Naamah's Blessing

speaks!”
    “Mayhap it is,” I admitted. “How many times did you see fit to remind me that I was naïve and unsophisticated? I grant you, it was true, but it did not make me
less
than you. Different, but not less. You never saw me as aught but a useful tool for your hands to wield, the very thing you called me today.”
    “And so you are.” Leaning his head against the back of his throne, Raphael closed his eyes. “One that grows tiresome once more. Never mind. Go away, Moirin.”
    “No.” I stood my ground. “Since you asked, I will answer your question. I wed Bao because I love him. I love his pride and stubbornness, even when it exasperates me. I love his refusal to succumb to despair. He makes me laugh. And he makes me feel… safe.”
    Raphael’s eyes cracked open. “That sounds dull.”
    “It’s not,” I said.
    “
I
think you harbor a deep-seated resentment against full-blooded D’Angelines,” he said.
    I laughed out loud. “If I did, would I have travelled to the far side of the world to rescue one of them? No.” I shook my head again. “I have found much to love in Terre d’Ange. I find the worship of Blessed Elua and his Companions, the celebration of love and desire, to be beautiful and unique among realms. I found my father, and my lady Je—” I stopped myself before I said Jehanne’s name. “I have found myself guilty of misjudgment,” I said instead, “and discovered that a beautiful face and a facile wit can conceal great strength of character.”
    He stirred. “Do not speak of her!”
    “I wasn’t,” I said. “If anyone misjudged her, it was she herself. I was speaking of Balthasar Shahrizai.”
    “Oh.” Unexpectedly, Raphael’s mouth quirked. “I imagine he’s despising every minute of this, isn’t he?”
    “Indeed,” I agreed.
    The thought seemed to cheer him. “All right, you’ve had your say. Now be gone with you. I mean it this time, Moirin.”
    I took my leave with alacrity, glad to be out of his presence. Raphael had always been tempestuous, but he had never been violent. The bruises on my throat were a reminder that everything was different now. Cusi was right, I had to do what he expected to avoid arousing suspicion, but I needed to be careful about provoking him. It was a piece of luck that my reference to Balthasar had amused him, pandering unwittingly to the streak of cruelty within him.
    Upon returning to my quarters, I found that Cusi’s replacement had already been assigned to me, a serious-looking young woman named Machasu, a few years older than Cusi. She pointed gravely at my injured hand. “Sister of one, sister of all,” she said in softly accented D’Angeline.
    It was a relief to hear. “
Sulpayki
, thank you. Yes.”
    Machasu nodded. “Eat now, lady?”
    I shook my head. “I must speak with my men. Lord Pachacuti hasn’t forbidden it, has he?”
    “No.” She fixed me with an intent gaze. “But I have to tell him what you do and say. Ocllo says, say what you tell me. This, I will do.”
    “I am grateful.” I hesitated. “Machasu, is it just the Maidens of the Sun who are willing to help, or are there others?”
    “No others yet, but some women may help if Ocllo asks.” Her grave look deepened. “But she must be very, very careful.”
    “I understand,” I said. “What about the men?”
    “No.” Her tone was flat.
    “I would like to speak to your Prince Manco nonetheless. Not about this,” I hastened to add, raising my wounded hand as Machasu’sexpression turned to one of alarm. “Not about the secret of the ancestors. But about Lord Pachacuti.”
    “Prince Manco will not listen to you,” she said with distaste. “He thinks he is a great warrior chosen by the gods. You cannot trust him. Anything you say, he will say to Lord Pachacuti.”
    “I know,” I said. “But it only amuses Lord Pachacuti to see me try and fail. And it may be that seeds of doubt planted now will blossom later.”
    Machasu looked dubious. “I will ask.”
    Another thought struck me. “Machasu, I may have to reveal the secret of the ancestors to all my men, not just Bao. If I ask them to trust blindly, knowing nothing, I fear they will rebel. But I do not want to betray the trust of the Maidens of the Sun, either.”
    She was silent a moment. “You are our sister,” she said at length. “Ocllo trusts you. Do as you must.”
    With that, we set out to trek across the terraced fields.
    My heart ached at the sight of Bao’s indomitable