Prince of Storms Read Online Free Page B

had given her up for dead. She owed nothing to them. If one place must die, why must it be this one?
    She looked over the Sea of Arising, the galactic scale ocean, with the arms of Rim City embracing it. The mirror of the sea reflected the bright, a twice-brilliant field. Sandwiched between, the Ascendancy cast a circular shadow on the sea.
    Next to her, Cixi stared at the floating city. “Quinn crouches up there in fear,” she murmured. “He has the Entire. And God has noticed him.”
    Sen Ni made a warding sign. “But he is king.”
    â€œMmm. And look what the Woeful God brought upon our last kings.” She tapped her long nails on the railing, indulging a tight smile. “He’s caught a dragon in his embrace. What happens when he lets go?”

CHAPTER TWO

    Â  The more buried a desire, the more vibrant.
    â€”from The Twelve Wisdoms
    DEEP E BB TINGED THE GREAT PLAZA LAVENDER . No Tarig were abroad, nor any other sentient of the Ascendancy. Outside the regent’s pavilion Tai adjusted his ceremonial sword in its sheath and scanned the emptiness between the canals and bridges, assuring himself, despite the guards, that it was safe to go to bed. The Tarig were in their warrens on the Palatine Hill, and the functionaries in their cells of the Magisterium. Still, Tai would not sleep just yet, not until Master Quinn did.
    It had been forty days since the Tarig lost the Ascendancy. It was still a tense and confusing time. Add to that, Anzi’s situation. To everyone’s great relief she had managed to come back from the Rose, sent back by—Tai struggled to keep English names straight— Stefan Polich and Caitlin Quinn , who allowed her to enter the terrible pool at Hanford and come home. But then it became clear that before she had stepped into the Rose she had been somewhere else. With the Jinda ceb Horat. The Paion.
    Tai entered the central chamber of the pavilion, noting that everyone had retired for the ebb. However, he heard the regent speaking behind the curtain to Anzi, so Titus Quinn did not sleep as yet and still might have need of him.
    That was just as well. Tai had a long list of English words to memorize— ocean , newsTide , moon , World Alliance , mSap , hamburger —given him by John Hastings, the man of the Rose, the only survivor from Hel Ese’s plot. John had repented of that crime; still, it was hard to forget what he had done.
    A noise behind him. Zhiya stood at the open curtain of her sleeping area. Not dressed as a godder these days, she wore a padded jacket and laced trousers like a soldier. Although only the height of Tai’s breastbone, she still looked formidable.
    Zhiya nodded toward the master’s suite. “Is he retired for the ebb?”
    â€œYes. You wish to see him?”
    â€œIs she with him?”
    â€œOf course.”
    Zhiya smirked. “Of course. Where else would his wife be at this hour?” She nodded at him, a perfunctory good ebb, and closed her curtain.
    Tai glanced at the regent’s quarters. Zhiya wanted to know if Master Quinn and Ji Anzi were still sleeping together. Well, they would do what moved them. Tai hoped the regent was moved to pleasure his wife. She did not look unattractive, considering the shocking revelation that she had lived among the Jinda ceb Horat for five thousand days. Because of this, she was now older than her husband. Still attractive, yes, but not aged with the restraint of the Entire, where lives were long. Love, however, would overcome such things, would it not?
    He glanced at the curtain. Surely it was past time for talking.

    Quinn watched as Anzi sat at the writing desk working on her letter. It was very late, but he wished not to disturb her if, as now, she seemed to be finding the words that had eluded her. Propped up on the bed, pillows behind him, he enjoyed her company, even if she was preoccupied.
    â€œHusband, how shall I say regret ? One is regretful , or I