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“Maybe he’s done something wild and invited Death to the stage,” Paesha said, pointing to the third and fourth line.
“That could be. Near a god might indicate Death, and he is revered.” Hollis pulled a chair from the table and sat down heavily. “Imagine.”
I shook my head. “He can’t do anything to keep people from coming or clapping or standing. And the last line doesn’t really make sense. But if Death shows up, no one will be brave enough to move.”
“Technically, he’s not stopping them, though,” Thea whispered. “They could stand; they just won’t.”
“Then that’s his loophole. But what’s the solution?” Paesha took the opposite side of the table to pace, biting at a nail. “There’s no true way for you to fight Death; the weapons would be pointless.”
“That’s it,” Hollis said, banging a hand on the table as he stood. “You don’t have to fight him. You have to make him leave before the timer is up. The crowd would cheer for that alone.”
“Easy enough. I’ll just ask him to kindly fuck off.”
Thea snorted. “Great plan, team.”
“No, seriously,” Paesha said, freezing. “Can you ask him to leave?”
“I can ask him, but I don’t think he’ll listen.”
“What could you offer him in exchange?”
Sucking in a sharp breath, I realized. “Words. I’ve never spoken to him in the Death Court, and he hates it.”
“Never?” Thea drew backward, surprised.
I lifted a shoulder. “I bellowed in pain once, and he loved it so much I vowed to never make another sound in his court.”
“I think it’s time to break that vow, Maiden.”
She hadn’t screamed. Hadn’t even acknowledged my presence as I stood before Gresidia Fischer, with Chaos in one hand and Serenity in the other. I’d felt sorry for her as she’d crumpled to the stained floor of the vacant opium den. But then I always did, to some degree.
Death had come and gone with little more than a sinister grin. Perhaps a promise to see me later. I wondered if I should have made the deal with him then, twisting the Maestro’s plans. But I was not a fool. Not entirely. If I gave away that I knew anything at all, it would give him far more time to consider a bargain with me upon that stage. And the one thing the message had been clear about was the fact that we were meant to dance with weapons. I’d need every upper hand I could muster.
“And the weapons?” I asked, standing before a mirror in the warehouse with Althea and Hollis behind me.
Thea shifted her apron to the side, sliding a hammer into a loop on her belt. The dress was stunning, only revealing in the short length of the skirt and the plunge between my breasts. When I twisted, each golden tassel on the shimmering costume glistened and swayed, drawing my eyes to the motion and shape of my hips. Still, I was tired. Death’s power always left its trace on the weight of my bones.
“I made this for you,” Thea said, holding out a thin belt made of chain mail. “You can’t cut the metal links, so you’re less likely to lose your weapons if someone tries to slice it off, but you can still move in this without it being restrictive.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.” She beamed. “Took a little bit to make the gold strong enough, but I think I’ve worked out the kinks.”
“Maiden?” Genevieve’s voice crept over my shoulder. “The Maestro has asked to see you in his office.”
“Why?” Hollis, Thea, and I asked in unison.
She shrugged, taking a tentative step backward. “Only the messenger, I’m afraid.”
“You’ll be okay,” Thea said, gripping my hand as she always did.
After all these months, the connection no longer jarred me.
“Of course, I will. Any word on Paesha?”
“She’s in three numbers tonight, but she’s meeting with some others,” she said, glancing around, “to tell them of the name change. Just in case anyone has any ideas. She said, ‘Respectfully, don’t forget to move your hips.’”
“Somehow, I’m doubting the respectfully bit. Does Orin know yet?”
