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He and Lio joined Mak and Lyros around Pakhne’s cot, concealed from the mortals. They shared a moment of Hesperine silence. This was one of Hesperines’ most sacred duties, laid upon them by Hespera. To be the stewards of broken mortal lives. To bring hope. And when there was no more hope, to give Mercy.
Rudhira’s magic reached into Pakhne, and he went still. He, who had seen everything in his long existence, looked sickened. He murmured an ancient Hesperine prayer and rested his hand on Pakhne’s head. “I cannot understand how she survived this.”
“We didn’t think it was possible,” Lyros said. “Based on what Eudias told Lio, when the Collector takes his victim’s magic, it always kills them.”
“Severing her magic from her life force should be impossible,” Rudhira replied.
“He did it intentionally,” Lio bit out. “I was fighting him for her…and he let me have her. Without her magic.”
“Ah, Goddess.” Mak hugged Lio around his shoulders. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s what he does. She was just a tool to him, a way to hurt me. He reduced her entire life to a momentary battle taunt, for the satisfaction of besting me.”
“We all know how you tend to blame yourself,” Rudhira said. “You know where to find the mind healers when you’re ready. And if you do not come find us, I will find you.” He looked at the three of them. “All of you.”
“We must become stronger in those moments,” Lio said.
“We will,” Lyros said.
“In time,” Mak agreed.
“I wish you didn’t have to.” Rudhira’s gaze fell to Pakhne again. “She was one of the mages who came to Orthros during the Solstice Summit, wasn’t she?”
Lio nodded. “She has been representing the Kyrian delegation here in Lord Hadrian’s camp, rallying support for the treaty.”
Rudhira let out a sigh that seemed to hold centuries of regrets. “Tenebrans who ally with us are precious few, and this world has never been kind to them.”
He was right. They were the reason Pakhne had been targeted. Her involvement in the Summit, her personal history with Lio and Cassia—that was why the Collector had chosen her. First, it had been Hamon, an innocent bystander. Tonight it had been Pakhne, an ally. Who would it be next? Which treasured friend? Which family member?
“There must be a way to help her,” Lio said. “What about the heart hunter? The one from Martyr’s Pass, the only one who survived the Collector during our battle to get the Tenebran embassy safely into Orthros.”
“Yes,” Rudhira said. “Your presence in the man’s mind spared him from the Collector’s death strike.”
“Are you still trying to heal his mind? Have you learned anything from him that could help Pakhne?”
Rudhira paused. “It may not be possible to ever restore his mind. But thanks to you, he now lives in peace, with good care, and will die a free man.”
“Is that the life that awaits Pakhne, then?”
“I’ll take her with me and see to her care myself. I can consult my mother Soteira and our Imperial colleagues as well.”
“What about the treaty?” Lyros asked. “If Hesperines take a Kyrian mage away without permission, what are the implications?”
“Does Pakhne have time for us to negotiate this?” Mak asked.
Rudhira shook his head. Even now, the flow of his magic was sustaining her fading life. “She won’t survive long without the constant care of a Hesperine healer.”
“Take her with you,” Lio said. “Cassia and I will mitigate the political damage. Hopefully there won’t be any, if we can explain this to the Semna.” He hesitated. “How long do you think Pakhne has?”
Rudhira’s voice was calm. Kind. How often had he used this tone to give terrible news to his patients’ loved ones? “Without her magic, it may not be long before she goes to her gods. But we’ll make sure she doesn’t suffer—and we will not stop trying to heal her.”
The implications of those words sank in. They were dealing with necromancy Rudhira had never seen before. He who was trained by Queen Soteira herself in Imperial mind healing, he who had battled Gift Collectors for over a thousand years. This was magic even he did not understand.
What hope did Lio have of protecting anyone from this enemy?
PAKHNE'S FATE
“Your Highness.”
