Gravity's Revenge (36 page)

Authors: A.E. Marling

She knew another thing, too. If Tethiel’s sole wish had been to slaughter the Bright Palms, he could have allowed Sheamab to choke Hiresha in front of the Crystal Ballroom. The spellswords would then have stormed the plateau. Instead, Minna had been urged to save Hiresha, and the spellswords had been forced to turn back.

He cared more for my safety than his revenge.

She said, “I never thanked you for giving me this diamond.”

“It has been three years, so ‘never’ is almost up.”

“And I never will.” Hiresha snapped her hand closed over the jewel. It fit back into her sash pocket.

She strode over the bridge, and set her foot on the cliff.

“My heart,” Tethiel called behind her, “are you certain you should go back? I fear your associates will know you battled alongside a Feaster.”

“They will also learn I smashed Academy records, broke windows, and used enchanted jewels in most unorthodox manners. If it bothers them, then that means they’re still living and able to experience annoyance and ought to thank me.” She cast him a sickle smile. “After all, forbidden is what you make of it.”

The Lord of the Feast bowed to her, shadows swirling after his hand in a dark flourish. Behind him a horse trotted by itself to the base of
Half
Bridge
. Its long face turned to the side to gaze at its master. It blew and stomped.

Hiresha shifted the fennec to her other arm and started up the Skyway. The air was clear. The path was straight, the enchantment restored, the horizon a spectrum of brilliance. Moon and darkness clung to one side, breathtaking grey above, and to the east a new day was catching fire.