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The embassy and Tenebra and everything else disappeared from her thoughts. There was only Lio’s tongue sliding between her lips and his warm, gentle mouth caressing hers. The happy sounds of the fair carried on nearby, and the spell lights twinkled beyond her eyelids, while the sensations of his kiss dazzled her.
Too soon, he parted his mouth from hers and untangled their minds. “I’m afraid that is all the tide over we can manage at present. I have some news for you, and what we’ve just learned is not encouraging.”
Cassia drew back. “There’s more to it than Skleros following me?”
“I should have become a juggler instead of a glassmaker. We have a few different crises on our hands. We’re trying to sort them out at the architects’ pavilion.”
But when Lio took her hand, he did not step them right to the council of war. He led her through the fair. No mortals even glanced at them, while most Hesperines smiled or waved. Cassia returned every kind expression and gesture, although she knew she could not erase every insult and blunder the embassy had made tonight.
Lio showed her to the other side of the grounds, where the architects’ and sculptors’ pavilions faced one another on opposite sides of a flagstone terrace. When Cassia saw who was there, she suddenly felt more able to bear the disasters of the night. The Queens sat together, talking with everyone who came by to see them.
“Let’s pay our respects to the Annassa first,” Lio said.
“Certainly. I’d like a moment with the Queens.”
The greeting line wound around a table covered in an exquisitely detailed miniature model of the entire city of Selas. Cassia stared at it, studying the perfect, tiny buildings and miniature statues.
Lio smiled over the model of House Komnena. “The Circle of Architects and Circle of Sculptors collaborated on this as their Solstice gift for the Annassa. They got it ready early so they could bring it to the fair.”
Cassia reached out to point to Zoe’s goat barn. Her hand met a solid barrier, and light flashed under her palm. A sense of safety wrapped around her, and warmth emanated from her pendant.
“We love the gift so much,” said Queen Alea, “that we contributed a model of the ward.”
They had reached the Queens. Cassia made the heart bow. “It is so good to see you, Annassa.”
“And you, Cassia.” Queen Soteira smiled.
“It makes me happy to feel your Sanctuary ward drifting through the fair,” Queen Alea said.
“I am glad that I can bring you some small joy, Annassa.”
“It is not small.”
Cassia put her hand on the model ward again to feel her pendant respond. Queen Alea’s face shone.
“I understand.” Cassia looked from one Queen to the other. “Orthros itself is your craft, Annassa.”
“And our service,” Queen Soteira said, “and our magic, and our Ritual. But most of all, our joy.”
“I believe your father is waiting for you inside,” Queen Alea said to Lio.
“Thank you, Annassa.” Lio made the heart bow.
Cassia went with him into the architects’ pavilion. They passed through a group of Hesperines he introduced as his father’s students. A flap at the back of the pavilion led them into a smaller room.
Apollon sat on a stool with his arm around Komnena. Lio’s Trial circle surrounded them.
Komnena sighed. “Oh, good. You managed to get Cassia away.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long,” Lio said dryly. “I thought Skleros was a challenge until I had to tear her away from Benedict.”
Cassia rubbed her forehead. “I’ll burn those notes of Benedict’s if I find he records my nightly choice of stockings to report back to Flavian.”
Lio gave her a hint of a smile.
“Kia,” Mak said, “tell Cassia what you told us.”
Kia scowled. “I held down the mages at the calligraphers’ for as long as I could. Skleros just lurked, but Chrysanthos and Tychon love to argue—well, actually, they love to be right. Since they are never right and I keep telling them so, their battle to win our debate is everlasting, and I was sure they wouldn’t get away from me. But then Chrysanthos sneaked off with Skleros. I knew I had to warn all of you.”
