create. You sing, and we hear in your song what we see in the flowers that gird your gardens: life. It is a life that is celebrated because it is brief. It must be watched, because it is otherwise over so swiftly it cannot be experienced by those it cannot otherwise touch.
“The Terafin is not an exception. Should she somehow live up to the song you have issued as challenge, Wayelyn, she will remain unexceptional. She has lived among the dying in the hundred holdings; she has lived among the dying in Terafin. She has lived briefly among the dying in the Southern Dominion.
“She can make this land hers because of the lives she has lived; she is certain of each of them. It is not the experience that defines her ability, but the certainty. Break that in any way, and she will falter.”
* * *
The Wayelyn and the bardmaster left the grounds at Jewel’s side; they did not, however, remain in the manse. They were silent. The Wayelyn was so subdued Jewel almost offered him the services of the Terafin healerie. She understood that the song he’d offered—the song she barely understood—had required the use of his talent, and it had not been short. Bards, like mages—or anyone born with a talent—suffered mage fevers from overexertion.
“With your permission, Terafin, I may request that the recess of the Council meeting last three days.”
“My permission is not required,” she replied. “But I confess I would be grateful for the time.” She hesitated for a long moment, and then exhaled. “The structural changes within Avantari were not the only substantive architectural changes upon the Isle.”
Solran raised a brow, no more. Meralonne, however, coughed. It was a warning. To whom, Jewel was not certain.
“My own House is in some minor disarray, and as things will, minor will segue into major if I am not to attend to the difficulties—but the Kings have not been entirely patient. With cause,” she added. “I am uncertain that the rest of The Ten will find the request as welcome as Terafin does.”
“I believe the Kings and the Exalted will,” Solran said. “But I am not one of The Ten, and perhaps I am less cautious in voicing opinion than I might otherwise be. Your grounds are magnificent, Terafin.” Her glance fell to Shadow, who, aptly named, would not separate himself from Jewel’s side.
The Wayelyn offered the bardmaster his arm, which drew a raised brow. She did, however, set her hand upon it.
Only when they were gone did Meralonne speak. Avandar had been speaking, in the privacy of silence, for some five minutes. “I would not have granted him the three days.”
“Oh?”
“He will support you. It is my belief that The Ten will support you as well, if not unanimously. The support of The Ten will have some weight with the Kings, if they have not yet made their decision. In like fashion, the decision of the Kings will have grave weight for The Ten. You cede control of the field to the Kings by agreeing to a prolonged recess.”
“I cede some control,” Jewel agreed. “But if I have three days, I can pay my respects to Levec at the Houses of Healing. I did not lie to the bardmaster; time is a commodity that I do not have in any abundance.”
“Lord Celleriant has not returned.”
“No.” Nor had Snow, Night, or the Winter King.
“You will require his presence, Terafin. You will require his vigilance. The Wayelyn’s song will travel in ways—and to places—you cannot comprehend. You are a threat that the Shining Court could not have foreseen, but you are not yet unassailable.”
“Will I ever be?” she asked. The question was almost flippant.
The answer was not. “It is a possibility, Terafin.”
She did not ask him what he meant; she knew. “I will visit the Houses of Healing upon the morrow. I will, with Levec’s permission, spend some time there.” She glanced down the public gallery; it was almost deserted. “And I will spend some time in the office of the right-kin before dinner. Thank you, APhaniel. I do not believe your services will be required.”
* * *
She spent two hours in Teller’s office, perched on the edge of his desk. Finch was at the Merchant Authority, or Jewel would have asked her to join them. She filled her right-kin in on the only events of the day he’d missed, took his reports, and discussed Jarven ATerafin and his demand that he be ceded the open Council chair. In