“Was there another part of the ceremony I missed?” I asked.
According to Nohe, we would feast until dark, say some more formal phrases, then retreat to our wedding night.
I tried not to imagine Tallu in his bedchamber, stripped down to nothing but smooth skin. Did he have any more tattoos to match the dragon on his arm? I hadn’t been paying enough attention the first time.
“The emperor has requested your presence,” Asahi said.
“I canseethat. He did it with the subtlety of an ox during mating season.” Huffing, I jogged down the hall, the thick formal clothes heavy.
At least I was saved from having to wear the headdress that Eonaî would have had to balance. When I finally caught up to Tallu, he was almost at a door.
Pushing it open, he gestured formally with three fingers, and I followed him out. We were in that unfamiliar part of the palace—I had seen it only when we had gone through it to reach the Dragon Temple two weeks earlier—that I was only now realizing were his own private gardens. The tall trees were nothing like the ones at home, but they were wild enough that they reminded me of the northern forests.
“We will go alone,” Tallu said, the only unscripted words he’d said all day.
“Your Imperial Majesty—” Sagam said.
“That wasnota request.” Tallu turned and began walking into the forest, and I had to take two steps for every one of his to catch up.
“You’re taking me into another forest. Without guards,” I observed. “That didn’t go well for us last time.”
Terror flapped above us in the branches, flying from tree to tree. If he knew where we were going, he didn’t bother telling me. Finally, when we were so far into the forest that the buildings were completely hidden, we came to a sight that made my blood turn cold.
Torn and bloodstained yellow scraps of fabric lay in a heap on the ground. On top of them was a shredded coat, the stitching still visible:Prince Rute of House Sotonam, Heir to the Emperor.
On either side of the pile of bloodied clothes, someone had spread out furs for sitting. Tallu looked at me expectantly.
“This is as far as my knowledge of the northern tradition goes,” he said after a long pause.
“The northern tradition,” I said slowly.
“The northern wedding ceremony. I understand the celebration happens in the afternoon and evening. But it starts with acknowledging a kill one partner made for the other.” His expression was blank, hiding whatever I was supposed to do with his statement.
Slowly, I approached the setup, then lowered myself cross-legged on one of the pelts. I curled my fingers into the soft fur. It was some southern creature, the coat thinner than a northern bear or caribou.
Around us, the forest was quiet and still, even the birds silent. The air was cool under the trees that had once been nurseries for the south’s greatest treasure: its dragons.
Tallu took the other seat, staring at me with those unreadable eyes that burned through my skin.
“Did you make this kill for me, my lord?” I kept my face as blank as I could, but by the way that Tallu traced my expression, I didn’t do well. “Usually, the sacrifice is an animal that the great northern bear eats. Caribou. Elk. Rabbit.”
“No,Idid not kill my cousin foryou. I think we can both admit who killed Rute and why.” Tallu waited, and when I didn’t respond, he said, “Don’t you agree?”
My mind went blank. There were no guards; I could kill him here, kill him now, but he was staring at me with those russet eyes that pinned me to the spot, made me admit things about myself I didn’t want to.
And part of me needed to know. I needed to know what he thought of the kill, what he wanted me to say.
“Rute was a problem.” In more than one way, but Tallu would take my words to mean a problem forhimif he thought I’d killed his cousin for him.
“Yes. Yes he was,” Tallu said. His eyes moved over me hungrily. He would consume me if I let him, and I almost wanted to let him. Let him eat Airón Silvereyes whole until there was nothing left, just another pile of bloody clothes. “You have no idea what this gift means to me. Now, in the north, after the sacrifice, do you exchange gifts?”
“Yes.” I took the knife from its sheath.Now. Kill him now. Kill while he is alone and helpless.
“Is this for me?” His voice was low, as though he was imagining, as I was, the blade plunging into his heart, thrusting into his throat, until his body was still. I couldn’t speak.
I couldn’t do it. Turning the blade, I held it flat on my palms, my arms trembling. Why had I hesitated? Why hadn’t I justdoneit?
He tilted his head, reaching out and taking it by the handle. It was a ceremonial dagger, one I had intended to wear at Eonaî’s wedding. The blade was carved from whalebone, intricately designed so that when Tallu raised it up, holding it to the light, the carving of a whale was visible.
