Kushiel's Avatar

esteemed beyond gold, and the forgiveness of my Queen, Ysandre de la Courcel, which meant more to me than I had ever reckoned.
    I missed my lord Anafiel Delaunay, more than I could say. And I missed my foster-brother Alcuin, who was too gentle a soul to have died as he did. I missed Kaneka, for whom I had conceived a great respect, from whom I was parted by great distance; I missed Kazan Atrabiades, my Illyrian pirate. I wished I could speak to Pasiphae Asterius, the Kore of the Temenos. And I remembered, and grieved, for those others I missed, those who had died for my goals: Eamonn of the Dalriada, Remy and Fortun, my dear chevaliers, and those brave, doomed women of the zenana . I touched the ivory hairpin thrust through my coronet, remembering Drucilla, fierce Jolanta, so many others. And not just the women, no; there was Rushad, who had reminded me so of Alcuin. Erich the Skaldi, who had died trying to protect him.
    So many dead.
    So many living.
    Hyacinthe, my one true friend. I had given him back his life, and if it was not the one he’d had, still, it was his . And he had Sibeal with him, whom I liked and admired, who understood his dreams. And I ... I had friends everywhere, now. Friends and comrades, patrons and lovers.
    I had Joscelin, my Perfect Companion, the compass by which I fixed my heart.
    No one could ask more.
    Nor had I, and yet it had been given. By Kushiel, who had used his Chosen harder than any in recorded memory? By Naamah, whom I had served long and faithfully? By Blessed Elua himself, whose mercy is beyond reckoning? I do not know. Nor does it matter, in the end.
    I had Imriel.
    Imri, who’d spat in my face upon our meeting, who trusted me beyond reason. Melisande’s son, the scion of my deepest enemy, my darkest desire. Who could have guessed it? Not even Elua’s priests, I think. My proud and wounded boy, his heart as vast as the plains of Jebe-Barkal and twice as fierce. I loved him so much it made me dizzy, and if I’d had to defy Ysandre twice-over for him, I would have done it.
    Blessed Elua was kind.
    The fête, my fête, continued in the City of Elua.
    I touched the bare hollow of my throat, and smiled, remembering.
    Love as thou wilt .

Dramatis Personae
    Phèdre’s Household
    Anafiel Delaunay de Montrève-mentor of Phèdre (deceased) Alcuin nó Delaunay-student of Delaunay (deceased) Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève-Comtesse de Montrève; anguissette
    Joscelin Verreuil-Phèdre’s Consort; Cassiline Brother (Siovale) Fortun, Remy-chevaliers (deceased)
    Ti-Philippe-chevalier
    Hugues-attendant
    Eugenie-Mistress of the Household
    Glory-niece of Eugenie
    Purnell Friote-seneschal of Montrève
    Richeline Friote-wife of Purnell
    Benoit-stable-lad
    Members Of The Royal Family: Terre D’Ange
    Ysandre de la Courcel-Queen of Terre d’Ange; wed to Drustan mab Necthana Sidonie de la Courcel-elder daughter of Ysandre Alais de la Courcel-younger daughter of Ysandre Barquiel L’Envers-uncle of Ysandre; Due L’Envers (Namarre) Alba
    Drustan mab Necthana-Cruarch of Alba, wed to Ysandre de la Courcel Necthana-mother of Drustan
    Breidaia, Moiread (deceased), Sibeal-Drustan’s sisters, daughters of Necthana Three Sisters
    Hyacinthe-apprentice to Master of the Straits; Prince of Travellers Tilian, Gildas-assistants
    La Serenissima
    Benedicte de la Courcel-great-uncle of Ysandre; Prince of the Blood (deceased) Melisande Shahrizai de la Courcel-second wife of Benedicte Imriel de la Courcel-son of Benedicte and Melisande Severio Stregazza-son of Marie-Celeste de la Courcel and Marco Stregazza; Prince of the Blood Cesare Stregazza-Doge of La Serenissima
    Ricciardo Stregazza-younger son of the Doge Allegra Stregazza-wife of Ricciardo
    Benito Dandi-noble, member of the Immortali Verreuil
    Chevalier Millard-Joscelin’s father
    Ges-Joscelin’s mother
    Luc-Joscelin’s elder brother
    Yvonne-wife of Luc
    Mahieu-Joscelin’s younger brother
    Marie-Louise-wife of Mahieu
    Jehane-Joscelin’s elder sister
    Amilcar
    Nicola L’Envers y Aragon-cousin of Queen Ysandre Ramiro Zornín de Aragon-King’s Consul, husband of Nicola Fernan-Count of Amílcar
    Vitor Gaitán-Captain of the Harbor Watch
    Mago, Harnapos-Carthaginian slavers
    Menekhet
    Fadil Chouma-slaver (deceased)
    Nesmut-harbor-lad
    Raife Laniol, Comte de Penfars-ambassador to Menekhet Juliet de Penfars-wife of Raife
    Ptolemy Dikaios-Pharaoh of Menekhet
    Clytemne-wife of Pharaoh
    Rekhmire-Treasury clerk
    Denise Fleurais-member of Lord Amaury’s