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Cassia looked over her shoulder at her sister, trying to read Solia’s face. Was she banishing Lio from the Council for the night? Or was this a peace offering so Lio and Cassia could spend time together? Why was it sometimes so hard for Cassia to understand her own sister?
“I’ll go with her.” Kella tapped Tilili’s shoulder, and the cat rose.
They slipped out of the great hall, and the corridor felt cold in comparison. Cassia took a grateful breath. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Tilili wanted out of there, too.” Kella kept her seat gracefully as the cat extended her claws, stretching her back and sticking her rump in the air.
Cassia gave her hound’s chest a rub. “Knight was getting restless, as well.”
“Tilili needs to prowl, and you do not need to wander the halls alone, even with a liegehound. I’ll go with you.”
“But Solia needs you,” Cassia said.
Kella hesitated. “She needs you, as well.”
“I should be with Lio tonight.”
Kella only nodded. “I’ll escort you back to our chambers. I’ll talk to Solia, if you can calm down that mind mage of yours.”
“Thank you, Standstill.”
Kella smiled and started down the corridor. Cassia and Knight fell into step beside her, his ears pricked and hackles up.
In the silence that followed, Cassia asked, “Do you really think the battle could have gone differently?”
“Sometimes there is no wrong answer in battle. And no right one. Hesperines are too preoccupied with changing things they cannot control. But perhaps that’s easy for me to say, as an Azarqi. We’re taught that it’s not our hands that shape the dunes of the Maaqul.”
“You’ve never done something you’ll regret forever?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Cassia wanted to ask Kella why Solia hated Lio so much. But it was unjust to put Kella in a difficult position in between Cassia, her sister, and her Grace. Solia’s temper certainly fell into the category of things no one could control, except Solia. Cassia chose to control her own anger tonight.
Despite the knowledge that she was safe with Kella, Cassia’s gaze darted around every corner and her ears listened for any footsteps in the halls. She was glad the more useful of her old habits had not entirely died. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing up by the time they reached her door.
Kella said, “I would warn you not to get any ideas about wandering until Lio is awake, but I know you are not the type who takes foolish risks. With a few notable exceptions.”
“Yes, I save all my foolishness and risk tolerance for loving Lio.”
“I was thinking of the time you wandered around the Sandira City alone and got yourself carried off by a winged menace.”
“That was Monsoon’s fault!” Cassia protested. “Did he tell you that he kidnapped me?”
“I understand you put up quite a fight and left him with a sore foot. Well done.”
“That compliment means a great deal coming from you, First Blade.”
“I’ll show you how to bruise his wings next time.”
Kella left her in the safety of their warded chambers, and Cassia barred the door for good measure. She passed through the weaving room to the bedchamber, where late afternoon light and a whiff of air came in through the small window. Cassia pulled the drape over it. Darkness settled around her, familiar and dear, and her belly calmed.
She sat on the bed, which she and Tuura were sharing, since Solia and Kella preferred bedrolls on the floor. Knight leapt up beside Cassia and stretched out against her leg so she could pet him.
“How grateful I am for an uncomplicated moment with just you and me, Sir Knight.”
Her hound whined and rested his head on his paws, looking up at her with questioning eyes.
“I know.” She stroked his head and ears. “It feels like Lio should be here, too.”
