That list, unfortunately, was growing longer by the hour.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, content to rest the remainder of the journey, but I kept turning Lord d’Refan’s words over.
It was necessary.
What was necessary? And why?
The longer I thought about it, the more confused I became, until I eventually drifted into a restless sleep. One dominated by puzzles and unanswered questions.
Chapter 65
Rohak
My aching muscles and joints groaned as I sunk deep into a warm bath in the d’Aelius manor. While never one for baths or languid relaxation, this felt fucking heavenly. I deserved the respite, dammit, and I was going to take every minute of it. Because, inevitably, when I finally removed my body from here and rejoined Alois in his private room, more would need to be done.
The city was in absolute chaos.
We had neutralized the threat enough to at least usher citizens home, but the entirety of Hestin was in disarray.
After Faylinn took Ellowyn back to the manor, the battle raged for a few minutes longer, but it felt like the rebels abruptly left. One minute they were attacking with wild abandon and no concern for whose lives were taken, the next they were simply gone.
It was a puzzle that made me more than frustrated, and something Alois would grill me on tonight.
I grumbled at the thought and reached for the sponge to quickly wipe off my body.
As much as I wanted to hide in this vat of warmth, I was only delaying the inevitable.
With a sigh, I quickly washed my body and hair, making sure to removeall of the ash, debris, and blood. The water was almost black once I finished, and I pushed to my feet, my muscles protesting the entire time. Drying quickly, I stepped into a clean set of the black tunic and pants that we issued all Mages in the army.
Could I wear something else? Yes.
Was I comfortable wearing anything else? No.
In a way, I was dressing for battle, just not the type that happened earlier today.
My hair dripped water, and I pulled it back from my forehead, smoothing it out flat and flinging away the excess water as I strode from the bathroom before making my way down the hallway toward Alois’ quarters.
I had questions for him, as he would for me; I just hoped he’d give me the courtesy of answering mine.
I rapped my knuckles once on the door before I heard Alois call for me to enter.
What I expected to see when I pushed open the door was not the sight that greeted me, and I reared my head back in shock, my eyebrows hitting my hairline.
In Alois’ bed was Ellowyn, still dressed from the day—soot and a bit of blood covering her face and dress—with Faylinn bustling about, muttering to herself and gently tugging at her hair.
Ellowyn’s eyes were open, but unseeing. They never moved, just stayed glued to a spot on the ceiling.
“Rohak,” Alois greeted, a glass of whiskey clutched in his hand, his eyes trained on Faylinn as she fluttered about Ellowyn’s prone form.
I strode into the room and poured myself a larger glass of whiskey than what I usually have, but, fuck, it was necessary. I sipped it casually, deciding how I wanted to broach the subject of what was happening here, and why Ellowyn was in his rooms, especially when this was her home.
“I don’t trust them right now, her family,” Alois muttered under his breath, his black gaze never leaving Ellowyn. “They might be cowed into submission right now, but I have no doubt the minute I let her out of my sight, she’ll disappear. And that can’t happen. Not now.” He said the last part so far under his breath that I almost didn’t catch it.
What is he talking about?
“I know you have questions, Rohak. But I can’t answer them now. Nothere. Later, yes. But much later. I have a feeling we’re going to be in Hestin for the immediate future.” He drained his whiskey at that before refilling it.
I took a larger gulp of my own.
