Sunset Mantle (12 page)

It was long after the time for dinner, and the fire below the chimney was nothing but embers; they gave enough light that Cete could see the white of the shroud, and the black of the mantle, but little more. “Two tables,” said Marelle, “and two garments. Which would you wear?”

“The same as you, I think,” said Cete. “I choose both the shroud and the mantle; I would stay in the Reach.”

“Yes,” said Marelle. “It would be safer to take the long road into the cities, to live in a house with servants, to advise and train and never again smell blood in the air, never slip on gore-slick grass. To pretend that it never happened, that we do not have that weight to bear. But while you are right that it is better to live than to die, it is better to live well than live poorly, and while we have them, our lives in the Reach will be better worth living.”

Cete stood. He reached across to his wife, and pulled her to her feet. “Would the Lady Antach care to accompany Lord Cete Antach to the roof of their manor?”

She threw her arms around Cete. “We are fools, aren’t we?”

“We are,” said Cete. “And the clouds have not yet reached the horizon. When they come, we will regret this.”

“For a time,” said Marelle. “And then we shall either die or triumph.”

“Or both,” said Cete. “Both at once, or first one and then the other.”

They went up to the roof together, and made love upon Marelle’s embroidery, both the shroud and the mantle.

I’d like to thank Moshe Newman, Marissa Lingen, and Jo Walton for their advice and insight while this story was in its beginning stages.

Thanks also to Carl Engle-Laird, Irene Gallo, and the rest of the staff at Tor.com, without whose hard work and dedication you would not be reading this book.

© 2015 by Naomi Libicki

Alter S. Reiss is an archaeologist and writer who lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Naomi, and their son, Uriel. He likes good books, bad movies, and old-time radio shows.

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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novella are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

SUNSET MANTLE

Copyright © 2015 by Alter S. Reiss

Cover art copyright © 2015 by Richard Anderson

Edited by Carl Engle-Laird

All rights reserved.

A Tor.com Book

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ISBN
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First Edition: September 2015

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