few lucky breaks in her life. Lady Evara was one, even though she came with strings. Shalla. Now Raia. The rest, all the good and all the bad, she’d done herself. But it all added up to knowing that too much hope was a dangerous thing right now.
She heard a clattering outside from the sands. Standing, she saw Lady Evara, with her entourage hurrying behind her, rushing from the stable toward the waiting room. She winced and retreated. Maybe she should have been more specific in the message about where to come.
Lady Evara burst into the room. “Why is there a dead man in my stable?”
Raia’s parents jumped up, both talking at the same time, pointing at Raia and at Tamra, saying it was a crime and reparations were owed and this was negligence on the part of the trainer and malice on the part of their daughter—everything they’d spewed before but multiplied, as if they’d been using the silence to think up every argument they could.
As they talked, Augur Yorbel unfolded his legs and slowly and gracefully stood. He clasped his hands in front of him and waited until Raia’s parents took a breath.
“Lady Evara.” He bowed. “I wish to purchase your kehok.”
Everyone stared at him.
What? Tamra thought.
Then: He can’t! I need that kehok! Raia needs it!
“Well, that’s delightful,” Lady Evara said, “but there’s still a dead man in my stable.”
“Once our business is resolved, I will call the carriers and mourners, and I will personally explain this accident to the city guard so that there is no risk of confusion.”
Tamra jumped in. “Yes, it was an accident. The man ventured into a kehok stall without the knowledge or permission of any trainer.”
Lady Evara snorted. “That’s not an accident. That’s idiocy.”
Tamra suppressed a smile—she should have known Lady Evara would take her side, even without hearing all the facts. She wouldn’t want to lose the gold of having a kehok destroyed, or risk a blow to her reputation. “Agreed, Gracious One,” Tamra said.
But what did he mean about purchasing the kehok? That was nearly as alarming as the thought of the city guard and racing commission becoming involved. She could win but still lose here.
“I tell you, it was no accident!” Raia’s father blustered. “This was negligence”—he poked a finger toward Tamra—“and malice.” He then poked his finger toward Raia.
His wife nodded emphatically and added, “We’ll testify to it, if we must, though it breaks our hearts. It is the duty of a parent, and a true Becaran, to put what is right above what is easy.”
Fixing her piercing eyes on Raia’s parents, Lady Evara said, “This could have occurred with any kehok in any facility. On behalf of those in my employ, I deny any allegations of negligence or malice. You will withdraw those foolish claims and swear never to repeat them.”
Raia’s parents looked offended. Her mother said, “A man has died! We will not compromise our moral principles.”
Raia uncurled herself in her chair. “They will if you pay them.” Her voice wavered, but she sat up straight, and Tamra felt a burst of pride. She most likely had little experience in standing up to her parents, at least successfully, judging from what Tamra knew of her life with them.
As her parents began to object to this view of their character, Augur Yorbel stopped them. “You seem to have forgotten that I read souls.”
Raia’s father fluffed himself up like a peacock. “Outside the temple, it is forbidden—”
Chiming in, her mother said, “You cannot read auras without consent!”
“Silence, both of you!” Lady Evara barked. “If you behave very, very well while the augur and I do our negotiation, then you may be appropriately bribed for your silence at its conclusion. Alternatively, you can continue to irritate me, and I will see to it that your reputations and livelihoods are destroyed. Am I clear?”
Raia’s parents gaped at her.
That, Tamra thought, was amazing.
Augur Yorbel frowned. “I am uncomfortable with the ethical ramifications of the word ‘bribe’ . . .”
Without missing a beat, Lady Evara corrected her wording. “You will be consoled with monetary comforts in recompense for your pain and suffering.”
Both Raia’s father and mother sat down promptly, stiffly, and silently, and Tamra revised several of the insulting things she’d believed about Lady Evara in the past.
Raia was even more elated—she looked as if she wanted to cheer. She contained herself, though, which Tamra thought was wise. This was now between Lady Evara and Augur Yorbel, and if the track bookie