Just as I returned to Nomusa from my last-minute visit, I received the signal.

I froze mid-step as I felt it, hoping it had been my imagination. But there it came again: a twitch of the lodestone in my pocket. A year before, Xaron had managed to bond a pair of iron ore pieces with his magic. Ever since, we’d used them to send a signal if one of us needed aid. I had only needed to do so once, and then only to extricate myself from an awkward situation with a jeweler we were investigating happening upon me eavesdropping. Nothing like the life-and-death situation he faced now.

Heart hammering in my ears, I took the last few steps to Nomusa and said in a rush, “He gave the signal. I have to go in.” Then I whirled by her, setting off for the front gate of Feiyan’s estate.

“What are you going to do?” my companion called quietly after me. I didn’t turn to respond, but quickened my pace. We had no time to waste.

The guards at the gate gave me a strange look as I gave my fake name, Jaxale, and the title of acolyte, but they admitted me into the courtyard, and one went to fetch their mistress. I wasn’t surprised they so readily accepted my disguise. After all, my errand had been to retrieve the gray robes and the eleven-pointed star pendant that Eidolan acolytes wore. I looked the part; now I just had to play it.

It was all I could do not to shuffle my feet as the door guard stared steadily at me, chewing over and over what looked to be mushed brown leaves. After avoiding his gaze for a while, I stared back at him until he grew bored and looked down the street.

The gate guard came back alone. “The mistress is busy. You can leave a message if you want.”

I sweated a little more wondering what that meant. “Thank you for trying,” I said, bowing politely, meek and sweet as a kind-hearted acolyte. I hoped it would be a jarring enough contrast with my next words. “Please tell her that my master bids that she visit him soon. He has been faithful to his word and spoken of what happened to no one, nor of her part in it.” I bowed again. “We will continue to practice discretion, despite all who inquire into it.”

The guard blinked. “I’ll tell her that.” He began to close the door then hesitated. “Hold on. Just wait here a minute.”

I nodded and smiled graciously as the man closed the door. If he knew anything of what she was up to lately, I didn’t doubt that he dashed to give Feiyan word of what I’d said. The door guard stared at me again with renewed interest.

In half the time as the first wait, the door opened again, this time revealing a woman I immediately recognized from sketches on the announcements of the elections. It helped that Feiyan was Qao Fu, rare enough among Oedijan officials. She was young still, little more than a decade older than me, and had acquired a measure of the healthy weight that often came with wealth. Her robes looked expensive, and though she wore gold and silver, they lacked for jewels. Her eyes were what held me, though: cold, curious, and calculating beyond even what I’d expected from her reputation.

“Ah, an Eidolan acolyte,” she said with a thin smile. “I am always pleased to host one of the faith.”

Her calm reaction put me off-balance, no doubt as it was intended to do. I tried to recover my wits, giving myself time to compose myself by bowing low. “Mistress, I am sorry to disturb you so late—”

“Indeed, it is quite late,” Feiyan interrupted in a pleasant tone. “Yet when you say such interesting things, I cannot help but make time for you. So tell me, Acolyte Jaxale. What did you mean by your words?”

As the full realization of how much power Feiyan commanded here, with three of her guards in close reach and the late night shielding us from many prying eyes, I did not have to try for my voice to quiver with fear. “Please, Mistress Feiyan,” I said, my voice high with distress. “Do not be angry with me. I was only sent to tell you we keep faith after…” I trailed off.

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The Servant studied me for a long, unshifting moment. “We. Who do you mean by that?”

“The sanctuary, of course, my Servant.” I bowed quickly once more. “And the oracle. He wishes to—”

“I believe your master is mistaken,” Feiyan interrupted again. “I do not know of what you speak, nor what secret he means to keep of mine.” To my surprise, she gave me the slightest bow, which was a sign of respect for one of so low a station as an acolyte. Hoping I looked properly flustered, I bowed one last time and thanked her profusely, then left down the walkway with unfeigned haste. Once the guard at the gate had let me out with a leer, I hurried away down the street and out of sight until I returned to the alley where Nomusa waited.

