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Ben stood still for a long moment, as if stunned. Then he gave Hoyefe a stiff bow. Cassia’s hand went to her medallion, her cheer fading. She knew what that little estate and title might have meant to Ben. The first step toward turning his hopeless love for Lady Eugenia into the hope of being worthy of her.
This empathy with all sides was Hespera’s greatest blessing and curse.
Hoyefe hurled his torch into the tower of logs. In the celebrants’ cheers, Cassia heard layers of politics. Whatever their feelings about a foreigner taking the prize today, they were eager to stay on this new lord’s good side.
Heat wafted off of Solia and the bonfire as it caught. Cassia pressed a hand to her sister’s arm. She knew how hard it was for Solia to let others fight her battles for her.
Cassia’s battle had shrunk to her fight with her own body. Leaning on Knight, she fought to keep down what little she’d eaten at the feast. Although her head felt barely attached, she tried to find insights to offer Solia. That lord there could be bribed to support her, as long as she outbid Flavian. This lord here might side with her against Cordium if she restored Tenebran religious autonomy. There were some nobles aligned with the Hadrian faction, testament to the fact that the Allied Lords bridged the feud.
When an overfed cleric in red-gold robes stepped forward to bless the bonfire, Eudias trailing him with dark circles under his eyes, Cassia suppressed a groan. “That’s Master Gorgos, Tenebran mage of Anthros. Went to Orthros with us, hoping to earn a promotion. Now angling to become the royal mage of whomever wins the crown. Supports the treaty, but sees it as his sacred duty to keep the Hesperines in check. Fond of overeating while preaching about self-denial.”
“In other words, a typical royal mage of Tenebra,” Solia said in disgust. “Why do our kings always choose men full of more hot air and prejudice than common sense?”
“They want stupid mages they can control,” Cassia replied.
“I will want a clever mage I can rely on,” Solia muttered. “If he can’t cast spells at least half as well as I can, he can go back to blessing babes on temple days.”
Master Gorgos gawped at the unexpected additions to his congregation, his gaze going from Hoyefe to the torch now burning away amid the bonfire’s kindling. He drew himself up, as if about to launch into a sermon, and Cassia prayed it wouldn’t be about foreigners.
Quickly, Eudias said, “Master, the fire is rising quickly. We cannot allow unexpected events to delay the blessing from going up at precisely the appointed time, can we?”
Master Gorgos released the gusty breath drawn to power his aborted admonitions. “Right you are. Such a devout lad.”
Solia murmured, “Eudias excels at managing that idiot.”
Cassia scowled. “I will ask him to manage Master Gorgos right out of Patria if that windbag insults any of our Ashes. That man’s head is full of ignorant notions about the Empire.”
Hoyefe chuckled. “Whenever this dreary place is lacking in entertainment, I intend to make a sport of provoking Master Gorgos.”
Kella smirked. “Once you’re done with him, we’ll feed what’s left to Tilili.”
The Mage of Anthros droned his way through the Solstice prayers in the Divine Tongue, but Cassia knew the crowd was meditating more on her and her mystery guests than the gods. Barely contained excitement built in the crowd until Master Gorgos signed a glowing glyph of Anthros in the air to mark the end of rites. Cassia suppressed a shudder at the sensation of pinpricks that traveled over her skin.
Tuura peered into Cassia’s face with concern. “Are you feeling all right?
All of Solia’s attention honed on Cassia, as if she were ready to slay any sniffle that threatened. “What’s wrong?”
Cassia waved a dismissive hand. “Tenebra does not agree with me, but I will manage.”
Kella said in a low, firm tone, “Now is not the time for us to hide our weaknesses from each other, Shadow.”
She knew there was no arguing with Solia or the First Blade. “I feel wretched. But as I said, I will manage.”
Solia’s eyes narrowed. “Is it a mundane illness…or a Hesperine one?”
Cassia was in no mood for Solia to find another reason to be angry at Lio. “This is not his fault.”
“But is he the reason?” Solia pressed.
“It seems too soon for Craving,” Kella observed. “It took days for you to become ill in the desert.”
“In truth, I don’t know,” Cassia admitted. “My separation from Lio set me back. Perhaps it is Craving. But it could simply be Tenebra. I never had a strong constitution until I went to Orthros.”
“You were ill often when you lived in Tenebra?” Tuura asked.
Solia frowned. “She was never ill as a child.”
“That was thanks to your care, Sister.” She buried a hand in Knight’s ruff.
