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Lio doubted Ariadne was coming with them to learn about spell casting. She wanted to see with her own eyes that his magic would be enough to protect people from what had happened to her temple sister. He hoped he could prove to her how hard he was trying to keep everyone safe.
“How wide a ward can we cast?” Lio asked his Trial brothers. “We need to encompass at least the camp and the fortress, but that would still leave the surrounding villages and keeps unprotected.”
“Hmm,” Mak replied, “I doubt we could expand the ward all the way to the next estate.”
Lyros put a hand to his chin. “But we might be able to include some of the villages, especially the ones that Flavian is relying on for supplies.”
“That would be ideal,” Eudias said. “We need to protect the supply line—and make sure the Collector does not use it to infiltrate us. But how can we ride a perimeter that large while keeping your casting stable?”
“There is a type of Hesperine ward we can use,” Lyros said.
Eudias’s eyes brightened, and he and Ariadne waited expectantly for further information. But Lyros said nothing more.
Lio winced inwardly. Of course. The Stewards were not about to discuss the secrets of Hesperine border defenses with anyone here, not even someone they liked and trusted like Eudias.
Was Cassia right? Was it a mistake for Lio to feel such a connection to Eudias?
But how could she expect him not to feel that with Eudias and Pakhne, when he had battled the Collector for their minds?
Solia paused beside them on her way out. “Lio, Lady Nivalis will be joining Sabina and me in my weaving room. She would like to apologize to you.”
“I do not feel that she owes me an apology,” Lio said.
“I know you don’t. But I want you to accept it.”
She gave him a look. Not as a queen to her allied ambassador, nor as a disapproving matriarch to an infuriating bridegroom. No, it was a look Lio had seen Nike give Mak. Most definitely the expression of an elder sister who knew what was best for him and would not tolerate any protests.
“Remember what I said,” Solia told him. “I want to see you defend yourself this time.”
“Very well,” Lio replied. “I will try.”
He urged his Trial brothers to go on ahead with the other mages while he returned to their room. He was preparing to step from there to the ladies’ chamber when Cassia emerged from behind the wardrobe.
She hesitated in front of him. “I thought we might want a chance to talk.”
“Yes,” he said.
She offered him her hand, as if she were unsure he would take it. That made him want to pull her into his arms. But she was right. They must talk.
He let her lead him behind the wardrobe and through the wall. Knight was waiting for them in the gloom on the other side. Cassia stopped there, her soft breaths and quick heartbeat loud to his ears in the dusty quiet.
“I’m so sorry, Lio. I can scarcely believe I told Sabina about us for a political reason. I will not let myself turn back into that version of myself. I swear it. Can you forgive me?”
“I’m not sure there’s anything to forgive,” he said. “I’m not sure of anything. That’s the problem.”
“No, you were right. I crossed a line that I promised you I would never cross again. I want you to know how it horrifies me.”
“Are my personal reasons any less ignoble? I enjoy the thought of letting it slip to Sabina, so Flavian will find out. I enjoyed the look on his face when I took your arm in his solar last night.”
“You’re entitled.”
“Am I? Entitled to such petty and personal emotions when there are lives at stake? I’m supposed to be a valuable adviser to Solia, but tonight, I was ready to spill Evander’s secrets that don’t belong to me. I wanted to ease Valentia’s pain—without thinking of the consequences to him if the wrong people found out he’s still alive. You still managed to evaluate that decision with your mind, not your heart.”
“I don’t trust my mind anymore. My heart is what undoes all the twisted thoughts.”
“Well, I am not at all sure we should trust my heart. For a mind mage, I am not thinking very clearly.”
“If you are not certain of anything, and neither am I, what are we to do?”
