The Courtesy of Kings | ☑ Queenkiller, Kingmaker #2

17.2

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Isla searched the crowd for her sister, but her mind was elsewhere, racing through one plan after another. Of course it would come to this. Who was she fooling, trying to do things the right way? It always came down to how many schemes she had up her sleeve.

She had followed the rules, not done a thing out of line—at least, not yet. She never even had the chance. All she did was befriend another halfborn like her, and already trouble found them.

All for the crime of being who we are.

She did not choose to be halfblood. Neither did Taeichi, nor her sister. None of them asked to be born with theurgy, but the gods gave it to them anyway. Now fanatics claim their existence to be blasphemous?

I'm going to spend the rest of my life running. The realisation filled her with despair.

She could handle it, barely, but what of Tam Mai?

Taeichi might for now turn suspicion away from them, but his life was still forfeit. If it came down to it ... would he really keep her and Tam Mai safe?

Would you leave him to die for your mistake?

No. Isla bit back the guilt. She could not think like that. It was not her who forced him to break his oath. That had come out of him in anger. Perhaps he too, had grown tired of hiding; it had not taken much for him to slip.

Isla caught Tam Mai's tired face between a row of women. They had not moved too far up the line. She pushed through and grabbed her sister's arm. 'We need to go.'

'Eldest!' Tam Mai's cry rang in unison with her voice in Isla's head: "What's wrong?"

Nothing, Tamma. We just need to lie low for a few days.

'What happened?' Yui startled.

'Nothing.' Isla took a moment to breathe. 'Is the Emperor still inside? I just need to keep Tam Mai out of the castle for a while.'

'The Emperor will be in there the whole day. Why? What's going on? Has something happened to Eshe?'

Eshe.

As if she did not have enough to worry about. Isla looked around. 'She's still not here.'

Yui shook her head. Even she looked concerned. 'Maybe she's ill.'

Isla doubted that. She had not forgotten Taeichi's ominous message. Eshe's uncharacteristic absence only cemented her fears, but what was she to do about it? What could she do that would not jeopardise Tam Mai's safety? 'I must at least check on her.'

'I don't mind. This line is going nowhere. We can come back later.'

'No, I'll go alone. You don't have the permits to enter the second enclosure, and I don't want to spoil the day for you. Stay here with Tamma, enjoy the rest of the festival. A few more hours will make no difference.'

She needed space to think, besides. How was she to get Eshe out of the damned city?

After today, her services may no longer be required.

What else could that possibly mean? And Taeichi ... how could she ever hope to sneak two people out of the castle?

Her head pounded. Isla leaned against the terrace railing, shutting back the tears that threatened to come. She did not know what to do. How could one day, one small thing, completely upend everything?

Yui's hand was on her shoulder. 'It's all right. I'll bring Tamma-uchi back to the hokkan. Just take it one step at a time.'

One step at a time.