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Rudhira appeared satisfied with this concession and stepped back. “If you are all ready, I will escort you to the Charge’s base of operations near Patria.”
It was really happening. They were going back to Tenebra.
Cassia had been preparing herself for this moment all week. Or trying to. But now, none of the visits to the mind healers seemed to matter. Her belly knotted. Her heart raced like a frightened rabbit’s. Her skin felt hot under her travel robes, and sweat made Knight’s fur stick to her palm as she held onto him.
By the Goddess, she wanted to return to this forsaken kingdom triumphant, unafraid of the specters that had once tormented her. But apparently old, instinctual fears could still rear their ugly heads.
Lio’s voice was soothing in her ear. “We don’t have to go gracefully. We just have to get ourselves there and back. That’s feat enough, don’t you think?”
Lio always knew what to say. Even when he was as terrified as she was. But why couldn’t she be strong for him in this moment, instead of standing here in a mess of nerves?
Memories roared in her mind. The crash of an avalanche. The sneers of heart hunters. The flash of magefire. And countless moments kneeling before the king, grinding her down.
His hand came to rest at the base of her neck, his touch cool on her hot skin. “May I help?”
She knew his mind magic could chase her haunted thoughts away. But she refused to need someone else to conquer them for her.
She knew the other Hesperines could smell her fear. The Ashes would recognize the look in her eye from the moment before battle. Rudhira’s theramancy could detect her terror from miles away.
She could not fail them. She could do this. She must do this.
Anything for her people. Even Tenebra.
“Please let me help.” Lio put his fingers to her racing pulse.
She tried to forgive herself for clinging to his hand. “You are helping. You are at my side every step of the way.”
“I will not leave you. Even when I fall into the Dawn Slumber, the mind ward will not.”
His power swept into her thoughts, tracing the shape of his ward inside her mind. A reminder to them both of the powerful defenses they had created for her together, wrought not only of his magic, but also her own strength of Will.
She straightened her spine and lifted her chin. She would go with her head high, even if she was on the verge of being sick.
“I’m ready,” she declared, and hoped the king felt her words all the way to his royal palace in Solorum.
He should be much more afraid than she was.
“Very well.” Rudhira gave a nod of what seemed like approval. “Each Hesperine, please step with one mortal. Follow me carefully.”
They paired off, Lio pulling Cassia gently against his side, while Knight pressed against her robes.
Then, with a mere step, home slipped away. They whispered over the border she had fought tooth and nail to cross.
Too easily, too fast, she was standing in Tenebra again.
3
Days Until
SUMMER SOLSTICE
31th Day of the Month of Chera’s Coin
1597 Ordered Time
ON THE CUSP
The scents struck her first. Steel. Wood. Even the dirt smelled different.
