Chapter 12: Her Answer Wasn't Mine

"She earned the applause," Maerielle told her cousin.

Darian lifted his hands as though she'd mistaken a compliment for an attack.

"Of course."

Belsienne remained beside the door.

She had heard the accusation and wasn't obliged to rescue her patron from it.

Maerielle was glad the musician didn't come back.

She was angry enough with Darian to make the next mistake quickly.

"Cyralise understands what I'm trying to do," she said.

Cyralise, standing near the refreshment table, put down her cup.

"No," she said.

The word stopped Maerielle more effectively than a raised voice would have.

"I understand that you corrected a lie," Cyralise continued.

"You haven't been given my opinions to distribute."

The guests near them became quiet.

Maerielle felt the old fury of being corrected in public.

She had made the public claim herself.

She couldn't ask the other woman to repair it privately for her comfort.

"You're right," she said.

Darian watched with immediate pleasure.

She refused to make Cyralise responsible for that too.

"I shouldn't have spoken for you," Maerielle added.

Cyralise picked up her cup again.

She didn't reassure anyone that no harm had been done.

Maerielle stood still until she could trust her own next sentence.

"My cousin's claim about the performance is his own," she said.

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