Page 101 of Silver & Gold
There was a whoosh of air as the roc lifted into the sky. Seth clutched at the doorway, startled, even though the interior of the palanquin remained stable. Looking out, he said, “Raider, you should see this view.”
“I like the view I already have.”
Seth glanced over his shoulder. There was a look of confusion on his face, then his eyebrows jumped as he realized that Raider’s view was of him. A smile tugged at Seth’s lips. (Oh, yeah, Raider’s view was perfect.) Seth looked out again, taking in the sight for another moment. Then he pulled the flap shut and walked across the carpeted floor to sit beside Raider.
The wind whistled outside the palanquin’s red walls and filtered in through the pierced roof. When the sense of marvel had abated, the three of them found themselves in a rather uncomfortable silence.
Raider knew very well that neither Seth nor Nasrin were going to initiate any peacemaking, so he took it upon himself to survey the drink options, choose a wine—gods, he missed raaki—and pour a chilled white into three glass cups.
He slid one cup to Seth and held out another toward Nasrin.
Her gray eyes hardened. “Should I forgive you over a glass of wine?”
Before Raider could get a word in, Seth demanded, “For what, escaping your blackmail? Should we forgive you? Besides, who’s really at fault here?”
“Seth,” Raider chided as Nasrin flinched.
Seth said, “The last person this falls on is you. The first person it falls on—”
“Is Fadesh,” Raider cut in. “Or Kahzir.”
Seth’s nostrils flared like he very much wanted to continue laying into Nasrin. Instead, he snatched up his wine cup and drained it. Raider felt the other cup lift from his hand. He glanced at Nasrin and watched her drain it as Seth had. Her hand was shaky.
“I’m sorry about your men,” Raider said as he refilled both emptied cups.
She closed her eyes. “How could I have been so stupid?”
Guilt assailed Raider. “I’m sorry I didn’t remember Fadesh earlier. If I’d—”
“Don’t apologize for that,” Seth interrupted. “Especially not to her. Besides, he’d been hiding from you, Raider, obviously because he feared you might recognize him. I should have understood that earlier. And so should she.”
Raider glared at Seth. “Maybe you should get out of those wet clothes, so you’re not damn cranky. And both of you, take off your weapons. You look ridiculous sitting at this table, bristling like porcupines.”
Seth and Nasrin shared a look. Then they both yielded and started removing their weapons. Seth took off his wet vest and boots but was apparently willing to endure his soaked pants. Nasrin divested herself of her armor but not her breastplate or skirt.
“Prudes,” Raider teased. Seth grunted. Nasrin’s cheeks flamed. She reached for her wine again.
Seeing that his peacemaking job was not over, Raider said, “Seth, Nasrin loves Zarina. Nasrin, Seth loves me. That should be enough explanation for everyone.”
Seth’s fingers gripped Raider’s knee. “I do love you,” he said.
Gods, Seth’s face was so different when he softened like that. Yes, Raider loved seeing the burning intensity in his eyes sometimes, loved the aggression in his broad, handsome face—but he loved this too, maybe even more. The gentleness. The warmth.
Raider felt tension wash away from him. He covered Seth’s hand with his own. Seth’s palm turned upward to meet it.
Nasrin said, seemingly to herself, “I can’t believe I never saw through him. Zarina never did either. We should’ve realized. He was so … steady. Good enough, intelligent certainly, but otherwise unremarkable.”
Seth said, “That’s probably why Kahzir chose him. Good enough to be useful but not enough to be threatening—and willing to serve another.”
“But why not serve Zarina? Why serve Kahzir?” Nasrin demanded angrily, then she shook her head and gave a bitter laugh. “Because he’s a man. No fate worse than serving a woman, is there?” She shook her head again and said wearily, “Never mind. It’s nothing new. It’s why I choose to demand respect as a woman in the first place. But I have to think about Kastari. What we’ll do moving forward. Fadesh will presumably reach the city ahead of us.”
At the bleakness in Nasrin’s eyes, Raider said, “She’s not helpless, Nasrin. And not everyone objects to serving a woman.”
“At least we’ll see, once and for all, who’s loyal and who’s not. Since I’m apparently too stupid to tell the difference.”
Seth, seeming to relent in his anger with Nasrin, said, “People can be very good at playing a role. How do you think I feel, knowing how many years I worked for Kahzir at the Arcanum? Sometimes I lie awake at night, sick to my stomach, at the thought of that.”
Raider frowned. He hadn’t realized that. “Seth, no. That’s not your fault.”