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Cassia pushed everything else from her mind: the strategy sessions with Mak and Lyros, the last-minute lessons with Uncle Argyros, the speeches before the Firstblood Circle, more councils with the royal family, and the endless packing. She wrapped her arms around Zoe and focused on the thought that there was nowhere in the world she would rather be than in this moment.
“I wish you didn’t have to go,” Zoe cried.
“I know, Zoe flower. I wish I could stay home, too. Just remember we’ll come back safely, as we did from our journey to the Empire.”
“You barely got home, and you already have to go again!”
“It will be much easier this time. We’ll step home often to spend time with you.” Cassia stroked Zoe’s hair. “Then, once we’ve found my magic, we can come home for good.”
“You’re ambassadors. You’ll have to travel all the time forever.”
“We will always, always come home. And we will be home much more often than we’re away.”
“I wish you didn’t have to be diplomats.” Zoe started to cry.
And then Cassia’s tears escaped too, and she felt useless instead of like an elder sister with the strength to protect Zoe from her fears.
Goddess, this must have been how Solia had felt all the time. How had she borne it?
Cassia rocked Zoe, murmuring reassurances that comforted neither of them, and prayed Solia would join them as Cassia had asked.
When the horns of Haima called out half moon, Solia strode into the courtyard right on time. She took one look at Cassia and Zoe and Knight in a miserable heap, then came to join them at the center of the greenhouse. On her way, she picked up the two unsupervised goats, who were trying to nibble the potted plants Cassia had placed out of their reach.
What do I do? Cassia mouthed to her sister over Zoe’s head.
“Whatever has happened?” Solia handed Zoe her goats to hold, then retrieved a handkerchief from the nearby picnic supplies and began to dry Zoe’s face. “I have never seen such terrible tears in Orthros, where there is seldom any reason to cry.”
“You just got here,” Zoe wailed, “and now you have to go.”
Solia pulled Zoe, goats and all, onto her lap now. “It’s just like your Ritual father. He goes to Tenebra to help others, but he always comes home to visit.”
“But he’s safer than you and Cassia and Lio. Rudhira is really old and has lots of magic and a big sword.”
Solia’s mouth twitched. “Well, the rest of us are not elders like him, to be sure. But Lio and I have lots of magic, and so will Cassia.” Solia refrained from mentioning her sword in front of Zoe, for which Cassia was grateful. “Besides, Rudhira and the Charge will be there to help us, and Mak and Lyros won’t leave our sides.”
“Why do you have to help those other people? They’re not your sister like me.”
Solia shut her eyes and rested her cheek on Zoe’s hair. She let out a deep, quiet sigh, regret creasing her brow. “It is very hard to answer the call of duty when we long to be home with those we love. But I want you to understand why I’m making this decision. It’s not because you aren’t important to me. It’s because you are so very important.”
Solia sat back, looking into Zoe’s face. “I know how many sad and frightening things happened to all of us in Tenebra. But instead of never going there again, I want to return and become queen so I can change Tenebra. I’ll make it a safe place, so that anytime the people you love must travel there, you won’t have to be afraid.”
Zoe sniffed and listened more quietly now.
“If I make Tenebra safe,” Solia asked, “is that at least second best after staying in Orthros?”
“That depends.” Zoe gnawed at her lip. “How often will you come back to visit?”
“Often enough to enjoy your present with you.”
“You got me a present?” Zoe asked.
Solia gave Cassia a conspiratorial look. “Do you have the box I gave you in the Empress’s orchard?”
“Of course.” Cassia reached into her nearby gardening satchel for the treasure.
Together, the three of them gathered around the beautiful inlaid wooden box. Solia and Cassia lifted the lid to show Zoe what was inside.
“Seeds?” Zoe asked, a note of hope returning to her voice.
