The Pyramid Waltz Read Online Free PDF

she didn’t need directions.
    The rest of the Order waited in her vacant summer apartment, and she nodded to them as she emerged from the secret passageway to take her place around their small table. “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”
    Brutal leaned back in his chair, long legs crossed at the ankles under his red robe. “Can we make it quick? I have seven duels this afternoon.”
    “Only seven?” Katya asked.
    “When the weather turns cool, fewer people seek combat as the path to enlightenment. They turn to Ellias and Elody.”
    “Ah, love as enlightenment.” Crowe scratched his chin. Katya noted the white whiskers and wondered if he’d been up all night. “It’s a nice thought. Had a slow start this morning, did you, Katya? Late night with the new courtiers in town?”
    Katya gave him a level stare before glancing at the others. Maia’s head rested on her arms, her eyes shut; she could sleep with her hair on fire. Pennynail balanced one of his long knives on a gloved finger. Katya nodded toward Maia, and Pennynail sheathed the knife and flicked Maia’s ear.
    Maia jerked upright in her seat. “I’m awake.”
    “Of course,” Katya said. “Let’s begin. Averie won’t be joining us.”
    “Not with the new courtiers here,” Brutal said. “She needs to stay near your rooms to ward off the overeager hopefuls.”
    Maia shook her head and yawned. “She needn’t worry. The guards and the pyramids will stop them all, and any they miss will get jumped by Lady Hilda defending her territory.”
    “I’m no one’s territory!” Katya said.
    “And here we thought the traitors were the biggest threat,” Brutal said.
    “Which brings us to the problem,” Crowe said loudly. He smoothed the front of his cassock. “The Shadow.”
    “Did you learn anything new?” Katya asked.
    Crowe shook his head. “I’m hoping a few days in the dark with no visitors will loosen his mind a bit. His control is better than we thought.”
    Brutal cracked his knuckles. “Maybe he’d like to go a few rounds.”
    “The Order of Vestra has never tortured anyone, Brother Brutal.” Crowe gave Brutal a steely look with his slate gray eyes.
    “Never?” Maia asked.
    Crowe turned his hard stare on her, and she dropped her gaze to the table. She had the nerve to ask questions, but her follow-through needed help.
    “Regardless of what others have done, we’re not going to torture anyone,” Katya said. “Torture only gets you what you want to hear, whether it’s true or not. But we do need a next step.”
    For a moment, they were all as silent as Pennynail. Crowe finally shrugged. “Ask around with the usual contacts. We need to figure something out before the crown prince and princess’s visit, before the Waltz.”
    Katya resisted the urge to reach under her tunic and fidget with her pyramid necklace. “This will be Brom’s first time. You’ll have to craft a necklace for her, Crowe.”
    He cleared his throat. “Already done.” After a moment, she felt a light touch and looked up to meet his softened gaze. “Your sister-in-law knew what she was getting into before her marriage, Katya.”
    “I know, but the Waltz is…” Katya trailed off, pressing her lips together. They couldn’t understand. She didn’t fully understand, and she’d done it once, a year before her brother had married. She’d had to keep the Fiend Yanchasa the Mighty at bay, and she barely remembered it. “The people have mostly forgotten Yanchasa. It’s…difficult to prepare someone.”
    Brutal shrugged. “People have lost their sense of fear. You said it yourself, some things can’t be explained. From what you’ve told us, Brom won’t even remember the Waltz after it’s over.”
    Across the table, Maia rubbed her arms as if chilled. “But those watching won’t forget. Too bad we can’t let Yanchasa loose. One look at it and no one would claim our family uses the legend to keep the throne.”
    “That would only work if we wanted