AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Lyros tugged Mak’s hand. “Let’s sit with her awhile, shall we?”
Mak nodded, and everyone followed him into the shelter of his spell. His ward felt as reassuring as the magic that had shielded Cassia the night of the Siege of Sovereigns, as inviting as the power that had guarded the Hesperine embassy in Solorum Fortress during the Equinox Summit. She paused with his magic at her back and faced Nike for the first time.
Cassia stood transfixed and stared at the unchanging, unforgettable Hesperine.
Although sculpted in black granite, instead of revealed in living color by spell light, there was no mistaking her beautiful oval face, her proud brow and full lips. She had worn a hood and robe then. But here she was fully revealed, her long, ancient hair flowing behind her, her Stand regalia whipping around her powerful body as in a wind. No tears on her face now, only an expression of bold and joyous defiance.
“Cassia, what is it?” Lio asked.
“I know her.”
Their gasps and murmurs of surprise broke the still night.
Cassia turned to Mak. As she had to Nike that night, she reached out a hand to him and touched the tears trailing down his cheek. “I have met Nike, and I can tell you she is all her legend holds her to be. Your sister gave mine the Mercy. Nike is the Hesperine errant who rescued me from that arrow.”
Mak shook his head, then laughed aloud. “She knew what she was doing all this time, staying in the field. It was all worth it. For if she had come home, she couldn’t have saved you.”
Cassia suddenly found herself enveloped in a bear hug. Mak smelled like cloves and made her feel as safe as his magic, as safe as his sister had that night.
“The brother she spoke of was Methu,” Cassia said. “Now I understand her pain.”
“To think, my sister has been traveling with Alkaios and Nephalea.”
“NikeisIskhyra,” Cassia realized, “she must be, for I met the three of them together that night.”
“Nike must have taken a different name so Rudhira wouldn’t hear of her whereabouts.” Mak’s momentary joy left his voice.
Cassia held Mak. She didn’t want to say the rest aloud, although they must all be thinking it.
Mak pulled back, rubbed a hand once over his eyes, and then his tears were gone. “Lyros and I will notify the Charge and the envoy service of this new information right away, so they can get word to Kalos, Basir, and Kumeta. Now we know for certain that Nike is in the Aithourian Circle’s custody with Nephalea and the other hostages, using the name Iskhyra so the war mages don’t realize they have one of the Blood Errant, the heir of two elder firstbloods.”
Lyros took his Grace’s hand once more. Their Trial sisters stood in silence, while Lio put an arm around Cassia’s shoulders and pulled her close.
Cassia took it upon herself to be the first one to say it. “Mak, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. You’ve given us the most valuable lead we’ve had in decades. We can’t lose sight of the hope you’ve given us. Kalos and the envoys can now put together everything they’ve learned about Iskhyra and Nike. That’s twice as much information as they had before. It may lead them to her and the other hostages.”
“I wish there was more I could do,” Cassia said.
“There is,” Mak replied. “Will you go tell Kadi and our parents? I know it won’t be easy, but it is an honor that should be yours.”
“Of course I will. In the name of my bond of gratitude with Nike, I will tell your family she saved my life.”
“Thank you. Lyros and I must not waste a moment getting word to the Charge and the envoys.”
“Let’s go.” Lyros squeezed Mak’s hand. Together, they stepped out of sight.
Lio wrapped Cassia in his arms. “It was all worth it. For if you hadn’t come home, you couldn’t have saved them.”
But Nike, Nephalea, and five other Hesperines with grieving families were not safe, not yet. Not until the envoys found out where they were, and the Charge brought them over the border, alive and well.
The truth was staring Cassia in the face, set in stone. If Nike had stayed in Orthros, many lives would have been forfeit.
If Cassia stayed in Orthros, how many would she fail to save?
SOLSTICE GIFT
Large, soft flakes ofsnow swirled around the terrace at House Argyros, alighting on the abandoned coffee service. Beyond the railing, the orchard was still and quiet.
