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“It’s just like Martyr’s Pass,” Lio said. “When I found the Collector in this man, he cut his losses rather than confront me. I wasn’t fast enough. I must learn to find him without warning him I’m coming. To drive him out before he kills.”
Before he came close enough to even speak Cassia’s name. Tonight, his victim had merely delivered a message. Next time, they might try to take Cassia captive.
“No, Lio.” Lyros shook his head. “This is the fault of the lords. If they had allowed the Charge a presence here, this man would never have been possessed, much less murdered.”
“And they should know it.” Lio’s jaw clenched. “I want Lord Flavian to look this man in the eye and think about his responsibilities.”
“Lord Flavian?” Eudias dug his fingers through his hair. “You want to meet him now? Like this?”
Lio realized how far his fangs had unsheathed. He supposed his Vardaran tunic didn’t look so fine plastered to him by the rain, and he smelled like scorched earth. Such irrelevant things, compared to the destroyed life he carried.
“Yes,” Lio said. “Tell Lord Flavian the Hesperine ambassador is here.”
AMBASSADOR DEUKALION'S BLUFF
Lio listened to the water dripping off of him onto the castle floor in front of Flavian’s door. The scents of rain and suffering filled the stone corridor. It was almost impossible to keep holding death so close to him, but he refused to let go of the shell of this man whose name he hadn’t even known.
Lyros gripped Lio’s arm. “You don’t need me to tell you that Cassia is not in favor of this. It’s a good thing Mak is not easily persuaded, or she would have had him step her here by now.”
“It’s not safe enough for her here. Not yet. But it will be when I’m done.”
“Tuura and Karege are still out there patrolling the perimeter. Don’t you think we can bring Cassia now?”
“Absolutely not. The Collector was here mere moments ago.”
Lyros sighed and nodded. “She is furious that she won’t be with you for your first confrontation with Flavian.”
“Tell her she should not be expected to manage us. I won’t put her in that position, and I certainly won’t let him do so. We must take responsibility for our own conduct.”
“That’s not how she sees it, and you know it. She’s afraid this will turn into a ‘mortal pissing contest.’”
“Hesperines don’t piss. If Flavian wets himself, that’s his own deficiency.”
“Stop to think strategically, Lio,” Lyros insisted. “Are you sure this is the first impression you want to make on Flavian?”
“Yes. Trust me.”
Lyros sighed. “You know I do. I will stand with you.”
“Thank you, Trial Brother.”
“What will you tell Flavian about the man’s death?”
“Since we cannot mention the Collector, I intend to blame a Gift Collector for this instead. Ask Cassia if she agrees we should tell Flavian that Skleros was here.”
Lyros sighed and was quiet for a long moment. Then he gave a nod. “She can’t deny it’s the best we can do under the circumstances. Ben has surely told Flavian about Skleros’s sabotage during the Solstice Summit, so they will find it believable.”
“And since Skleros’s whereabouts have been a mystery since then, there is no evidence to the contrary.”
All that kept Lio from barging through the door was Eudias’s voice on the other side of it. The young mage had worked hard for the trust the lords placed in him. Only out of respect for him would Lio wait to be invited in.
“There’s been a murder.” Eudias’s words were too quiet for a mortal to hear through the stone walls and thick wooden door, but easy for Hesperine ears to detect.
There came the whisper of a sword being drawn, then Benedict’s urgent murmur. “Who? Where?”
Eudias answered, “I’m afraid swords will not avail in this case. Ambassador Deukalion and I found him. The ambassador wishes to see you, Lord Flavian.”
Then came another voice, low and hoarse. He sounded exactly as Lio had imagined, like a noble son who had been out debauching himself and hadn’t slept in a week. “Pack the Hesperines’ silk-assed light mage back to their Sanctuary. I trust you to do it diplomatically.”
