Dante caught it in one hand. “Go where?”
“Anywhere. Just keep the armband on.” She made shooing motions, but he merely tilted his head like a baffled dog. She’d assumed the wolf nickname was a compliment, but perhaps not. “I’ll meet you upstairs when we’re finished.”
“What do I do until then?”
“I don’t know. Whatever you want.” She had no idea what guards did or didn’t do. She nursed resentment when they shrank away from her, but rarely thought about them otherwise. Dozens of people who marched around the lower levels every day barely intruded in her thoughts. For someone who hated feeling invisible, it was an uncomfortable realization.
“Go make friends with the other guards or something,” she said.
He curled his lip in disgust. “I’ll sniff around for a bit and figure out who to watch out for.”
“Good idea.” Her stomach clenched at the memory of heavy boots and unforgiving hands.
“The Consiglio is waiting, Finestra,” Renata called. “I hope you’ve made your decision.”
If you can’t change the rules, who can?
“I have,” she said, then louder. “I have made a decision.” She hoped they hadn’t heard the waver in her voice.
Dante stared at her so intently she feared he could see right through her.
Thirteen
L’occasione fa l’uomo ladro.
Opportunity makes the man a thief.
“We gather today to ordain the holy partnership, complete the sacred circle…” Padre Calabrese would speak all day if they let him.
The temple was less solemn and crowded than it had been for Hugo’s funeral, but Alessa was kneeling at the altar, again. The other council members stared down their noses at her, where she bowed like a supplicant rather than a savior.
She’d never bristled at the condescension etched on their faces before, but she was tired of being deferential, of feeling small and wrong and broken. No matter what happened in the weeks to come, she couldn’t defeat it by cowering.
“I’d like a moment to speak,” Alessa said, heart beating double time.
Renata and Tomo stole glances at each other behind the Padre’s back.
She took a deep breath. “I’d like to train with all of the eligible Fontes.”
Padre Calabrese shook his head. “Tradition demands a wedding before a Finestra lays hands on anyone.”
“With all due respect, tradition died with Emer Goderick.” The pain of speaking his name threatened to steal her breath. “But we adapted then, and we can do so again. After all, that pairing was meant to endure for a lifetime, but clearly, the gods had other plans. The First Warning could arrive any second. We’ve run out of time for rituals and rules.”
Tomo shifted in his seat, his expression offering no hints whether his silence was a show of support or disapproval.
“Perhaps,” Renata said, “if she trains with all of them, we’ll discover who can withstand her gift before she chooses, and avoid another tragedy.”
“No, no, no.” Calabrese waved his hands to ward off the idea. “The people are already restless, they can’t handle sudden changes to our most sacred traditions.”
“Traditions won’t save us from the scarabeo,” Alessa said.
“The people are restless, Padre,” Renata acceded. “And another dead Fonte could be the match that lights a wildfire.”
“We can’t abandon—”
“We won’t abandon anything,” Alessa said, clasping her hands in something akin to prayer. “Merely change the order of events a bit.”
“The people don’t need to know,” Renata said. “We can tell everyone she’s chosen her Fonte, but out of respect for her past Fontes, we’re having a private ceremony, with a grand reveal to come.”
“And how do you propose we keep them from noticing that none of the Fontes have left their homes?”
“Bring them all here,” Alessa said, struggling to keep her elation from showing. “We can say they’ve been moved into safer quarters or are staying here to support the chosen Fonte.”
Saverio’s religious leaders and elected officials whispered amongst themselves, faces drawn. The church elders looked unconvinced, but a few of the politicians nodded thoughtfully.
Alessa rose. “I appreciate your support.” Not permission. “As you know, it’s critical we present a united front in such perilous times.”
“Agreed,” said Renata, but her eyes held a clear warning for her rebellious charge.