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Behind her the door flew open.
As it did, the star rolled across the table and dropped to the floor. Astonished, she rose to her feet, her hand at her throat to quell her erratic breathing.
It had been the door opening. Nothing more.
But ... had the star not moved, ever so slightly, before that moment? The curtain, too, had gone against the breeze.
Emotions tumbled within her, confusion, momentary hope, and disappointment.
Elra and Amra closed the door behind them as they entered, and Amra spoke when they saw her. “Mistress, forgive us, have we disturbed you?"
"No, I was only thinking.” She took a deep breath, laughed at herself, and then smiled reassuringly. “Come in, I am almost ready."
Lifting the star from the floor, she was startled to find it warm in her hands, as if it had been held over a flame. Something had happened. She put it down reluctantly. Later, she promised herself.
She snatched up a black scarf she had left nearby, and ushered the twins in. They nodded at the sentry as they left the chambers and Elishiba informed him that should her father call, she would be gone for some time, walking in the gardens. The three women then headed into the servants’ quarters, and on, to a small gateway that led into the city.
Elishiba bound her head in the scarf as they went, concealing her face and leaving only her eyes visible, so that she looked like none other than one of the staff, venturing out into the heart of Suzin.
With Amra and Elra similarly attired, they walked the passageways as if they were ordinary women, women of the city. They each carried baskets to make their amble through the busy streets seem natural, and so it was that Elishiba was able to take in the scents and sights of everyday life. Members of the emperor's household were not expected to walk through the streets on foot, but she often did this, secretly, to observe life in the city without being observed herself. This time was particularly precious, for she wanted to store her memories of life in her home before leaving it.
As they passed along the streets to the busier part of the city, she pushed thoughts of sorcery and salvation from her mind, vowing not to be swayed from her purpose, like a flitting bird drawn to something shiny.
"Where would you like to go, first?” Amra asked.
"The temple,” Elishiba replied. “Then the Souk.” She took Amra's arm as they walked. “Tell me, how is our new friend, young Kerr?"
Amra chuckled. “We spent a most pleasant evening with him last night, chatting about the palace he knows, how it differs to our own."
"We learnt much,” Elra added. “I can picture the place already."
The twins went on to describe various features that Kerr had described, as they walked, and Elishiba listened carefully, noting that the palace in Lhastari sounded much more immense and complicated than their own. She rejected the feeling of unwilling containment that crept up her spine at the thought of being closeted inside the palace, their old enemies’ stronghold, concentrating instead on the details that might be helpful to them when they arrived.
"Have you noticed anything about the other young slave that they brought with them,” Elishiba quizzed. “The dark-haired one known as Patrino?"
Amra shook her head.
Elra frowned. “He does flit between the servants’ quarters and the chambers where the Karseedians rest."
"Now that you say it,” Amra added, thoughtfully, “I do recall seeing him about the place."
It was just as Elishiba had suspected. “I think he spies upon us. Perhaps for Sibias, or maybe Amshazar, or perhaps for my future husband.” She couldn't keep the cynicism from her voice. “I suppose we should expect it from all of them. Kerr seems to be more trustworthy, or a better actor."
"We cannot be sure,” Elra replied, cautiously, “but he has given us no reason to mistrust him."
Elishiba nodded, lightening the mood. “I agree. Did he stay with you willingly? Have you won him over?"
Amra covered her mouth with her fingers as she giggled and leaned in to whisper her answer. “He spent a restless night attempting to sleep between the pair of us."
"We claimed we were cold,” Elra whispered on the other side.
Elishiba laughed softly at the image. “That poor young man, you have won his devotion already. That is good."
As they moved away from the main thoroughfares, they passed along the narrow, cloistered passageways that led into the temple courtyard. The whitewashed walls in the covered passages were broken up occasionally with fretwork grills, behind which were the quarters of the temple priestesses, the women that tended and watched over Sevita's temple.
The temple itself was hidden in the midst of the city, and they grew quiet as they approached. The guards at the gates let them pass, and they mounted the wide stone steps between the massive pillars that fronted the building. Pushing open the heavy cedar wood doors, the three women went inside.
The temple was quiet, for which Elishiba was grateful. She preferred it when it was like this. At times of pageant the temple was lit by thousands of candles, reflecting off the floors and walls where each and every tile was plated with silver and gold. It gave the impression that visitors were walking on a path of sunlight, to worship at the goddess's feet.
