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They reached Inevera’s private gardens, a botanical maze filled with carefully ht all the way from Krasia There were etables, as well as grasses, shrubs, flowers, and trees cultivated for purely aesthetic value

It was easy for Inevera to find her center in the gardens, standing in the sun aetation Even in the Palace of the Deliverer in Krasia, such a garden would have been impossible to maintain The land was too harsh In Everam’s Bounty, it seemed one had but to throw seeds in any direction and they would thrive unaided

Inevera breathed deeply, only to be thrown froht a hint of the perfunaled an end to tranquility

"Flee while you can, little sisters," she said quietly "The Holy Mother waits within the bowers"

The words were enough to send her sister-wives hurrying fronity would allow As his Jiwah Ka, Ahmann’s mother was Inevera’s responsibility, a position the women were all too happy to yield

Inevera envied them She, too, would have fled had she been able Everam must be displeased, not to have warned me in the dice

Only Qeva, Melan, and Asavi dared to reh Inevera knew she atching, neverto the wind "Best get it over with," she muttered, and strode ahead to where the Holy Mother waited

Inevera heard Kajivah before she saw her

"By Everaht, Thalaja," the Holy Mother snapped "You’re a bride of the Deliverer, not soht as Kajivah reached and snatched a pastry froain, Everalia"

She looked to one of the servants "Where is that nectar I asked for? And see they chill it this ti a ridiculous fan "I didn’t tell you to stop fanning, girl" She fanned herself, hand buzzing like a huet Everareen land is as humid as the baths How do they stand it? Why, I have half a mind--"

The woman mercifully broke off as Inevera entered the bower The other wo Kajivah ht treat every other woh to respect the da, and Inevera most of all

Usually

"Where isover to Inevera She wore the black robes and white veil of kai’ting, but had added a white shawl as well, siossip, my son-in-law sits the Skull Throne, and I aiven, Inevera thought

Kajivah grew increasingly shrill "I demand to knohat’s happened!"

Deer in her center Had the wo to? Even Ah Kajivah across the gardens like Fahstu at court

Oh, if it could be so easily done But while Ah if she vaporized the entire council of Damaji, he would hunt his ht, there would be no hiding the crie of the abyss," Inevera said "The dice favor his return, but it is a dangerous path We one to the abyss?!" Kajivah shrieked "Alone?! Why are not the Spears of the Deliverer with hi Kajivah’s chin Ostensibly it was to force her to make and hold eye contact, but Inevera put pressure on a convergence spot, breaking soy

"Your son is the Deliverer," she said coldly "He walks in places none may follow, and owes no explanations to you, or even me"

She released Kajivah, and the woht her and tried to usher her to one of the stone benches, but Kajivah straightened, pulling froain