Jae went still, waiting by the kitchen door, but he gestured for her to keep moving, clearing dishes. “She’s fine, Lady.”

As Jae walked into the kitchen, her grip on the dishes so tight that her hand almost ached, she heard Shirrad mention Tal. Lord Elan laughed in response. Lady Shirrad didn’t say anything more about Jae after that, and no one else seemed to notice her at all.

The last of her duties was to help Lord Elan prepare for the night. She followed him to his room silently and poured him a mug of water while he stripped off his robe, shirt, and pants, leaving him in just his underclothes. She was careful not to look too closely at him as she handed him the mug, nerves suddenly outweighing her simmering anger.

He watched her, though, as he drank his water and she put his discarded clothing away. Her skin crawled when she sensed his gaze, but all he said was “Drink, if you want to.”

His tone somehow made it a peace offering, and she took it even though she had no interest in making peace. For all she’d been inside all day, it was still cursed hot and she’d only had a few gulps of water with lunch and dinner.

As she drank, he added, “We’ll make time to see what you can do tomorrow. I’ll tell Shirrad…I’ll think of something. They can’t keep me busy constantly.”

Jae glanced at him, nodding just slightly in acknowledgment so he’d know she heard, while she put the mug away.

He gestured again. “And that—there’s no point in you doing that, nodding instead of talking when there’s no one else around. I hate the silence, and you certainly had plenty to say yesterday. You may speak, when it’s just the two of us.”

At his expectant look, she said, “Very well, Highest.”

“Good. You may go.”

She nodded again out of habit but didn’t have anything to say to him. He watched her for another long moment but didn’t say anything to her, either, so she let herself out.

Tal wasn’t in the Closest’s quarters, though Gali was, trying to smooth her hair back into a braid. She was muddy and sweaty, and groaned, “I don’t know how you do it, Jae. Every day outside like that.”

“You’re the one Firran assigned to the grounds,” Jae realized. All Jae had told Firran was that Lord Elan had asked for her as his attendant—Lord Elan hadn’t cared who handled the grounds.

Gali nodded miserably. “I’m no good at it. I wish Lord Elan had asked for me as his attendant.”

Jae thought about the water Lord Elan had given her, and it only made her angrier. She should be using her magic to help Gali, not him. But she’d been forbidden to talk about any of it, so all she said was “I hate being inside, surrounded by all of them.”

“I’d switch back with you, if I could,” Gali said. “I’m used to them. And when Lady Shirrad sees what a mess I’ve made of the grounds…”

“I’ll help you,” Jae offered. “If I have the time.”

“Thank you,” Gali said, finally tying off the twine at the end of her braid. “I don’t know what I’d do without you and Tal. He’s been helping me, too, when he can. This is awful.”

Jae nodded again, glancing over at the mat Gali and Tal shared. Tal still wasn’t back by the time she fell asleep.

—

She dreamed of flowers in a ring again. Not around the fountain this time but around an oasis— No, it was too big for that, more water than even the largest reservoir. Perfectly calm, a bright blue reflection of the sky, with barely a ripple across the surface. A rainbow of flowers ran the whole way around it, a circle broken only by patches of trees and bushes, plants too large to grow anywhere without so much water.

Jae rose well before dawn to get ready for the day. She glanced out at the garden and took a quick walk around the grounds so she could give Gali a better idea of what needed to be done, ducked into the kitchen for a few mouthfuls of breakfast, then hurried upstairs to wake the rest of the household. The cook and kitchen attendants were already up, and the Closest never slept in, but most of the Avowed needed to be woken for the meal. It was one of the few times Closest had been granted permission to speak.

Most of the Avowed woke easily, with relatively little coaxing. Jae’s heart thudded in her chest as she knocked on Lord Rannith’s door, but he yelled that he was awake before she let herself in, thankfully, so she moved on without having to see him.

Lord Desinn, sleeping in the guest quarters, woke grudgingly as Jae repeated his name. Then he waved her away. She padded out of his room quickly, grateful he hadn’t needed anything else. She was still anxious after being so near Lord Rannith, and she didn’t know Lord Desinn or his habits at all. Some Avowed were always unhappy to get up in the morning.

Next was Lady Shirrad, also in a set of guest rooms, as she’d given up her quarters to Lord Elan. At least Jae knew what to expect when she opened the door, the Lady’s name on the tip of her tongue.

Tal was lying on the mat next to her. Lady Shirrad was on her side, eyes still shut, but Tal was studying the ceiling, perfectly still except for his blinking eyes and the rise and fall of his chest. Jae swallowed hard, shuddering as she realized they were both undressed.

Tal pushed himself up to his elbows and waved silently. He wasn’t allowed to speak, or to wake Lady Shirrad; that was Jae’s duty this morning, and the Curse would allow only her to do it. Jae swallowed again, her stomach churning, and managed to say “Lady Shirrad. Lady, please, it’s time to wake.”

Shirrad stirred, rolling over on the mat, and then sat up. Tal echoed the gesture, silent and graceful, and Shirrad placed a possessive hand on his arm. “Yes, yes, I’m awake. Tal, bring me something to drink before you help me dress.”

Tal nodded, standing up from the mat. Jae padded back out of the room and waited in the hallway for a few moments until Tal came out, still tying his braided belt. He touched his hand to her elbow, smiling, but she could tell it was forced, an expression he hoped would put her at ease. As if she didn’t know him well enough to recognize what he was doing.

“I’m all right,” he breathed, barely a murmur, and led the way toward the kitchen. Only Lord Elan’s room had water kept in it for convenience.

“Tal—” Jae started.

He shook his head. “I really am, Jae. You know she treats me better than you or Gali.”