As soon as I had ducked behind the corner again, she seized me and stared me in the eyes. “What is going on, Airene?”

I exhaled and let my shoulders drop from around my ears. “I don’t know yet. But I hope it was enough.”

* * *

Xaron held his breath as Iela continued to approach his hiding spot behind the laurel bushes.

“Might I ask what you’re looking at?” Feiyan said mildly.

“Is there anyone else in these gardens?” Iela asked without turning towards the Servant. “Guards who patrol it, or perhaps a gardener?”

“They wouldn’t be here while I have a meeting. I am sure it’s just a pigeon; they like to eat the berries off the bushes.”

“Then when I look, I suppose I’ll see a pigeon.”

“Please, Iela,” Feiyan said, annoyance starting to show in her voice. “I serve at your master’s leisure, but I am a busy woman. If you do not have anything more to say…”

Iela was halfway towards Xaron before she stopped and turned. “Yes. I suppose you are right. I am busy as well.”

Xaron let out a slow exhale of relief as she walked back to where the Servant and the honor Kako waited. He wasn’t in the clear yet, but he looked to be out of immediate danger. He hoped Airene wouldn’t do anything rash now that he’d given the signal, though.

“As I was saying,” Iela said, “if you hear anything of Eazal of Sandglass, do tell us. Our arrangement cannot proceed without him.”

Xaron couldn’t decide if the Servant’s expression shifted or not. “Indeed, that would be most unfortunate,” she said neutrally. “I will have my best men out searching for him.”

Iela frowned at that. “As long as it is done discreetly. Now, as you say, we are both busy, and I have other calls to pay this night.” She began to turn away.

“If I may, emissary,” the honor Kako spoke up. “It is not my place, but I compelled to inquire all the same as to what these potions will be used for. The methods by which we are administering them is… suspect, to say the least. Are they poison?”

Iela turned slowly back towards him. “No, they are not poison,” she said softly. “They are the antidote. A new world is coming, one without these mistruths plaguing it. Where those who deserve to rule are doing so.”

Xaron had an uncomfortable feeling that she thought those who “deserved to rule” were wardens like her. And himself. Once wardens had ruled; all in Oedija knew of the Tyrant Wardens from over a century before, whose cruel reign and denigration of those without an attunement to the Pyrthae had spurred all the rules that governed wardens in their own age. He found himself strangely both repulsed and intrigued by her suggestion.

Iela shook her head. “Beyond that, I cannot say. But just as the cure is often as deadly as the disease, it is true that many will die from these tinctures.” A pause. “But I trust that will not be an issue for you.”

Feiyan hesitated just a moment too long before smiling. “Of course not.”

“Good. If that’s settled then—”

“Mistress!”

Xaron startled as a guard entered from the entryway behind him and hurried towards the three standing under the steadily melting sculpture. In his haste, the guard had missed him crouching in the shrubbery. Xaron breathed out a sigh of relief as he passed, but he didn’t know that he could risk another chance at discovery like that. He had to flee. Yet he couldn’t help but eavesdrop on a few last words.

“Yes?” Feiyan said to her guard. “What is it?”

“Mistress, there is a girl here for you,” the guard huffed as he came up to her. “An acolyte, apparently.”

“What in the eleven hells could an Eidolan acolyte be doing here?” Feiyan wondered aloud.

“Mistress, I do not know. Shall I inquire?”

“What do you think you should do?” the honor Kako said sarcastically. “Do you think you should divine the purpose of her visit before bothering our mistress with her presence?”

Xaron didn’t wait to hear an answer. Considering the timing, he had a feeling he knew exactly who this Eidolan acolyte was. Slinking from the laurel bush and back through the entryway, Xaron went back inside to take the long way back out of the Servant’s estate.