Page 6 of The Half King
“That’s right,” Mama said. “The temple is the safest place for you.”
“Foranyone,” he interjected.
“Yes, for anyone,” Mama agreed. “And it’s close enough for us to visit you.”
“The palace is too far for us to travel,” Father said. “You should stay here.”
Cerise shook her head. The time for making choices was over. “I’m supposed to say goodbye. The Reverend Mother told me I leave right away.”
There was a collective silence, followed by an exchange of loaded glances. Then Mama forced a smile and patted the cushion beside her. Cerise sat down in between her parents, and Mama retrieved an object from her silk satchel.
“Take this.” Mama pressed a smooth, flat disc into Cerise’s palm. “Father has the other one. You can use it to talk to us while you’re away.”
Cerise glanced at the object and found it was a heartrending mirror, named for its use by parted lovers to communicate in secret. She had never owned one before, but she knew how it worked. Holding up the mirror, she saw the tan lining of Father’s pocket. His fingers became visible, and then his face as he pulled out the mirror and delivered a grin that didn’t reach his eyes.
“You were never allowed to have one of these before,” he said into the glass. “But now that you won’t live in the temple…”
Cerise didn’t hear anything beyond the wordsyou won’t live in the temple. She couldn’t conceive of such a thing. It would be easier to imagine wearing someone else’s skin. She had never left the temple grounds, except for trips to the market. Now she would leave for an entirely new land. Part of her life was ending, and she hadn’t even Seen it coming.
Moisture blurred her vision.
“None of that,” commanded Nina, who had stayed silent for so long that Cerise had nearly forgotten she was there. “Mama? Father? May I say goodbye to Cerise in private?”
Their parents nodded and strode out to the atrium.
“Listen to me, because we don’t have much time,” Nina said as she sat beside Cerise on the divan. Reaching beneath the neckline of her dress, she retrieved a golden chain, which she pulled over her veil until it was free. The chain bore a misshapen, tarnished link that looked like it might once have been a ring. “I want you to wear this for protection.”
Cerise took the chain and inspected its battered pendant. She had little experience with enchanted relics, but nothing about this one seemed particularly special. “What is it?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Because some magic is bound by secrets. Now put it on.”
“But how does it work?”
“Never mind that.” Impatiently, Nina looped the chain around Cerise’s neck, then shoved a hand down the front of her temple dress and proceeded to stuff the ugly pendant between her breasts.
“Nina!” Cerise batted away her sister’s hands.
“Bloody crows, Cerise. We have the same body parts.”
“That doesn’t mean I want you touching mine!”
“Fine.” Nina held up her hands. “Just promise you’ll never take it off.”
“Not even to bathe?”
“Not even then. And don’t let anyone see it—not the king, not his priests, not the Reverend Mother—no one.”
“What about Mama and Father?”
Nina flipped back her veil and showed her face. That was how Cerise knew her sister was serious. “No one. Promise me.”
Lost in the haze of Nina’s beauty, Cerise heard herself say, “I promise.”
Nina lowered her veil at the precise moment the Reverend Mother reentered the room. “Come, Cerise,” she ordered. “Your carriage is here.”
