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He forced himself to sit up. “We should get to the Council.”
“We are excused for tonight,” Cassia said.
Before Lio asked why, he bit his tongue. He had a feeling that would only lead them into angry words about Solia, as well.
Cassia caressed his face. “I spoke to Eudias in the great hall today. I arranged for us to meet with him after the Council adjourns. He can help us decide how much to tell Ariadne and the Semna about what happened.”
Lio heaved a sigh. “That’s a good plan.”
Cassia brushed a moonflower leaf out of his hair. “I wish we could stay here in the tunnels forever.”
“We should come back and explore to see what we can learn about the Lustra magic.” He got up and pulled her to her feet. “Your magic is so strong here.”
“We agreed it was unlikely for the letting site to be near the fortress…but what if we were wrong? Do you think the power here could lead us to it? Could it even be somewhere inside or under Castra Patria?”
“This could be a real breakthrough in the search for your magic.” He felt both their spirits lift.
“I want to test something,” she said. “Come with me.”
She took his hand and guided him through a maze of ivy-covered passages by the light of her medallion. He conjured another spell light to better illuminate the gray stone walls and verdant green plants. But what pushed back the shadows in his own mind was her.
Lio walked through an enchanted otherworld thanks to his Grace’s power. He must be the first Hesperine ever to set foot within this bastion of anti-haimatic magic.
She was out of the Collector’s reach here. Her own magic protected her. This might be the only place in Patria where Cassia was truly safe.
She halted him in front of a wall that looked no different to him, but she seemed confident of its significance. In spite of everything, a smile came to his face.
She smiled back. “What?”
“My Queen is about to teach me something about magic.”
Her smile widened. “Well, I suppose I am, beloved tutor. We need to test whether you can enter and leave here on your own.”
“Now may I theorize about Slumber-stepping?”
“Yes, I will permit academics now that you’re properly fed.”
“Here is my highly educated guess based on all available research on Lustra magic. That should not have been possible, and I have no idea how it happened, except that you are wondrously powerful.”
Her eyes widened. “Truly?”
“Truly. Hesperines can’t step in their sleep.” He rubbed his chin. “Either you awoke my innate Hesperine abilities while I was unconscious, or you traversed me. Or perhaps you bent some natural phenomenon to your Will?” Now Lio’s own eyes widened. “Spirit walking. Imperial mages spirit walk by channeling the spirit phase. What if you can…nature walk, let us call it, by channeling the natural phase?”
Her excitement turned to dismay. “What if I can’t do it intentionally? What if you’re trapped here?”
“Don’t worry. We’ll test all our theories. I’ll simply try walking out first.” He reached a hand out in front of him, and it hit solid stone.
“Surely you can step out,” she said. “The weaving room is through this wall. Mak and Lyros’s ward should provide a stepping focus for you.”
Lio reached for his Trial brothers’ spell, but then raised his brows at Cassia. “Well, as it happens, I cannot step from here. I am at your mercy, Silvicultrix.”
Her hazel eyes flashed with indignation. “You are my Grace. I will not stand for my own magic trapping you.” She took his hand. “Let me try to escort you.”
He watched her walk ahead of him through solid stone. For the first time, he felt some apprehension. He would be able to follow her…wouldn’t he?
His hand slipped into the wall after her, and they both breathed a sigh of relief. He followed her through a tangle of magic that pushed him away, even as it twined around him. It was vast enough to make a Hesperine feel small, and yet as familiar as the hand guiding him through it.
“Duck,” Cassia warned.
