Skirmish: A House War Novel (94 page)

All mortal things.
Amarais, if you could see her now. If you could only see her now.

She could not hear him, of course, but had she, she would have heard the voice of a cook named Jonas who had graced his manse with the fire of both his passion for food, and his disdain for “wasteful frippery.” It was the only way in which the Terafin Spirit could honor the woman who had given so much, fought so hard, for his House. For a time, she had made it her own.

Jewel will return to the Terafin altar in two days. She will return to you, because she will not allow the coffin to be moved until she does. She will find the words that she failed to find tonight.
His smile deepened.
She does not understand why she could find no words at all, but I do.

She could not offer you the only words you need to hear. But after the House Council meeting, she’ll know what they are. She will come to you and she will tell you that she
is
The
Terafin
.