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“For the time being, I am reassured as to the safety of the most vulnerable of our Hesperines errant.” The nod Konstantina gave Lio was a subtle, but meaningful acknowledgment between them of his role in helping her protect Ioustin. Rolling up her proposal and holding it before her, she looked at Cassia. “I would like to see Newgift Cassia’s effort succeed, or fail, on its own merits. I hereby postpone my proposal until the Autumn Equinox. May the Goddess’s Eyes light your path. Orthros will be watching.”
AN AKRON’S RANSOM
Aunt Lyta rose toher feet, her hand extended in the circle petition. “Second Princess, now that discussion of the Departure has concluded, I ask that the Circle turn their attention to the hostages.”
“Guardian of Orthros,” Konstantina acknowledged her, “what is your proposal?”
“The Stand is ready to bring Aithouros’s puppy before the Circle so we can give him his sunbound ransom and get my daughter safely home.”
“It has yet to be determined,” Konstantina pointed out, “whether Firstgift Komnenos’s plan should be pursued. However, we must recognize that our hostages can ill afford a lengthy voting process. Furthermore, the decision of whether or not Orthros should offer the Torch to the Aithourian Circle is a matter of Hesperine safety and foreign relations in the purview of the Stand and the diplomatic service. I recommend the Guardian of Orthros be empowered to preside. Let any firstblood who wishes to object do so now.”
No objections were to be heard in the amphitheater.
The princess concluded, “Let it enter the annals that I do not rescind my objection to allowing the Akron’s Torch to enter the Goddess’s Sanctuary, which is an act of desecration. Let us pray that this artifact brings no further destruction upon our people. I hereby yield the floor to the Guardian of Orthros.”
“I want to stay for this,” Cassia murmured.
“Of course.” Lio ran a hand down her back. She was here. She was wearing Orthros silk. “You can watch from your rightful seat with our family, my love, and I shall veil you myself. The Dexion will never know you’re here.”
She smiled. “Don’t imagine I’ll run out of your concealment like I did at the fountain. I’m staying put in this seat.”
“It has been waiting for you since Orthros was built, and it will always be yours.”
She pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth, then crossed their petal of the Firstblood Rose and ascended the stairs to her place among Blood Komnena and their tributaries. Lio would never take that vision for granted. He wrapped his Grace up in his magic to shield her from mortal eyes while leaving her beauty unveiled for their people to see.
As soon as Konstantina approved the transition from Firstblood Circle to hostage negotiation, Aunt Lyta took charge and dispatched Mak and Lyros to retrieve the Dexion from Kadi at the New Guest House.
“Lio,” Aunt Lyta called down to him, “the Stand appoints you Orthros’s speaker in the hostage negotiation.”
He gave a deep nod. “We will get Nike home.”
The whole amphitheater grew quiet while they waited for Mak and Lyros’s return. Lio’s mother exchanged a veiled word with his father, then stepped away with Zoe. The moments dragged on, and Lio focused on Cassia’s nearby aura to bolster his waning strength. He was negotiating for lives after three nights of Craving.Goddess, give me fortitude.
At last Mak and Lyros stepped into sight before the podium with Chrysanthos blindfolded between them. A shadowy ward surrounded them on all sides. Mak reached for the Dexion’s head, and for a moment, Lio thought his cousin would lose control and deal the mage a blow. But all Mak did was pull the blindfold from Chrysanthos’s eyes.
“I don’t need to see it to know what it is.” The Dexion lifted his head, and the Torch’s light bathed his face.
Lio held out his hands. “Come forward and verify its authenticity.”
“There can be no doubt.” Chrysanthos drew nearer.
Mak and Lyros stood at the ready, their attention and their power focused on the Dexion.
“It burns in me.” Chrysanthos put his fist to his chest like a salute. “I have seen it in my dreams.”
Lio had never seen the Dexion so affected. It was working. “Your Order has wanted this back for generations.”
Chrysanthos looked up at Lio. “So, bloodborn. This is what became of our greatest relic. Prometheus bequeathed you his legacy.”
Lio refrained from implicating Kassandra, as she had requested. “Would you, Dexion Chrysanthos, like to be the man who bears the Akron’s Torch home to Corona?”
“You will want your hostages in return, I take it.”
“This artifact is worth an Akron’s ransom. Surely you can spare seven heretics to secure it.”
Chrysanthos smiled. Then he laughed. “A worthy effort, Ambassador. But we don’t want the Torch as much as we want the torchbearer.”
“You flatter me, but I hardly think a young diplomat with light magic is of any use to your Order compared to the Akron’s Torch.”
