A Day of Fallen Night (The Roots of Chaos)

Dumai lay in a nest of bedding. In her arms, Nikeya rested, engoldened by the faint glow of a candle.

Outside the tent, all was dark. They had set out into the forest at dawn, as they had every day since Nikeya had come, and helped Unora and the others chop wood for the crossbows. Later, Nikeya had helped Dumai refine her archery before shooting down a deer for supper. To hide her clan, she had named herself Tonra, after the woman on Brhazat.

‘Do you think it belongs to the gods?’

Dumai glanced at Nikeya. She was studying the dark stone, tilting it into the light.

‘Furtia said it was a remnant of the star,’ Dumai said. ‘That it held a great and terrible power.’

‘It unsettles me.’

Nikeya stifled a cough. Dumai stroked her hair, taking a deep breath.

‘I have thought on your proposal,’ she said.

‘At last. I was almost starting to feel embarrassed. A rare experience, for me.’ Nikeya sat up. ‘What was the outcome of all that rumination, wise sage of the forest?’

‘I am sorry it took so long. I have never been with anyone, the way you and I are—’

‘Dumai, I know. I’m teasing. Have you not met me?’

‘Fortunately.’ Dumai traced the line of her back, stroking the last of the bruising there. ‘I was born into a temple. I know the bones and stomach of every ritual of Seiiki, from the ancient to the new.’ She met that bright and curious gaze. ‘We pledged our love by water, under the night sky. If you still want to be wed to me, then you already are, Nikeya.’

Nikeya linked their fingers.

‘Then I am.’

Dumai smiled back, brushing the start of a tear from her cheek. Nikeya lay at her side again.

‘Of course, the courtly tradition is that one is always discovered in bed, the morning after a secret marriage,’ she said, a coy light in her eyes. ‘Sooner or later, the world comes to know.’

‘We should keep it a secret for now.’

‘Queen Dumai, are you ashamed of your silver consort?’

‘I simply want to treasure these hours, with no one to remark on us. Besides,’ Dumai said, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear, ‘a clever woman once told me that our world floats on secrets.’

Nikeya laughed at that. ‘You are sweeter with your words than you were. I credit myself.’

‘As you should.’

Dumai kissed her, breathing in the smell of woodsmoke from the fires. ‘Furtia has been gone for some time,’ Nikeya said, when their lips parted again. ‘When will you fly next?’

‘When I am called.’

‘But you’ll come back.’ She was serious now. ‘Promise me, Dumai.’

Dumai looked at her, into those troubled eyes, and said, ‘I promise I will always try.’

Later, she was close to sleep when the sweat turned cold on her skin. I feel as if you are at peace. The voice she had held at bay for so long. It felt like its old self. It warms me, sister.

Dumai could almost see her, the figure in the mist. It will not last, she sent back, before she could think better of it. She let herself sink into the black sea of slumber, twined around the woman she loved. No peace can last in this great sorrow.