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“I would love to discuss healing techniques with you, Semna,” Tuura said. “I hope I can contribute knowledge from the Empire that will benefit Tenebra.”
“What a blessed opportunity.” The Semna gestured to the seat beside her. “I hope we will learn much from each other as sisters in healing.”
Tuura joined her, and Cassia sank onto the bench beside them, grateful not to move a muscle for a few minutes, except to pet her concerned dog.
The Semna’s attendant turned a smiling pair of brown eyes on Cassia and Knight. That was all that could be seen of Ariadne above her veil. “This explains why Lord Flavian suddenly moved the Council to twilight. I take it our Hesperine allies will attend?”
“Ambassador Deukalion sends his warmest greetings.” Cassia resisted the urge to glance at the sky again. The longest day of the year indeed.
Ariadne scooted closer, lowering her voice. “I won’t ask about your mysterious guest in purple, for I know she will reveal herself to us when it’s time. But I would love to know the Eriphite children are fairing in Orthros.”
Cassia could have wept with relief for this little moment to talk about Zoe. Ariadne was not only Eudias’s young sweetheart, but one of the mages who had helped Lio smuggle the children out of Tenebra to safety. “They’re thriving. Do you remember the eldest girl? I’m teaching her gardening.”
“Don’t tell the other children, but when we were hiding them in our temple, she was my favorite.”
“A bias I well understand,” Cassia replied with a smile.
“What is it like in Orthros?” Ariadne asked her. “Do you get to enjoy the libraries often?”
“Oh, I do. I strive to be diligent in my studies. The residence where I stay has an excellent library.” Cassia left out the fact that the library window seat was one of her and Lio’s favorite places to break religious laws.
Ariadne sighed with evident longing. “I wish there were more texts in our temple. Pakhne and I have already read every one.”
Cassia looked around for the Semna’s other attendant. “But where is Pakhne? Is she not with you, as she was in Orthros during the Summit?”
“We have divided the Mother Goddess’s forces,” Ariadne said. “Pakhne represents us in Lord Hadrian’s camp, because she came from a family of his action before giving up her status to serve the goddess.”
“I remember.” Cassia recalled very well indeed that Pakhne and her sister had not liked her very much, for both political reasons and the stain of her illegitimate birth. But Cassia and Pakhne had come to respect each other in Orthros. “Does her sister still frequent Lady Hadrian’s weaving room?”
“She does.” Ariadne gave Cassia a significant look.
Many of the kingdom’s important negotiations took place in the weaving rooms, whether men acknowledged it or not. Solia would need the support of women like Pakhne and her sister.
When the Semna and Tuura concluded their animated discussion of healing herbs, the elderly Kyrian mage turned to Cassia again. “Now then, tell us of your mission. Have you made many converts among the Hesperines?”
“It will take more time,” Cassia hedged. “To change things as I hope to, I must remain in Orthros longer. I must ask for your help, Semna. Lord Flavian still wishes to marry me, but it cannot be.”
She frowned. “He has not released you from your betrothal?”
Cassia shook her head. “Sir Benedict has helped me explain to him that I must remain faithful to Kyria, but Lord Flavian does not understand.”
“I will have a word with him about this,” the Semna promised.
Cassia had seen the Semna scold the Dexion of the Aithourian circle. If anyone could shame Flavian into giving up their betrothal, it was her.
This was Cassia’s great triumph of the day. She must look her Grace in the eye and tell him that her brilliant schemes had gotten her trapped in this betrothal, and her only solution was to let her sister dance with Flavian instead, while she begged the Semna to bail her out and lied every step of the way.
She longed for twilight. She dreaded it.
“You’re unwell,” Ariadne said with the kindness and confidence of a healer.
“Merely tired from travel.” Cassia hugged Knight to her and willed her belly to settle.
Tuura gave her a look that indicated she was not fooled by Cassia’s excuses.
The Semna took Cassia’s hand. “You have a fever. All this to and fro between Orthros and Tenebra is trying on the constitution. There now. Borrow a little of Mother Kyria’s strength.”
The Semna’s healing magic trickled into Cassia, but she still felt like a thirsty plant in dry soil. This was something that could not be cured with Kyrian healing. Not mere exhaustion, then. It was Craving, already. It seemed her separation from Lio when she’d been a prisoner had left her unable to last more than a night without him.
