The Alcazar (The Cerulean Duology #2) - Amy Ewing Page 0,79

long.

“It feels as if nothing has been the same since Sera Lighthaven failed to break the tether,” Baalin said. Leela’s fingernails pressed into the soft wax of her candle. She hated the way Baalin phrased it, as if it was Sera’s fault.

“I wonder why there has not been another choosing ceremony,” Reeda said.

“Well, there wouldn’t be until after the birthing season, would there?” Cresha said. “We cannot risk the City’s journey to find a new planet until the next generation of Cerulean is born.”

“But that could be years,” Reeda said. “Surely if Mother Sun wished the City to move, she would not want it to be delayed for so long. Can the tether survive an entire birthing season?”

“The tether has survived for nine hundred years,” Flesse reminded her. “What is a handful more?”

“You are awfully quiet, Leela,” Novice Baalin said, turning to her.

Leela started and tried to look meek. “I am not as old or as wise as you novices,” she said. “My only wish is for this City to be healthy and well.”

That, at least, was not a lie. The other novices seemed placated and silence slipped around them, until their vigil was over and another group of novices came to relieve them.

The days passed and still no other purple mother became pregnant, and the devotionals continued. It seemed to Leela as if she would never make it beneath the City again, and her worry became a constant gnawing in her stomach.

“Be patient,” Elorin whispered to her one morning as they returned to the temple from the orchards, carrying baskets of pears and apples for the novices’ breakfasts. “A purple mother will become pregnant soon and this will all end. Then we can return and try to free Estelle.”

Of course, that presented its own problem. If Leela could free Estelle, what should she do then? The High Priestess would certainly notice if one of her hostages was missing. And Leela would hate to think of forcing the woman to go back into the stalactite.

But she supposed she was getting ahead of herself. She didn’t actually know if she could accomplish anything yet.

They came upon Plenna as they were crossing Aila’s Bridge.

“Good afternoon, Plenna,” Elorin said.

Plenna had her hands folded across her stomach, though she was so newly pregnant there was nothing to show yet. She looked quite like the Plenna Leela had always known.

“Good afternoon, Elorin. Leela.” Plenna smiled at them. “I was just speaking with the High Priestess. She is so gracious to take the time to reassure me.”

“Reassure you?” Leela asked.

“I have been hoping for another purple mother to become pregnant by now,” Plenna said. “It would be nice to have someone I can speak to, who is in my same situation. Especially since this is my first time. Jaycin told me not to be a bother but I could not help myself.” Plenna’s face took on a dreamy look. “It seems only yesterday that I was falling in love with them. First Jaycin, then Heena. The joy of finding one person who draws you in, who excites you and challenges you. Then you become complete when you find the third part of your heart.” She rubbed her stomach. “And now we will become four. I cannot wait to meet my daughter.”

“My green mother always told me she and my purple and orange mothers fell into each other all at once,” Elorin said. “That one day they were at the Estuary together and something simply clicked into place and they knew.”

Plenna smiled indulgently. “I suppose falling in love is different for everyone.”

Leela felt a deep, sudden sadness wash over her, taking her by surprise. The sort of life Plenna described was the life she used to imagine for herself. A triad, perhaps a daughter—Leela had no interest in bearing a child but used to imagine herself as a green mother. But all that felt far away, a distant dream that faded with each passing day. She mourned it even as she knew with all her heart that the life she was living now was more right for her than any other purpose she could have found in the City.

“The High Priestess has assured me that a purple mother should become pregnant any day now,” Plenna was saying. “I do hope it is Kandra.”

Leela tensed. “Why do you say that?”

“She was so sad and withdrawn. She kept to her house, the very last one on the edge of the twelve, as if isolating herself. She did not take