Potent: Book 1

Chapter 10: Pomp

Orwa, Day 36 of Rhexia, Winking Moons, Eclipse of Petra, Year 602

"Ease is the enemy of precedence." —The Facerum

* * *

Evin passed her forearm in front of her face and blinked furiously to clear her eyes.

Someone grabbed her roughly by the bicep, attempting to drag her away from the scene. She heard shouting, but it seemed far away.

Unresponsive, she planted her feet and continued to scan the rubble.

There was the counter, the glossy wood impossibly charred now. The hundreds of tiny jars of ingredients and raw materials were burned away or had exploded from the impact. What tables were left in the cafe had either been overturned or blown apart.

And there, in a tangle on the floor, was a twisted piece of Wynn's burgundy eborel skirt, the first piece of clothing she'd sewn after marrying Cotter.

Evin saw charred bits of burnt hair and black, sticky blood fused to sharp, exposed bone.

She began to scream.

* * *

Beynon's favorite courtesan was sprawled in the bed next to him.

Treese was quite young, thin, and graceful. And she liked him. A lot.

He smiled a little as he watched her sleep. She clutched a piece of rumpled sheet to her chest and nestled her face tightly down into the mattress, almost assuredly creasing it. He wished at the moment she was buried in his chest and clutching him this way.

Then he grinned. All he would have to do was wake her up.

Beynon ran a finger lightly down her bare back, eliciting a satisfied moan from her.

They'd needed to be careful the night before as he was still dealing with his wounds. The scars on his back would be impressive, even after they healed.

A gentle knock came at the door—the inner door. Alisia's door.

"Enter," he said.

Alisia pushed the door in and took a step or two into the room. She was dressed and ready for the festivities today. As empress, and especially with Beynon's health compromised, she would have considerable responsibilities to attend to.

The Hunt was an annual occurrence in Daitak. Dignitaries from all over Heladrith traveled to the capital specifically to take part in the holiday.

Still fastening a glittering earring in place, Alisia glanced casually over at Beynon's sleeping visitor and then immediately ignored her.

Beynon watched her a little defiantly, daring her to comment, but she didn't appear bothered in the slightest. Beynon regularly welcomed companions into his chamber, and he knew that she must be able to hear them of evenings, separated as they were by only a door.

If he was honest with himself, he felt—something—today; a tiny twinge of a feeling that he couldn't name. It wasn't guilt, certainly.

"Good morning," Alisia said coolly. She made no attempt to keep her voice down.

He nodded at her.

"Will you still be addressing the populace at the orientation?" she asked. "Or do I need to see to that?"

Treese began to stir.

Bryn was capable enough. It involved appearing in public, properly dressed, and standing and speaking for a short time. "I can still do it," he said, noticing the way his voice sounded—deep, throaty, sleepy. His amorous nighttime activities voice.