Queen of the Darkness

sneering Hayllians.
    But being alone with Dorothea also had disadvantages. She'd heard that Hayll's High Priestess had been a handsome woman. Oh, the ghost of that loveliness was still there, but there was a definite stoop to Dorothea's shoulders, a twistiness to her spine. Age spots dotted the backs of her brown hands, and the face and hair...
    It happens to all of us, eventually, Alexandra thought as she watched Dorothea pour tea into delicate cups. But what would it feel like to go to bed one night a woman in her prime and wake the next morning as a crone?
    "I'm... grateful... you granted me an audience," Alexandra said, trying not to choke on the words.
    Dorothea's lips curled in a slight smile as she handed Alexandra a cup of tea. "I'm surprised you asked for one." The smile faded. "We haven't seen eye to eye in the past. And considering what happened to your family, you have good reason to hate me." She hesitated, took a sip of tea, and continued softly, "It wasn't my idea to send Sadi to Chaillot, but I can't remember who suggested it or why I agreed. There's a veil over those memories that I still can't pierce."
    Alexandra lifted her cup toward her lips, but put it down again without drinking. "You think the High Lord arranged it?"
    "Yes, I do. Sadi is a beautiful, vicious weapon, and his father knows how to use him well. And they did achieve their goal."
    "What goal?" Alexandra said angrily. "Sadi tore my family apart and killed my younger granddaughter. What was achieved by that ?"
    Dorothea sat back, took a sip of tea, and said quietly, "You forget, Sister. The girl's body was never found."
    Something about the expectant way Dorothea was looking at her made Alexandra shiver. "That doesn't mean anything. He's a very discreet gravedigger." She put the cup and saucer on the table, the tea untouched. "I didn't come here to talk about the past. Just how dangerous is the High Lord?"
    "Daemon Sadi is his father's son. Does that answer your question?"
    Alexandra tried but couldn't suppress a shudder. "And you really think he wants to destroy the Blood in Terreille?"
    "I'm sure of it." Dorothea touched her white hair. "I paid a heavy price to be sure of it."
    "My other granddaughter, Wilhelmina Benedict, recently went to Kaeleer," Alexandra said softly.
    Dorothea stiffened. "How recently?"
    "She went through the Gate yesterday."
    "Mother Night," Dorothea said, collapsing in her chair. "I'm so sorry, Alexandra. So very, very sorry."
    "Prince Philip Alexander and I intend to go to Kaeleer as soon as that 'service fair' is over and visitors are permitted again. Hopefully, we'll be able to find her and convince whatever Queen she's signed a contract with to release her."
    "She's in far more danger than that," Dorothea said worriedly.
    "There's no reason for her to draw anyone's attention," Alexandra said, fear making her voice sharp. "There's no reason for her to accept a contract outside of Little Terreille."
    "There are two reasons: the High Lord and the witch he controls. If you don't find her quickly, Wilhelmina will end up in his dark embrace, and there will be no hope for her then."
    Despite the warm room, a chill ran down Alexandra's spine.
    Dorothea just looked at her for a long moment. "I told you—Sadi and the High Lord achieved their goal. No one hunts very long for a corpse when the living need care. And your granddaughter's body was never found."
    Alexandra stared at Dorothea. "You think Jaenelle is this powerful witch under the High Lord's control? Jaenelle?" She laughed bitterly. "Hell's fire, Dorothea, Jaenelle couldn't even do basic Craft."
    "If you know how to read between the lines of some of the... less available... records of the Blood's history, you'll find that there have been a few women—very few, thank the Darkness—who had enormous reservoirs of power that they were unable to tap by themselves. They required an ... emotional... bond with someone who had the skill to channel the power in order to use it. But they didn't always have the choice about how it was used." Dorothea paused. "The gossip that has recently filtered in from Little Terreille about the High Lord's pet describes her as 'eccentric,' 'somewhat emotionally disturbed.' Does that sound familiar?"
    Alexandra couldn't catch her breath. There wasn't enough air in the room. Why wasn't there enough air?
    "If you'll take it, I'll give you whatever help I can." Dorothea looked at her sadly. "You can't ignore this, Alexandra. No