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Solia took a step forward with fire in her eyes. “When you break before those threats, I will still be standing.”
Flavian stood his ground. “Prove it.”
SUMMER SOLSTICE
1 Anthros’s Sword, 1597 OT
THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR
Cassia should have woken slowly with Lio in their bed at home, looking forward to the Notian Winter Solstice celebrations. Instead, there would be no time for sleep before the Tenebran Summer Solstice began at dawn. Her Grace would spend Anthros’s accursed festival Slumbering apart from her in this goddessforsaken fortress.
She, Solia, Kella, and Tuura stood amid their travel trunks and surveyed the chambers allotted to them, while Knight sniffed every stately but faded tapestry, chair, and candlestick. The only Hesperine comfort was the ward Mak and Lyros had cast over the rooms.
Kella raised an eyebrow. “The Tenebran version of luxurious accommodations is one bedchamber for us all to share, and an entire room wasted on a loom?”
“The weaving room,” Solia grumbled. “The all-important gateway to a lady’s domain, where I’m to receive my petitioners.”
Kella guided Tilili over to the decrepit loom and repurposed it as a weapon rack.
Tuura waved the cobwebs out of one corner with her staff and began setting up an ancestral shrine using charms from her medicine bag. “The boys’ ward is very good, but my shrine will make this place a haven from necromancy.”
“Thank you,” Solia said. “I’m sorry this is all my kingdom has to offer you for the time being.”
Tuura chuckled. “Dear Sunburn, think how well we’ve all made do with rougher accommodations than this.”
Solia scowled. “Any patch of hard ground under an Imperial sky is superior to this pile of stones.”
Cassia had to agree. “An antiquated fortress in Tenebra, in the summer, packed with humans vying to get close to Flavian, is certain to be sweltering, odorous, and utterly lacking in privacy.”
Of course, Flavian had banished Lio and the other males to a chamber in a far-flung corridor. Every gray wall and moldering tapestry between Cassia and her Grace infuriated her.
But a cowardly part of her was relieved. She was not looking forward to her next conversation with Lio. Facing him after her catastrophic failure would be harder than whispering advice in Solia’s ear about lords who might or might not want her dead.
Solia nudged her trunk of elegant gowns open with the tip of her sword. “Well, adviser, I must appear for Dawn Rites within the hour and make an impression on my Council. What can we do to make Flavian hate every moment of it?”
Cassia’s mind raced through all the Summer Solstice traditions. “He’ll have a full array of festival events planned to bribe, distract, and ingratiate himself to allies and opponents alike. Our goal must be to steal his thunder.”
Cassia helped Solia, Kella, and Tuura get ready. Her work was almost done when a knock came at the door.
They found Hoyefe waiting in the hall in a blinding ensemble of gold Owia finery. “Oh, well done, Cassia. The costumers at Imperial University Theater couldn’t have done better.”
“I’m so glad you approve,” Cassia said. “How would you feel about engaging in a bit of theater with us today?”
He stroked his mustache. “That depends on the role.”
“We need to discourage rumors of Flavian marrying Solia.” Cassia leaned close and whispered in Hoyefe’s ear. “And perhaps encourage some gossip about an eventual match with an Imperial king?”
“I don’t have the wings for that part, but I’ll see what I can do,” he whispered back with a wink. Then, loud enough for the others to hear, “I love any excuse to flirt and spawn gossip. Count me in.”
Solia took his arm with an affectionate swat. “Don’t forget it’s theater.”
“And I intend to make the most of it.” He tweaked her chin. “This might be my only chance to romance you without a bloodthirsty shifter threatening to dismember me.”
Perhaps because she could pretend it was all an act, Solia let that pass with a suppressed smile and a roll of her eyes.
When Ben arrived, the stars in his eyes confirmed that Cassia had achieved her goal with everyone’s appearances. He offered her his arm. “In case you need deflection from those who haven’t relinquished you to Kyria.”
“Thank you, Ben.” She might truly wish for them to relinquish her to her Hesperine, but she would gladly let Ben shield her from Flavian while Lio slept.
