The Wings of Ashtaroth

Chapter 8: Kings: Section I: Ashtaroth

Djana wrinkled her nose. She knew as well as Ashtaroth that Hima would slit Samelqo's throat before she allowed herself to be sent away.

They weren't discussing Ashtaroth at all, but Aurelius and Hima. Relief cloaked him, soft as goose down.

"Aurelius," Ashtaroth blurted. He met Djana's eyes. "You should wed Aurelius."

It was perfect. It would mend everything. If Aurelius married Djana, he couldn't hover around Bree anymore.

Djana frowned so rarely, but she frowned now. Ashtaroth drew in closer against the back of his chair.

"Is that so, Sese?" Djana asked. "You would like to see me marry your brother?"

Why not? There had never been anything between Ashtaroth and Djana, only a foolish interest on her part—never any on his. "I thought you liked Aurelius?" he asked.

Djana bowed her head and turned away, as though she was tired of looking at Ashtaroth and wished to be elsewhere. "Of course I am great friends with the prince." She looked at Samelqo. "I will send word to my cousin all the same."

"And what of Qanmi eq-Sabaal?" Samelqo asked. "I had heard he's been courting you."

Djana had never truly shown any interest in the merchant, surely even Samelqo ought to know that.

"Qanmi eq-Sabaal is of no interest to me," said Djana. "With all respect."

The heq-Ashqen scoffed. "There's no need to feign reverence in these rooms. None of his slaves are here to spy on you. I refused Qanmi eq-Sabaal's gracious offer of assistance, as the state of my floors should make clear. My own slaves will be returned to me. King Eshmunen is certain they had nothing to do with the attack on Hiram and Reshith."

Ashtaroth frowned. Had Samelqo really managed such a thing? Eshmunen had seemed content to let Hima's arrests stand, but now Samelqo was claiming special privileges. Perhaps Ashtaroth ought to demand his own slaves be returned.

Eager to show Samelqo he had opinions worth considering, he nodded again at Djana. "If Hima is to be sent away, perhaps it's for the best. Or better yet, Aurelius can marry Djana, and maybe he'll grow tired of laying claim to things he has no right to."

Samelqo frowned, Djana turned, and too late, Ashtaroth realized what he'd said.

"Perhaps this is a conversation we might pursue privately," Samelqo snapped. "Djana et-Bidal is surely uninterested in salacious rumours."

Djana actually laughed. "Politics are built on rumour, the more salacious the better, and I would be a poor politician not to have noticed that Aurelius is a master builder." She cocked her head at Ashtaroth. "Does Prince Aurelius covet something of yours?"

Ashtaroth withered under the heq-Ashqen's stare. "Only Bree," he admitted. "At a distance. Because she's beautiful and because she loves me." The bitterness he'd felt for days spilled out of him, only now it sounded childish in the face of Djana's eloquence. "She wouldn't touch him though," Ashtaroth lied, though it wasn't fully a lie—she wouldn't touch him anymore.

Of course she wouldn't.

"As you say, Sese," said Djana. "If that is all, may I go?"

Samelqo waved her off, and fast as a sparrow she turned on her heel and rushed out, sparing neither Ashtaroth nor Samelqo another glance.

Had Ashtaroth truly stung her so?

The door thudded behind her, and Ashtaroth stood up and approached Uta and the heq-Ashqen. Uta looked up at him as he did, the sunlight past the window catching the sheen of her glass eye. Beside her, swathed in sheets and with his leg stretched out, Samelqo looked uncharacteristically small and frail.