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Siri gritted her teeth as the tier And still, there wasn’t a hint of sound--no knock, no cough, not even a shuffle fro she would re too s Either way, she forced herself to re only when she absolutely had to

Vivenna had the training Vivenna had the poise and the refinement But Siri, she had the stubbornness One only had to look back at her history of repeatedly ignoring lessons and duties to appreciate that With ti her do as she pleased, if only to save his own sanity

And so she continued to wait--naked in the light of the coals--as the night wore on

FIREWORKS SPRAYED SPARKS UPWARD in a fountain of light So, and these blazed with an extra, frenzied light until they died away

He reclined on a couch in the open air, watching the display Servants waited around hi and chilled towels to rub his face and hands should he feel the need, and a host of other luxuries that--to Lightsong--were simply commonplace

He watched the fireworks with mild interest The firemasters stood in a nervous cluster near his position Beside the had called for, but hadn’t yet asked to perform While there were always entertainers in the Court of Gods for the Returned to enjoy, this night--the wedding night of their God King--was even ant

Susebron wasn’t in attendance hi glanced to the side, where the king’s palace rose soberly above the court Eventually, Lightsong just shook his head and turned his attention back to the courtyard The palaces of the gods for had a patio below and a balcony above, both facing the central area Lightsong sat a short distance frorass of the expansive courtyard

Another firefountain sprayed into the air, throwing shadows across the courtyard Lightsong sighed, accepting another fruit drink frood Or gods Lightsong could see others set up in front of their palaces Different groups of perfor for their chance to please one of the Returned

The fountain ran low, and the fireht Lightsong nodded with his best benevolent expression "More fireworks," he said "You have pleased me" This caused the three men to whisper in excitement and wave for their assistants

As they set up, a fa of torches Llarimar wore his priestly robes, as always Even when he was out in the city--which here he should have been this night--he represented Lightsong and his priesthood

"Scoot?" Lightsong asked, sitting up

"Your Grace," Llari the festivities?"

"Certainly Youhere in the court? You should be out with your fa was to your liking"

Lightsong rubbed his forehead "You’re giving et headaches, Your Grace"

"So you’re fond of tellingsaid "I assu as e have here inside?"

Llari’s dismissive reference to the divine compound "The party in the city is fantastic, Your Grace T’Telir hasn’t seen a festival this grand in decades"

"Then I repeat that you should be out enjoying it"

"I just--"

"Scoot," Lightsong said, giving theyou can trust me to do competently on my own, it’s enjoy ly good tis on fire Now go be with your family"

Llarimar paused, then stood, bowed, and withdrew

Thathis fruity drink, takes his work far too seriously

The concept a the fireworks However, he was soon distracted by the approach of someone else Or, rather, one very iroup of far less iain

The newcooddess, after all Glossy black hair, pale skin, lushly curvaceous body She wore far less clothing than Lightsong did, but that was typical of the court’s goddesses Her thin gown of green and silver silk was split on both sides, showing hips and thighs, and the neckline was draped so low that very little was left to ioddess of honesty

This should be interesting, Lightsong thought, s to himself

She was trailed by about thirty servants, not to h priestess and six lesser priests The fire that they now had not one, but two divine observers Their apprentices scurried about in a flurry of roup of Blushweaver’s servants rushed forward, carrying an ornate couch, which they set on the grass beside Lightsong

Blushweaver lay doith custo on her side in a seductive yet ladylike pose The orientation left her able to watch the fireworks should she wish, but her attention was obviously focused on Lightsong

"My dear Lightsong," she said as a servant approached with a bunch of grapes "Aren’t you even going to greet ht "My dear Blushweaver," he said, setting aside his cup and lacing his fingers before hi rude like that?"

"Rude?" she asked, amused

"Of course You obviously make quite a determined effort to draw attention to yourself--the details are hs?"