“Allthe more reason.Wecannot wait any longer!”
“Alwaysin such a hurry, my love.Youand your brother.”Hesoftened his gaze. “Shemay already be dead.”
“Sheis not.Iwould know.”Theball of magicIhad given to her was still tied to me.Thebond was nothing like my tie toAbraxasor evenJun, butIwould know if it disappeared.Shewas alive, at least for now.
“Thereis something else.SomethingIsaw at theTorr.Theley lines underKoronare weaker than we thought.Theambrosia has been pulling mana from the earth without respite for centuries.Italked withOryxabout it.Hesaid he’s seen something similar with farmers who don’t rotate their crops.Theearth below grows weak.Thisis on another level, centuries of mistreatment.Wedon’t need to destroy the cenote here.It’stime,Abraxas.”
Hegave another long-suffering sigh, but then his roguish grin returned. “Ifigured as much.Ihave already sent word to the army.Theywill mobilize, and we will meet them in the field.”Hiseyes sparkled.
Itackled him to the bed and did not let him get up for quite some time.
“Wethank you for your willingness,QueenItzayana,QueenXareni.However, as soon asJunreturns, we shall depart these lands.”
Bothof their eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You’resure?”PrinceAapocalled out from behind his mother, looking at me shyly.
Igave him my bravest smile. “Yes.Takegood care of this place until we can visit again, little prince.”Hehad given me the brightest smileIhad seen in an age.
“Iwill!”
Chapter 59
Abraxas
Iwalked down the stone halls of the outbuilding, winding untilIfound the door to the infirmary.Itwas hidden away behind a waterfall.Theflowing water was believed to help with the healing of the patients within.Ilet my fingers trail through the water’s flow, trying to memorize the details of this place that had once been home to a small but significant number of my people.Itwas so different from my homeland, but something about it had always sparked a familiarity likeIknew it in my very blood.
Butthere was no time for that now.Ipressed open the round stone door and sawAvlynsitting hunched over on one of the cots, facing away from me.Afew healers surrounded them, but at my entrance, they scattered like fleas.
Avlyndidn’t turn to me asIapproached.
“Beforeyou ask,I’mfine.Itwas just my sword hand.Won’treally be needing that in the battles to come, anyway.”
“Avlyn… perhaps—”
“Ifyou sayIshould stay behind,Iswear to the godsIwillstab you with my other hand.I’mpretty unpracticed, soI’llprobably hit something vital in the process.”
Isat down next to them on the cot. “Hasshe really become so important to you?”
Theystiffened next to me.Ilaughed. “Ifanyone would understand how quickly a beautiful woman can completely undermine your entire life, it would be me.”
Theysighed, “It’snot just her.It’sfor everyone we have lost for the last five hundred years.Everythingwe’ve done because of that fucker.”
“Theburden of that guilt should not fall on you.Itis mine to bear.Itwas my choice to followHadeon.”
“Iunderstand why you did; truly,Ido.EvenbeforeIknew about all this… dragon shit,Iunderstood.It’swhat kept our people safe.That’swhat you taught me.ButToriis right.”
“Didn’tthinkIwould hear you say that.Howlong wasIasleep?”
Theygave a soft smile. “Likeyou said, these women have a way of worming into our hearts, don’t they?”Theirsmile dropped. “It’snot justXyr, not just our kingdom that needs protection.It’severyone.Wecan’t let someone like him have so much power.Wehave the strength to defend them, so we should.”
“AndPallasis one of those people?”Iwasn’t teasing now.
“Wewouldn’t be here without her, andIknow…Well,IthinkIknow what it costs her to help us.Wecan’t leave her there with him.That’sa fateIwould not wish on my worst enemy.”
Iunderstood that very well. “Youreally are sounding likeTori.”Iwas teasing again.
Theirnose scrunched. “Don’tsay that.Ican’t let her head get any bigger.”
Inodded and rose off the cot. “Thenyou better find a way to make yourself useful,Commander.”
