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And a distraction from the knowledge that a fire mage was currently trying to give Lio a beating.
Cassia sat back, too tired to move, and guided Zoe and Komnena through the process. Following her instructions, the suckling and her mother coaxed the plant out of its pot, transferred the root ball to its new home without damage, and filled the remaining space with fresh soil.
When they were done, Zoe slid under Cassia’s arm and cuddled against her. “I’m so glad you get to visit more often on this journey.”
“I promised you we would.” Cassia hugged her close, grateful to let her eyes slide shut.
“I wish Lio and Solia were here too,” Zoe said.
“I do too.” Her infuriating Grace and sister should be here, allaying Zoe’s fears, not stoking Cassia’s.
Zoe looked up at her, surprise in her eyes. “Why are you mad? Did someone in Tenebra do something bad?”
With a sigh, Cassia tried to calm her emotions and withstand a wave of lightheadedness. “There are many things in Tenebra that make me mad.”
Komnena nodded. “It’s all right to be angry about things that are unjust. That is one of the few times when it’s good to be mad.”
“Tenebra makes me mad, too,” Zoe said.
“That’s why I wanted to come home and see you.” Cassia rested her face on Zoe’s hair. Perhaps she would also visit Javed before Mak came to take her back. She needed some Hesperine tonics in addition to Tuura’s.
“Will you put your blood on my plant to give it some more magic?” Zoe asked.
“Of course,” Cassia replied. “Let’s make the libation together.”
Cassia cut her palm with her spade, and the two Hesperines bit their hands. Together they gave a little of themselves to the betony plant.
The strength drained out of Cassia so fast she had to swallow hard to keep from retching. Her vision blurred, and she barely caught herself on the heel of her bleeding hand to keep from tumbling over.
“Cassia?” Zoe cried. “What’s wrong?”
Komnena’s voice was reassuring. “Zoe, step to the Healing Sanctuary and get Annassa Soteira.”
Goddess, help me not frighten Zoe. Cassia swallowed hard again, then managed to speak in a calm tone. “We needn’t trouble Queen Soteira.”
But Zoe was a courier with a speed record. She had already gone.
Komnena guided Cassia to lie down and then pulled a sack of soil under her legs to elevate them. “I want Annassa Soteira to examine you. Your aura feels like that of a mage who has just exhausted herself on a master-level casting. You shouldn’t be this depleted from a simple libation.”
Cassia closed her eyes and focused on breathing. “You’re saying…I used…too much magic?”
Komnena stroked her head. “Do not fear, dear one. Hesperine healers can easily treat magical exhaustion.”
Except for Pakhne, who was too far gone. Cassia shuddered.
When Queen Soteira arrived, Cassia didn’t have to open her eyes to know one of the Queens was there. Her aura blanketed Cassia’s struggling senses, and her panic subsided. Then Queen Soteira’s magic touched Cassia. She had felt the great healer’s power before, but it never ceased to fill her with wonder. As if the whole night sky suddenly looked at her, and she mattered to the moons and stars.
“Annassa,” Cassia said, “thank you for interrupting more important matters to help me.”
“Helping any of my children in need of healing is the most important matter.”
Cassia was so grateful for this hour away from Tenebra. This was home, where a child could tug on the hand of her Queen, and she would come to anyone in distress. “Where is Zoe?”
“I left her, Knight, and the goats with Javed. She wanted to come back and stay with you, but I think it best we discuss these matters out of her hearing.”
“Thank you. I don’t wish to scare her.”
Komnena explained what had happened, and Queen Soteira pressed a hand to Cassia’s heart with an expression as if she were listening. Cassia couldn’t bear to watch her face for clues about what was wrong, so she fixed her gaze on the Queen’s gold bracelets. Then on the silver ornaments in her crown of braids, where Queen Alea’s white braid was interwoven.
