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Lio gave her a knowing, pleased look. “I had a suspicion your range was increasing, too. We just tested and proved my theory.”
“Clever, my love.”
“Now, keep your senses open. Maintain a resting current, as we’ve discussed, so you don’t overextend and exhaust yourself too quickly.”
She tried to relax into the state of openness without reaching, which Lio called a resting current. But now that she was once again aware of their surroundings, tension crept up her spine, and Freckles’ tail twitched in response. Knight darted ahead and behind their party, circling the horses, as if anxious that he could not be everywhere at once.
Now that they were out in the camp, she was too wary to close her eyes again. They wove between the grand pavilions of visiting lords, draped in heraldic banners, and past the humbler tents of their retainers. Many were quiet, their occupants sleeping, but others were open, spilling light and slurred voices into the night. They needn’t have worried about waking anyone.
The drunken parties hushed as they rode past, and mortals gave them hard, wary looks. Cassia glanced at the flag over that group and saw the emblem of a lord who had not come to Orthros for the Summit. But they were here. That meant an opportunity to win them over, as they had the Allied Lords.
Cassia’s sustained tension left her jumping at shadows, which usually proved to be nothing more dangerous than a drunk stumbling into the dark for a piss. At the sight of Hesperines, he startled and scurried off with his breeches half undone.
Cassia tried to maintain her resting current, but eventually her senses became fuzzy, and there seemed to be magic everywhere, a blur reflecting back at her no matter where she reached.
When Hesperine levitation righted her in the saddle, she realized she was swaying on her horse.
“Time for a rest,” Lio announced.
Cassia shook her head, trying to clear it. “How can I be this tired after such a short time?” And after such a thorough dose of Lio’s power a mere hour past.
“Magic takes a tremendous amount of energy,” Solia said.
Cassia tried to relax her death grip on poor Freckles’ mane. “You all cast spells all the time without falling over.”
“Your stamina will improve over time,” Kella promised.
“Has anyone spotted any trees?” Lio asked.
“Woods that escaped being cleared for the camp?” Lyros sounded doubtful.
“Follow me,” Kella said. “Tilili and I can find you a sprig of green in the Maaqul.”
She and her cat led everyone unerringly to a small copse of willows that had been spared.
“How do you suppose these survived?” Mak asked.
“The Kyrians.” Cassia bit back a yawn. “Willow has medicinal properties.”
The moment they rode under the cover of the trees, she felt as if she’d downed a willow bark tonic.
“Better?” Lio asked.
She blinked in surprise and drew a deep breath. “Much.”
“Per Kalos’s suggestions, I thought a higher concentration of wildness might restore some of your energy.” Lio did not sound pleased to be right.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
His expression cleared. “Nothing. I’m glad we proved another theory.”
Anyone else would have been fooled by his pleasant smile. But not Cassia.
“Let’s wait here until you feel ready to continue.” He dismounted and stood by her horse, reaching up to help her down.
This time, she let him. “Are we covering enough ground, Lyros?”
“Another hour,” Lyros answered, “and I’ll be satisfied with how far we’ve searched tonight—but only if you feel able.”
