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He hadn’t come tonight. But he would. And when he did, their ward would be in place.
Mak and Lyros gathered near, and Solia rubbed Cassia’s hand in both of hers, giving no regard to the bloodstains. “Are you all right?”
“I have never been better.” Cassia smiled viciously. “I just defeated the king with my magic for the first time.”
“That was incredible.” Lio’s praise was the last thing she heard before she slipped into unconsciousness.
When Cassia came to, the world was moving. No, a horse was moving under her. She was sitting sidesaddle on Solia’s big golden steed, and her sister held her close.
“Sorry you can’t ride with your sweetheart,” Solia murmured. “Too scandalous in front of our audience.”
Lio and Kella rode to Solia’s left, with Sabina and Miranda on the right, a pack horse trailing behind them. Knight trotted alongside Solia’s horse, and at the first sign of movement from Cassia, he licked her shoe.
She gave him an affectionate nudge with her toe. “Don’t lie, Soli. You were worried about me and wanted to hold me, as if I’m still seven.”
“All right,” Solia admitted, “yes. Your Hesperine was gracious enough to relinquish you in the name of elder sister privilege.”
Cassia smiled and rested her face against Solia’s shoulder. They had just faced the king, and she had spent her strength in an act of magic. She would allow herself some childlike comfort for a moment.
Solia’s arms tightened around her. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you, Soli.”
“Ambassador Cassia, how are you feeling?” came Lio’s appropriate inquiry, along with a gentle touch in her mind.
She sent him reassuring thoughts. “Better, thank you, Ambassador Deukalion.”
“The Hesperine delegation is grateful to you for finding us under our veils to warn us of the king’s arrival. Thank you for telling us about the anti-Hesperine charms he secretly carries. They would surely have revealed us to him.”
Ah, charms. An excellent way to avoid explaining by the by, the king is secretly an apostate mage who could have immolated us tonight. Cassia played along. “Of course. We cannot have him chasing off our Hesperine allies.”
“Father didn’t realize he had those charms.” Sabina looked at Cassia with an expression of concern. “Running to warn the Hesperines must have been exhausting for you. Princess Kella tells me you have been troubled by illness since your return to Tenebra.”
“Military camps attract contagion,” Kella said. “Little wonder she’s been ill from the moment we got to Patria.”
“Oh, yes. I’m afraid my health has suffered.” It rankled Cassia to imagine gossip about her weak constitution, but if that was the worst rumor that came out of this situation, it would be a triumph.
The structure of her secrets was growing complicated. Nivalis knew a necromancer had stolen Pakhne’s magic, but not that it was the Collector; Sabina knew Cassia was in love with Lio, but not that her illness was Craving for him. And although their relationship was no secret to Perita, it was to Miranda. Goddess, how had Cassia let her house of cards become so fragile? Every time one of her carefully placed cards fell, she moved another to prop up the whole, but it only created another instability.
“Don’t worry for Mistress Perita’s health,” Lio said. “The Stewards are stepping her and her son, and Callen is escorting them.”
Kella twirled her fortune blade. “We won’t tell Lady Sabina’s father that she didn’t bring her bodyguard for this leg of the journey.”
“If he finds out,” Solia said lightly, “I will assure him we don’t need any extra blades to protect my ladies.”
“Of course, My Queen,” Sabina answered. “I know I am safe with you and Princess Kella.”
Was Cassia too exhausted to read the situation clearly, or did she catch some tension in Sabina? Hiding her temper had always been her greatest challenge. Why would she be angry about Solia protecting her?
Oh. Sabina was still jealous of Solia, even though they had settled the question of Flavian.
Of course. They had both been girls together, watching with envy as the men sparred. But Solia had become a warrior, living a life of adventure with Kella, while Sabina was still trapped in skirts and raising her sisters.
They topped a hill overlooking Patria. Sabina drew rein and took in the tents, festival pavilions, and pile of wood ready for the Summer Solstice bonfire. “I see too many banners from the Segetian faction. You need me even more than I realized.”
“My sister promised you I would hear out your demands,” Solia said. “I’m happy to do so here and now. I dare say if I do not give you the answer you want, you will ride for Hadria this very night, and I respect your right to do so.”
Sabina turned her horse, facing Solia above the assembly of lords who would decide her fate. “My Queen, as far as I am concerned, you may do as you like with that Segetian peacock. Marry him. Marry him off. Banish him. There are far more important promises I wish to secure from you than his hand in marriage.”
