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“His princess mother probably taught him flattery and manipulation in the cradle. And yet all he has done since he arrived is launch bald insults at every Hesperine within range.”
“I admit, I attributed his behavior to the insurmountable hostilities between Aithourians and Hesperines.”
Cassia watched Knight charge off into the underbrush. “I thought he would at least be cleverer about expressing his loathing. I credited him with greater subtlety than he has so far displayed. I am disappointed in Corona’s golden boy. More than that, I am puzzled as to what has thrown him off-balance.”
“Was he like this before he arrived in Orthros?” Lio asked.
Cassia paused. “Yes. There were cracks in his armor even then. When he…provided that demonstration of war magic for the king that I mentioned—”
“The one on the palace grounds that you risked your life to witness?” Lio scowled. But as soon as he felt the echoes of her fear, he regretted betraying his own. He pulled her closer and held her in the shelter of his arm as they walked on.
Cassia put a hand to her pendant. “As you know, the Sanctuary ward covered my escape. That morning, I could think only of avoiding capture, but now I’ve had more time to consider the event and Chrysanthos’s general character. It was almost as if he was taking out his anger on the…demonstration.”
“Then there are his barbs at the Blood Errant,” Lio observed. “Every time he aims at them, he deals wounds close to the heart. Do you think his grudge is more personal than his Order’s long-standing prejudice?”
“I wonder. What I am certain of is that he is not at his best, and he is outnumbered. I have the advantage.”
“He still has Tychon and Skleros at his back.”
“I have you.”
Cassia detained Lio in the shadow of the tall garden wall and pressed her mouth to his. Her attempt to silence his worry, however tender, would not succeed. He deepened their kiss, letting his magic sink into her mind. Even as her determination rose, she lowered her defenses for him bit by bit.
Lio Willed the high garden gate open. The iron moaned in welcome, and the mosses that clung to it shivered. He drew Cassia out of the wild woods and into the overgrown garden.
She called out to Knight, breaking the spell. Her hound abandoned his unsuccessful chase to follow her. Lio had thought them past her using her dog to evade topics she didn’t wish to speak about. He had his work cut out for him.
Lio guided Cassia around a thorn bush taller than her. “Hypatia’s circle was not how I wanted you to find out about the Phaedric Terror.”
“So that’s what you’re worried about, besides Chrysanthos.”
“Can you forgive me for not telling you about Phaedros?”
“What is there to forgive? I do not wonder why the subject never came up between us. We were too focused on the Hesperines errant who have saved more lives than he ever took.”
“Your faith in our people never ceases to move me.” Lio drew a deep breath, then sighed. “But he took a great many lives, Cassia. If there is anything more you feel you need to know about him, it is only right that I withhold nothing.”
She drew to a halt amid bushes heavy with blood-red berries and star-bright icicles. She rested her hand upon Lio’s heart. “What I said at the circle was no diplomatic maneuver. I meant every word. How can any mortal hold a grudge against Phaedros, when we commit crimes like his each day as a matter of course?”
Lio sank down onto a stone bench, taking Cassia’s hands, and looked up at her. “I cannot tell you what your words of forgiveness meant to every Hesperine in the room. When one of us stumbles, we all do. Hypatia may say Phaedros is not one of our own, but there is no severing the Union.”
“I will not stand for mortal hypocrisy. Hypatia is right in this—there can be no peace unless all of us are willing to admit our mistakes and apologize to one another.”
“And yet I have not looked forward to the moment when you would learn we are not without blood on our hands.” He looked down at their joined hands.
“You told me when we met the Hesperine path is not easy. That you try and fall short. Do you remember what else you said that night? In the striving, you still achieve much. All I have to do is look around us to see how true that is. As far as I’m concerned, Hesperines have fulfilled the Goddess’s calling to create Sanctuary in the world. We are living in it now.”
He bowed his head and kissed her palms. “If that is how you feel about Orthros, then I consider my calling fulfilled.”
“Your words are surely destined to convince many more humans of Hesperines’ true nature.”
“No mortal’s good opinion matters to me as yours does.”
“You have had mine as long as you have had my Oath. Phaedros cannot shake a promise such as ours. I will not allow him or anyone else that power.”
Lio drank down her words, and his thirst for her promises eased for the time being. “Then we have nothing to fear.”
“I promise not to fear the truth, if you will not fear to give it to me.”
