem like much to you, but I don’t like disappointing him.” She looked away. “I’m enough of a disappointment already.”
    Elliot drew closer. “What do you mean?”
    “I failed to get the Boatwright estate for him. I failed to win Benedict’s hand. We’ll be left with nothing when Benedict gets back from Channel City and takes over the estate.”
    Elliot couldn’t help but smile at this. “Benedict won’t take over the estate, Tatiana. Even now, he’s being detained by Baroness Channel for crimes committed in Channel City.”
    “What?” Tatiana exclaimed, and the syllable echoed around the cavern, inciting the stars.
    “You heard me. He’ll appear before the tribunal. He may have his land stripped from him. At the very least, it puts you and Father in a good position to take back the estate for good.”
    Tatiana’s expression was suspicious. “How do you know about this?”
    “From Baroness Channel,” said Elliot. She spread her arms. “What inducement would I have to lie? Like you said, it’s not my estate.”
    “What kind of crimes?” Tatiana asked. “If it’s like before, he won’t get any punishment from the tribunal.”
    Elliot wasn’t so sure of that. Baroness Channel was on the tribunal, his activities had taken place in her city, and she had a strong incentive to come away with a decision that would keep the Cloud Fleet happy. This might be one time that the corruption of the Luddites would work in the Posts’ favor. And there was something more, too. Something none of the Luddites—except, perhaps, Benedict himself—had taken into consideration.
    “He won’t get any cooperation from the North Posts if he tries to take over here, either,” said Elliot. “Whatever else he is, Benedict is no fool. He will know he’d be facing a full-scale revolt if he returns here. And he doesn’t want the North estate enough to risk it.”
    Tatiana considered all this. “So it’s mine?”
    Elliot gave a curt nod. “If you want it.”
    “Of course I want it!” Tatiana stood and swept away. “It’s our ancestral land.”
    Her sister’s possessive tone made Elliot anxious. “It’s a farm , Tatiana. First and foremost, it’s a farm. And you, my