The Lotus Ascension by Adonis Devereux

will be all proper.”
    “ And I will go, too,” said Konas suddenly. “To
watch over her.”
    “ We will think about it.” Kamen rose and took Ajalira's hand, and
they withdrew to an inner chamber. Sillara knew they were going to decide.
    She could not
help herself. She concentrated, listening to her parents' whispered
conversation.
    “ Lira, what do you think?”
    “ She wants to go, but it is dangerous.” Ajalira's hesitation was
plain. “But what is danger to a Tamari?”
    “ She is Tamari, my love, and Sunjaa.”
    “ As Sunjaa, she should go,” said Ajalira. “As a Tamari, she should
go. It would be a chance to prove herself a warrioress
before she leaves for Duildal. And there is Nathen, too. If she stays and Soren
goes, who can doubt that Nathen would remain to woo her? And it is certain that
her … supplicants would come more often. All who heard her sing last night will
doubtless be here tonight.”
    “ And why then should she not go?” asked Kamen. “Only for the pride and arrogance of King Tivanel.” Sillara
heard the contempt in Kamen's voice, and she wondered afresh why he had agreed
to this betrothal in the first place. “And if his messengers should arrive
while Sillara is gone, well, they have made her wait this long. The Ausir can
wait their turn. So we are agreed?”
    Ajalira's low
chuckle told Sillara all she needed to hear, and she smiled at Soren. She knew
he had heard, too.
    “ I hope they agree,” said Orien. “Nathen will throttle me if I don't
get this done.”
    “ Nathen?” Konas narrowed his eyes, and Sillara saw his suspicion as clearly
as if he had spoken it. “Does he know about this?”
    “ It was his idea.” Orien devoured a piece of fresh oat bread.
    Soren shrugged.
“When do we leave?”
    “ But your father hasn't—” Orien's protest was cut short by the return
of Kamen and Ajalira.
    “ Daughter, we have decided you may go with your brother and his
friends.” Kamen glanced at Konas. “And you, Lord Seranimesti, may keep your
sister-in-law under sufficient supervision that King Tivanel will not besmirch
her reputation.”
    Sillara clapped
her hands like a child, and she felt almost like a child. She had never gone
anywhere, never done anything. Often months would pass in which she was not
allowed outside her father's gates.
    “ When do we leave?” asked Soren again, smiling broadly at Orien.
    “ Tomorrow morning,” said Orien. He rose and bowed to Kamen and
Ajalira. “If you don't mind I will take my first mate away again. We will have
much to do before we leave. To make it up to you, Sillara.” And here Orien winked at her, a gesture that pleased Sillara as she so seldom
saw such light-heartedness. “I will send Merieke around for you two to make all
the female plans.”
    Soren wolfed
down his last bites. “I will tell you all about it, Sillara.” And he was gone.
    Konas rose, too.
“Wurm-hunting does require preparation. We will be gone several weeks, Sillara.
I have to get ready, too.” Then he followed Soren, and Sillara was left to wait
for Merieke.
    ****
    “ So, Sillara, what did you do to get your parents to agree to let you
go?” Merieke was curled up on Sillara's bed, and Ileke and another of Sillara's
slaves were laying out various gowns.
    “ Nothing in particular. I think they just felt sorry that I will be leaving for the north
soon, and they want me to be a Sunjaa while I still can.” Sillara idly ran one
finger down the silk bodice of her gown. “Not that I get to be much of a Sunjaa
anyway.” Nor are you a proper Ausir. Sillara's rebellious mind never let
her forget that she did not truly belong in either society.
    “ A Sunjaa?” Merieke chuckled. “In those?” She pointed
to the pile of gowns that Ileke was going through. “You really won't be able to
wear those in the desert, you know. You need a proper cloak or two, certainly,
but gowns like that will be too heavy and too cumbersome.”
    “ And what then should I