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“You are surrounded by the very best, dear Shadow,” Hoyefe assured her. “Trust in our skills.”
“We’ll find the letting site in no time,” Karege promised.
Tuura was already reaching into her medicine bag. “And I’ll keep you feeling well until then. Between my tonics and visits to the Hesperine healers, you’ll never know you’re ill.”
As they talked, Lio maintained some physical contact with Cassia at all times, even if only draping his hand lightly on her neck. With each touch, he felt her aura sip at his magic.
“Cassia must have near-constant proximity to me,” Lio said. “During the day, she’ll need to come to me for brief periods and absorb some of my magic to last her until I wake.”
“I still don’t like the idea of drawing on you in your Slumber,” she said.
He wanted to kiss the concerned frown from her lips. His once-mercenary Cassia, who had insisted she was no philosopher, now cherished every fine point regarding his Will in this situation. When they were alone again, he would reassure her that he found the thought of her drinking his magic in his sleep pleasantly erotic.
For now, he said, “You hold me in your arms while I sleep. How is this any different?”
She was still frowning, but said, “At least Ebah’s tunnels will make it easier for me to reach you. I may need help making excuses to slip out of events, though.”
“Say no more!” Hoyefe exclaimed. “Sneaking? Forbidden love? My specialties.”
“This won’t appear in the play you’re writing, will it?” Lio asked.
The illusionist gave him a sly grin. “That’s the trouble with being friends with a playwright. You never know what I’ll use in my next script. And with the money the Empress is paying us for our foray into this land of cutthroats, I can afford to build my own theater when we return home. The goings on at Patria have given me plenty of fodder for tales of court intrigue.”
“What have you learned?” Solia asked.
“Many things about Lord Severin,” Hoyefe said, “but I’ll never tell.”
“Ah,” Lyros mused, “I had a feeling about why he’s dreading his upcoming arranged marriage so much.”
“Commitment! Duty!” Hoyefe made a face. “The last things Severin needs right now. Fortunately for him, I have many skills and no expectations.”
Mak grinned. “Somehow, I can see that melancholy lord falling for your charms, Lonesome.”
Hoyefe’s aura was pleased as a cat that had caught a mouse. “If I happen to strengthen his determination to resist his father while we are spending time together, well, that is for his benefit as well.”
“I certainly understand how romance can make one rebel against one’s father,” Cassia said.
Lio rested his hand on her knee. “Any word on the king’s informant?”
“They’re still here,” Hoyefe said, “and Flavian is still intercepting their notes, which makes it easy for me to steal them from him.”
“Do you think he knows who they are?” Lio asked.
Hoyefe shook his head. “If he did, I believe he would have apprehended them by now. But he knows their route for smuggling the notes out of Patria.”
Solia let out a frustrated huff. “Their route might lead us to their identity. This would be so much simpler if Flavian had not decided to make himself my opponent.”
Lio asked, “Has he confronted any of you about the missing papers?”
Kella smirked. “He hasn’t dared. If he suspects we’re the ones who took them, he isn’t drawing attention to the fact that we got the better of him.”
“What did the latest notes say?” Cassia asked. “Has the spy tried to report Solia’s return?”
“Not yet,” Hoyefe said.
Cassia pursed her lips. “That could mean they’re not someone Flavian has allowed to meet Solia yet.”
“Or that they are,” Hoyefe replied, “but they are not ready to give their most valuable information to the king, for reasons of their own.”
