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She wished she could spare Benedict from the suffering brought on by his good intentions. She let him escort her and her retinue to the end of the gallery and out to another courtyard. Knight felt the urge to mark his territory on one of the potted junipers, but the beds of mint made him sneeze. Benedict showed Cassia into a common room richly appointed in ocean tones of green and blue, where there were chairs and a round table of the wrought iron craft popular among Hesperines.
Chrysanthos had taken up a position facing the door with the air of a man sitting at the head of a council table. Their arduous journey had not crumpled the flower of Cordium. His golden skin and black hair reeked of expensive scent oils, and there was not a crease in his red-gold robes. But here in Orthros, where the Hesperines radiated real beauty, the Dexion’s handsome face and manly physique had no power to win him admirers.
The Tenebrans around him cast wary glances at him. Benedict seated Cassia with the Kyrian and Cheran mages. Then he joined the men, who milled around the sideboard muttering amongst themselves. True to their resolve not to eat a bite of Hesperine food, the embassy had set out their own provisions and travel utensils, at least what had survived the journey to Orthros. Alas, they must be just as suspicious of Hesperine wash water, for the air in the room was suffocating with the smell of men who had traveled hard, then bathed only in oils or not at all.
Cassia turned to the venerable mage who led the small Kyrian delegation. “We find ourselves a long way from the Temple of Kyria tonight, don’t we?”
“My bones announce it loud and clear, but they are along for the journey, whether they like it or not.” The Semna chuckled, pulling her hood closer around her deeply lined face.
“Shall I mix you another tonic?” asked Apprentice Ariadne, one of the younger mages of Kyria. Above the veil that covered the lower half of her face, her brown eyes were concerned.
“No need, my dear.” The Semna patted her hand. “I shall put a little of my own healing to work on myself.”
“I can prepare your litter,” offered Pakhne, her other veiled attendant.
“Nonsense. I will attend tonight’s events on my own two feet. But thank you for your concern.”
Cassia smiled. “Kyria could not have chosen a more able messenger than you, Semna. We are fortunate you are here.”
“Years ago, when I left matters in the current Prisma’s hands and retired to my solitary shrine, little did I know the goddess would call me out of my meditations one more time. Pray that only my bones weaken, and not my voice. I must do as Kyria has bade me and bring her invitation of mercy to the Hesperines.”
Cassia leaned closer. “Semna, are the rumors true? Was Hespera really also called a goddess of mercy in ancient times?”
“My, my, Lady Cassia. You have become a devotee of the Prisma, haven’t you? Few outside our temple remember history so old.”
“I seek wisdom for the present. Where better to look than the past?”
The mage nodded in approval.
“Hespera is called the fallen goddess,” said Cassia. “I think that must mean she was once elevated high. Was there a time before when matters were not as they are now?”
“There was. A time when the gods were in harmony, before Hespera’s conduct led her followers astray and made Kyria grieve for their loss. All children were once Kyria’s children. She wishes all of them to put aside their harmful ways and return to her. It is never too late.”
“Then there must be hope for reconciliation. We must not give up on your message, Semna. I am sure the Hesperines’ hearts will be touched by words of mercy.”
Benedict returned, balancing plates for all the women, with help from Callen.
“Brave and blessed ladies,” said the courteous knight, “Lady Cassia tells me you did not wait to be asked, but volunteered to accompany the Semna on her final quest.”
“Of course,” Ariadne replied. “We begged the Prisma to spare us from our duties in the temple so we might have the honor.”
“And I promised to return them to her,” the Semna said, “whether I make it back to Tenebra or not. Ariadne is Deutera’s most promising apprentice, and Pakhne is an important intermediary between the temple and the community.”
Pakhne arched a brow at Benedict, but her blue eyes were smiling. “Before I surrendered my place in the world for the joys of serving the goddess, Sir Benedict knew me differently. He remembers me as the eldest daughter of Free Lord Galanthian, a lady of Free Lord Hadrian’s faction.”
The knight gave her a bow. “I remember you as a devout woman and now know you as a brave one.”
“Well said,” the Semna told him. “Kyria is mother to us all, and it grieves her for her children in Segetia and Hadria to be enemies. If I am not here to see these fine young mages safely home, you, Sir Benedict, must help Lady Cassia do it for me.”
“By Andragathos, Semna, I will see Mother Kyria’s handmaidens safely to her once more. But we have every intention of carrying you home as well.”
“Thank you, Benedict,” said Cassia. “I am counting on you.”
The two mages of Chera sat nearby, ever-present but aloof from the gathering. Shrouded from head to toe, they were faceless, silent reminders that the mortals had undertaken this journey prepared to die in the Hesperines’ clutches, and the Mourning Goddess’s handmaidens were ready to wail them into the next life. Cassia wished all of them would realize that the only knells they would hear in Orthros were the sweet chimes of House Kitharos, the bells that counted the Hesperines’ hours.
Chrysanthos held out a hand to the goblet before Cassia. “A little taste of civilization, Basilis, with my compliments. I took it upon myself to provide wine so we need not suffer without alcohol to warm us during our lengthy stay here in the frozen north.”
She glanced from the bottle at his hand to her full goblet. He had hauled wine on their entire journey from Solorum? Enough to share?
