Page 81 of The Summer Pass

There was a short silence. “I’m not in the Order,” Lill said finally. “I was expelled.”

“Oh! Thank God.”

That was such an apt response that it took Vanu a moment to realize he should be surprised by it. How did Artayarasha know that Lill had been in the Order, anyway?

They had reached the end of the passage before he could figure out how to ask about that. He thumped on the wine-cellar door.

“Who is it?” Auxshna asked officiously from the other side.

Introductions weren’t needed for Halza and his fiancée and future mother-in-law to figure out who Artayarasha was. They welcomed him into the wine cellar as if it was their own home and he had chosen to honour them with his presence. They wanted to offer him food and drink and the choicest place to sit by the brazier, even though it was on the floor. Vanu used to receive something like that kind of attention from his countrymen at the height of his power, but Zashians had different ways of doing everything. He watched with amusement.

Susami reported that nobody had come back from outside yet, which Vanu didn’t entirely like. They must all have heard the noise at the gate, and he’d have hoped they’d take that as a signal to come in.

“Don’t tell Atari,” he said, “but the Zashians have begun their assault on the gate.”

Susami nodded. “I thought Auxshna heard something, but she wouldn’t tell us what it was.”

“I hope someone was watching the door upstairs while we were gone?”

“Yes, Halza was there. And he insisted Auxshna stay by the door down here, although I tried to explain to her that I can feel it when someone is pounding on a door right in front of me.” She looked over at the Zashians fussing around Artayarasha. “Perhaps I’ll go watch upstairs now. Shall I?”

Vanu nodded, and she left. He put his hand on Lill’s back, brushing aside his braid.

“All right?” he asked aloud.

“Uh. Yes.” He didn’t look all right.

“Maybe sit down,” Vanu suggested.

Lill allowed himself to be steered toward his couch and obediently sat. Vanu sat beside him. He’d allow himself just a moment before he set about figuring out what to do about Darma.

He didn’t expect Lill to say anything, but Lill surprised him. “I think Artayarasha may be⁠—”

He bit off the end of the sentence because the prince had politely refused the invitation to sit by the brazier and was coming toward them. Lill stood up. After a moment, reluctantly, Vanu did too.

“Sit,” the prince said firmly, holding up his hands as if he would push Lill back onto the couch if he had to.

Vanu stepped back so that Artayarasha could take his place on the couch, which he did. Lill sat then, still looking reluctant.

“I wished to continue our conversation from the passage outside,” said Artayarasha. “You were telling me that you were expelled from the Order of the Sworn Defenders, and that you have a husband—a very worthy husband. I was surprised, as I did not know that the custom of boy brides was observed in Hawakhurta.”

“It’s not,” said Vanu. “Usually.”

Lill seemed to find his voice then. “Our marriage was arranged by a friend of Vanu’s who lived in the—in Torakand, so he knew about boy brides, and he thought I would be—that we would suit one another.” He’d lost his command of the courtly style of speaking. “And we did. I mean to say … I am not worthy of the honour he’s shown me. He is the best husband anyone could ever have.”

That was high praise, but Vanu wanted to know why Lill still sounded so wretched when he said it.

“I rejoice to hear it,” said Artayarasha with warmth. But he could obviously hear the misery in Lill’s voice too, because he still looked concerned. “I understand your anger, Lillang. I have asked myself whether you could ever forgive me. I cannot expect you to.”

Lill just stared at him blankly. He looked like he had as little idea what Artayarasha was talking about as Vanu did.

“Forgive you? For what?”

“For letting you remain for so many years a prisoner of my brother’s God-cursed Order.”

At that Lill flinched as though struck. “You think … I was angry with you?”

“Were you not?”