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Javed approached from the dais, but Chrysanthos did not wait to receive any offer of help from the healer. The Dexion limped off the sand to the nearest stairs and returned to his place in the stands. As he sank into his seat, a fresh outbreak of sweat beaded his brow. The war mage put on a stoic expression as Skleros looked him over.
“Alas.” Aunt Lyta’s voice rang throughout the gymnasium. “Mortal tradition proffers no reward for participation in the absence of victory. Would that Honored Master Adelphos would accept our rose foliage of effort.”
Chrysanthos, too far away to spit upon Aunt Lyta’s prize box, could do naught but subject her to one of his overused and unavailing glares.
“Deukalion,” Aunt Lyta called, “join me on the dais.”
Javed helped Lio limp onto the dais. For the second time that night, Lio took his place among the Stand. Kadi beamed with good humor and pride, and Mak and Lyros clapped him on his shoulders.
His uncle met his gaze over the prize box. In Uncle Argyros’s dark eyes shone the sure gleam of admiration.
Until seeing it there, Lio had not realized how much he had missed it—and doubted it was still his.
Lio bowed his head to his uncle.
Uncle Argyros looked at Aunt Lyta and gestured at something in the box. She smiled in apparent agreement. He lifted a white bloom and offered it to her, and she took it from his hand to bring it to Lio.
“For maintaining your excellence in combat,” Aunt Lyta announced, “and surpassing your previous achievements in diplomacy.”
As she placed the white bloom upon his chest, he caught his breath. The thorns had not been removed from the rose.
BLOOD MARKS
As the musicians playedthe closing fanfare, Lyros slung Lio’s arm across his shoulders. Before Lio knew it, Mak was supporting him under his other arm. Together, his Trial brothers levitated with him toward the nearest exit.
“Off to the baths with you,” Lyros said. “A healer will be with you shortly.”
“That’s not on the itinerary,” Lio protested. “I can’t miss the closing ceremonies.”
“You won’t be the only one,” Mak told him. “The initiates got a little overexcited and are hurrying out for snacks.”
“Thanks to all the healthy snacks I’ve had lately,” Lio reminded them, “I don’t need a healer. My body will mend itself soon enough.”
“You’ll mend much sooner with a healer to counteract the Sunfire.” Mak looked very amused indeed.
Lyros did not. “I don’t want to give the mage the satisfaction of watching you sit in the stands and bleed.”
Lio sighed. “If you insist. I do want to be in top condition for the footraces later this week.”
They took Lio into the very chamber he least wanted to revisit. The baths were just one simple stone room after another with the same taps and steaming benches built into the walls. But Lio would never forget this one.
The steam vents were on, but the balmy warmth they released felt oppressive. Their gentle rushing sounded like a hiss of warning. He could almost smell the undigested deer blood he had vomited all over the floor. A shudder moved through him, as if the Craving chills had reached out of his memories to take hold of him again.
“I use the bath on the north side now,” he said.
“You’re using this bath tonight.” Lyros eased Lio down onto a bench.
“I left my things in the other one,” Lio said, before he saw the bundle of his robes waiting for him in the corner.
“Take it easy. We’d better go say hello to the initiates before they follow us in here.” Mak waved as he and Lyros departed.
Lio smiled after them, but he was soon alone with his injuries and his dire memories.
He should try to think of this as the place where he had first told Mak and Lyros about Cassia. That had been a joyful occasion, a deliverance. He wished he could disentangle those moments of solace from the blur of horror that was the half year he had spent without her.
He tried to focus on the present. He eyed his robes, which were out of reach at the end of the bench. Should he arrange them under his ankle while he waited for Javed? Was it worth the effort of moving? He was still debating when the door swung open.
“Please work fast, Javed,” Lio said. “I can’t be gone long. I don’t want Cassia to worry about me.”
